my berfday

Antonello threw me a surprise birthday dinner for my 30th and I felt so blessed to share it with his family and a few friends. Some of our friends couldn't make it because of the flu that has been wandering around but it was wonderful none-the-less.

I worked a very long day on the 14th, from 11:30-7:00 pm that night, so I was pretty exhausted by the time Antonello picked me up from work. He drove me back home so I could rest a while and then get ready for our "date" together. I had no idea that he was planning this dinner so when I walked into the restaurant and saw little 'nonna' (grammy) standing there trying to hide, I knew something special was up.

It was a wonderful night full of amazing appetizers, wonderful pasta and bread, and champagne with strawberry/whip-cream cake to top it off.

sitting at the table together waiting for some food!!! I thought I had opened all my presents but his parents were saving this one for me as a surprise

I just couldn't believe my eyes....as I screamed "MAMMA MIA"

my own little oven....aahhhh....

(my place is pretty tiny, so this little oven is a piece of heaven for me and my kitchen)

my dude

one of the many beautiful walls that covered the entire restaurant

my birthday cake with fireworks on it :o)

the manly men

the beauties

All in all, it was a wonderful birthday and I loved every minute.

Now, I am trying to clean my house and pack my things before I head off to Seattle once again to spend some time with mom, friends and family for Christmas. Antonello has to stay in Napoli so I am venturing off, yet again, to fly cross-country. Whew...it takes a lot of mental and physical power to keep traveling back and forth.

The other night, Antonello surprised me (again) by calling me after I had an English private lesson at my house and told me to look down from my balcony. Well, that little sneaker was standing on my street smiling at me, telling me to get down there so we could walk to our favorite neighborhood pizzeria to pick up a couple pizzas. On the way back, it started to pour down rain and we were caught in it. It was way fun pretending like we were in a race to get the pizzas home and were literally racing through my narrow streets getting drenched. Fun times.

a new song

It has been awhile since my last post and so much has happened in the last 3 months. I found a wonderful job at a private school teaching English and even have a couple private lessons at my house during the week. It has provided a level of stability that I so desperately needed. I am finding my way around the city, and although the bus is still difficult to take, I am experiencing Napoli in such a different, beautiful light.

I am so so so looking forward to traveling back to the States for Christmas and having some time off of work, of a different country, of a different language, etc., but I will miss my love. :o)

There was a point, a wall, that I hit sometime in these last three months where I didn't think I could fall deeper in my culture shock, what am I doing, this isn't for me, I miss my comfortable life I used to have, HOLE. I fell into a hole that surrounded me and wouldn't let me go. I was feeling pretty horrible, to say the least, with all my different emotions/feelings/actions/words/thoughts and I prayed every day for some kind of release, for some kind of answer.

Isn't it usually true, that the way we come to a place of light is by going through all the darkness and climbing our way through those holes? Well, I've been doing alot of climbing and am coming to a place in my life where I can finally see how beautiful it is. Not because I'm living in Italy. Not because I'm engaged. Not because I'm living some sort of romantic movie because I'm not. I'm seeing how beautiful God is through all of this and that is a song worth singing.

I am grateful to live life among these Italians, with Antonello, with his family and now with my new work family. WOO-HOO for a new song!

time off

...taking some time off of blogging for awhile...

rest in peace

My aunt died at 7:17 on Sunday night. Her four children, my mother, and her 2 best friends of 45 years were by her side as she breathed her last. I am so thankful that she was surrounded by people who loved her so very much.

I was so blessed to be able to go home for a couple weeks to see her. We laughed together as we remembered when she bet me $5 at dinner one night to order like Jim Carrey and at Christmas one year, she asked me to count all the Christmas lights I saw on the houses as I went light-looking with my cousins one evening. I think I was about 6 or 7 at the time and when I came back to her house that night, I told her I counted about 1,000. It sounded like a HUGE number to me and I was so proud I counted all of them for her.

The funeral will be in a couple of weeks and as hard as it is for me to be so far away from my mom and the rest of my cousins, I am at peace because my aunt's body is finally at peace. It has been a rough road for her in life and I am thankful she is seated gently in God's mighty hand.

Thank you for all of your prayers.

death

My aunt is dying of cancer.

It feels so strange to type those words. Everytime I think about it, my mind sees her laying in bed, with her weak body and bald head surrounded by her four children that are watching their mother die. Before future weddings. Before more grandchildren. My heart breaks to think of it, to picture her, to picture my cousins, to picture my already broken family, and to picture my own mom...and can't imagine having to go through the same thing with her.

So many feelings are racing through my already crowded heart. I fly home this Friday for two weeks to be with my mom and to spend time with my aunt. I don't know if there will be a funeral that I am going to have to attend while I am home; I am just praying/begging/hoping for some kind of unity/peace/reconciliation within my family during this time, through our grief and sorrow.

She is scared to die...and is just waiting for it to happen. What a lonely place to be in. I'm sitting here at my computer, crying, writing this blog in Italy, and feeling how extremely far away, physically, I am from her. I can only cry out and ask God to cover her, my cousins, and her brother and sisters with His tender touch and comfort.

Would you join me?

climbing mountains

Antonello, his best friend, Fabio and I, all went for a beautiful hike up Mount Vesuvius this past Saturday. It was absolutely spectacular...on so many levels. Here are some of the amazing sculptures we saw on our drive up to the hiking point.

Here is Antonello on the way up the mountain. The whole time I just kept thinking, this is an active volcano, not that I think it would erupt or anything, but just the fact of how much force and power it had and has. From my studies on Pompeii, which was the city that was buried under the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius, this area of Napoli is the most dangerous and most highly monitored area because of how active this mountain has been and how incredibly dense the population is here. It was awesome to look out on the Bay of Napoli and see where I live, right on the waterfront. :0)

The hike was pretty steep all the way to the top. And when I say 'top', I mean the outer rim of the volcano because after the eruption of 79 AD and another in 1948...the 'top' is a hole now.

Here I am standing in front of the "mouth" of the volcano...it was really special for me because only a couple months before, I was studying about Pompeii and about Mount Vesuvius and all the characteristics of the eruption and then to see the actual evidence left over...remarkable.

the "mouth"

aerial view of Mount Vesuvius - the outer rim is where we were able to walk around!

It was an incredible day. After we hiked up, I spent a little time just looking out over the bay and foggy mountain tops and felt quiet. Not only was it quiet up on the mountain, but also quiet in my soul. I love being outside and part of God's beautiful world.

My project now, besides studying for my online TEFL certification to teach english, is printing on these old tiles for some of the faithful servants who work at the Old Mill Camp (Vecchio Mulino) where Antonello volunteered this summer for an English camp. I love being able to use my artsy side! :0)

A+ day

Antonello, his family, and I all went to a beautiful beach last Friday, just south of Rome and had a wonderful day playing in the water, kicking around the soccer ball, eating delicious food and.....getting burned. Oh, that part. That definitely wasn't wonderful or is it wonderful to look at my cooked body even today...on Monday.

I know, I know. Didn't you wear sunscreen Sarah? You have such white, delicate skin!! And the answer is YES, I put on so so so much sunscreen but I'm telling you, the sun that day was cookin' everyone. Antonello's shoulders took a beating, and even his aunt and uncle who came along got burnt as well.

On Saturday, I spent all day in bed with a 101 degree temperature feeling like fried chicken...horrible. The good news is that even though I can still see/feel the effects of that hot Friday, I am feeling so much better. I even slept for 6 hours straight last night without having to get up, get some ice, go to the bathroom, drink some water, & pray over my aloe vera bottle.

Today has been quite joyful to say the least. I did both loads of laundry I needed to get done, hung all my clothes out to dry, went to the grocery store and bought some yummy fruit, eggs and stuff to make home-made pasta sauce, made a delicious lunch with penne pasta and marinara with fresh basil and parm cheese, studied for my online TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) certificate, am now updating my blog and later, after my afternoon caffe', study this beautiful language I am surrounded by daily.

Grade for the day: A+

no words

Antonello and I the night before camp ended :(

Antonello and the "American" boys!


Antonello and I with our new friends, Sarah and David


Sarah, Leanne and I

my beautiful Italian loves

I just got back from a week of being a leader for an Italian/American camp with 12 Americans from California and over 50 campers from 3 different churches here in Naples.

Crazy? Yes. Loud? Very. Fun? Of course. Memories to Last a Lifetime? Many.

Are there words? Are there words to describe when God literally picks you up and shakes the chains loose? I was actually dreading this camp; I was dreading trying to survive and spend any more time in Italy with my broken Italian...and on top of still not being able to fully communicate, I was just hoping that Antonello and I would make it out....together.

I am literally staring at my computer screen, shaking my head and feeling so THANKFUL. I wish I could put into words what happened at the Old Mill Camp; I feel so much of it is just something that lives within me now and is a part of how I operate and see the world.

I not only survived, but lived the experience. 12 Americans flew over from Los Altos, California and were critical in leading the program part of camp. From the moment I found out I would be able to spend a week with fellow english speakers, my heart did a little leap...what I didn't expect was the kind of relationships that would be formed during that time as well. It was an absolute joy and answer to prayer to spend day after day with such talented and gifted leaders. We prayed together, ate the most delicious food (every day :)), watched kids make beautiful choices for their lives, played in the hot Italian sun and did it all for God. Nothing is more powerful than that.

A definite blessing my new American friends were to me during camp, but the way I connected with my new culture as well left me floored. My Italian grew in leaps and bounds and the love and appreciation I have for this country and for these beautiful campers/students/friends is overflowing. Antonello and I were able to spend time with about 20 of them last night for a little reunion, and you could feel the growth between us all; what a gift.

As for Antonello and I...well...I have never felt such respect, appreciation, admiration and love for another man. I saw him become this amazing leader, not only with the campers but with the staff as well. I have always been a little worried in the back of my mind if Antonello would fit in America, if we move over there. The answer I got was loud and clear; ABSOLUTELY. It was such a joy to watch him laugh and grow and be able to share this experience together.

At one point during the week, one of the American leaders, Sarah, ran outside to find me because she had to show me something. Antonello and Sarah were on the same team together and their group was in charge of cleaning the kitchen that night. Sarah grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen where I poked my head in and saw Antonello's whole team dancing to the radio while doing the dishes. Antonello had his back to me and was in his own world, shaking his little booty while drying the silverware. Of course, I joined in the dancing and will always have that beautiful smile on Antonello's face in my mind.

As Antonello and I got home last Saturday, we had 3 bags of laundry (which took 2 days to do!) and tears in our eyes. It was incredible.

Not only do I get to live with camp in my heart, I had an interview with an English language school yesterday and am now a registered teacher there. I will be able to give individual lessons as well as travel to different schools throughout Naples to prepare students for exams or even to provide english teaching to people in the business world. There is no set schedule as of yet and there are other teachers that have first priority, seeing that they have worked there longer, but I am not going to let that discourage me. I trust in God and I know opportunities will open for me just the same. For the rest of the summer, I enrolled in an online course to be certified to teach English as a second language so that will keep me busy until September rolls around to begin! :)

a sneak peek

"Old Mill Camp 2009"

It has been WAY TOO LONG since my last post so here is a picture of what I have been up to this past week and a half and I promise an actual post will be coming soon!

edible art

I am continually amazed by Franco, Antonello's dad, when he uses his exceptional artist skills and creates these delicious pieces of edible art. I better watch next time! :)

buckets and food :o)

The first video was from yesterday as I was hanging my clothes out to dry. All of a sudden, a rope with a bucket tied on it flew down from nowhere (well, from a couple stories up) and landed on the street below to catch some much needed items. I caught the bucket just as it was heading home. :) What fun to live in Italy....

The second is a video that speaks for itself. I gotta get started if I want to cook like grammy!!!!

living

The best beginning to each of my days in Italy is to make myself a hot little cup of espresso. It was my first Sunday alone at my house today because I am usually with Antonello and his family for a busy day of church, a HUGE lunch and a soccer game. But on this day, on this glorious day, I was here by myself and loved each moment of the quiet streets and cool wind running across my balcony.

After waking up to no power and then having it restored at 9 a.m., I was able to get in 2 loads of laundry...there is nothing like clothes hung out to dry by the golden sun. If you take a close look, Antonello and I put up a yellow mosquito net to keep those little rascals out at night. I currently have 11 bites on my feet alone. Grrr....


After journaling and a little "soul searching" (much needed with being so far away from home, not working, and stress upon stress), I looked out towards the sea and found the most beautiful clouds that ended one of my most peaceful days I have had since I have been here. It was a pure gift from God.
This little photo, which wasn't exactly from today, is a photo taken from the most beautiful park overlooking Napoli. I included this pic because I am ending my day dreaming tonight...of being with a certain someone on a certain day wearing certain clothes with all of it happening at this certain park. We'll see...buona notte. (good-night)

Positano

Antonello, 4 visiting Americans, 3 Italian brothers and myself all took a trip down the Amalfi coast to visit one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, Positano. Don't get me started on how dumb I am because I forgot my camera but we ended taking some pics on Antonello's phone which we haven't uploaded yet. We ended up catching the last bit of sun while walking through the narrow streets filled with little shops and restaurants; it was quite magical. By the time we reached the center of the little city which is located right on the sea, it was already dark outside so the picture above gives a very clear picture of what I saw that night.

I have to go back during the day...WITH my camera! :) Now, to figure out a way to start earning some money because I have walked past too many beautiful, Italian clothes that I can't quite get my hands on. Oh, and rent. :)

the gold chair

WAIT.

Why is this one little word so hard for me to swallow?

WAIT.

It is difficult to wait. It is difficult to not know what lies ahead in the next year, month, week, day, hour. God calls us to wait, especially when it involves His best for our lives.

I find myself waiting and it feels unfair, to be honest.

My mom loves to tell this story of when I was a little girl. Cheri (mom) and 4 year-old Sarah were in the grocery store together and happened to walk past the candy aisle...oh no. I guess little curly-haired Sarah Louise stopped and took a good look at all the precious bags of sugar and chose one she wanted, without permission. A yummy lookin' bag of M&M's. Cheri put her foot down, knowing her little girl didn't need a bag of candy and said....."NO". Well, that didn't sit right with sweet Sarah who wanted that candy and didn't want to WAIT. She wanted it NOW. Sarah didn't back down and ended up throwing the bag of M&M's on the floor and as the little pieces of goodness splattered all over the aisle, Cheri took Sarah out of the store as she began to throw a temper tantrum. They went home immediately and Sarah was placed in the dreaded gold "time-out" chair (which is currently a piece of furniture in the Yonich household).

WAITING. I didn't even want to do it as a little one. Who does? When we want something to happen, how much better would it feel if we could just have that hunger satisfied in the moment. Skip the waiting period.

There is wisdom and growth in learning how to wait. To wait for God. To wait for His best. It's not a matter of God being unfair to make us wait, it's a matter of Him loving us so much that waiting would be the best thing for us to do, however uncomfortable and aggravating it may seem.

I think God is telling me to go sit in the gold chair.

a little goes a long way

I am thankful for...

* the smell of the sea at night when I stand out on my balcony
* being able to (sometimes) understand at least 70% of an italian sentence
* seeing a friend that I met last year who works at a nearby shoe store
* being part of an italian family so if I am out of food, I can go shopping at their house
* it's not horribly humid outside...yet
* making american chocolate-chip cookies for Antonello's family, yummy!
* figured out how to watch the season finale of Grey's Anatomy on my laptop
* ear plugs (it has been so stinkin' loud at night lately)
* a mother who can change my black day into sunshine

Isn't it amazing what a little thankfulness can do to our spirit? I already feel a little lighter...

a thought

wouldn't it be wonderful if we could snap our fingers and be the person we dream to be?

a new day

I woke up this morning and needed to strike out on my own. I have done little walks here and there but today I felt like spending some much needed time by myself, exploring my new city, getting lost, finding my way again, and becoming more familiar/comfortable with my life here. It was a new day and I loved every minute of it. My adventures led me, first, to Piazza Gesu', where I found two Americans and walked with them to the waterfront where we explored Castello dell'Ovo and after parting ways, I found my favorite 3-story bookstore where I ordered something to eat and of course, caffe'. I walked back to my little studio along the sea, feeling the warm air all around me and tried to take everything in. The smell of the sea, the noise of the cars and scooters passing me by, the sound of the boats, and the beautiful language I am so desperately trying to learn.

I have a little tutoring job tomorrow night. A 15-year old girl in high school needs help with pronouncing some english words. I think I can do that. :)

Ciao amici!

gelato

This picture was taken the day after Easter, while Antonello and I were at his uncle's house in Bari, on the east coast of Italy. His aunt took us to this little cafe where we ordered some gelato and while I was going through my pictures tonight, I found this little treasure and now I'm craving some ice cream. I think I have some in my freezer. Gotta go! :)

a little history

It was "culture week" at the National Archeological Museum in Napoli this week so Antonello and I took advantage of the FREE entry tickets and spent 3 beautiful hours in a world of massive statues, intricate & beautiful mosaics and frescoes that people who once lived in Pompeii, thousands of years ago, displayed in their homes.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE to walk around and see the original artifacts, statues, and paintings that existed from 2nd century B.C. to about the 1st century A.D.. All of the research I have been doing on Pompeii only made it that much more exciting to see it in person today and to experience history first-hand.

My computer isn't allowing me to actually see the pictures so I will try and explain what they are in numerical order:
1. an ancient tomb with the different mythical "Gods" carved into the side
2. a huge mosaic representing the battle between Alexander the Great and Darius, the Persian King
3. a HUGE head of Emperor Caesar
4. a common ground mosaic telling people to "Beware of Dog"
5. a breath-taking statue of Flora from the Farnese collection

a bit foggy

It's 1:44 in the afternoon and I'm sitting at my little orange table looking out to my balcony where the rain won't stop pouring down on the little Italian street below, and I feel lost. It has almost been a year since I have worked last and it's, once again, making me feel purposeless. Not that I'm not looking or anything, but you have to agree, it's becomes a little harder with a different language than your own.

I have no idea what the next step is. I haven't heard back from Bruno, the guy I was praying/wishing/hoping to work with as a guide in Pompeii and all other avenues seem foggy. This language still eludes me and as hard as I try, I still feel and KNOW that I truly can't communicate my heart/ideas/desires fully. Why am I here? What is my purpose? Was I supposed to come back? Am I not listening closely enough for God's little voice in all of this?

As it is still pouring down rain outside, I am now going to turn my attention to my heavy Italian book sitting in front of me and read about my new mountain to tackle: Si impersonale

1. When the si construction is used with an infinitive, the conjugated verb is in the third-person singular or plural, depending on the object of the infinitive.
2. The phrase ci si must be used when a reflexive verb is used impersonally.
3. Compound tenses of impersonal si constructions are formed using 'essere'. If the verb is normally conjugated with 'essere', the past participle is always plural, even if the verb is singular.
4. If the verb is normally conjugated with 'avere' and the sentence has a direct object, the past participle agrees with the direct object in gender and number.

Good luck to me?

first days

I spent my first day, yesterday, all by myself in my little studio and had a wonderful day unpacking a few things, getting an unexpected visit from my "property manager" named Mustafa (sort of like Mufasa from the Lion King!) who I tried my best to understand and be understood in italian, a long walk to my favorite bookstore by my language school where I ended up buying "Twilight", a wonderful lunch of pasta fagioli (beans) and of course, bread & fruit, and a night of studying some italian and finishing the night with watching an italian show called, "Affari Tuoi" which is like the American show, "Deal or no Deal".

Antonello and I just got back from a walk to the waterfront where we grabbed some gelato and caffe'...I'm still trying to figure out where and how I fit in this country/city that can oftentimes be scary but so liberating at the same time. Now, I'm just praying for a stable job...rent is coming up soon. :)

sigh

I have unreliable internet access at my little apartment so my posts will be few and far between.

my week

Here are some pics of my little apartment right in the heart of Napoli. We are still trying to figure some things out so tomorrow will be my first night by myself. When I stop and think about it, I feel like it's someone else's life. This time around, being my second time experiencing life here, has brought less culture shock but a little more anxiety with living by myself in a different language than my own.

little kitchen the double doors leading out to the balcony

picture taken off my balcony looking out to Corso Umberto, a well-known street downtown

taken from the second floor where the bedroom is

my huge bed with my new lamp, mirror and bedspread

cute little bathroom

Since Monday, Italia has experienced a string of earthquakes, having the big one happen early Monday morning in a town called L'Aquila, just north of Rome. At around 3:30 in the morning, both Antonello and I felt the earthquake in grandma's apartment and were scared as the whole place shook and lasted for about 15 seconds, which seemed like a very long time. No one and nothing was hurt but almost 300 people have died from the quake and thousands are left without homes. It has been devastating to watch the news; there was a story where a man had lost his mother and son, who were found dead, hugging, trying to comfort eachother as the roof collapsed on them.

On a lighter note, on Tuesday, Antonello and I got on the train and headed to Pompei to meet Bruno and to talk about my possible work with him. The meeting went well, seeing that Antonello and I actually went on a tour with Bruno as our guide, so I was able to experience what I would be doing. I tried to understand what he was saying but, mamma mia, I think I only understood like 30%....which is not enough. He gave me some study materials so I have been doing that but I feel I have such a LONG way to go in my italian. Bruno also mentioned that there may be some good work for me to lead tours to the island of Capri and to lead tours around Napoli, around the region of Campania so it might be another possibility but nothing is for sure yet.

For Easter, we are heading to Bari, which is on the east coast of Italy, and spending the weekend with his uncle and aunt. I think I should start preparing my stomach for the grand feast. :)

Ciao amici! A presto!