"Take It Easy"

The Eagles have long told me to "take it easy" and to "lighten up while you still can", but these words have never meant more to me than this past weekend.

This is going to be a long blog, so be prepared.

First thing: Wow. I walk past the Vatican on my way to class! My mind is blown every morning and especially when you put on the ipod and listen to "Lovers in Japan" by Coldplay. I'm taking classes at John Cabot University (JCU). If you can believe it, it actually has less students than East Grand Rapids H.S. did when I graduated. It's a much different atmosphere than MSU. I'm actually getting to know my adviser and my profs! JCU is located in Trastevere which is mostly a residentialy Italian neighborhood.
Here's what I've noticed on the way to class,

1. Italians have paninis for breakfast.
2. There are two buttons in some bathrooms - one for #1 and the other for #2.
3. There is an old and beautiful church in Trastevere. There are dozens of chandeliers at the front of the church by the altar. Amazing.
4. Shops open on the owner's time. This could be anywhere from 7am to noon.
5. I saw two Italian men talking so animately that I looked like they were fighting. But it's just how they interact with each other.
6. On the first day while I was walking to class, there was a young Grandma with her Grandchild. The little kid was eating a croissant the size of his face.
7. It feels like everyone knows everyone in Trastevere.
8. The other day, a woman opened her shutters to dry clothes (most Italians don't own a dryer). I started laughing when she was hanging up only her massively large bras.
9. I had the best pastry of my life for only 80 cents.

Anways, I love all my classes. I'm taking a MacroEcon, PoliSci: Third World Development, Italian 101, and Euro. History: 1945 and after. All my profs seem very intelligent and a lot of fun. Here's to hoping they won't give out much homework ...

Second thing: I went to Torino this past weekend with 3 other friends of mine. Torino is where the Olympics were in 2006, sooo you guessed it! I skied in the ALPS! My intent was to ski on Friday in Sestriere (about an hour train ride and 45 min. bus ride away from Torino) and return in the evening to be with my friends for the rest of the weekend. On the contrary, God had other plans for me. On the way to Oulx (city at the base of the mountains), the TrenItalia workers picked a perfect time to start a strike. I had to switch trains, and luckily a guardian angel (disguised as an Italian man) told me where to go. I finally ended up in Oulx only to find that it would be 2 hours until the bus came to take me up to Sestriere. I decided that I should just stay the night in the mountains so I would have more than a half hour to ski.

On the bus ride up to Sestriere, I met Arrita (another Guardian Angel) from Finland. She had just been cross country skiing while her husband and son were "adventure skiing" in Sestriere. Arrita was amazing. She showed me where to buy tickets, where the information center was, and she wouldn't leave my side until I had booked a hotel for the night. I was so grateful for her and it was actually hard to say good-bye. We had a good time speaking English to one another and mocking Italians for having their Siesta time in the afternoon.

Anways, I finally ended up skiing! I skied in Sestriere for 4 hours. I was the last one on the hill at the end of the day (totally something my Grandma would have done).
1. I had a playlist on so I skied for everyone when I heard a song that reminded me of one of you.
2. BRAD - I was skiing to YES while making a run for you, and a snow snake came up and bit me while I was in the powder. So, yes, I fell on your run. Haha.
3. Mom - my skiing in the Alps was for you. Completely and totally a dedication to you.

I really had forgotten how much the mountain can beat you up, but what a rewarding feeling it is at the end of the day. Example: I am so incredibly proud of the massive bruise on my knee. I still have no idea how I got it ... but the fall in the powder was worth it.

Third Thing: I finally met up with my friends in Torino. We had a great dinner (I highly recommend green apple gelato) and caught our train at 10pm.

Then the trouble started. We woke up at 4:30am and realized two of the girls I was with had their purses stolen. We had taken an overnight train, and the four of us had been asleep in our own compartment. We were all being smart with our luggage and felt safe with how everything was. Turns out, we were wrong. I luckily had nothing stolen, and thank God now that my Mom made me get such a ridiculous travel/"slash proof" purse. It was a pretty terrifying moment for all of us, especially because it was our first trip out of Roma. On the brighter side, we are all okay and most of what was stolen can be replaced. Just make sure you send some thoughts/prayers our for the two girls that lost so much.

Fourth Thing: So, yes, it was a very eventful weekend, and I am sure I skipped over some other details. Everyone should know that I have not been lost! Yes, that's right, Kaitlin Koperski has not been lost in Europe! Please make a note of that.

"We are a collection of the stories we tell." - from my TE250 class

Alright, well I'm finally running out of things to say.
Hope everyone has a great week!
You are loved and prayed for,
Kaitlin

"The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changin horizon ... for each day to have a new and different sun."
-Christopher McCandless

Pace Sia Con Voi

"Peace be with you"

Ciao! So I went to an Italian mass today with two of my roommates. The church by our apartment is pretty modern compared to other churches I've been to around Roma. It kind of felt like I was back home for a little bit. The latest mass was at 10am (so not the 5pm I'm used to back at St John's) but we found out that it was the children's mass. All the kids sit up in the first couple of rows ... and let me tell you, there were some rowdy teenage boys. It was just funny to see that no matter where you are, kids are still getting in trouble during the middle of mass.

We met this Italian woman at the beginning of mass. She immediately started talking to us in Italian, but realized we were not understanding. So she then started speaking in almost perfect English. She told us, "We stay out late, so we start church late." She also told us that we might not like the mass because it's not very organized. The whole mass was in Italian. It was really pretty and such a different experience. There were 5 altar servers (with red robes) and three priests. The oldest priest was really fun to watch. He had a huge piece of communion and after he ate it, he licked his fingers. I don't know why, but it was the funniest thing to watch.

During Communion, everyone just rushed to the front. There were not any lines or order, so we picked up that's what the Italian woman was talking about earlier. When we had Communion, the altar server held a small tray under the communion. It was such a small detail, but it was so respectful. The communion wafer was also a lot different ... it was almost like a listerine strip, (you know the ones I'm talking about? But it wasn't minty, obviously), round, and very thin.

I really had no idea what the priest was saying the entire mass, but you can pick up on the little things. The mass is so similar, and it was such a beautiful moment. I think I'm going to start Church hopping just to get the experience.

Anyways, I start class tomorrow! I'll post at the end of the week and let you all know how that goes. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't get lost along the way to class!

Peace and love,
.kait.

p.s. For those that don't have facebook, I'll be keeping my pictures on this site.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kait2311/CiaoBella?feat=directlink#

Hi!

Sorry it's been so late after the last post everyone. I'll probably be making a post once a week, so I would just check it about that much.

Anyways ... it's been a busy week!
We've had orientations at John Cabot. It's quite a walk from my apartment - 2 1/2 miles, but on the brighter side, that's been evening out the gelato and pizza! The past couple of days, I've been doing a lot of sightseeing. It's been amazing! I have to kind of pinch myself because I don't really believe that I'm actually seeing the Vatican or the Colosseum or the Trevi fountain or the Spanish Steps.

Today, I was able to go to the Vatican. It was unbelievable. It's really hard to put into words how beautiful it is and words do not do it justice. There were so many "God" moments, and the presence inside is really hard to put into words and describe. I prayed in front of the most amazing Tabernacle I have ever seen ... I couldn't really find words to talk to God. I really could only cry because of my amazement and joy. A friend of mine and I were actually able to go all the way up to the top of the Sistine Chapel. We were up at the top of the dome - for only 5 euro! One of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen, and it was definitely worth the miles of steps up to the top.

It's been so much fun though getting adjusted to Roma. There are little things that you take for granted so much, and you never realize how amazing Target (among other things…) is until you're actually gone. There's so much to talk about though. It's hard to remember everything and put it down into words. Here's a couple things,

1.) I am picking up on some Italian. I've actually been able to order food or ask questions in Italian, without English. So that's been pretty exciting!
2.) The churches here are amazing. Simply breathtaking. It's hard to believe the art, let alone take everything in at once. I feel like you would need to spend a whole day just looking at a chapel in order to see all the intricate details.
3.) Every single Italian woman is always wearing a pair of amazing boots (or at least it feels like it). I feel like I can't keep up with the amazing styles. My rotation of 5 outfits just isn't cutting it.
4.) Time is not money here. It's been a great experience just slowing down and living in the moment. I really enjoy that about Italian culture.
5.) You can buy amazing wine for only 2 euro.
6.) The cheese is sooo good.
7.) I miss meat. As soon as I come home, I am having a steak.
8.) I'm enjoying my roommates. We all get along really well so it's been fun making new friends.
9.) There's a pizza restaurant right next door, so we've been making friends with the owner. Tomorrow he's going to let us make our own pizzas! Twirling and spinning the dough in the air, and everything!
10.) I can’t sit in the front seat of a taxi here … I feel like I’m going to die because of the crazy driving.

11.) Banana gelato is the God’s gift to Earth.

Alright, I think that's all for now.
You are all loved and prayed for,
I'll have more exciting news soon.
.kait.

I Know You've Been Eager to Fly Now

So I'm in Roma! Wow!

I've been up for about 24 hours, so I thought why not stay up a couple minutes more and update y'all.

I'm staying at the Medaglie d'Oro apartment buildings. It's pretty close to downtown Rome. I'm living with six other girls and the apartment is really quite large. I'm on the 4th floor, with a tricky elevator, so my legs are not enjoying the winding staircase that seems like 4,000 miles.

To be honest, Rome was not what I was expecting coming in. On the shuttle from the airport to the apartments, it seemed really run down and there was none of the famous landscape or architecture you so often hear about. But, after today, I can say I was definitely wrong. We walked around, went to the SuperMarket, and went to the entrance of Vatican City. We walked passed the massive wall and the entrance, and there was silence by everyone around just by the awe and majesty of the structure and buildings. I can't wait for this week to go see it ... I am beside myself.

I don't quite feel like I'm in Roma yet. I haven't seen things like the Spanish Steps or the Colosseum, so it just seems like I'm in any other big city. That will change this week though when we get to go on our tours.

Oh, and for all you Roses' fans out there - I had a "real" Margarita pizza tonight! The best pizza I have ever had. When in Rome!


You are loved and prayed for,
kaitlin.

Am I Really Getting Out of the Bubble?

Hey All,

So I leave for Rome on Friday, and arrive bright and early Saturday morning. I'm currently in the state of being excited and terrified, but I am strangely comfortable with whatever my future holds. I am so ready to actually get out and do something ... aka, get out of the Bubble that has been my life and see the world!

When I arrive I will let you all know the best ways to get a hold of me and when (I'll be six hours ahead). I'll be in touch.

.kaitlin.


"So throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-Mark Twain

p.s. How good is God that I actually get to go on this trip?