Mangos, Nutella and my new name

Well I'm getting busier.  Last week I was out almost every day!

Monday was my birthday. Lots of fun. see previous post
Tuesday was Institute. There were about 8 people. two that had been to Utah. (One of them was an exchange student in Springville with Madeleine Clarks family, last year) They were nice and Institute seemed really long. I couldn't understand it so that may have been part of it. We went out to eat afterwards and I tagged along because the buses were gone and Bianca was in Kiev and I didn't feel like walking for two hours that late at night. Douglas had to stay with the boys. But, excuses excuses. It was fun to hang out with lds kids. We ate at a place kind of like Subway. It was really good. My mom would be so proud. I eat everything here. Whether It's liver or Indian Curry (real indian curry) or horse or mangos or nutella (I had to mention those because I basically live off of mangos and nutella. I eat mangos with Douglas and Nutella with Bianca) Anyway it was fun, it was just, while most people could speak english, they won't. They're embarrassed and  they wouldn't try and explain things either. So i was a bit out of it.
Thursday I was planning on staying home but, 3 different groups of people called me to hang out. I ended up going out with Eliana, a girl that works with Douglas and Bianca. She speaks good english and we went to La Citta Alta. The fog was gone and the city looked awesome. We went to a bar (nobody hate me, bars are just like normal shops here. I have permission from dad to go) and drank pineapple juice. I really love the upper city. I could spend my whole trip there.
Saturday I met a girl that has been wanting to meet me for a while. Her name is Rosella. She's a friend of Alessandras. Alessandra is Bianca's bosses daughter. Everyone caught up? read it a couple of times. Anyway we went to eat pizza with 8 of her friends. There were a ton and 2 of them spoke english. It was a lot more fun than the institute people though because Rosella brought and Italian/english dictionary and we were all trying to speak and learn. I don't remember anyone elses name though. We made lots of plans. I'm not sure what they were but, I'll keep you all posted.

Things with Bianca and Douglas have been a lot of fun. I don't know what I'm doing differently but, talking about the church has all of a sudden become a lot easier. It's really nothing I've done. It's not that they are more inclined to listen to preaching but, we can joke all through dinner and it's really comfortable.

I couldn't eat the chicken tonight because Bianca realized it was cooked in beer. She said "Jana, you can't eat this." when she put it on the table and Douglas' indignation was great, before she explained. Even afterwards.

Tonight at dinner Scott was jabbering and he started repetively saying 'oh my god'. Douglas looked at Bianca and said "who taught him that?" Bianca said "I have no idea." I said 'Not me" and everyone laughed because of course i don't swear. so then Douglas was trying to figure out where he would learn that. As Bianca always says when Douglas and I are trying to figure out how things are said differently between America and Scotland "I don't know. I speak Italian." So Douglas had to blame himself. He kept saying "but, i never swear." then a couple of minutes later, he muttered under his breath and I just had to laugh inside at the whole situation. He's right, he doesn't swear and neither does Bianca (at least as far as i know) so its just made it all the more funny.
Even better. Tonight Scott and Finlay were in their private bathroom and they were playing with some balls in there. I was playing with the balls but, they took them from me. So, they closed the door but, the thing is, in Italy is that there a lot of lights on the outside. So i turned off the light. I have to tell you being scolded by 3yr olds in Italian is the most hillarious thing ever. They said "JANA" and angrily opened the door and turned the light back on. (cept they weren't really angry) So, i did it again. Finlay asked Scott "Who did that" and Scott said "Jana" they always know it's me for some reason. So, this continues for a few minutes and then, rather than saying "Jana" Scott says "Janina"

You have to understand Italy to get how cute this is. putting -ino or -ina at the end of a child's name is kind of like a nickname. It means little. So when I say "Scotino" it means little Scott but, more than that. It's like cute little one. Sort of. Scott doesn't know anyone named Jana so he totally made this up all by himself. Since he has to scold me so much, I guess i get to be the little one now. I got video of them calling me Janina and playing the game. It's so so cute. at one point Scott started angrily yelling in Italian. Bianca translated it to mean "Janina turn that light on this instant!"

I have already seen miracles this week. Being able to talk and live so freely with the Marshals is the best. Everyday it gets easier and more fun. I didn't mention Eduardo and Riccardo today but, they're cute too. Riccardo has learned how to crawl! Finally! Now he has a walker though and with the marble floors, it's absolutely perfect. I'm quite happy to have him in there all day. He can go where he wants but, he can't get into trouble. His mom doesn't think that's a good idea though. Eduardo is a little prince. He is so manipulative to get what he wants. He's only 8 months! He's cute though. They both love chocolate (don't tell anyone ;)) and Leone (their dog) I took pictures. Eduardo is on top. I put the video on too.

My Italian Birthday...

...was so Awesome!!!

So, yesterday was my birthday (and national peanut butter day but, i'm going to talk about my birthday because thats in the U.S. and I'm in Italy)

I turned 19. That was really cool. Everyone was really sweet and bought me presents (all navy blue tops by the way. I guess i don't have enough of those) and Scott and Finlay gave me a beautiful ring with two dangly hearts on it.

I ate pizza at Vesuvio. The first thing I thought of when i read that was not the volcano, it was the song we played in high school. I hope all my band friends appreciate that still deep down I seem to be a band geek :)

The pizza i got was folded in half (Calzione i think it's called) and it looked like  a volcano. It was sweet and huge. I only managed to eat half of it.

Rafaella got me a cake which was really sweet. It was from this really nice pastry shop. It was a really yummy pudding thing.

I asked Rafaella if i could do my D&C assignment with her last week and she said yes, but then we got busy so i did it for Bianca. Nelu (again i hope i didn't slaughter her name) was really interested in what i was going to say but, unfortunately I haven't got a chance to explain it to her yet. She was reading over my shoulder as i was writing about the 3 kingdoms of Glory.

Yesterday Rafaella came to me and asked me to do the assignment now. I said sure and I was thinking "hmm.. should i say the same thing or teach something else..." Well it was too scary to teach anything else so i just basically explained the plan of salvation. She asked lots of questions. I hope it went okay and then we started talking about the book of mormon.

On sunday i finally got an Italian copy for myself but, yeah, i gave it to Rafaella yesterday. She seemed really interested in it. I sort of shared my testimony of it and told her that if she read it she would know. She read the first few pages and seemed mildly interested but, said she's too busy. It was cool watching her scan the pages. I imagined what would be going on in my head if i was her right now and how, you know, if she read it, how that moment would be so significant in her life and she had no idea how much that moment could change her life. I was the only one really taking it in :). Then Nelu looked at the book a little bit but, the babies woke up.  I took my book back and figured that if she wanted i could give it to her but, I kind of wanted it if she didn't. (so selfish i know but, it took me 3 weeks to get a copy!) So i figured that was a cool moment but, it was over and they weren't really that into it. Then later when i was working on the library Rafaella came in with Giuseppe and asked me to show the book to him. I was really surprised but, i handed it to him. He didn't seem that interested either but, i made up my mind to leave it with them. I really hope she just reads it but, chances are not very high.

Knowing something like the gospel and being around people that don't know is crazy. It's like you have the fruit and you really just want to give it to everyone but, they aren't really interested in taking it. And then you just don't know what to do because it's so good! if they would just try it they would see.

I never know the best way to respond to questions. Especially with Bianca and Douglas because they aren't interested in the church, they're interested in me. They don't want long explanations about why and how, they just want to know if I can watch the movie or not. I don't think we would all be grand friends if I bore witness of the importance of doing those things every time. Raffaella was really impressed that I knew so much though. She thought it was crazy that I was 19 and could teach her all that stuff or that i even would want to. I just guess it's different for everyone but, improv has never been my favorite.

Anyway, I know this is a great learning experience and eventually I'll have it all figured out and at least i've learned a lot along the way.

Tonight i'm going to institute. Hopefully that will go well and even if i can't understand, its the thought that counts. At church the missionaries translate. They've been really cool about that but, missionaries don't go to institute so, fun times. :)

Mormon Standard Time

Spread the word. I'm ALIVE ;)

Sorry to everyone i haven't been writing for almost a week because my adapter blew out and I didn't get a new one until about 3 hours ago. I had to use all the computer battery juice i could on my homework.

I have had an incredibly amazing week. Last Saturday the Marshall family (bianca, Douglas, Scott, and Finlay) took me to La Citta Alta. It was still foggy so we didn't get the amazing view of Bergamo but, La Citta Alta was so cool. It's the city above Bergamo and it is the old OLD part of Bergamo. The streets are rocks and everything just looks so ITALIAN :) We got delicious bread and berries there. I don't think we got anything else. I explored odd things. There is this urban legend about a guy with three testicles and if you rub his symbol you get good luck. I didn't rub it...which probably accounts for the bad luck i've had this week with stalkers and batteries. I'll have to give in next time I go. The university is also up there. I'm thinking about taking an Italian class at the university. (I know i just can't get away from school, even when i'm on holiday)

On Sunday I went to church in my actual ward and it was so much better. There were kids my age, the speakers talked about normal things, some people spoke English, it just felt a lot better. I still understood like nothing but, better than before. The sister missionaries translated for me again. I was going to ask for an Italian book of mormon. I left mine at home but, I forgot. Reading Italian and translating it, helps me learn a lot faster so that was why, I wasn't planning to give it away or anything.

On Monday I went to Raffaella's. It was really nice outside and we spent 3 hours outside, so it was a good thing it was nice. Today, not the same story. I have a goal to get Riccardo to be as sneaky and conniving as his brother. Step one is to teach him that you cannot swim on a marble floor, you must try to crawl. He is learning. Raffaella let me help a lot more with the boys and that made the time at her house pass a lot more quickly and it made me a lot happier. I took the bus for the first time ever! (because Douglas is in Scotland, too far away to stop me-that's a joke.) I didn't even get lost on the bus. I crossed the streets and unlocked all the doors and climbed up all the stairs all by myself. I joked i would write about it in my journal but, i didn't, so it is written in my blog.

On Tuesday I did a bit of homework but, not wanting to waste the sunshine or the computer battery, i walked to La Citta Alta. It's about 20mins walking from Biancas. Let me tell you, that view of the city- more than worth the wait. It was incredible. I walked around La Citta Alta but, never found the actual center. I didn't stay long because i didn't want Bianca to worry if she came back and I wasn't there. I tried following crowds of people but, that didn't prove to be a good plan. They were all going to class.

Today I got my adapter and celebrated by writing this. We were supposed to go to the city center but, it's so cold that I opted out. At Raffaella's the 2hr walk was enough to convince me that outside was a bad, bad idea. It's fine for Riccardo and Eduardo in their astronaut suits. They're always toasty warm. I was going to teach Raffaella and Nelu-if she ever sees the way i spelled her name I don't think she'll be very happy. She's the nanny that's actually hired. There is mass confusion on whether i am actually hired.-for my Doctrine and Covenants assignment and they were both really eager but, the babies spoiled our plans. More diabolical by the day.-that's a joke. So, I will worry about how i'm going to explain D&C88 for two more days.

Tomorrow, it's going to snow and i'm going to stay inside and be boring and do my homework.
Friday I'm going to Raffaella's and organizing books and hopefully teaching her and getting my D&C things done for real and hopefully not scaring her away from the church forever.

I can't decide if doing my assignments on people here is a good thing. I have to do so much background explaining that it could take hours. So i do the bare minimum and then they're going to end up so confused about everything... or maybe i'm over reacting. Thoughts on that anyone? Thoughts on what I should say. I'm talking about messages of peace. Easy enough but, from D&C 88 a lot pertain to the Kingdoms of Glory, Resurrection, and the Priesthood. Nelu is muslim and Raffaella is like the only REAL catholic i've talked to. Nelu was really interested to learn about the kingdoms when i was writing down notes which is one of the reasons i wanted to focus on that but, i just don't know.

Anyway another note. I have been reading the book mom bought me for my Birthday. "Change your Questions, Change your Life" -Wendy Watson Nelson and it's so cool. it makes me think about things in a totally new and productive way. I'll have to blog about it some other time though. i just wanted to say, if you're looking for a good one, That's a good one!

(by the way the post is named because this communication with the world of Utah is totally not late. It's just mormon standard time. I'll try to do better)

Friends and Food. ciò e quella

Blogs... they are so helpful. How did I ever manage to properly avoid my homework before this.

Okay, well, I never got on the plane to milan and currently...just kidding. That was for you Natalie. :)

Well, everyone is really cool. Scott and Finlay are the most adorable 3yr olds in the whole wide world. Scottish/Italian boys. I mean, who can compete? They are so much fun and they are liking me more and more. They like to blame me for disappearing pacifiers and emus... but we are all great friends.

Yesterday I went on a 3hr long walk. It was so cool I have to go out today too. Which is why i'm going back to my homework soon. Fingers crossed i won't get lost. There are no such things as straight roads in Italy. It's like loopy-d-loops. good thing i have a map. Good thing i speak italian...ha...ha...

The food is amazing. I have 3 bags of chocolate in my room and i'm not quite sure who to blame for that. Mom and Bianca and Douglas or Scott and Finlay. It certainly wasn't my idea but, it's amazing none the less. It's like liquid chocolate.

I've had lots of pizza. I'm having more tonight. no gelatto yet though. i keep seeing stores with it. maybe when i'm out today i'll buy some. Today is special because it's the first day i'm going out without anyone...if i get out before everyone gets home. It's already noon.

Well, everything is great and one more thing I've been thinking about lately. Kudos to all the Italians that always keep this stuff on my mind.


Do Latter-day Saints Believe all other churches are false?

I think that this is a common misconception/misinterpretation even among our own people. The 13th article of Faith states "If there is anything virtuous lovely of good report or praiseworthy we seek after these things."

"We see that God is mindful of every people whatsoever land they may be in; yea he numbereth his people, and his bowles of mercy are over all the eart" (alma 26:37) (this is talking about Ammon and the lamanites by the way) The Lord has blessed His children with portions of light and knowledge through most religions.

I was so surprised by how much everyone always wants to talk about mormons. Usually we're comparing. I've compared doctrine with protestants cathilocs and muslims and I haven't even met very many people and it's only Thursday. It's so interesting to learn what these people believe. It's great, they don't even think i'm insane yet. :) They are very accepting. Overwhelmingly so.

Bergamo is a very catholic city. One of the previous popes was born here. Still, everyone is willing to listen and explain and accept things. I've found that I have a lot in common with muslims. I'd never thought about that before.

Statement form the First Presidency (according to LDS.org, this means that it's doctrine :)):
"The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammad, Confucioous, and the Reformers, as wells as philosophers inlcuding Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God's light. Mortal truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding ot individuals...we believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation, either in this life or in the life to come.
"We also declare that the gospel of Jesus Christ, restored to His Church in our day, provides the only way to a moratl life of happiness and a fulness of joy forever." Palmer, Spencer J., The Expanding church. 1978

We believe we have a fulness of the Gospel but, not that we have a monopoly on truth. This gives me a lot of peace of mind. Why people can feel the spirit in other churches and why so many things are similar. Like Karolyn commented. Hindu's have similar traditions. I can attest that Islamics do too.

The church is actually miles ahead of me on this. There was a special meeting in 1998 in Washington D.C with the president of BYU and a member of the 12 and 16 diplomats from islamic nations. They translated writings of great Muslim scholars. "LDS officials said they are leading such efforts both to build friendships wiht Muslims and because of LDS doctrine that truth should be sought wherever it may be, even if that is in centuries-old Islamic writings never before available in English" (Deseret News, 7 February 1998, sec. E., p. 1).

It's way cool to learn all of this firsthand. The church is true. A great part of our church is that we believe that others have truth too. It would be very narrowminded to think otherwise. It's not like "na na nanana i'm right and you're wrong. :P" Everyone has the light of Christ. Great things are happening between religions to learn truth and I think that's really cool.

I was talking to Douglas about how with religions there is always a story of persecution, either by the church or to the church. That's so wrong. Why do people do that. I thing that furthers the evidence that religion doesn't make people good. People's nature is good but, everyone chooses light or dark. Doing good is harder but, it's better. Religion, generally helps but, I mean, it's whatever people choose to put their faith and passions into. if it's good they'll do good, if not, they won't. see one of the previous posts.

I just ramble about the same things over and over don't I?

Well i hope that was good and long enough for everyone. It's been fun. Tonight for my class i have to teach something and i'm really nervous. It's different when it comes up in common conversation. my D&C teacher wants this to be more formal. We'll see how that goes. I hope America is having a good day. The whole four hours america has had so far. Its bright and sunny over here :) Everyone always thinks i should be freezing but, it's so nice outside. It feels like March. Anyway, Arrivederchi

Watching the clouds upside down

Actual account was written at 11:00am January 7th. I just didn't have internet.

Okay, it's me and guess where I am :) Houston Texas on a plane heading to Newark New Jersey. My flight is going to be about 20min late but hopefully, if I book it, I can still make it on the plane to Milan.

I found out when I was flying about 30hours ago. It's been such a whirlwind that I haven't had much time for being terrified. We pretend like it's not big deal but, wow, it's the biggest most daring thing I will probably ever do.

Here we go, taking off. the plane is nicer than the last one. Yeah :)

This morning I flew at 7:50. The clouds and fog were thick. Once we flew over them it was so beautiful. The sunrise and the mountains stick up. I thought it looked like the North Pole or the Artic. Not that i've ever been there but, that's from the pictures and my imagination.

My nervousness is abating. At least regarding flights. Newark to Milan will be another adventure. Rafaella is picking me up b/c Bianca is still in Scotland until tomorrow night. For the Record, I like flying.

One Hour Later

Back. I'm trying to catch up on sleeep. Last night I got max 2hours.
Ground speed: 625mph
Miles to Destination: 610
Altitude: 39,994 ft
Temperature: -54 F

I'm flying over Kentucky. Today the NE edge of Kentucky looks like a huge field of snow as far as the eye can see with a bagillion bumps and footsteps. You know that it's clouds though b/c the cotton is thin and whispy at some parts. Like there are holes in the big blanket.

Flying is very odd because there is no specific time. When it takes five minutes to go fifty miles you don't bother with what time it is because you're going too fast for time to keep up.

things that scare me today:
missing a flight
how do I find Rafaella
etc

Favorite Quotes

I like Quotes. You may have noticed I can't get enough of them on here. I decided to make a page with just my very favorite quotes. This is really hard for me and I could write whole blogs about all of these quotes and maybe someday I will. For now here are a few. I hope to add to it more.

1- I find this quote so empowering and it gives me goosebumps every time I read it. I heard it for the first time in 9th grade and I have regarded it as my hands down favorite ever since. The girl that gave me this quote talked about it in reference to Nelson Mandela's innaguration speech. The actual quote, by most accounts (98%) is that it's by Marianne Williamson.

"Our Deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond mearsure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening in shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, its in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -Marianne Williamson

The rest of the quotes are not necessarily in order. I love them all and they switch orders a lot. But, for now...

2- I don't remember when I decided that this is how I would live my life but, it has been within the last 2-3 months. I have come to the conclusion that there are some things-namely the nature of human character- that I will choose to believe in because it is something that is worth believing in.

"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things that a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in." -Hub on Secondhand Lions

3-This one I actually have memorized

"Things will work out. Keep trying. Be believing. Don't get discouraged. Things will work out" -President Gordon B. Hinckley

4- I don't remember when I started quoting this but, then I found it and I thought "oh cool, I wasn't the one that thought of that"

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid sould who know neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt

“It's a dangerous business… going out your door. You step onto the road, and…there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Happy New Year.

This is my first post in the year 2011. I am days away (unfortunately I don't know how many days away) from changing the course of my life forever.

This time next week I am going to find myself in a completely foreign position to anything I have ever experienced.

I am moving to Italy for the next three months. That's really why I made this blog so that I and my family and friends could see everything I'm learning and becoming. This is kind of like the travelling journal I suppose.

I am going to be around amazing people that I've never actually meant. I'm going to be in a culture I don't understand. I don't imagine how I'll ever be able to shut my eyes. There will be so much to see everywhere! I don't know how I'll ever be able to sleep there is so much to do! I don't know how i'll convince myself to do my homework when just being outside walking down the street will be something so special and prescious and fleeting.

It's almost like going to a new school. It feels like a fresh start. You're with new teachers and new people and you can make up your mind to be whoever you want to be. It doesn't matter if you were a nerd in your old school, you can be a cheerleader now or whatever you want. Nobody has any expectations or stereotypes to put you in yet.

Italy is not like going to any school I've ever gone to. It is more different than my mind can comprehend and I'm just guessing. I am excited for the challenge to be me. To be me when no one is around to know or say that I'm not being me.

People always talk in church about how when they were somewhere else it was hard but, it was amazing because they had the opportunity to stand as a witness at all times. I've never been anywhere like that. Growing up in Utah and then going to BYUI I've always been surrounded by people that believe what I believe and act how I act. The challenge I am confronting is to believe what I believe and act how I act without the support of anyone else. Just me and God.

I feel like going to Italy is a lot more like spreading my wings and leaving 'the nest' then going to college. College felt so natural. It was simply the next step and I wasn't very scared about it and when I was there it felt just...normal. I loved it for that but, that was the test flight. This is the real thing and I'm so nervous and restless for the experience.

To learn about the world and myself all at once is a dizzying thing to contemplate. A kind of experience you can't help but growing from. A kind of adventure that can't help but change your life.

So long America, Utah, Idaho, family, and friends. I don't suppose we will ever see each other again the way we are now. You don't have to go to Italy to grow and change. We'll both be different, or I should say, in three months we'll ALL come back different and hopefully it's all changes we like.

The New Year is about making changes after all. Some of my New Years resolutions are:
Learn Italian (rather important)
Finish at least one book (authoring)
Explore the world-or at least Italy
Learn how to cook at least 3 Italian meals/dishes
Fly in an airplane
Make ten new friends
Write a letter every week

Become more of a perfect square.
This one requires more than a one word explanation. There are four areas I am constantly trying to develop and every year I resolve to make them more a part of me and increase them every year.
1) Grow in Wisdom. Mentally
2) Grow in Stature Physically
3) Grow in Favor with God. Spirituallly
4) Grow in Favor with Man. Socially

Idea came from Luke 2:52