At Home in Rome

Hello lovely family and friends!
I am here and SAFE in Roma!
And it was a LONG trip coming here! I left Friday night at 6:45 from the Appleton airport. Jenny, Arch, mom, and even DAD was there! For those who don't know, my dad got sent down to Texas to help put the power back on after the hurricane and everything and wasn't supposed to be home for another two weeks. I was finishing packing Friday afternoon and mom came home from school and DAD WAS THERE TOO! It was a wonderful surprise since I did not think I'd see him until December! Praise the Lord!

I was really nervous about all my carry ons and everything...I managed to pack only one huge bag, my carry on was Jenny's backpacking pack and my "purse" was my regular backpack from school. I don't know how I managed to get through with that but they didn't really care!

I got to Minneapolis and had to walk it seemed like a mile to the other end of the airport but it was so nice because I was able to meet up with the other 8 St. Thomas students there! We finally left St. Paul at 9:15 and landed in Amsterdam at about 5am USA time/12 noon there. The majority of the group got on a flight right away but Laura Janas, and Marisa Wachtel and myself had a later flight out of Amsterdam...not until 5:45! So we bummed around the airport, I took a little nap on the floor, and it wasn't really that bad.

The woman I was sitting next to on the flight to Rome was from Tokyo and her boss lived in Appleton originally! What a small world we live it. :)
We arrived in Rome finally at 8pm Roma time. We were SO EXCITED to finally have been here after what seemed to be the longest trip of our life! Unfortunatly to make it longer my luggage never came...! :( We were worried because Thanos (The campus director over here) had arranged a car to come pick us up at 8pm and by the time I got it all sorted it was past 9pm. Apparently my luggage never left Minneapolis! At least they found it though and it should be arriving any time now. Thank you Lindsay and Mrs. Adams for the packing tip! I had enough clothes and things in my carry-on to be taken care of.
Well the car was still waiting for us...the 2 men hardly spoke any English-it was so funny. Us three girls were just SO HAPPY to finally be out of an airport! But then the car ride I think I feared more than the flight. I think we almost died 20 times. There is no such thing as traffic rules at all. We were in this big 8 seater van and the driver would speed up and slow down and go through stop signs and make illegal turns like it was the way you were supposed to drive! It was quite the Italy driving experience.
Dad, I do NOT suggest us renting a car while being here!

We made it to Bernardi (the name of the campus/building where we stay). It is much more busy than I would have thought around here. It is SO BEAUTIFUL though! I just kept running to the girls rooms and saying over and over again "We are REALLY here!"
I'm soooo happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today Leandra (my roommate) and I got up for morning prayer in the chapel (this building was an old convent and YES we have our own chapel! I can stop by to visit Jesus any time!) and then breakfast. All of the seminarians here have been in Europe since the beginning of September for a pilgrimage and to do some of their own travelling so we got to hear some funny stories from that.
Jenny--some of the guys went to INNSBRUCK! I ausgeflipt :) Unfortunatly they didn't go to the Butse Hutte. :(

We had a bit of orientation and now we have a break until more orientation later.

We have an exciting itinerary ahead of us. There are a lot of things planned for us to attend. On Friday October 3rd we get to go on a Scavi tour! AND what I am MOST excited for is the ordination of the NAC deacons at St. Peter's!

Thank you all for your prayers and support! I'm so excited for this year!
God love you!
xoxo
Sam