By Katie Morrison
After a lifetime of comfort and security, I have left the nest. I haven’t moved out of my parents’ house, haven’t graduated college, haven’t gotten married, and yet this year will prove to be challenging as I assert a form of independence. My younger brother and I decided to leave the country and study in Florence, Italy for a year.
The thought first occurred to me three years ago. During my freshman year at Union College, a friend told me of her plans to go to Spain the following year. I was instantly jealous and wanted to join her! I chose to wait, however, because of my personality—I’m a homebody. I’m a family girl. My dad reminded me of that this last summer, frequently mentioning how homesick I would get. In order to battle the homesickness that would undoubtedly accompany a year abroad, I suggested that my brother, who is two years my junior, come too. He said yes and here we are. After a month in Florence, I can proudly say we’re settling in. It’s easy to forget about what’s going on in the States or what we’re missing because there’s so much going on here! In our first four days in Italy, we took a day trip to Cinque Terre, a strip of coastal towns renowned for their picturesque beauty and hiking trails.
This region also happened to be on our bucket list of places to see while abroad, so you can imagine our excitement. In addition to that trip, we’ve spent a weekend at a mountain retreat in Poppi, a week on the southern coast (Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Pompei) and a day in Milan . . . and we’ve only been here for a month!
Despite the amazing things we’ve seen and eaten (pistachio gelato anyone?), the last month hasn’t all been a breeze. I know exactly one language and it isn’t Italian. My language courses are tough and church is the most confusing thing I’ve ever sat through.
For me, the culture is completely new and nobody told me you weren’t supposed to order a cappuccino after 11am! Being thrown into a new place with 35 new people you’re expected to call “friends” after knowing them for a day is especially trying for me as an introvert. The trips are incredible—but also incredibly draining. I missed my nephew’s fifth birthday and dejectedly watch texts come in on the family message thread about Thanksgiving plans.
I know what you must think: This girl is in Florence for an entire year and she’s complaining?! I’m not, I promise you! Every moment is something new and different and I relish each one. But it also isn’t always a bowl of ice cream with peaches on top (or gelato, whichever you prefer).
One of the things my parents said the night before we left America was about opportunity, but not the opportunity you might think. Dozens of well-wishers have waxed poetic about the food and the travel, the language and culture. Oh the things you’ll experience! they’ve said. But instead of reiterating that broken record, my parents had something a bit more meaningful to share.
“This year, you’ll be on your own in a way you’ve never been before,” my dad said. “You’ll have many adult decisions to make and no one but yourself to answer to. Your habits will reveal themselves—and that includes spiritual ones. So what spiritual habits do you want to make?”
I was struck in that moment, and for the next few weeks my mind repeatedly returned to this conversation. I’ve never been good at habits. My devotional life has the stamina of a ninety-year-old swimming in the ocean: desperate and quick to die out.
There have been periods throughout high school and college that I was hit with sudden motivation to wake up early every morning and spend time with God, but those times were fleeting and did not stick. Each time I felt like that was the routine that would last, that I was building something that would stay with me for decades to come. Each time, I would sleep late and forget a day. One day turned into two and soon I couldn’t remember the last time I read my Bible.
Italy can’t be like that, I decided.
In my few weeks in Florence, I’ve seen God in so many ways. I see Him in my morning devotionals, in Steps to Christ and His Word. I see Him in the kindness of my roommate and the patience of my language teachers. I see Him in my fellow classmates as we all do daily morning worships for the school and share pieces of ourselves, and encouragement with one another. I see Him in the new landscapes around me, in the mountains and the seas.
I count myself as lucky. I had been blessed to see Him before I decided to travel halfway across the world. I saw Him in my parents and my new church family in Brighton. I saw Him in my siblings and my school family at Union College. I saw Him during my internship, through the actions of everyone at the Rocky Mountain Conference and through my experience at the General Conference Session.
Even while I’ve been unreliable and unmotivated, distant and cold, God was putting blessing after blessing in my life and giving me the chance of even more experiences.
Please pray for me as I continue this year in a foreign place. I thank God every day for the people and support He’s put in my life and I count my home as a huge blessing. Thank you for being a glimpse of God for me!
Katie Morrison was RMC 2015 summer communication intern.