My day started at 4:30am...and yes, I was being serious in my last post that I went to bed at 3:30am...oops :) I got up, showered, got ready, grabbed the bag I'd prepped the night before and started walking to the metro station.
I knew that today was the Roma Marathon--MARATONA DI ROMA 18. We talked about running it but my plans for today trumped. (Megan, Ali and I are actually planning on reuniting in Roma in the next couple years and running it together...stoked much? yes!); What I didn't know was that ALL of the streets were completely and totally blocked off in every direction once I got to the Colosseum. I panicked just a little, not gonna lie. Luckily a couple cops saw this girl all dolled up with a bag in tow, totally halted in her heeled boots, stuck as though the world has just paused, and in my best Italian I explained my situation and they directed me up this hill and down a ways to an alternate entrance to the Metro. Though I'd always wanted to wander up that hill, 5am and in heels were not the best match for the cobble stone pathway. I managed, found it, and got to Roma Termini only a few minutes behind schedule. I has planned in time to grab hot cocoa and a croissant for breakfast at the station and sat near a window to relax, breath, and enjoy a little people watching over my meal. It was quite delightful.
My train arrived. My destination: Battipaglia, Italy. It's a place south of the Amalfi coast which meant I had about a 3-4 hour train ride with an exchange in Salerno (which was totally planned with time to get out and explore around a little) on the way. My purpose: To meet the Barretta Family, described as 4 sisters 25 and older with a wonderful Mamma that I'm going to love.
Salerno is a really cute little seaside town that, though our adventures in Positano eliminated it for our itinerary for this trip, I will for sure be spending a good day there on my next trip. I love the ocean! There were some really pretty beach side views from both the train ride through and my little walk.
I've decided that the best way to tell you all about this part of my adventure is to cut and paste the letter I wrote to my friend describing my experience. This absolutely and with no contest was the best, most important to me, most treasured part of my entire trip. I have permission from him to post this letter (though I did slightly edit it :) ):
K so, I think by now you know how my Sunday played out. I can't even say practically perfect in every way, because it was literally perfect in every way and then some! The Barretta's are amazing!!! And hey, as far as Denise and Livians are concerned, there's no fun in meeting EVERYONE the first time, gotta leave some excitement and anticipation for the second. [I was supposed to be in Milano with a couple other friend's of his, like that was the plan since February, but it fell through the last week and I decided that I wanted to meet this family more, so there was some confusion in the States as to where I ended up that day because I hadn't emailed or skyped in a bit.]
Gina was at the little train station when I arrived waiting for me. We knew instantly who each other was. She said she'd seen pictures but I hadn't but could just feel her love as I walked up and made eye contact from a distance.
Oh my goodness!!!! I can't even close to figure out how to tell you how much fun I had with the Barretta family!! They are incredible!!! I love them so much! You were so right. We totally hit it off from hello and will probably be good friends and in touch for the rest of our lives. They are one of the most amazing families I've ever met and Anna Maria is a saint if I've ever met one...a quite hysterical saint actually...you should have seen/heard us, sometimes she'd just say the best English one liners and we'd all be on the ground crying we were laughing so hard. I guess you've probably experienced that though. I love her. She just...she just treated me like a daughter from the moment they picked me up from the train station...actually, after church while they were teaching me how to make the pasta we had for lunch she just came up to me, a little emotional, and was like, "Cami, you are another one of my daughters I think." Oh, She truly is an angel.
We had a wonderful lunch, all the girls were there and the elders and Angelo [one of her four sons] (p.s. that kid! hahaha he's one of the most funny people I have ever met...and he's so good at joking in English...the whole family is actually), what a blast! The food was incredible, of course, and the company and conversation, wow, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect real, genuine, beautiful, happy, fun, loving, loud Italian family experience. From the early morning when I arrived until late that night when I left I don't think 5 minutes went by when we weren't laughing and there was always someone to the point of tears. My abs were seriously, totally not over exaggerating, sore for two days after that...like I could feel them, you know?
Church. I don't even know how to tell you about church let alone how much I loved it. I mean, when I was in Napoli sitting with Babak in gospel principles class and listening to the elder bear one of the most beautiful and fervent testimonies I've ever felt, then, that afternoon I thought I have never been so close to my mission. It was actually kind of embarrassing because without warning tears started rolling down my cheeks and I just...I don't even know...I absolutely positively LOVED--like obsessively--loved my mission. I loved it! It was one of the best, most fun, most fulfilling times of my life and i wouldn't trade it for the world and strangely...actually as a result of Napoli...I've mulled over the idea of if I would ever consider serving again...I know I know, I'm crazy, but hey, that's just me, I love doing missionary work....anyways, tears. And as i listened I pondered about the warm drops and discovered that probably for the first time since I've been back, the first time in 3+ years, if someone would have been like, "tomorrow I want you to go serve again" I wouldn't have thought twice about it. I mean i miss the work, the people, the food, the adventure, but this was unlike anything I've ever felt before, on a very deep spiritual level I missed the work and in those moments I felt like I was right back in it.
Battipaglia Branch threw me right back there again. I don't know. Maybe it was the tropical setting, the cutie little, totally unique building, the faithful members (regardless of their numbers), the elders translating their little hearts out over the shoulders of the other English speakers, me sitting there, once again listening to the gospel being taught and testified of in a beautiful language and perfectly content just listening with not much more translation other than being truly aware of the topic being discussed, and yet watching and listening--experiencing--to these wonderful brothers and sisters comment, question, and answer according to their heart's desire, understanding, need, and want...following the spirit and inviting Him in more strongly. Watching the elders as an investigator came in late and the light that beams with excitement as we all notice that he has his Book of Mormon in hand. And then watching the love everyone had for him as he courageously participated in the lesson and himself bore strong testimony about the Savior--despite his limited understanding.
Church. The faith of those members. Watching as the Bishop and his wife were asked to share their testimonies about their fears and faith about their upcoming life changing adventure of moving to Mexico to pick up their new family and better yet, listening and watching as it became and more and more evident that it was not just this sweet couple that was gaining a family, but the entire branch as they ALL excitedly would try to explain to me what was going on. Anna Maria got called to be the primary president :)...the kids don't come for another 3 months and there are none currently in the Branch. I know she will start faithfully serving and preparing this week. And then listening and just feeling the willingness of the members to support and follow the guidance of the dear elder that would be the presiding Branch President until further notice. Incredible. The church is true! And I love it! I just can't get enough of it! Sometimes I hear the aunts and uncles and my daddy talk about how church used to be when they had meetings on different days and wish it could still be like that because I love gathering together like that with hearts knit together, you know? Wow.
Anyway, after dinner we basically just spent the evening talking and laughing and getting to know each other and swapping funny stories and testimonies. They were amazing to me. And Vera, don't even get me started on Vera. What a rock. It didn't even take halfway through the day before she and I were regretting not having gotten in contact sooner so we could have spent a week together! Gina and Rita and and and I could go on forever about these girls! Rita is so sweet and really quite adorable and Gina, she was stuck to my side from beginning to end. And the oldest sister Alessandra, I really liked her, too...she's got a little sass to her and though she didn't speak as much she made me feel like I was important to her and whenever she did say something it was always really good and heartfelt. Anna Maria truly is a remarkable woman. Her life has not been easy but I admire her so much for all she has accomplished and done for her family. I mean, you know them, look at those kids. I don't care if they're active or not or whatever, they are all such special spirits. So full of love. Thank you so much for allowing me to be blessed with the opportunity of being touched by them. Thank you for sharing them with me. It's rare, being the oldest girl, that I have...well, I guess like,--while I was there was one of those cherished moments that it felt like I was blessed with the understanding of what it's like to have "big sisters" and they felt the same way. This was obviously a very special experience for me and I'm probably telling you more than you'd ever care to know. But I guess my heart is just brimming with gratitude. We talked about how at first we were both kinda like, "hmm, what's the point for us to meet?" but then within an hour of spending time together and talking we knew. And really, we feel like the Lord wanted us to meet too. So, I guess in the end thank you for being an instrument in the Lord's hands because we were all touched and changed by the testimonies and love of each other.
anyway, have a great night...and I heard you were a little concerned about me that night...please, come on, you should know me better than that...it was only a 4 hour train ride, a 20 or so minute bus ride, and a little walk through some pretty poorly lit streets until I found my tall, blond Rupertite chica who then escorted me the rest of the way home...I was fine, confident, and never felt nervous or in danger or lost thank you. Have a little faith my friend...by this point i hope I'd be fine, I did just backpack through Europe, not speaking ANY of the key languages. :) Are you ever going to stop worrying about me?? hahaha You're funny.
welp, night!
me
SIDENOTE: That last paragraph is referring to my adventure Sunday night back up to Roma. Janise and I were leaving the next morning for Milan so I decided to head back, against all our deepest desires, that night to just make things easier in the morning. My train ended up being 70 minutes late leaving Battipaglia, which was actually great because it gave Vera, Gina, and I a ton more time to talk. But once I got on it was pretty smooth sailing from there...(ha! "sailing" that's like the one mode of transportation that I didn't use that night)
The metro, like I've mentioned before is under construction so I had to find the "metro bus," that was probably the hardest part of the adventure but other than that it was great! I was staying with Megan and Ali at their place out at the end of one of the metro lines, the same one I got off the first time when we went to church in Roma. The reason there was a little chaos and concern, besides the fact that my dear friends were apparently extremely concerned about and thought I was crazy for having traveled all that way by myself, was that the metro buses stop at midnight. Don't worry, I caught the LAST bus of the night and found Megan after having only walked a block or so. If you haven't figured out that I'm serious when I say the Lord loves me, well, it's true and this was one of the best examples yet! Haha! What a night!
Anna Maria Mamma sent me home with sooooo much food and entire container of the famed mozzarella di bufala (oh! Bonissimo!!!!), including a couple forks. So, after Megan and I made the trek back up to her home, we decided we weren't done talking so we sat and enjoyed the rest of our conversation over some of the best treats Italia has to offer. What a perfect way to end my sojourn in Roma and Italy...Europe for that matter.
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