Sanremo, Italy

Orientation Week.

June 6-12 2010

Sanremo is a small town off the Mediterranean coast about 30 minutes by train from France. The city is best known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera.

The first week in Italy was an exhausting, fun, and crazy time.  I met the most amazing people that week from all over the world.  Some of the places include Canada, New Zealand, England, Whales, Ireland, Australia, and many more. 

I arrived in Sanremo a day early, so it was nice to be able to walk around the town and site see.  It only took an afternoon to walk around and see the whole town.

I felt like a child again when we were taught new songs and games to play.  We would spend hours playing games and singing songs. Even at night when we all would be out in the town, there would always be someone singing a song.  We also learned how to teach the children skits they would do at the end of each camp.  My group made up a script called, "The Opposite Vampire."  We had to implement a subject that is taught and base it around that concept.  That is where the opposite came to be apart of the skit.

I had the best roommates and we got to know each other very well living in a small room with four of us. Jenna and Alanna were from Canada and Emily was from Arizona.  It was so fun to be able to get to know them all week. 

Even though I had amazing roommates, I sure didn't stay in an amazing place.  One word to describe Hotel Cortese is Sketchy.

Well, the last night of the week was very sad saying goodbye to many people. We had pizza by the sea and it turned out to be an amazing night with watching the sunset, dancing, and jumping into the sea.

On my way to my first City Camp in Guidonia, Italy. Having Kabob (one of my favorite places to eat in Italy) while waiting for our train in Genoa.

Oh, how I miss that week of orientation and wish I could live it again.

I made many memories and met loads of friends.

Good-bye Sanremo, until we meet again.

smile.

How can a little Italian boy make my whole weekend?

Well this is how....

.

You know, from the first day of camp city you came to me in my

heart and will stay there FOREVER! To me you're the best!

Greetings and hugs! With love! ♥

.

[Message he sent me on facebook]

When I was in Fuiggi I had a boy named Samuele in my group. He always seemed to put a smile on my face and make be laugh many times through out the day. He loved music and especially Avril Lavigne, Ke$ha and Justin Bieber. He was a little flamboyant and I loved that about him.

I love my puppies.

The Forgotten Carols

My family has a tradition to go and see The Forgotten Carols every Christmas season. I love how each song is about a person who had a supporting role in the Christmas story, but were overlooked, misunderstood, or unnoticed.

This song is about the Innkeeper who turned away Mary and Joseph, not because he was thoughtless he was just taking care of his business. What haunted him was the feeling that he didn’t really do all he could for the pregnant women and her husband. And this is his Carol….




I can't wait until next year when I get to see it again, but until then I will turn on the cd, close my eyes and imagine that I am watching it once more.

I love that in life we each have a Carol. I always ponder what mine would say and sound like...

Better Late than Never...

Well I decided to finally blog about my adventure in Italia this summer. I thought I would be able to keep up while I was gone...but I never had time.

Rome,Italy. Day 1

The morning I flew into Rome I was exhausted, but that didn't stop me from exploring the city. I walked and walked until I couldn't anymore. I loved every cobble stone road I walked on and was mesmerized by every building. Even though by the end of the evening I got lost (which I had to try and find someone that spoke English so they could help me), I loved every moment of it. I stayed at a hostel called Ciaobella, which was an experience in itself. I met so many people from around that world.

First sight of the country

I was in love the first moment I laid my eyes on this beautiful place.

I loved the history that I felt being surrounded by so many ancient buildings.

And then I became addicted...

While I was on my adventure around the city I came across many police officers trying to push me away. Come to find out...a couple minutes later as I was moving along, a group of thousands of people came storming down the street. What we call a Riot, they referrer to it has a Boycott.

I loved the day I spent roaming around. it was nice to not have any plans, but just to experience everything I could. The next day I needed to head to Sanremo, I bought a train ticket and took a 6 hour train ride. Well I guess I should say it was suppose to take 6 hours but it ended up being 8 hours because I got a little lost. I was hoping the ACLE staff would be still at the train station waiting for me since I was a couple of hours late. I couldnt have been more happy to see red acle shirts and hearing people speak English....Finally I was there!

Simple Mind.

The word Faith is such a simple word.

It reminds me of being an innocent child and believing. When Christmas comes around every childs is thinking about Santa. But why do so many children look forward to him coming if they have never seen him? It brings me back to the Faith a child has. Even Though they cant see him they know he is there because on christmas morning he left them presents.

This is the way I believe in Christ. Maybe I still have a mind of an innocent child because all I have is Faith in Him. His gifts are more precious then any gift that 'santa' has ever given me.

[The belief in Him]

The most important part of Christmas.

I love the holiday season and especially because it’s a time to truly focus on

Jesus Christ.

Growing up I would hear that we need to strive to be just like Christ, but really how can we...He was perfect? I feel like I have realized it doesn’t matter that we are not perfect but the journey through life to try to reach that goal. He was the greatest man that ever walked on this earth, but how he came into this world in such a humble circumstance. Even from his birth he was teaching that humility, family and love are very important. Though I have realized this I can easily forget by being sucked into the things of the world. This Christmas I want to really focus on the importance of this holiday season.

What is the Most Important Part of Christmas?

Poem by L C Taylor

What is the most important part of Christmas?
What do we celebrate each year?
Is it the change of heart we notice in people?
Is it the spreading of Christmas cheer?
Is it wishing for falling snow flakes?
Is it picking out a Christmas tree?
Is it the laughter of little children?
Or people singing merrily?
Is it the gifts wrapped so gaily?
Is it tensile, ribbons or bows?
Is it the holiday decorations?
Is it Christmas music or mistletoe?
Is it that kind old gentleman dressed up in gold and red?
Is it snowmen or jingle bells?
Many thoughts race through our head.
Christmas means different things to different people
… and that is plain to see …
but the most important part Is
C - H - R - I - S -T