Life in War…

July 8, 2011 – 11:17 am
By momo. | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

The Flander’s Fields Museum and Tyne Cot Cemetery impacted me so much more than I thought that they would. I have always had a kind of compassion for people in the armed forces; my grandfather was in the Navy in WWII (joining at only 18), and he almost never spoke about his time there. Growing up with this silent subject in my home gave a sense of reverence for the power and weight war has on those in the battle front. So, coming to these memorial sites with this foundation set me up for an emotional experience that I was not expecting. The stories and the gravestones broke my heart.
It would be so incredibly hard to live through a reality that was so horrific and have people back home be unable to understand what it was like out there. No matter how hard you try, you can’t truly understand something that you haven’t experienced. No wonder people have so much trouble coming back home. It would leave you with such a sense of loneliness to be surrounded by people who didn’t know what hardships you had been through.
– ———————
While wandering through the cemetery, my eyes were continually welling up with tears as I read the ages of the soldiers who died fighting in the Great War. 19, 20, 19, 22, 21… they were children; young boys who were willing to lay down their lives for their nations. I can’t imagine the state of mind the young people would have had to come to in that place, especially when I think that I and many of my friends are that age ourselves and live in such a different reality.
I can’t put into words all the thoughts that are swimming around in my head.. There are so many situations I can’t understand because I’ve never been in that place of desperation where I’ve had to go beyond the limits of a comfortable life. Although I’ll never be able to completely understand things I’ve never gone through, I think the questions I have are continually opening my eyes to new concepts and perspectives.

Who knows where they”ll take me.

- Moriah

Vimy

July 7, 2011 – 11:17 pm
By danbeaudoin | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

The other day we went to Vimy Ridge on our way to our campsite in Belgium.  I had always heard about the monument and the battle that went on here, but I really didn’t quite know what to expect.  The area was beautiful and peaceful, but had a heaviness to it.  Walking around you could still see the evidence of the battles, the landscape riddled with small and large craters.  It was incredible to think that at one point there were trenches everywhere with young men huddled together waiting for the next offensive, or the next wave of enemy soldiers.  To think of the conditions they would have lived in, with mud and rats and body parts littered everywhere, it makes me wonder how people are able to live through it.  The sacrifice of all those soldiers is incredible and thought provoking and it is heartrending to hear of how many people were killed in the battle.  Like so many of the other war sites we have seen, being at Vimy and following the steps of those who have been there before me, has made it real to me and helped me to wrap my head around the reality of what took place.


Dan

A Picture Book

July 7, 2011 – 6:57 pm
By Janell | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

A Picture Book:

Walking on a battle field from WWI.

Looking up at the domes of massive cathedrals that all point upwards to God and realizing the Swiss Alps do the same in the most magnificent and natural way. 

Passing through Hitler’s eery bunkers at the Eagle’s Nest.

Turning my head from left to right to take in the palace of Versailles, the Belvedere or any other elaborate building from history.

Facing the close German front line from the allies trenches at Vimy Ridge.

 Exploring medieval walled cities.

Tasting the food and drinks of each country.

Standing in the crematorium, that halds the chambers and barracks of Dachau Concentration Camp.

Walking through museums to enjoy the pure talent of so many artists I’ve been studying – Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, Sisley, Turner, Van Gogh, Ghiberti, Monet and the like , oh the many styles they portray!

Walking past headstone after head stone at the Tyne Cot Cemetery of the many lives lost in WWI.

These words portray the images of a  picture book. You know the saying, ” a picture says a thousand words.” The world wars is what has stuck out to me the most. I’ve always been interested in learning about these times, as terrible as they were. I’ve been so discouraged from learning more in depth about them and seeing the remains of these horrors for myself. Dachau, now a memorial to remember those that survived, was especially difficult. Walking through the grave of the many dead prisoners moved me to tears. But as I’ve felt the pain (as much as one may be able to) of the horrors, I’ve also found hope in the good moments, the good people – Sophie and Hans Scholl and the White Rose Society, the survivors and the sense of care and community the inmates had – the many glimpses of hope in past history. I’ve been able to find God amidst the injustices and evils of the world.
Janell

Equality in europe

July 7, 2011 – 2:34 pm
By rachellesnelgrove | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

I have now been in Europe about seven weeks. I’ve been having a wonderful time and the weather has been lovely. I often feel like a child just awed and fascinated by nearly anything. There is one thing that has stood out to me quite boldly though, I first noticed it in Spain and have continued to notice it in every city we have been in. Maybe the International Studies lectures and presentations have been affecting me more than I thought. I’ve been noticing that beggars and slums seem to be more scarce, although they do exist, but inequality seems to be very present. I’ve noticed that people of different origin than the country they are living in are often ignored and do not seem very integrated into the societies they must live in. They often are given very poor jobs that are looked down upon by the local native people of the land and are often treated poorly and paid poorly. According to Jonathon’s presentation today they were brought over for this specific reason. However I have to admit, I am not entirely surprised just a little caught off guard. I often feel uncomfortable when I go to pee in a washroom and when I am finished a black or Indian lady will clean up after me. I feel like it is the modern form of slavery. They technically are free but in a sense they are enslaved in this cruel circle. They need these jobs to survive and the Europeans feel they are above such tasks so it seems like a win win, if only they were not treated like the dirt they clean. You can imagine my discomfort in seeing a city of white wealthy men and woman being cleaned after by people of darker ethnicity, it sort of leaves me with a guilty feeling. As I mentioned I’m really not surprised but what is surprising is how a person can go from a high paying job in one country to a bathroom cleaner in a another. I was talking to a man who was an orthodontist in Iran and he came over to Europe because his family was not entirely safe because of the political situation and their religious standing, and now he has a low paying job and lives in a very small apartment. He is obviously very intelligent and very capable but he is discriminated against. If he wants to be able to continue his career here he has to go to school all over again, as oppose to writing a test. I know that it is the exact same way in Canada too. Yet North Americans and Europeans can go just about anywhere in the world and get a decent job. I know people seem to have valid arguments for being frightened by some of these groups of people but that is something that can change and has to change. When people are treated as lower humans they will eventually begin to act like it. Something has to be done.

Food, Fun, and Friends

July 7, 2011 – 11:00 am
By hannahnewson | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

One of the things that I have noticed over the past weeks of travel is how much the Europe trip revolves around food. Waffles in Belgium, Crepes in Monmatre, Pizza in Assisi, Gelato in Rome, Sangria in Spain, Beer in Germany, and the list goes on and on. Over the course of the trip we’ve eaten a lot and tried various drinks as well but I dont think it’s about the food or drink. It’s about the community or fellowship which is brought together for a brief time. In Europe everything seems to slow down, partly because you don’t have anywhere you need to be and partly because its cultural. They have no issues with you sitting in a cafe for four hours, it’s part of what Europe is. But like I said its not about the amazing sangria or fantastic crepes its about being with good friends and enjoying a good thing!

Hannah

Taking Part in Past Reality

July 5, 2011 – 11:45 pm
By kellyzuidema | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Once upon a time, in a far away land… actually, to be more specific, about 100 years ago, in a city called Sarajevo there began what became to be known as The Great War.  May it be shouted from the mountains for all to hear: this is no fairy tale.

As my feet stumble across uneven, cratered ground–the unknown burial place of thousands of young men sent off to battle–the reality of World War I grasps my heart and my imagination.  WWI will never be a stark, hellish, reality for my generation of the 21st century as it was for our great grandparents, but as I stood in the trenches of Vimy Ridge (though dry and absent of rapid gun fire) I felt I was taking part in history; sharing in a little bit of the reality which once was.  As I descended to the tunnel where thousands of soldiers lined up in the blackest blackness, waiting for the command to attack, that same blackest blackness struck fear in me. The same coldness of the damp air against my skin and in my heart, though only for brief seconds, created a connection, a small bit more of an understanding that would not have been their otherwise.  Then my eyes laid upon a name, a single name among thousands, carefully engraved into the white stone of Vimy Ridge: S. Zuidema.  There ended the names of 11, 285 soldiers whose graves are known only to God.

Kelly Z.

McDonald’s & Food Standards in the EU

July 5, 2011 – 7:33 pm
By zackingles | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

McDonald’shas 6,600 restaurants in 40 European countries. I have eaten at 10. Currently I have dined in restaurants in Barcelona, Nice, Rome, Prague, Vienna, Munich, Zurich, Paris, and intend to dine in restaurants in Brussels and London. The reason me and my fellow classmate, Madi Smith, have chosen to take on such a lofty task is because of the difference in food standards within the European Union.

During the 1990′s American companies decided to approach the government with new innovative and efficient methods of producing food for the masses. Today this food is called genetically modified, perfectly engineered livestock and has been designed on a biological level to produce the most consistent types of food. At the end of the 20th century many American companies set their sight on the European food market while seeking to expand their sales demographic. Farmers and politicians alike immediately banded together to prevent the introduction of genetically modified food into the European Union.

Once one enters Europe, regardless of the country, it becomes immediately evident that food is kind of a big deal. Each respective country prides itself in its own unique cuisine. For France it’s crepes. In Italy it is pizza and pasta. Austria has its unique coffee culture. And of course Germany had sausages, lots of sausages. The way McDonald’s has adapted its policies, store layouts, and menus to accommodate the country that it wishes to relate to is remarkably brilliant. Three of the most notable features I have been most impressed with were the widespread introduction of McCafe, the availability of local beers and wines, and the availability of specific food which identify directly with national identity. The introduction of McCafe to European McDonald’s restaurants has taken the American reputation of the restaurant chain and completely reinvented itself as a higher class establishment fit for the cafe culture of Europe. By offering select local beers and wines in their stores the restaurant managed to integrate a concept we are foreign to in North America, alcohol as a cultural expression rather than a rebellious action. And finally, by offering unique menu selections that are specific to each country McDonald’s became a local restaurant instead of a corporate money grabber.

For a North American, it seems impossible to view McDonald’s in this light. But, after literally seeing and tasting it for myself, my perspective has changed dramatically. The McDonald’s Corporation is one of the most brilliant companies in the world today implementing such strategies that support local farmers of each area they inhabit. In Britain, France, and Switzerland McDonald’s uses organic milk products. The decision to do so was made when the dairy market began to decline in Europe and the corporation chose to support the industries of the areas it resided in. As well, over half of the potatoes used in European McDonald’s come from the United Kingdom.

By the time this trip is over I will have eaten at at least 12 different McDonald’s restaurants in 9 different countries within the European Union and if I could, I would eat more.

Zack

A road leads a visitor gently in.

July 5, 2011 – 3:14 pm
By racheldriedger | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

A recurring thought and a prayer that has been on my mind and heart has been of city walls.  I’ve seen all manner of self protection and governance, from the walls and Papal power of Avignon and Rome to the Medici dynasty and walls of Florence.  From the trenches and tunnels of Vimy Ridge to the high house and bunker of Adolf Hitler at Eagle’s Nest.  All of these methods are used to keep beauty and life in, and safe; to keep “others” out.
We each experience things in our lives that we believe no one could understand or appreciate.  We build walls and trenches to keep our hearts safe.  The more in depth, the thicker and higher our walls get.  But the beauty of our lives still deserves to be seen and heard.  If we let visitors in, though the line might be long and trying, they will see beauty beyond compare.   
This applies, too, to a bus full of people that call themselves community.  
I see high walls in people, fortified with standing armies.  
I am no exception.  
Yet I pray for true community, when the walls come crashing down and the treasure of life and the tombs of experience are opened, when all of that wonder seeps through the cracks and holes in the walls, and, like so many of the cities I have seen, a road leads a visitor gently in, and is not stopped for fear of an imaginary foe. 
When this is shared, and the “others” allowed in to see and experience wonder, it is called LOVE.  And that relationship is called community.

Rachel

Canadiana

July 5, 2011 – 11:11 am
By Selina Mullin | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

I stood on Canadian ground yesterday.

France dedicated the Vimy Ridge land to Canada to erect a monument to Canadian soldiers who fell in the Great War. The monument itself is beautiful, and how Veteran’s Affairs Canada chose to arrange the park and historical site was very tasteful.

Informative, interesting, very respectful of the events that took place there.

The rolling green grass from exploded ammunition; grazing sheep; damp errie tunnels and sun soaked trenches. The Austrian pines covered the once barren battlefield with a cool shade and brought to mind an idyllic Sunday afternoon scene. Hard to image the horrors that took place here along the 20km front.

Every part of  the experience called out to that portion of my soul that I believe makes me Canadian.

But, I’m a pacifist. And, discussing with others later I realized it wasn’t the glory for country (dulce et decorum est) but the sympathy for my neighbour that drew me into the history. Vimy defined our country. It robbed us of so many brave and determined men. We took the front and the front took our sons, our brothers, our future fathers/bankers/farmers/Prime Ministers…etc.

I don’t want a war to define my country. I don’t want to fall into the belief that it brings honour. I respect the men and boys who fought but…there is a French quote from the Protestant Museums that says when you kill a man you don’t kill an ideology you simply kill a man.

What did WWI accomplish, and even WWII? Land was gained, but to what avail? Nazism is still alive in Germany, did we truly defeat it?

In fact, what is ever truly accomplished by war? But, the words, the poetry, the names from those who went. They stir my heart with pride more than any victory. Men, who in the face of fear and death, gave so much more than they could or ever intended to give.

Our country lacks a unity of identities. We have no national name to call ourselves to. I’d challenge every Canadian to come to Vimy, to stare our dead in the eyes and ask them who they want us to be.

Selina

Can this be called great art?

July 4, 2011 – 3:00 pm
By jessicaneudorf | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Nudity in art never used to bother me. It’s everywhere, and you get used to it pretty quickly. Besides, you can’t draw realistic people with clothes if you don’t know how to draw them without clothes. Apparently.
   However, I’m starting to see a frustrating trend. I’m pretty sure artists weren’t fascinated with subjects like the rape of the Sabine women or Susanna and the elders because of their historical or theological importance. And artistic inspiration is not an excuse for having a string of models/assistants/mistresses to use and throw away. Maybe our art is creating a tribute to the beauty of the human form, but maybe it’s just a classier way of objectifying women.
   Sexism is alive and well, a drive through Czech Republic will demonstrate that quickly enough. And it is not confined to Eastern Europe, as a walk through Paris can so clearly illustrate. Violence against women goes unpunished everywhere; they are not people, they are whores, skanks, asking for trouble. I am sick of it.
   Unfortunately, I have no brilliant solutions. Only a deep sadness that these attitudes are so ingrained in our world that they can slip almost unnoticed into our business, our justice systems, even our art.

Jessica

Venice: At a Crossroads

July 4, 2011 – 10:53 am
By juliaroberts | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Oh Venice, where are you going?

You were once known for your wealth and status, tall in stature and wide in girth for all the world to see. Now people talk as if you are already in the ground, a dead man walking.

Will you submit to this prophesy of doom, fulfilling these ill-spoken words? Or will you try to fight back, even if it means leaning on the crutch of tourism for support?

Those who were once most loyal to you are leaving, disillusioned by the thought of facing the flocks of people drawn to masks and boat rides. What will hold you together now?

Dear Venice, so full of mystery, brimming with history, what is your wish? Do you want to fight against the rising tides, even at the risk of losing everything you once held dear?

Or do you desire to write your last will and testament, wishing only to be at rest beneath the ever-breaking waves and shifting sand?

If you could speak, what would you say?

Julia

Eight Days Left; Time Sure Flies

July 4, 2011 – 6:52 am
By robertchapman | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Less than two weeks left until we return to our homes and do final assignments. It is sad that it has endded so quickly, it just seems like yesterday we were in Rome exploring the Forum. This trip has opened up Eroupe in a new light, seeing the sights of major reformations, and battle sites of the two world wars, just to name a few.

The SSU travel terms teach things that can not simply be taught in the classroom. The reflection we do on the history and art we see allows it to make a much greater impact on us; it has for me I can tell you that. I belive it has allowed us to grow as people and as a school community. I hope that the next years entering will also have this feeling as it is what makes the trip truly worthwhile. I hope that as we return home that we will continoue to grow from this experince and that it will not just be shoved in a little corner of our minds.

Robert

Making space on the bike path…

July 3, 2011 – 5:27 pm
By chelseadickey | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Is there such a thing as a world without entitlement?

I am unsure if this is possible, though I have recently been reminded of the dangers of such an attitude.

We were recently in an affluent town in Switzerland which was unaccustomed to sharing bike paths, feeling entitled. While bike paths may seem at first a simple matter, entitlement is quite another. People who feel the world is obliged to serve them suffer in their interactions with others. Such interactions are void of flexibility and openness to value the other people’s point of view.

I found it interesting that a short distance from this affluent community, was situated a town of people who met your gaze and shared their bike paths. As a visitor for a short time, this second group of people helped me understand the Swiss were able to overcome an entitled worldview. Though, this feeling of entitlement is not just for Switzerland to understand, but people everywhere.

Narrow views of who can be welcomed are found in many places throughout the world. Unfortunately, this includes the church. Jesus encouraged his followers to not be limited by society’s place for them, for in the end the first would be last and the last would be first. Francis of Assisi also desired Christians in his lifetime to adopt a more fluid view of kingdom boundaries.

Our society is built upon human constructs and so often the church integrates these human ideals into its interpretation of the gospel. How would interactions between the church change if entitlement was eliminated in interactions with those different from the norm?

Despite affluent positions in the world, humility can be integrated into worldview. The structures of social institutions are less solid than we realize, but creativity and courage are required to push these boundaries.

So, is it possible to have a world without entitlement? I hope so.

Chelsea

Two Weeks Left?!

June 28, 2011 – 6:00 am
By Shelley Kadatz | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

It’s hard to believe there is just a little more than two weeks left of our Europe adventure together. This past week started in Rohrsdorf where the group spent some time drying out, catching up on assignments and enjoying many delicious oven-cooked meals. One of our highlights was getting to know Dani and Arno, the managers of the castle and permanent residents of the unique artist community that is there, who spent an evening sharing their story with us.

From there we moved on to Munich where we found more rain, a few slugs and great beer!  Perhaps the most impacting stop was the trip to Dachau concentration camp, a memorial to the thousands of people who were imprisoned and killed there during the Nazi regime. This stop is always the hardest one on the trip, though worthwhile to see now only WHAT happened (and when), but more importantly WHY it happened (and how).  The memorial site at Dachau moved us to tears and did much more than just exhibit the evils of the S.S. in these camps—it gave us resolve to never let it happen again, opened our eyes to injustice happening all over the world today and challenged us to never stay silent.  Remember to ask our travels about their experience when they return!

Munich also gave us a chance to connect with SSU alumni, Ingo and Gisela who had a few of us leaders over for an amazing meal. It was great to see their familiar faces and see how much their two beautiful children have grown. They say ‘hi’ to everyone back in St. Stephen.

From Munich we drove to Zug, Switzerland where we are currently staying. The group is happy to be at this campground on the lake, perfect for swimming, playing volleyball, biking and enjoying the outdoors just as the Swiss do.  For those who have been on this trip before–we are once again delighted by the company of Rolf, the campground manager who always treats us like gold here. He has become SSU’s biggest fan and looks forward to our visit every time. Yesterday we took a day trip to Zurich which has a rich history surrounding the reformation and Anabaptist movement. Kendall dazzled us with tales of Swiss banks and streets paved with gold. Yes, it’s true that this is one of the richest cities in Europe.

Last night we enjoyed yet another amazing meal from one of our cooking team, which was even more delicious when we found out that Julia Roberts walked 40 minutes to get salad dressing for it! Today was a non-program day filled with biking, hiking, swimming and LOTS of volleyball (and no rain!!).  Tomorrow we are off the Swiss Alps!

 

Until next time,

Shelley Perry

 

 

Hello from Saxony!

June 19, 2011 – 6:00 am
By Shelley Kadatz | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

I (Shelley Perry) am now taking over trip updates from Angela Stanley who has moved into the role of overseeing the entirety of the kitchen component of the trip.

We have now entered the second half of the trip and with it has come some changes. The group ended their time in Italy with the first real rainfall of the trip. Venice brought with it new leaders (Shelley & Kendall Kadatz and I) while testing us (and our tents) with a thunder storm. Unfortunately the poor weather continued as we crossed the Alps but spirits remained high as clips of the Sound of Music were played during the long bus ride to Zell Am See–a picturesque ski town in Austria.  There we took a day trip to Obersalzburg to a museum called The Eagle’s Nest which was once Hitler’s retreat centre and bunker. Now the site houses an extremely informative exhibit on the rise of the National Socialist Party in Germany and the effects of Nazism on Germany.  The campground, set quietly on a pristine lake was a stark contrast to the noisy, busy sites in Italy to which the group had been accustomed.

From there we made our way to what was once the cultural centre of the Holy Roman Empire, Vienna!  With espresso to die for, Beethoven, the waltz, Gustav Klimt and copious amounts of Baroque architecture, what more could we ask for in one city? We even had the privilege of scoring tickets to the Opera (standing room only) to see Wagner’s Die Walküre!  Vienna also brought relief from the rain and the arrival of Peter and Mary Ellen Fitch. Sadly this meant saying goodbye to both the Thiessens and the Barhams as the trip leadership officially changed for the second half.

From Vienna we made a brief stop in Prague, Czech Republic where we met up with SSU alumni, John and Roberta Bartos, currently living in Moravia. Students were intrigued to see evidence of a country still emerging from decades under Soviet rule. Truly it is a city where Eastern Europe meets the west. The visit to the Museum of Communism was particularly helpful in understanding the countries tumultuous past and relatively peaceful revolution in 1989 (the Velvet Revolution).

After some more rain in Prague, the group was more than happy to arrive at our current accommodations near Dresden, Germany.  This is SSU’s second time at Rohrsdorf, a castle that has been turned into a Christian artist community. Here we will spend our 4 days cooking gourmet meals (with an oven), sleeping indoors, and taking an intentional mid-trip break to catch up on rest and work.  Our only program time took place today with a phenomenal tour of Dresden with a new friend and guide, Grit, who enlightened us on Saxon history, the firebombing of the city by the Allies in 1945, and the complicated process of transition for East Germany after the unification.

All in all everyone is doing well and we (the leadership) are continually impressed with everyone’s positive attitudes and care for one another.

 

Goodbye for now!

Shelley Perry

Reflecting on St. Francis

June 12, 2011 – 6:00 am
By Shelley Kadatz | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

You could almost hear the sigh of relief as we arrived in Assisi, the
self proclaimed peace capital of the world. After Rome, our group was
thankful for the laid back, quiet, and empty (relatively speaking)
campground of Assisi.  We spent a full day in Assisi and were
challenged to find some space by ourselves for reflection. Some found
it laying on the grass in an olive grove, others while sitting in Mass
at St. Francis Basilica or at a cafe, or wandering down quiet streets
and ally ways. It certainly felt like a ‘thin place’ gathered as a
group singing ‘Lord Make Us Instruments’, St. Francis’ prayer set to
music by alumni Holli Durost, at the place of St Francis’ conversion,
San Damiano.

We were welcomed in Venice by Shelley Perry, Shelley and Kendall
Kadatz, a new team of leaders for  the second half of the trip. We
were also welcomed by some rain in Venice, bringing us indoors for our
last chance to eat authentic Italian cuisine, shop for local Venetian
glass, tour the islands by water bus, and seek some shelter at one of
the magnificent cathedrals or museums.

Currently, we are en route to Austria where the hills are alive with
the sound of music… (It’s sing-a-long time on the bus!!)

 

Angela Stanley (for the Europe 2011 Leadership Team)

From Florence to Rome

June 10, 2011 – 6:07 am
By Shelley Kadatz | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Whether Florence, Italy was an anticipated stop for us or not, many
were quickly enchanted by this city and its rich history, culture and
scenic and architectural beauty. One of our first stops, and arguably
one of the most memorable, was the Accademia, the museum that houses
one of the world’s most famous sculptures, Michelangelo’s David. This
sculpture, as well as other pieces we saw at places like the Uffizi
Gallery and Opera del Duomo, reminded us, as we often have, that
pictures in text books just do not do justice to these works of art,
and it really is a gift to be able to learn on the road as we are
right now. Also during our stay in Florence we made a day trip to
Sienna before stopping at a three century family owned winery where we
had the chance to taste some Chianti Classico wines and organic olive
oil.
En route to Rome we made a short stop in Orvieto, a quaint city atop a
mountain with spectacular views that stretches for miles.
Rome was another ‘long’ stop (4 nights!), but filled with planned and
unexpected adventures! Our stop coincided with the 150th anniversary
of Italy liberation. The streets and transit, as well as many of the
sites were bussling with people who had come to the country’s capital
to celebrate.  A stop to Rome would not be complete with out a trip to
the Vatican museum, Sistine chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica,
interestingly the same morning as the Pope’s address from that very
location. Other highlights included the Capitolini museum (which over
looks the ancient Roman Forum), the  Collusium (a AD 72 arena still
intact enough to catch a glimpse into what ancient Roman life might
have been like), the Pantheon (a temple built around the of Christ and
boasts one of the Roman’s most impressive architectural achievement,
the dome), the Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, and the Catacombs (said
to have been the burial ground of Peter and Paul for some time).
Our stop in Rome has led many to wrestle through the connection
between tourism and pilgrimage, causing many to realize the importance
of creating intentional spaces to interact and engage with what we see
both mentally and spiritually so as to not get discouraged or
overwhelmed with the tourism around us.

Angela Berry (for the 2011 Europe Leadership Team)

Meeting the thin places

June 8, 2011 – 2:00 am
By JB | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Fences, guard rails, glass and alarms surround all of the places that I see. For a while that bothered me, as these great achievements of architecture and historical monuments are trampled over and captured in a photo, lost on a shelf or a hard drive. I see people running past beautiful art and sculptures, and yet in a way I do the same. A quickly materializing theme for me, as of late, is to find the value in the ‘?thin places,’ as Gregg would call them, but amidst the hustle and bustle I have found it hard to find peace in which to do so. Until I spent a day in St. Peter’s Basilica  in the Vatican, surprisingly enough I found great peace there, even after having been shooed away by picture takers and tour guides. I wonder though, as I view the Pieta or the David with a headphone in my ear, how am I receiving the history?

JB

My pilgrimage through Assisi

June 7, 2011 – 10:38 pm
By madismith | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Today I roam Assisi alone. The city is on a mountainside, overlooking miles of farmland. After our visit to San Damiano church, where St. Francis himself first took up his ministry, we individually began our hikes back up to the city of Assisi. For the first time on this trip, I truly felt my pilgrimage coming to life. As a descendant of both German Catholics (mother’s side) and French Huguenots (father’s side), my journey has been one of truly attempting to dissect identity, specifically my own.

During my journey through Assisi, I encountered three South Korean girls about my age, who were self-proclaimed tourists. Through conversation and sharing with the one who spoke English, I learned that she too was a Christian, and we connected on many levels. I spent about half an hour with these tourists, and what I found changed much of the way I view tourists. They took their time everywhere they went, and were in awe at the beauty they witnessed. They greeted every nun they passed with respect. Though they weren’t on a proclaimed ‘spiritual journey’, they too are finding parts of themselves in travel; enjoying the world. I find that many of us, in travels, come to despise tourists.

Just as I can be both a descendant of Huguenots and Catholics, we are all inextricably bound in each other’s humanity. Just as St. Francis knew: we should learn to love, and not to judge. Where there is hatred, let us sow love.

- Madi

Ramshackle

June 7, 2011 – 8:00 pm
By nygelmetcalfe | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Tonight, in Assisi, I am contemplating peace and am overwhelmed by a sense of blessing, a new realization of the incredible gifts that God gives us, ones we are not deserving of in the least. Here is a little cross-section of my trip so far in poetics:

Barcelona:

Triangles and tree trunks,
The perspective of a lifetime.
Tomorrow will be just like today,
except not at all the same, and quite thrilling.
Speedos on the beach,
It’s sunnier than it has been.
Everyone’s chillin.
Beers, frisbee, the roar of the nearby waves
breaking onto the beach
The Spaniards Dream

Florence:

No self-respecting exploration of Italy is complete without ?Gelato, and we were fortunate enough to be in town for the Florence Gelato Festival!!! Madi, her friend Priscilla, and myself all loaded up our gelato sampling cards and went to town on those little guys!!! The flavors were exotic, and every bite as rich and fresh as the first. We discovered such whimsical flavours as mushroom, rosewater, ginger-pineapple (excellent), pear and red pepper, almond biscotti, and red wine! Delicious, one and all, but our collective favorite was a white wine and florentine cream, which was positively sublime. Food is one of the best ways to experience a country’s culture, and the Italians have stolen my heart by way of my tastebuds.

Rome:

The Pantheon is currently an active church, and the following is a blessing that was displayed at the entrance as I was toured around Rome by Greg and Dan:

“I beg you, Mary,
Throw me a flower,
So that I may scent it’s perfume.
This is like the token of love
That made me suffer so.
Throw me your bouquet;
Not now and not ever
Will I be satisfied with you.”

Nice:

I led a “gathering” time, in which a lone white bird made a conspicuous appearance, and Madi and I played and sang the song Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard. We added a verse, turning it into a prayer, and this remains my constant creed:

“Lord please meet us
We invite you
Let your will be done

Here today and
in tomorrow,
Keep and cover us”

This I also pray for you, dear reader.
Until next time,
Nygel

European Slackline

June 7, 2011 – 6:00 pm
By Nicola Gladwell | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

I travel Europe like I walk my slackline: in one outstretched hand I hold the contradiction between a growing understanding of my religious institutional heritage and my personal faith (ever in process). I grapple for balance on the thin wire and can only balance myself with my other arm – this hand, held palm up, gratefully holds the growing knowledge and appreciation I have for Saint Francis of Assisi, whom I have been reading about since we left Home Sweet St. Stephen.

St. Francis of Assisi: I feel as though I am a pilgrim striving for more understanding, more insight, and more experience. Now, having just left three overwhelming days in Rome, I find myself in a small cafe/bar with the peaceful lights of Assisi at night glowing on the nearby hills.

In one hand I hold St. Peter’s Basilica, in contradiction and in tension with my rebellious ‘I listen to Rob Bell pod-casts’ faith; in the other I hold a man who kissed the feet of corrupt priests, knowing it was his role to love rather than judge (knowing his own frailties full well).

I have challenged myself to better understand my religious heritage this summer: an obligation? a responsibility?

Keep us in your hearts as we struggle with whats been laid on ours.

Peace. From Assisi.

 - Nicola

Rich Travel

June 7, 2011 – 12:30 pm
By Janell | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Florence, Italy has captured a piece of my heart, as cheesy as that may sound. There is something magical about this city, I felt it in my first moments of wondering the streets. I was awestruck and overwhelmed right away, in the best way possible! This city is filled with so much history and character, it has a story to tell of the people who have gone before us. It is bits of this story that I’ve learned through doing my prep work, bits I’ve learned while here, bits that are still to be learned and bits that are a mystery and may always remain a mystery.

Walking through the streets and coming into the Piazza D. Signoria for the first time was striking, as it’s continued weaving lead me to the bottom steps of the Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo). I was so awed by this that it was a while before I turned around, once I did I was facing the East Baptistry doors of the Battistero Giovann. The next day my amazement continued when I found myself standing, quite literally, at the feet of Michelangelo’s magnificent David- this experience was so unique and rich, there are no words to describe it.

It has been quite incredible to see and experience so much history; history that I’ve known about for years and have recently researched more in depth for this term. What a rich experience I am in the midst of, an experience of a lifetime.

Janell

The Creative Soul

June 7, 2011 – 10:05 am
By juliaroberts | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

I believe that creativity spurs creativity. One of the reasons I love art is because it stirs something within you; not only an emotional response to the piece but something that goes beyond that, to the place where you are inspired to create your own. I feel that the best art is this kind, when you are in awe yet inspired. This response takes on different forms; whether you want to take a bit of Park Guell’s mosaics and incorporate that into your own home, or are so inspired by Michelangelo’s David that you write a piece of poetry in response, it would seem that art begets art. We are designed to create, and when we are inspired by a piece of art, the result is more creativity.
I think that this is part of why cities such as Florence draw so many people. This place was the heart of the Renaissance -a “rebirth” of creativity – and today when you visit there is evidence of this everywhere. Not only are there historical art pieces -architecture, paintings, sculptures- but everywhere you go there are street artists and musicians creating art. Art draws the artist within people, awakening creativity and bringing it to the the surface. In whatever form it may take, we all have creative souls.

Julia

Sunrise Over Florence

June 7, 2011 – 8:47 am
By katebaker | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

A sunrise takes you to a place almost outside of time and space. To see a day born is a deeply moving experience, and I have seen few enough to remember most of them, but there have been two on this trip that I think I would remember – even if I drank of the mythological “waters of forgetfulness”
The first was in a field of poppies beneath the medieval walls of Carcassonnne, watching as the sun turned the walls into burnished gold and the poppies unfolded into translucent red silk. The second morning was on the steps of a 10th century church on a hill above the city of Florence. In that quiet and sacred space Janell and I watched the rays light on the Duomo and gradually waken the sleeping city.
Our dean Gregg Finley loves to use the phrase “thin place” to identify those times and places where the gap between heaven and earth is narrowed or closed. I can’t help but think, in the midst of man-made sculpture, painting, and architecture, that the most powerful beauty of all – the kind which creates such “thin places” – is the beauty of the natural world God created. In the midst of which are those moments when He lets us see it in all its glory. At the same time, I have to add that I am becoming more and more amazed as our trip goes on, at how He is so gracious as to share His beauty-making capacity with mankind. I see this gift in the beauty of Michelangelo’s “Pieta” or in the collaboration the Duomo of Florence and the walls of Carcassone with the light of His sun.

- Kate

“A dream is a wish your heart makes…”

June 7, 2011 – 3:40 am
By momo. | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

When I was a little girl, I used to dream of what it would be like to be in Italy. I imagined the incredible artwork, the amazing food and scenery, and the quintessential Italian restaurant run by a wonderful old man where I would sit and watch the bustle of people go by. But, like so many other childhood dreams, this one was forgotten as I was swept up into school and every day life in my own country.
Being here in Rome, I am becoming re-acquainted with my dreams as they are continually coming true before my eyes. Nothing is exactly how I imagined it would be (few dreams ever are), but there’s something even better about being here; it’s real. I’ve sat at perfectly Italian restaurants with the wise and friendly old men running them, I’ve tasted the most amazing food of my life, and I’ve seen some of the artwork that epitomizes the European experience.
Maybe I’m romanticizing it all (definitely) but I think there’s something about being in Europe that makes that feel okay.
- Mo.

Italia

June 6, 2011 – 11:37 pm
By hannahnewson | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

Long Live Italy!! Today we saw an amazing and cultural thing. We went to a parade celebrating 150 years of Italienne unification. Everywhere you looked there were thousands and thousands of people standing out in the hot sun. As sweat dripped down their backs they waved flags, clapped, and cheered. They were proud of their country’s past victory. Italy is here to stay and they will make sure of that. We have been learning a lot about the European Union lately and many people believe that soon their will no longer be any countries, their will just be Europe. After today’s display of national pride and various other encounters on the trip I don’t think any country will disappear culturally. There will always be someone holding onto the culture, especially ones so loved by their people.

Hannah

Museums, Churches, & Museum Churches

June 6, 2011 – 7:29 pm
By JenObokata | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

After several escapades in Asia visiting temple ruins, shrines, and encountering many other sacred sites, I find myself the tourist in my own religion. Here in the heartland of the church, as I know it in Canada, Europe is proving to be an interesting challenge. With every new cathedral, chapel, basilica, or church I visit I find myself negotiating reverence for a holy place with academic and artistic curiosity. Does a basilica filled with tourists snapping photos and buying tokens of their visit cease being God’s house? Is it really just another museum? If I buy a postcard here or take a picture of a sculpture there, would I become one of those who Jesus shunned out of His Father’s house? And lets face it, at the end of the day I am essentially just another tourist. These are a few of the questions I find myself asking as I enter the magnificent places of history, craftsmanship, and faith here in Spain, in France, and in Italy. Perhaps my questions are not that far off from Luther’s own over 500 years ago. Now it is my turn to chose how to respond.

Jen

Europe and the Town of St. Augustine

June 6, 2011 – 4:36 pm
By racheldriedger | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

As a history student I see it as my task to search out and feel the past that I have been privileged enough to observe. In my wanderings of the familiar North America, I have discovered that the North American people are obsessive about their relatively young history. They protect it with high fences and stronggly discourage any kind of student to reach out and interact with that past. The oldest continuously occupied town in the United States of St. Augustine, Florida is such a place with its little cobblestone streets and a large Spanish Fortress that contains relics of it’s history. Now, if you’ve never been there you might not understand the comparison I am about to make. St Augustine is like Europe, at least the part I have seen from Barcelona to Rome, with a few exceptions. There are plentiful palm trees and places that a history buff can soak up and bask in, cobblestone streets and tiny shops that have been there for hundreds of years. But in Europe, history is relative, and these sites and important places are not fenced off and there is no date from which any particular country can place a finite beginning. One can reach out with a warm, sun burnt hand and feel the heartbeat of the past beneath their fingertips. I’ve walked amid Roman ruins and written poems in the lands of kings. I’ve seen the burial place of Raphael and breathed the same air, walked some of the same places, as Caesar. I’ve been able to change that heartbeat of history into an experience of my own, and continued the search for the handprint of God outside the textbook.

Rachel

Contained on Walls

June 6, 2011 – 11:09 am
By graceturner | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

All the best artists in the world traveled to Europe. They traveled by boat, horse and car. During the Renaissance such artists as Donatello, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci called Italy their artistic home. A week ago I sat by the river in the South of France. I saw the landscape of people walking their dogs, people sprawled out on blankets. Up until this moment art was an idea, something contained on walls and canvas. The real beauty of Western Europe is found on long bus rides and hot hot days traveling the urban and rural sprawl of Spain and France.

For me these past few weeks have been an actualization of inspiration. I now understand the desire to express the beauty of this land. The passion behind their art whether it was politics, religion, or human beauty makes my experience of their art more savory.

The beginning of this trip has been a realization of abstract ideas. While traveling to France I have stood where thousands of protestants hid during their prosecution. I have stood on the outskirts of the Coliseum, where martyrs of my faith stood and triumphantly died for their beliefs. I have been able to taste the fresh French croissant, smell the handmade Italian leather bags, and see the marble beauty of the David statue. These concepts have shed their fictional facade and have become real life experiences. These experiences have become a part of my history. My journeys are now intertwined with those historical figures from my history textbook.

The writer craves experiences, similarly the artists craves new landscapes. Understanding the vast geographical beauty of Western Europe has made my experience of art, architecture and food a daily exercise of thought and reflection.  I can not wait to experience all that Europe has to offer.

Grace

Hacking my way across Europe…

June 4, 2011 – 8:27 pm
By Jonathan Higgins | Posted in 2011 Comments (0)

If knowledge is gained through experience, surely community is built through fellowship. Since the earliest stops in the trip we have reveled in the satisfaction of getting our hackey sack around the ring of jugglers once, twice and rarely three times; laughing at our “faulty left legs” and taking probably too much pleasure in the occasional hand-grab resulting in punishment via thrown-sack-brutality. We eat together, see and learn together, travel together and hack together. It’s these times of sweat, laughter and exasperation that release so much of the small built-up tensions of the day. Viva la hack and may it spread it’s communal blessings as a contagion that brings both the coordinated and challenged together for many countries and millenia to come.

Jonathan