Mi chiamo Sorella Clyde...come Bonnie and Clyde. This is the latest introduction of myself. Bonnie and Clyde seems to be pretty well known around here. I get lots of laughs when I do so. Haha
Still stickin around Catania for the holidays!! Another transfer with Sorella Bair. Another crazy week! Catania is BEAUTIFUL! I love it here! When we go to the military base in Sigonella we get a chance to see Mount Etna (the volcano) which by the way erupted the other day (you should google it). Apparently it made the world news. It was so funny. Sorella Bair and I took a silly little photoshoot in front of the huge smoke coming out of the top the other day....later that night we got a call from President Waddoups asking if everything was okay in Catania and that Mt Etna made world news. SO COOL. We laugh and feel so dumb when we look at those pics. Anyway, the landscape is beautiful on the way to Sigonella (its nice to get out of the city) It feels like California! Orange groves and fields, beauitful sunsets! ITS FINALLY FALL like weather. Christmas decorations are starting to go up everywhere. Its definitely getting chilly!
ITALIAN LOVES: Pistacchio everything: gelato flavor, pizza flavor, pistachio on cannolli, just plain pistachhio. ALSO. Nutella. Did you know nutella is italian? AND IT IS EVERYWHERE. They even sell it in GIANT gallon size jars. Its awesome. French toast or crepes with bananas and nutella. Do it.
People know who we are. It is the coolest thing. When we hopped on a random bus the other day, the bus driver made me come over with the wave of his hand. He asked for a book of mormon. WHAT? Coolest thing ever that he wanted one and even cooler that I could communicate with him. The language is coming.
We had lunch with a woman Sorella Salemi last saturday. She was this funny little sassy short italian woman who shuffles her feet as she walks. She had to stop in the grocery store before our pranzo with her. Sorella BAir and I laughed as we realized this funny, *Where are we?* italy-mission moment when we realized that we were in a random grocery store in italy following this funny little woman around. We felt like her daughters. At one point Sorella Bair took a phone call (transfer calls) and I was stuck listening to this woman trying to make decisions and ask for advice. Turns out, I wasnt getting everything she was saying.... She finally said, "You dont understand, do you?" Thats when I just completely broke down into laughter. WHERE AM I? I responded "Sto provando di capire!" (Im trying to understand!) as Sorella BAir laughed at me. Its the comprehension part that gets me. The speaking is going well though:)
Sorella Salemi fed us lunch. At one point she asked me to pass the plates "Piatti?" and I took it as "Piena?" (are you full?) In order to avoid any hurt feelings or contention missionaries always respond with an Of course not (when really they feel like they could possibly die inside) so I responded with "NO!" It was definitely a firm NO. Hahah we laughed and I passed the plates. Sto provando. Sto provando.
This woman sped to help us catch our train in time. The whole time she was saying "Ce la facciamo. Ce la facciamo. Ce la facciamo" (We can do it. We can do. We can do it.) It was the funniest thing. You try saying that ten times fast.
We stand out like soar thumbs here. It is the funniest thing. We really are the minority. We were waiting in the post office the other day and every customer that came in did a double take to look at us. HAHA. Also, some workmen told us "That American girls are the most beautiful girls in the world" Why cant we get compliments like that in the states?? Hahha:)
The italian language is beautiful. The way they say things is just so beautiful and profound. We went to sigonella church yesterday (after italian church) with an italian. An american woman wanted to communicate with him so she made one of the elders translate. It was the sweetest thing to behold as she paid his some compliments. She just told him how he is such a strong member to live in Italy where there arent very many members. She was feeling silly that she couldnt speak directly to him. She just wanted to express how grateful she was to him. He responded something like: You dont have to say it. I can tell my looking into your eyes.
Then the woman started to tear up. Sorella Bair and I felt a tear or two too. It was such a tender moment to see these two people communicate through eyes, tears, and a tender hug. I love italian. Another phrase I have been really fond of lately is:
Che cose di bello ha fato oggi? (What beautiful things did you do today?)
Sempre Avanti,
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