new term...

Yesterday I started my second term here in Rome... hard to believe the halfway point is here, not to mention Lent! This term is going to present a real challenge. I am feeling the return of some of that fear/anxiety that I felt when I started back in October. Am I doing the right thing? Should I be SO immersed in studies that I miss Rome? Miss Europe? This will sound crazy - because it is - but I am taking 12 classes this term. 12. TWELVE. what?!? yep.

I am already exhausted.

All that enthusiasm over cooking has waned. I am tired and I no longer feel like feeding myself. My creativity has departed and getting home after 8pm - starving - is not fun. And, yes, I do have class each and every day until 7:15 pm... most days starting 9 hours earlier in the morning = LONG DAYS.

So begins this penitential season.

I know I came here to study... and surprisingly, philosophy has grown on me and I wanted to keep on going and get deeper with each test I took. But I am struggling with my inability to truly develop a rich social network of friends or travel the world or even meander around the city as I have not an ounce of free time. struggle...

Two of the minor seminarians from my home-town just arrived to study here for the semester... a bright spot in the midst of my slump of anxiety. They are a joy to me!

Also, as you all know... the season of Lent begins tomorrow. I have decided to participate in what is called the Station Churches... an old tradition in Rome. Different church for Mass every morning. I'll share more of what this entails as the days go by, but it will be a struggle for me in many respects with my schedule (Masses are in English - hooray! but at 7 am each morning which will entail waking up around 5 am in order to make the city wide trek involved).

OK - I really did not want to make this a mile long post. So I'll stop now... but keep me in your prayers... THANKS!

btw - one of my courses this term is with the Papal Theologian. yeah. THE papal theologian.
<3 E