I HEAR that

Italians know how to party.

On Saturday night, I was standing outside my apartment talking on the phone. All of a sudden about 50 people showed up at the door with food, wine, and all the essentials of a party. A woman came out and told us that she is sorry but there will be a party tonight- she apologized for the music. I thought nothing of it, went back inside, and looked over some music for my voice lesson Tuesday.
About a half-hour later, as I was winding down and watching a recent episode of LOST that I had just downloaded (I know, it's a sickness...) when all of a sudden "Freakout" was playing through my bedroom window. Then came "I Will Survive", "YMCA", and "Celebrate". Because the party went well into the night, my roommates and I got up out of bed (because there was no sleeping to the "YMCA") and made food.

Yes, Italians know how to party- to American 70s and 80s music.

La Nostra Spettacolare Italiano

I was downloading my pictures from my camera to my computer and asked Beth what to call the folder. She said, in a loud booming voice "Our Italian Spectacular." And folks, that is certianly what it was. Having her here was amazing. I think about all of you all the time, see things that remind me of you, and want so much to be able to show you these things. Well, for the past 10 days, I was able to share those things with my beautiful sister, Beth.

Rome, Pompeii, Perugia- The Euro Chocolate Festival, Siena, Montalcino, Florence, and Pisa. We did them all. It is safe to say that Italy was invaded by a few of the Meyer sister's.
From hating public transportation, to touching a lot of "old stuff", Beth and I pretty much experienced it all, including the culture of those oh-so-wonderful Italians. At one point Beth said "Do they even see me? I mean, we're walking on the same sidewalk coming toward one another and it's like they AIM for me. Do they want to hit me? Is that actually happening?" I patted her on the back and said "Welcome to Italy."
So, we took over two hundred pictures just on my digital camera. That doesn't include the artsy ones Beth took on her "that camera's so big, that girl has to be a tourist" camera. It's okay. We embraced being tourists, didn't we, Beth? How can you not when 80% of this country's economy comes from tourism? Here are a few pictures- some of the highlights of our Spectacular. Enjoy!

The Italians don't drink coffee, they drink espresso (which they call 'caffe' or in English, coffee). Being a black coffee drinker myself, I have embraced this Italian tradition. By the end of the week Beth had to have her fix everyday too. Yay.

Yes, Beth is infact touching the Coloseum. And it's very old, I hear.

Me and the Pantheon. Here that Beth? PANtheon. (We had some issues calling it the Parthenon...whoops...)Isn't Rome beautiful? *sigh*And look! Beth got to sit in her very first Roman theater in Pompeii!

On Tuesday we took two trains and a bus one way to get to the EuroChocolate Festival. It was worth every minute. We would walk down the old streets with over 300 vendors represented while the sales reps for the companies handed us chocolate. As embarassing as it is, we bought so much chocolate, we had to buy another bag to bring it all home. Daddy- aren't you proud? Hey, most of it is for you guys!Siena. We used it as a sort of home base for three nights so that we could fully explore Tuscany. Our hostel was great, and so was the city.

This is a story I will most likely tell everyone. But let's just say, the Meyer girls were defeated. Defeated by a steak. This is Franco. He is hacking off our portion.

The same night that we were defeated, our first course was fresh pasta. The restraunt had an open kitchen so we could see everything going on. Amazing.We spent one day in the beautiful Tuscan town of Montalcino. Great food and great views.And we had to get a Paul Robinett candle picture in Pisa (the candle is leaning too...hehe). Although the city was dirty, the tower was really interesting. We were both kind of shocked that there really was a big leaning tower.

We didn't have a personal photographer on the trip (dissapointing, I know) so there were many of the pull away shots!
Beth and I had amazing time and were so excited to spend time together in such an extrordinary place. Where to next Beth? Greece did you say? Awesome.

TWO DAYS

BETH IS COMING SOON!
BETH IS COMING SOON!
BETH IS COMING SOON!



So, did I mention my sister Beth is coming to visit me in two days? I am pretty excited.

San Gimingano

A few weeks ago I went a small Tuscan town outside Florence, about an hour by bus, called San Gimingano. Being in a city most of my time here, it was wonderful to get out and see some of the countryside. The town is most known for its 14 towers. The rich people of the day would display their power and wealth through the height of their tower- the higher the tower, the more imporant you were. It is estimated that there were more than 70 of these towers at one time. After the war, there were only 14 left standing.
But I'll let my pictures do the talking about this town's history and beauty. Anything I would say would just be frivolous.

I hope you have a wonderful day in the Lord.

Happy October

On Sunday was the annual "Corri la Vita", a walk to benefit cancer patients in Florence. This year, over 8,000 people signed up to give donations, raise support and walk and run for the Florentine residents. All of the proceeds go straight to work specifically in Florence. It was such a fun experience, crowed and sweaty, but very fun. There were hills, skinny Italian men in short shorts, a plethera of running shoes, and free water at the end of the race. A few of a my roommates and a few classmates signed up for the 6K walk, which ended up being more of an 8K hike. It was great exersize, and as you will see, we got to walk to some of the most panoramic spots in Florene.

This is a view of the runners speeding down the Arno.

This was one of the delightful little hills we got to climb!

But it was worth it, because this was the view from the top of that little hill.

The Finish Line!

So many people came out for this cause, which was wonderful. I was astouded at how many people ran this race- and not the 8K...no no no.... the 12K. My friends and I were some of the very few that walked this "walk". And not just a stroll down the street. We were clippin at a pretty nice pace. No wonder everyone in Italy is skinny and beautiful- they are all in excellent shape. Me on the other hand, well, we're working on it. I'm eating so much better here, doing pilates every morning, and walking a lot during the day. This walk was a good jump start for me.

A glance out my front door...

I forgot one of the things about living on via Farini- the beautiful Jewish synagogue of Firenze just a few steps outside my door.

What God is Teaching Me

I talked to my daddy on the phone last night and got to talk to him about the things God was really teaching me while I've been here. I thought I'd share a few things with you.

1). I just finished reading (a quick read that took me a month to finally finish because of lack of time) Woodrow Kroll's How to Find God in the Bible. It was really interesting to me to see again all the proofs that the bible is a real, historical document of evidence as well as a the God-breathed word on how we should live. I appreciate it more knowing how long it has been around, how many manuscripts of the book we have to this day, and how much history is really involved with it.

2). God is SO big. Did you know that I get to wake up every morning and talk to the Creator of the earth? I get to know personally the same God that spoke to Moses through a burning bush, the God that flooded the earth, and put breath into man. God has been the same today, yesterday and 3000 years ago. I know this seems like a revelation I should have had a long time ago, and I always knew these things, but I guess I didn't really 'get' it. I stand in awe, more than ever, at His absolute majesty. It makes me fall down on my knees and compels me to obedience.

3). I was talking to a friend a few days ago on the phone and he said he was talking to someone that wanted to start a church plant in Rome. Knowing I was in Florence, he asked his friend how many Christians lived there. His answer was 6. Obviously, this might be an exaggeration, but I don't think it is a very big one. Life, my friends, is a mission field. I kept trying to figure out why God sent me here- there has to be a reason, right? To grow musically, to learn the language, yes, but what else? Then I woke up and thought about the 6 Christians living here and how much of a responsibility they have to show Christ to others and to spread the Word in such a God-less city. Well, I am here. That makes 7. And then it was settled in my mind. I am here to tell these people about Jesus. My apartment is a mission field, my school is a mission field, the train is a mission field. I must be bold. I must step out of the comfort zone of myself and tell people why I am so happy all the time. Pray for me... it is not easy.

Well, I could go on because God is good in showing me many things, but this post is getting a little ridiculously long.

I also wanted to give a little CONGRATULATIONS to my best friend. Emily Ann Taylor and I have been friends now for 15 years and I am honored to announce her engagement to Ryan Swearingen, a kind, wonderful man of God. I also have the immense honor of standing up for her as a bridesmaid at her wedding next summer. I am so sorry I could not be there to hug you and cry and tell you how excited I am for you in person, so I will send my Congrats out into the Blog World and hope as many people as possible hear me.
I love you, Emily! Congratulations to you both!

My Little Corner of the World

I realized yesterday that I hadn’t shown you around my apartment. How rude of me! It’s been a month, and you haven’t even seen where I live. Where are my manners…sheesh. So, here is my little corner of the world- via Farini, 15.

The Residents

(from left to right: Maxine, Amy, Nicole, Lizzy)
My apartment is actually quite big, much bigger than we were all expecting it to be. It has two large rooms, one Amy and Lizzy live and the other with myself, Max and Nicole. There is a kitchen, one and half baths, a very small living room and my favorite part- the window beside my bed.

The kitchen


The Living Room (if it can be called that), with the small bathroom right off of it.
That green chair might look comfortable, but don’t be fooled. I know we all were.


One and a…


…half baths.


Amy and Lizzy’s Room


My bed, and the window beside it (I couldn’t get the entire room into a picture, so you only get to see my bed, sorry). Oh, and you can also see my plant on my nightstand!


My favorite part of my apartment is this lovely view out into the neighbor’s garden. If it weren’t for the mosquitoes, it would be open all the time.


So, that is where I live, and I love it. It is about a 15 minute walk to everywhere (except church, which is about 30min, but totally worth it). Thanks for visiting, and I hope you come again soon!

Venice- Rain or Shine

I stepped off the train in Venezia and saw one of the most people places I have ever been to. It was unreal-- docks that went right up to houses and people getting into water taxis just to get to their hotels. Yes, this place exists, and now I have first hand experiences with it.
The first night we spent just walking around. We only had two hours before the shuttle took us to our hostle, so we just took pictures and enjoyed the night time in this city. The next morning we got up, took the shuttle into the city again and walked around all day. I was just amazed at the little walkways, the bridges, the alleys, the hanging baskets, the people and their little doors, but most of all I was taken with the buildings. There is so much history, so much life in all of them. The facade would be cracked and falling off, but the vine would still be growing up- not just growing, but thriving.
The gondoliers are just for tourists, going for 90 Euro a ride... we obviously didn't do it.
Dad, look at these hanging baskets... why don't yours look like this? hehe... The food here was of course wonderful and we all had great experiences with that-- fresh mozzerella and beautiful bread (as seen in the pictures below), it doesn't get much better than that. A few girls had an asapragus and basil soup that was outstanding.
One of the best things that happened in Venice was that it rained. That might sound silly and pretty cliche (Oh, rain is so pretty! blahblah), but in Venice, it was awesome. The stone streets were shiny from the rain and the canals were flooding everywhere. We were soaked from about 6pm to about midnight. We walked all around Venice and dodged busy streets by darting into small alleys. It was so fun. One of my roommates said rain seemed different in Italy with a big smile on her face-- after two hours of being completely wet, she looked at me and took her words back.
I would like to go back to Venice someday with a smaller group of people and visit a lot more of the museums and such. Two days in a city like that is just not enough. Maybe I will get to go there again while I am here. Or maybe you guys can come visit me and we will go! That will give me an excuse. But rain or shine, Venice is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It has so much character.
The hardest thing about being here, like I have said to a lot of you, is not being able to share these things with you. I miss being around you, all our conversation and hearing about your lives. Please know that I pray for you daily and think about you all the time.
Here are a few more pictures for you all:

Look at the size of those IVY!One of the many beautiful cathedrals in Venice.

Much love to all of you! God bless!

It's coming...

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. My computer has seen its last days (LCD screen broke) and its a little harder to get on to the computer. The computers at school have a 20 minute time limit, which is not enough time to email and blog, so hopefully my new computer arrives soon so that I can update you once again. There is an Internet place down the street that I have a membership too, so I might be able to visit that a few times, too. I can't wait to show you pictures of my weekend trip to Venice! Email me and let me know how you are doing. I have loved looking at your blogs! So, keep those posts coming. I hope you have a wonderful day!

A few highlights of Firenze

There are so many things in Firenze that I love. The shops, the churches, the cappucino-- pretty much everything. I just wanted highlight a few wonderful things I have seen thus far.
About a week ago, we went out to celebrate Jose's birthday. Him and his girlfriend, April, very dear people, are from Southern California and are so much fun to be around. Because Jose is from Mexico, we decided to go to a Mexican restaurant, which turned out to be some of the best food I had ever had. Not only was the food great, but his "birthday cake" was amazing.

Here it is up close and personal. Yeah, even the Mexican restaurants in Florence do birthday's RIGHT. So (I know this will come as a shocker to most of you), wonderful thing #1: the food.
Walking around Florence is one of the most fun things to do. Watching the Italians do their thing and pretend no one is around, watching the tourist being all touristy, and watching the street vendors harass the shoppers. But there is culture here, there is life here, and there is art. Walking around Florence and being able to see the amazing art in the buildings, in the store windows, and above all in the people, is wonderful thing #2.
This is one of the many Florentines that shows here artwork on the sidewalk using nothing but chalk, and talent.
And the last wonderful thing for today (there will be more to come soon), is pretty self explanatory, especially from the pictures I have posted thus far. Wonderful thing #3: The views.

This is the view of the Duomo from the Palazzo Pitti.

I am talking this picture standing on the Ponte Vecchio bridge, the only bridge in Florence that wasn't bombed in WWII. One of the best views in Florence thus far that I've seen: down the Arno River (this one is for you, Diana).

God has put Psalm 37 on my heart these last few days. I know we have all read it so many times, but for some reason it is really coming alive to me. Read it again and see what you think.
I hope you all have a wonderful day. I miss and love you all very much.

Cinque Terre

Christine is our Site Director here at the Instituto Europeo. She was the first person we met after we got off the plane, the one that found the broom in our apartment, and the one who takes us on the "excursions" that we are promised entering the program. Yesterday we went on our first excursion. It was one of the most enjoyable days of my life and I wished that every one of you were there to share it with me.
We hopped on the train in Firenze to Cinque Terre, a chain of 5 little towns on the western coast of Italy traveled through by train, by boat, or by walking. When we walked around the corner of the train station, not knowing what to expect at all and a little dazed from the 3 hour train ride, we saw a little slice of heaven.

I spent the day walking/boating to the different towns, shopping in the little boutiques, laying out on the rocks and dipping my feet into the Mediterranean. WHAT? Did that ACTUALLY HAPPEN? To tell you the truth, I was completley speechless all day. People kept asking what was wrong, and I would look around me and then back at them and say "Is this for real?". God is so good. This earth he has given us to enjoy is something we should never take for granted. We should see His might, His power, and His glory in all of these things regardless of our circumstances. And that is certainly what God taught me yesterday.

It's not easy being alone here. I have met no Christians, and miss all of you so much. But through my wonderful experience yesterday with God's majesty, I know that I will never, ever, be alone. Look out your window and thank God for the things you see and treasure seeing Christ in that special way.

Here are some other pictures I thought you'd enjoy!
God Bless