05/24/2009



First presentation: Judith Siegel spoke on the Italian school system. Comparing it to the states is comparing apples to oranges, both sweet fruits, with very different flavors and textures. The Italians have some of the same problems we have in the states, but very different approaches to resolving these obstacles.

Ms. Siegel also told us a personal story, about a former student (22yo) who was trying to end a relationship with an overly possessive young man (27yo), and he ultimately murdered her and killed himself. She passed around a piece of the young woman's schoolwork, and a picture of the girl. Seeing her, she could be my daughter in 10 years. Seeing the words Padre, nelle tue mani rimetto il mio spirito ("Father, into your hands we commit her spirit"), I got choked up; I want to hold Deanna again. I know she's OK, I just miss her terribly. I also felt guilty, what was I thinking, coming to another continent, another world, for two whole weeks without my Boo? I must've had a temporary lapse of sanity! Ah, well, parenting problems are universal, it seems. We've been hearing aspects of counseling in Italy, but people are people all over. Cultures may influence how we encounter obstacles, but the obstacles we encounter are found everywhere.

Next up- Dr. Remley & Legal & Ethical Issues, then church (5pm mass). The thought of church is comforting; although I'm not Catholic, I believe, and there is a sense of unity (even with back home/familia) worshipping in the catholic (universal) church.

Dr. Remley gave a VERY brief overview of Legal/Ethical Issues; he is a former attorney, and was able to give the presentation through a much more legalistic view. I enjoyed his presentation and have decided when I get home to get his textbook on the subject...

RECONNECT:
Today is Ascension Sunday: Il Festival di Ascencione del Signore, and we ascended to pray! We went to church- a 15 minute bus ride UP to Vallambrosa. Dr. Krieg was telling us the distance, it felt like we were climbing to the top of the earth, to connect with God. And, since AL is 7 hours behind Italy, I know my family is at church at the same time I am. The church was magnificent, a mountaintop spiritual retreat. The service was familiar, the lectionary was easy to follow (the Presbyterian Church follows basically the same order of service as the Catholic cChurch). I only missed the music... there was no singing, except for the Alleluia! After the service, I felt reconnected to my family back home, and my brief bout of homesickness and guilt abated...

Ciao for now, Lynn