Introductions at First Farm

I arrived at my first destination which is Agriturismo Monticino located outside the city of Forli. Nevio picked me up from the train station with two other "wwoofers" from  Germany (Katarina& Ricarda) who were with him in the car to greet me and who spoke English.  So grateful for them b/c they gave me the run down and explained things quite well on what to expect.  I have learned from these two who have "wwoof"ed before that Monticino is very laid back and relaxed...Immediately I sat down with everyone for lunch upon arrival and had some pasta. They were all so welcoming and kind, by the end of the hour I felt like the transition was totally normal and as if I'd known these people for years. While it is relaxed I don't have a ton of time to write! So I must do this quickly.

My first impressions of Nevio is that he is a very busy man! We can't communicate a ton b/c of the language barrier but he is so nice, very weathered, always working & smiling. He (and the other men) wear camo pants a lot which makes me happy.  Here is a look at him on the phone & then hopping quickly in the car to go bird hunting with his son, dog & coworker. I'm already so happy here and feel like this is a great fit for me.  Everyone is so nice; I will post more photos later of the beauty of this place.

 Nevio and the other workers killed 3 pigs and today they are having a "pig party" ...it's a feast to welcome the spring, invite guests and other past clients who come to Monticino... I was able to help cut some of the fat up last night which was interesting to say the least. I adore bacon so I just kept telling myself that as I sliced the fat of the pig up. Was determined not to let the pig's eye and hoofs staring at me in the bucket sway my opinion of pork!  There is so much more to say & beautiful photos (besides pig) about my first 24 hours here but I'll start with saying that today is the Pig Feast and we are getting ready for that. People are starting to arrive and I need to help! I have a feeling it will be a full day.  Ciao for now... (hope these photos don't gross you out!)

Train to Forli

This morning Jessica got me totally squared away with my next destination through the Milan central train station which was really big! I had to take some photos of it....

That was my platform - #15. I kept my eyes on it constantly in case I somehow wandered to a different one, ending up in a town I didn't need to be. If Jessica hadn't been with me, that probably would have happened. Thanks, lady!

And when I found my seat, I realized I was sitting across from a cute guy but I really didn't think much about it. I was just trying to figure out if I was in the right seat, going to the right city, at the right time...and locate my trail mix at the bottom of my back pack.  After a while I looked up and saw this light beaming down from the sky at the seat across from me....Well, maybe it wasn't like that.  I realized he probably was a model so I asked him, "Are you a model?"And he said, "yes. I am a model."  :)  Anyways, we had a fun conversation and I learned he has been in Vogue (Men) as well as Glamour magazines.  So I thought I should document my encounter with the Italian model and he obliged.  I hope to post some more Milan photos later if I can. I am already at my new destination and totally feel at home and loving it! I can't wait to tell more as the week goes by.

Being the model that he was, he had no problems posing. 

I promise I wasn't trying to get closer to the model. I really just wanted the reflection in his glasses.

Milan

11AM

I arrived in Milan this morning and was greeted by Jessica who is my cousin's wife's cousin and her roomate,Fulvia & friend, Alessandro. I was a little tired but they were ready to show me Milan in a day! So I was ready to be shown. : ) I don't have a lot of time at the moment because they have planned an evening out with friends for dinner .. otherwise I would post more photos. I took a short nap this afternoon, unaffected by these lovely three cups of coffee or expresso. These kept me on my toes throughout the day... And I will say none of them were at my initiation but offered this many times in that many places and considering my lack of sleep I thought it would be a good idea. We saw so many things & if I can I will post more.

2PM

5PM

The threesome who showed me around today - Jessica, Alessandro & Fulvia. Thank you, guys!!

And here is Fulvia reading the map...I have about 10 other photos of her doing this throughout the day. She found great joy in leading us around Milan with this vintage map, as they called it.

In Some ways I wish I had one of these today but the excercise...man, did I need it.

"I am Bold!"...or at least I might need this quality.

This morning I had pretty much everything packed and as is my tradition, had to get out of the house to get some coffee before heading to the airport. The barista asks me what I want and he knows I usually take it in a ceramic mug and and that I wanted bold blend. So he brings me this...not knowing what my morning holds and that I will most likely get the pre-flight jitters that I usually do. : ). It's time to be LionHearted and face this adventure head on! wahoo...

Plans

Naturally the question has been for myself as well as others...where will I go and what am I going to do while I'm in Italy.  So I thought I'd draw a little map of the places I have planned to go...on a Starbucks napkin nonetheless, in honor of my late father, Larry Beckham, who used to *always* write on napkins in restaurants. Love him for that. When I took a long trip to Rwanda, he wrote me a note on a stack of them. So, the napkin map is in honor of him. He would be very happy that I'm taking this trip...that I have this opportunity and the flexibility in life to do it.

{Please excuse the child-like drawing of a horse that is floating in the ocean & the over-sized bee buzzing by the tree.}

I will be there a month and spend about 12 days volunteering on two different agri-tourism locations that have some sort of farm, vineyard, gardens, etc. The other half, just traveling around.  I am a country girl at heart and hope to have a farm or land of my own someday. In the mean time, I thought I'd enjoy the experience of these Italian spots who offer that through an organization called www.wwoof.it  I will be helping them do whatever they need around their places, but also get a real Italian experience which is what I'm going for.  I am not much of a museum girl so if I make it into any, it will be a miracle and b/c I had a change of heart. However, I am sure I'll see what I can along the way though.   I look forward to seeing how my trip unfolds as I go. : )

• Forli - the city where I'll be taking a train from Milan to meet Nevio, who is the father/husband/owner of a place that houses & trains a special type of horse called the Bardigiano. They mostly focus on this but also make their own olive oil, wine, pasta,  grow a garden & host guests at their bed & breakfast. It's nestled in the hills of the Emilia Romagna province. I'll be here a week volunteering in exchange for lodging & food (and I'm sure enjoyable company). After this full week, I'll then head towards Pentromoli.
• Pentromoli is small town in Tuscany that my cousin's wife's family is from and have graciously offered to meet me along the way. I am really looking forward to meeting them (and Jessica, the cousin, in Milan at the bus station!) So grateful to have her kindness to greet me when I arrive. 
• Heading to Cinque Terra to hike/walk through the 5 little towns along the coast in a day or two. Everyone who has gone says this is one of their favorite places in Italy and I cannot wait to experience it.
• I have about a week to explore Florence, Rome and then hopefully the Island of Capri before heading to Verona where I will then spend 1-2 days before I get on a train to Ala. 
• Ala will be the little town in the northern part of Italy where I'll have another opportunity to have a volunteer/exchange with a small B&B. The place has lots of trails and forestry, they raise some cattle that are for cheese making purposes, they have a small garden and also focus their energies on bee-keeping.  I look forward to meeting Alice & Alexander here and spend 4 days with them. 
• Venice will be my last stop and I hope to unwind here, spend Easter in a beautiful church, ride a gondola  and stroll through the winding streets. 

I leave tomorrow, March 15th so today I'm wrapping up stuff and packing my little suitcase (little as in, I hope to fit it in the overhead compartment). Yep, and my regular-sized back pack. So until then...thanks for following along.

My New Shoes - Yay!

Ok, I know it's totally random to post about shoes but it's a fun, new purchase and I had to celebrate it.

The other day my mom told me that she wanted to contribute to my trip by giving me a little cash for nice shoes. She handed me an envelope and on it read, "for GOOD shoes only!!" (underlined twice)

I'm really liking my new Merrell's; breaking them in as much as I can this week. Normally I wear heels of some sort every day so these feel like I'm stepping into such comfort!  Thank you, mom! You are the best.

Journaling & Time

Selecting a new journal is an important task for me & the time that I start one has a lot of significance.  I have been filling journals since I was about 14 with important moments, musings and prayers. No doubt, my Italy trip will go down in the books as an important one.  I found it yesterday in the bookstore and it immediately popped out at me. It was the fastest decision I'd made on a journal in a while. Usually I deliberate. Some of you journalers know what I am talking about.

Going to Italy was an idea that was realized when American Airlines gave me a generous voucher and I happened across a great flight. As I was booking my ticket around Thanksgiving, sitting on hold over the phone, I remembered I would be turning 35 a few months after my trip.  A lot of people say they forget their age...and exactly that had happened. I forgot that 35 came after 34. Truly, I did.  A waft of fear brushed across my face and I got hot... but then... I felt God sweetly hug me (in ways that God hugs us) and say, 'let's do this together to celebrate your birthday.'  I had called American three nights in a row, delaying my decision to jump for it...and it was at this moment, that I realized it was time to take the leap.  Sometimes I need a little push.

For the most part I have remained steady, enjoyed my very full life, trusting God for the things that I dream of.  But within the last year or so my heart  awoke to "reality" and it started to flutter.... At times I drown out that... flutter... with enjoying the present and then on other days I can hear it's undeniable syncopated rhythm whispering in my ear.  In the midsts of that and the fear that tries to stealthily cloak a hopeful, trusting heart ... I stand in the Barnes & Noble journal section scanning every beautiful cover they had and my eyes fall on this one. And I hear.... "I AM Lord of time." It felt like a pronouncement over that yucky fear. A trump. An authority silencing other false pronouncements that suddenly seemed really small.  He is the Great I Am. The God of the universe is saying He is Bigger.

 As the Psalm says (below), in his alarm he felt cut off from God's sight, which is indeed another word for that "flutter".  Like going down a steep hill on a roller coaster and feeling as though it might not land on the tracks.  But it's in that alarm that the choice must be made...to trust. So, while I patiently wait for earthly romance and other exciting things to take shape in their perfect time...currently I am hearing another Romance knock at my heart...and I'm excited about walking through that door once again for a new adventure.


Psalm 31:15...
"My times are in your hands, deliver me from my enemies and those who pursue me...How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you....In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD."