Zurich

When we first arrived into Zurich, I wasn't too excited. After a night of hell on the night train, I was ready to go back to Rome and scratch this whole mid-semester break. We wandered around the train station trying to get our train connection to Paris, buy a Zurich public transportation pass, paid to use the bathrooms, and then walked around with all our luggage in search for a pharmacy. Finally we were re-directed back to the train station where a pharmacy was hiding just around the corner. We bought cold meds and put the rest of our luggage in a locker for the day before walking around the town in search of some lunch. A chinese-ish restaurant caught our attention and we enjoyed a shared meal of strange pasta-something and chicken wings. The rest of the day we walked around in the rain, rode the public transportation in the rain, but got a good view of the city nonetheless. Eventually we ended up in a Starbucks, a STARBUCKS!! And Jess and I treated ourselves to American-ish beverages. Hot Mocha=warmth to my soul. We sat in Starbucks for hours just talking about life, and I learned so much about Jess that I didn't know before. I guess it was our first time of roommate bonding. But it was also on the comfy Starbucks sofa that I had my most homesick feeling yet this semester and I felt like this whole break would be miserable. Of course, being sick played a huge part in my negative attitude. Head congestion, fever, aches...I just wanted to be home eating chicken noodle soup and watching Winnie the Pooh. Finally, we realized it was after eight and headed back to our shabby train lockers, and with luggage in hand, we preceded to follow our handwritten directions to our couchsurfing host's house. Surprisingly we did not get lost at all, we found it with ease, and actually arrived a little bit too early. So we chilled outside of the apartment building until it was time to go in. Jens was extremely nice, and any hesitation about couchsurfing that we had quickly disappeared. (Our host is a health conscious marathon runner and thankfully not a scary guy like we were afraid of encountering.) The night was spent talking and sharing stories while eating peanuts and drinking orange juice. For the first time that day I was finally feeling like this trip was going to be enjoyable and not a huge burden. Meeting people always enhances an experience! Our first night sleeping in a different city and in the home of someone we just met, went extremely well. Jess and I both slept better than we usually do in the convent, it was so comfortable!

I woke up today feeling very energized and excited to actually go out and see the city of Zurich. Jens shared some of his yogurt/granola/fruit cereal that he makes himself and it was strangely really good. After a cup of coffee, and Jens kindly helping us get internet access, we set out for our day of sight seeing. Really we didn't have a plan, but we didn't need one either. Spontaneity is definitely my style. Jess and I simply walked where we felt like going, no busy schedule, just enjoying and absorbing the atmosphere of Zurich. We saw how beautiful the city really was as we walked the path along the river. I was impressed with the cute and clean streets and shops as well as the slow pace of the people living here. After seeing St.Peters Church we went to the Swiss market where Jess bought some old records in nice condition. Ah, the market makes me miss our little American flea markets. In no hurry, we meandered over to a bench by the lake and just enjoyed some time eating peanuts and commenting on life. It was perfect. Afterwards we bought an add-on for our ticket to ride the boat down the lake. It was so beautiful!! What a great sight!!! Being the naïve tourists that we were, we totally stood on the top deck the whole time only to find out later that top deck is only for first class passengers. Oops. We also got off too far down the lake and ended up walking a far ways back. But I can't complain, it was a beautiful day.

So...I have a confession to make: guilty pleasure #2: we went to Subway for dinner. I know, I know! Why would I go to Subway when I am in Switzerland!? Well, it sounds crazy but we miss American food quite often. The food here is great, but once and awhile we just need something from home. So we had our Subway, and it was perfect.

The end of the day was topped though when we took the train to the end of the line...at the top of the mountain. Jess and I dismounted the train and immediately were speechless. It was so beautiful!! I can't tell you how beautiful it really was to see the Alps, for the first time, at dusk. Oh my goodness, it was so beautiful! I noticed lots of people walking down from a trail, so I asked Jess if she wanted to go up and see what was up there. We hiked up this hill and with each step could feel the air getting colder. What was at the top was so much grander than what we saw from the train. It was the full overlook of the city of Zurich and the Alps. City meets creation, and they complimented each other well. I put my camera away after realizing it could not do an adequate job and just stood there. I stood there in awe, thinking there is no way someone can see this and not believe in a god. God, I can't fathom your greatness, but these mountains were singing it!

Oh what a wonderful night! Now we are hanging out with Jens and his sister and talking about so much beauty was seen in just one little day of our lives.

Imago Dei

When walking through the city of Rome yesterday, I felt completely at peace. But I also felt something different too. Independence? No, while feeling independent is true, that was not exactly it either. After a good time of silent thought, the word finally came to me, confidence. That's it! I feel confident! Suddenly, in addition to experiencing peace, independence, and confidence, excitement entered the mix! I could have thrown a party!

~*~

So you might be wondering, why is that so important? Ask anyone who knows me, in the past, I have not been a very confident person. For so many years I have struggled with confidence issues, mostly because of my own sinfulness. I always shot down compliments instead of accepting them. In a way, I was practicing self-abuse by holding tight to a negative self-perception. It was hard not to compare myself to others and I struggled seeing beauty within myself. The lack of confidence turned into a fear of being seen: I was convinced that only my flaws would be seen, so I stopped doing activities that could bring attention to myself. I had tried to make myself invisible.

~*~

Really it didn't make sense at all. I professed to be a child of God, the Creator of all things beautiful and good, but I couldn't see the beauty within myself. My life did not line-up with my relationship with my Creator, in whom my image is made in. I needed to believe the reality of Romans chapter eight and stop being dead in my sins. How terrible it has been suppressing my God-given abilities, no wonder I have felt so dry! The living dead is not a good descriptor of a follower of The Way. This journey has been a long one, and the story is far too long to tell here, but God has been caring for my wounded spirit for many years, and now I feel like the healing is almost complete. I am blessed. I feel like a butterfly emerging from it's dark cocoon; ready to radiate color and fly! I am so overwhelmed with God's love right now because I know that it is solely because of Him that I am so inspired and alive now. I thought I was spiritually dying, but God has revived me and it sure feels good to be alive!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

-Maria

Whimsical Weekend...

Rushing(rushing) water, laughter, trees in motion, nature's symphony meets Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. Like the stroke of a brush, the breeze sweeps through my hair and over my face, and as I open my eyes, the darkness melts into breath-taking watercolor. As the sky comes into focus, the sounds become clearer, and lifting myself up from nature's bed, I can see the musicians: A sparkling fountain gushes out water as two little kids sit at it's base, staring up in wonder. Tall trees loom overhead and around the clearing. And right above me stands the man-made pole sporting speakers, out flowing many classical masterpieces to the movement of the fountain. This is what I did this weekend.

~*~

At the beginning of last week some friends and I were studying in the library when we decided to make something of the coming weekend. We all went to some different airline sights and searched through the ticket deals of the week. Sicily was our first choice until a better one arose, Budapest! Budapest won. On a whim, five of us bought tickets and then a few days later boarded a plane with nothing but a backpack and an ambitious attitude. It was one of the best weekends I've had yet.

~*~

In two days, the five of us walked approximately sixteen miles seeing the main sights of Budapest, learned a lot of Hungarian history, walked into an anti-communist rally, made a Hungarian friend, and had a very restful experience while doing it. The last day of our trip we ventured into a park that was on an island in the middle of the Danube river. It was here that we found the musical fountain, and refreshing fall-like atmosphere. It reminded me of home a lot because there were actually trees turning colors here, pumpkins and fall flowers were sold on street corners, and the temperature was comfortably cooler. We were all so happy! The Hungarian society, from what I saw of it, was very pleasant. They are very family oriented people, we witnessed so many families actually spending time with their kids. I wish we weren't so busy in America because family activities are so important, especially for children. Hungarians are also the nicest people! We didn't encounter a single unkind person. Everyone was very eager and happy to help us find our way. The whole weekend was a blessing. I feel like the five of us became closer and the glimpse of another culture has given me more inspiration for my life once back in the States.

Peace,

Maria