St. Agatha

This morning, I woke up to the sound of a lively parade in the streets below. It was just a practice run. One of many practice runs, in fact, that the Catanians (or Catanese, as they call themselves) have been participating in recently in preparation for the Festival of St. Agatha. I have been told that I have "no idea" what I'm in for! Apparently, St. Agatha is the patron saint of Catania, and her festival goes on for several days with music, fireworks, and so many people wearing all white that it is impossible to drive through the streets (usually around 1 million). Good thing we walk everywhere! Men take turns dragging the several ton silver covered carriage that holds her casket through the hilly streets non-stop for three days. There is even a specific time for the mayor to pay homage to the saint. The festival ends on Feb. 5, which is also the Catanian New Year. People decorate their houses, and kiosks fill the streets. The most disturbing part for me is the roasting, selling, and eating of horse meat. This, however, does not only happen during this festival. Eating horse meat is very common in Catania...for some people. No, thank you.
I added a couple of pictures to show one of the practice parades.

From our window we just saw an amazing display of fireworks. It's hard to believe that this is going to continue all week long!

We had been invited to go to dinner at the house of one of our students tonight, but his son is sick. (The same one that came and practiced his colors with puzzles the other night) Please keep him in your prayers. We have a stomach thing going around, as I have heard that you all do as well.
I will be praying for you all, too :)

Making progress

Yesterday was amazing!
One of our newer students started coming for lessons because of one of his co-workers who is a member of the church here. He has become very interested in learning more about the Bible. Yesterday morning, he even brought his wife for a lesson! He talked to Chad and I about the fact that he feels like there is a God, and he began praying to Him about a year ago. He explained that he started coming to us for English lessons, just so that he could learn English...but now is much more interested in getting to know us and what we believe. It was very exciting! He ended up coming back later yesterday afternoon and brought his adorable 3 year old son, who was almost too cute to handle. We put puzzles together and talked about Italian/English colors. He came again today, and told me that his son was repeating the colors that he and I had talked about, in the car on the way home! He is planning on bringing his family to worship services on Sunday morning!

This morning, we made the 30 minute trek over to the other building for lessons. It's quite a walk, but great exercise! It's also nice to be able to see other parts of the city. We ran into Alan, a former Avanti Italia worker who is here running a study abroad program. He is married to Anna Maria, who stayed with us at the Bible School for a couple of months. They just recently had their baby, and he is doing very well! Hopefully, we will get a chance to meet him very soon!

Tonight we attended the mid-week Bible study, which was encouraging as usual.
I hope you are all having a great week! Hang in there, tomorrow is Friday!!!

Charlotte is adorable!

I don't know if I have talked about Brandon and Kristen's daughter, Charlotte. She is 3 months old. She is so cute, that I can't stand it. She is also SO good! When I see her tiny socks on the clothesline, I almost cry.

I have been very impressed with the number of people from the congregation that come to the Tuesday night singing and prayer session, even in inclement weather. It is such an encouragement! Tonight, I think we had the largest number so far. The singing was absolutely beautiful and everyone seems so full of joy.

This morning, I went and bought an inexpensive food processor so I can get back to making hummus, salsa, and pesto. Not at the same time. Gross. I'm really excited about it, though, because I was afraid that this item would be too expensive to purchase. Luckily, though, they make miniature ones for babies! ...Not that I'm a baby, but I only needed one big enough to make food for one person.

This afternoon, Chad's students stayed for twice as long as usual! One of them spent an hour talking with Brandon about the Bible after his English lesson. It's great to see people who are so interested. I had another good lesson with Xin, but Giorgia couldn't make it because her mother is sick. Please pray for Antonella.

Bumper Cars

Good grief! Time flies! We have been super busy and I forgot all about updating!
Thursday and Friday were standard work days: At the building, teaching lessons. Of course, Thursday night was the mid-week Bible study and Friday night, all the guys got together to play soccer. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with an American woman named Etta who is here teaching at the University for 5 months. We walked around town and ended up going to a really interesting museum. Last night, Chad and I went out with some of the young adults from the church. They took us to eat pizza, ride bumper cars, and to a gelateria! We had a blast! It is so much fun getting to know the people here. They are absolutely wonderful to be around! They are also very sweet and patient in helping us practice our Italian.
Be sure and see the funny pictures from the bumper cars!
This morning we went to worship at the building. Sunday mornings here are great! The building is always packed and the singing is so encouraging.

Beets are the Worst

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting with Giorgia! She is a 17 year old member of the church here in Catania. Her English is very good, but she would like more practice. It will be great getting to spend time with her, and getting to know her better through our studies of the Bible!

Last night was also the Tuesday night singing/prayer session. It's really fun to be with all of the people of the congregation. They all seem so full of joy!

It has been pretty rainy the last 2 days, but that's ok cause Brandon said it probably won't rain a single time between May and October.

Thanks to Great Oaks for sending a box of song books for the church in Paterno, and a Bible for Xin!!!

Also, Chad is getting some pretty intense questions from some of his students. Although this can be difficult, it is leading to great conversations. Please pray for God to continue help Chad with his studies.

Oh yeah...I found some face wash. Whoo hoo!

First Sunday!

Please keep Xin in your prayers. She is asking a lot of questions about Christianity. We had a great lesson today, and then she and Brandon talked for a quite a while after her lesson about some of her questions.

Yesterday I attended my very first Sunday morning worship at the church here in Catania! My cheeks are still tingling from all the kisses! It was a wonderful day, and I really enjoyed getting to meet the rest of the congregation. The singing was absolutely beautiful, too!

Song Books

I almost forgot!
The church in Paterno is really interested in finding several English hymnals. If anyone knows a way I could get some, please email me at:
klharris12@yahoo.com

Just to let everyone know...I am almost 100% sure that the "face wash" that I thought I was buying is actually hand lotion. It smells like lotion, and it does not lather. Upon further investigation outside of the shower, it also also absorbs nicely, leaving behind silky smooth skin.

Paterno

On Friday nights, some of the young people from the church in Catania go to Paterno, a nearby town, to have a Bible study with some of the young people that go to the church there. Later, a lot of church members get together to play soccer. Last night, I was invited to join the group going to Paterno. It was good to be able to spend time with the Italian Christians here that are my age...even if they are speaking a dialect that I can't understand! In the middle of discussing a scripture, someone looked at me and said, "Kensey, che cosa pensi?" (What do you think?) I just laughed. That was the first thing I had understood anyone say up to that point! The good news is that I am getting a little more comfortable communicating. Hopefully, before too long, I will be able to actually tell them what I think...in Italian.

After the study, we went to eat at a new mall outside the city. There were a lot of different types of restaurants to choose from. They opted to go to the "Old Wild West." It was a lot like a Lonestar or a Logan's. It was funny because even though the menu looked as if it came right out of America, the food that came out was much different. The hamburgers were served on focaccia bread, and the steamed veggies were zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers. The water was even served in a liter glass bottle. Gelato was the dessert! It was really interesting to see the way that "American food" is Italianized, the same way Italian food is Americanized in the States!

And now, for one of the more frustrating cultural tips from Linda Falcone:

"Non si fa"
We Don't Do That
"There are some things that you cannot do in Italy. Some things that are just not done. Have never been done. Will never be done. Why? Simply because non si fa e basta, they are not done and that is all. No explanation offered, no justification provided. In this country non si fa is reason enough. No walking barefoot ever or anywhere. No showering after meals. No shorts in the city even if it's August. No eating without a tablecloth. At the very least, you can opt for placemats." (These are known as American tablecloths!) "No using toilet paper to blow your nose. No carnations or chrysanthemums unless you are on your way to the cemetary. No parmesean cheese on fish pasta. No mixing sweet and savory. No washing your hair everyday. No cappucchino after a meal. No tulips in a wedding."
You walk into a sandwich shop to order,
"'I'd like a panino with ham, cheese, and artichoke hearts,' you tell the guy behind the counter.
'No, I can't give you that combination.'
'Why not?'
'Non si fa. Two soft ingredients will turn to mush.'
Don't do it. Don't insist. Don't tell him that you like mushy. Don't tell him that you've been craving mushy all day. It doesn't matter. Just let him make the sandwich he thinks you should eat. In taly, once non si fa is out of the bag, there is no way to win."

This is so true. Remember the colors you are "allowed" to paint your indoor rooms? They absolutely will not sell you any color darker than they think your room should be. Last night I ordered a meal with no cheese on top. They don't make that meal without cheese on top. I had to choose something else if I didn't want cheese.

Mt.Etna

Although I have read this verse many times, it really struck me today and I decided to share it:
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
Hebrews 4:12,13
Wow!

I also wanted to share some information about Mt. Etna, the volcano that you might have seen in the pictures from our balcony. It sounds kinda scary...but don't worry, Mom, there has not been a major eruption in a long time!

"Mount Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe, currently standing 3,329 meters (10,922 ft) high, though this varies with summit eruptions. Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is in an almost constant state of eruption. Due to its history of recent activity and nearby population, Mount Etna has been designated a Decade Volcano."
-Wikipedia

This morning, we went to work at the other building that the church owns. It is a long walk, but in a really pretty part of town. This afternoon, I had my first English/Bible lesson with Xin. She is very curious and asks a lot of really good, sometimes difficult questions. She has been coming for English lessons with Brandon for about a year, and they have built a good friendship. I am very excited, and also nervous, about taking over this role as he gets ready to leave. Please pray for Xin. She is such a sweet and beautiful person.

I ventured back into the grocery store today. This time, I only needed one thing: Face wash. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. As I stood there longer and longer, I began to feel really hot and started sweating as I searched frantically for face wash. I don't know why I was so nervous. I guess I felt like people were watching me looking dumb as I stared at each bottle for five minutes looking for the word faccia (face) somewhere, anywhere. Finally, I couldn't stand there any longer and I grabbed a random bottle. I still don't know what it is.

Tonight we had our mid-week Bible study at the church building with most of the congregation in attendance. It was great! I understood so much more than I have been, and everyone was just so friendly! I can't get over how nice and welcoming they all are! They are very patient with my slow Italian, and are always smiling.

Ok, you know what it's time for. Courtesy of Linda Falcone, one of my personal favorites...

"Dipende"
It Depends
"I am fascinated by the Italian dependence on the word dipende. In Italy, no simple question has a simple answer. Most things must be qualified, and virtually everything depends. Italians...have learned never to commit too strongly to any one idea. It's best to keep one's options open. Italians have non-negotiable loyalty to football (soccer) teams and their mothers. Everything else depends. 'What is your favorite color?' 'It depends. For what? A room? A jacket? For eyes?'"

No pictures yet :(

Today has been beautiful! I'm not sure what the high was, but tomorrow it is 63 :)
I got to walk around, and see the city. It's nothing at all like Florence, but it is beautiful in a completely different way. I didn't see any other Americans at all! I went to the grocery store all alone and only got yelled at once! Apparently, you aren't supposed to take the shopping cart through the check-out line with you. I'm really not sure what you are supposed to do with it. There has to be a system for getting the items out of your cart, and onto the counter, and leaving the cart behind. (Haha, I said "there has to be a system." How silly of me. I forgot where I live for a second.) There were no other carts in sight. Maybe next time, I will observe for a while before I participate. Oh, and all of the shopping carts look different. Maybe I didn't even have the right kind to begin with.

Tonight, I had the pleasure of talking to Xin (pronounced Sheen) at the building. She is a young Chinese girl that has lived in Catania for the past 5 years. She comes each day to learn English from Brandon. She knows 5 languages! I felt completely inadequate. Shouldn't she be teaching me? She was so sweet, and we had a good conversation. Her parents are Buddhists, and she says she is "confused" about what her beliefs are.

I am very sad because I can't get my pictures to upload onto the blog. I am not sure what the problem is, but I refuse to give up. In the mean time, you can see them here:
Catania pictures!
and then click on Catania.

And now, for today's cultural segment from Linda Falcone:

"Un Colpo d'Aria"
An Air Attack
"...you might be unaware that air is a dangerous element. Think soft spring breezes. Think wind rippling through amber waves of grain. Think open car windows on a summer drive through the country. Now forget about it. Italians will have none of it. According to popular belief, un colpo d'aria (an attack of air) is the number one bearer of bad health in Italy and should be avoided at all costs. Mention an ache at the back of your neck or a sudden pain in your lower abdomen, and the culprit will always be found in the end. During my first Florentine winter, I came down with the flu...Ida, our third floor neighbor, having seen no undershirts on my clothesline had known I would catch something sooner or later. Be sick in this country and you will discover the secrets of wellness. Black licorice is good for your blood pressure. Honey heals all ailments. If you put a raw potato in your mouth it will heal your toothache...and most importantly, an undershirt can save your life because air is a risk.

Ciao Firenze, Ciao Catania...

...That just doesn't make as much sense as it would in English.

I got down to Catania last night! Brandon and Kristen's apartment is great, and they have been wonderful hosts! I was hoping to get some good pictures of the view to post today, but it rained all day long. The sky was yellow because of sand brought on the North African winds from the Sahara desert. Weird, huh? I didn't make that up.

We spent the afternoon at the church building where Chad and Brandon had some English lessons. On Tuesday nights the congregation gets together for singing and prayer, so I got to meet a lot of people from the church. They were SO friendly and welcoming! I am really excited about working with them.

Tomorrow, if the weather is nice, I am going to get a tour of the area in the morning before going back to the church building in the afternoon for Chad and Brandon's lessons.

Now for today's cultural tip from Linda Falcone:

"La Vergogna"
The Shame
"'There are two types of cultures in the world,' my university professor Gustavo Forscarini told me one fateful day, 'shame cultures and guilt cultures. Latin, Asian, and Arab societies are shame cultures; Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, and Scandinavian countries are guilt cultures.' Guilt culture citizens...torture themselves about trivial matters like not achieving their full potential, forgetting a birthday, or thinking about taking out the garbage but not actually doing it. Guilt is pervasive in a society where closed doors and perfectionism run rampant. Guilt, you might say, is a private phenomenon that a person suffers in the solitude of one's own mind-labyrinth. As natural strangers to solitude, Italians are seldome slaves to guilt....shame is common in Italy and cultures where family obligation and community pressure make saving face the primary goal of all citizens. Italians feel shame because everyone is always looking. The bread lady, the neighbor, the neighbor's dog, everyone. (In Italy) it's not committing the crime that's the issue, it's getting caught red-handed that really irks the Italian psyche."

I'm back!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I made it safely back to Italy! The flights were great!
After carefully and strategically selecting my seat online, prior to arriving at the airport, someone else had sat in it, and asked me to take their seat instead. I reluctantly agreed...but it's funny how things work out. I ended up sitting next to an airplane pilot from Paragould, Arkansas who is a member of the church of Christ! We felt like family immediately! He was very friendly, and made me feel a lot better about flying. After all, he has been operating flights for over 20 years! He even went to Harding University for a couple of years back in the 80's. Someone reading this must know him. His name is Kevin Hardcastle. Let me know if you do!

I also have a recommendation for anyone who might ever plan a trip to Europe. Northwest has a flight straight from Memphis to Amsterdam and it is 2 hours shorter than most flights from Chicago or Atlanta to a European country. Sometimes the layovers into Amsterdam are longer, but the airport is amazing! There is SO much to do there, that you could actually spend a whole weekend in the airport alone!

Great news! This morning, Luli was baptized! He is a man from Albania and the fiance of former Avanti worker, Danielle, who is here visiting. Everyone was very excited about welcoming our new brother!

Danielle and Luli

After services David, Mona, and I had a wonderful lunch at the home of Kelly and Marco. My Italish is really good.

I have spent most of this weekend catching up on sleep and packing. I will fly to Catania tomorrow to begin my work there. I am very excited about the opportunity to go live and work in Sicily!

I started reading a book called, "Italians Dance and I'm a Wallflower: Adventures in Italian Expression" by Linda Falcone. It's a really good book, and I thought it would be fun to share some of her thoughts to give you more insight into the Italian culture. The first one is called:

"In bocca al lupo"
(Into the Mouth of the Wolf)
"It may be useful to know that in Italy it is considered extremely bad luck to wish someone good luck in the literal way by saying 'buona fortuna.' The lucky way to wish good fortune is to say 'in bocca al lupo,' which can be translated as 'into the wolf's mouth'...which compares any challenge to being caught between the hungry jaws of a wild beast...it could simply symbolize having to overcome any excruciatingly difficult enterprise. And yes, buying a stamp and a light bulb in the same morning can be classified as an excruciatingly difficult enterprise in Italy. Thanking someone for wishing you good luck is the surest way to earn yourself really bad luck. The appropriate response to 'in bocca al lupo' is 'crepi' or 'may the wolf die.' What if you forget to issue the death threat? 'Ora ti sei messa in un vero pasticcio!' 'You've gotten yourself into a real pasticcio now! 'Pasticcio' is a giant lasagna that women traditionally make with fresh pasta for Sunday dinner."

So, be careful. You could end up with a lot of bad luck, or even stuck between a bunch of noodles!