Buying International Plane Tickets and Booking Accommodation

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Airplane Tickets

Buy them on a Tuesday before 12pm EST, on a freshly restarted PC with your Google cookies wiped, a credit card that expires in no less than 2 years, in your pajamas, facing north. Just kidding.

I’m going to make this easy on you: There is no magic trick or gimmick for these things. There is a lot of information floating around about when to buy airline tickets.  Some true, some false.  For example, I've read that airlines put tickets on sale Monday evening, therefore you should buy tickets on Tuesday.  At least for international tickets, I've never seen that happen. I have noticed that flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday seems to be the cheapest, but that’s not the same thing and not always consistent.  A lot depends on timing, such as season and fuel prices, but it seems most is unpredictable and seemingly random. Then again, if it was predictable, I probably wouldn’t have been googling this subject myself once upon time, now would I?

Don’t despair, however, there are plenty of things you can do to find the best options out there, just keep in mind that “best” is relative. And, just as there is more than one way to frost a cake, what follows is one method of many for hunting down that cheap(ish) ticket. (If you want to know how crazy I can get about plane tickets, read this overly long blog post.)

First, some obvious things to keep in mind:

1. Flying off season will usually yield cheaper results, sometimes significantly. But not always! It never hurts to check.

2. Off season may vary depending on location. For example, traveling during the summer to Europe is going to be peak season, but that doesn’t mean Jun-Aug is the busiest the whole world round.

3. The more flexible you are with your dates, the more likely you will be to find a cheaper ticket. Same goes with flexible departure/arrival airports. The only problem is, you can end up spending hours upon hours searching date and location possibilities. But hey, you’ll know you found the best combo!

4. Watch out for overnight layovers. You might find cheaper flights that way, but in my experience I’d rather pay the few bucks more to avoid it. Anyway, if you keep looking, you can usually find the same or similar flight price without overnight layovers.

5. Booking through third parties (i.e. Expedia rather than Delta) may yield cheaper results, but if you run into any problems, they have been known to be extremely unhelpful. (I also have never been able to do the 24 hour check-in online when I bought a ticket through a third party. I checked-in at the airport the day of and everything was fine, but still. Being told there was an error or your ticket can’t be found is not reassuring.) In fact, recently third parties are about the same price, if not more expensive, anyway.

Now that we’ve got those reminders down, here’s how I go about finding tickets:

About 4 months before your desired departure choose a site like Kayak.com where you can look at multiple prices at once (choose the +/- 3 days for both the departure and return dates, so you can see a whole week’s worth of prices around both dates).  Make a note of the dates and prices that work best for you, then check back about once a week to see how the prices are rising or dropping.  Kayak, among many other sites, allow you to create free notifications of certain travel dates. You’ll get an email if the prices drop, go up, or even if they’re holding steady. I would never trust completely to these notifications and still check manually, but they’re a helpful tool.

At 2-3 months before desired departure you should have a good idea of what the prices for your dates are doing, and what airlines are cheapest. Chances are the prices haven’t moved significantly, but if they have, especially up, don't worry. There's a good chance they'll drop again, just keep checking back. When you feel ready to buy (I think 2 months* before is a good balance), go ahead and check Kayak again and then go to the website of the airline with the best deal. If everything looks good, buy!

*It is possible to buy tickets sometimes even up to a week before departure with decent prices, but I bet you they were cheaper two months ago. It also makes me very nervous to wait that long, knowing the prices can go up very high.

Tada! There you have it. Nothing magical. But with this method I always feel confidant I got the best prices.

Other helpful hints:

1. As of circa January 2018, the lowest fares between Europe and North America no longer include the first checked bag. The first checked bag is $50 each way, or you can pay a more expensive fare, such as $80 more total, and get the first bag free along with several other perks, like choosing your seat and being able to change your ticket. Not cool, you guys. Not cool.

2. azair.eu is a helpful site for flights within Europe or Asia, with lots of filters so you can hone in on what you’re looking for.

3. I advise against using the app “Hopper.” I added several of my upcoming flights over a period of time so it could keep track of them, letting me know the best time to buy. However, in all the flights and different locations and dates I added, I could find a much cheaper plane ticket myself every single time they notified me of the “best price", go ahead and buy. So, if you still like the app, just keep in mind you’re probably not actually getting the best price.

4. CheapFareGuru.com used to be one of my go to sites. They were always the cheapest by a good bit. Their site is a bit sketchy looking, but I’ve bought tickets through them a couple times and never had problems (other than not being able to check-in online). I say “used to” because their flights don’t load for me anymore. I dunno.

Accommodation

As for hotels and airbnbs, all the cute and affordable ones book up quickly, so I would start looking at least 4 months in advance, especially for popular tourist destinations such as Rome, Paris, London, ya know, all the places you want to go.  

Hotels vs. airbnb? Totally depends on what you’re looking for. I think booking an airbnb is much simpler, but I don’t think it’s always cheaper. Hotels need to stay in business and thus prices seem to have become more competent, so I would recommend looking at some hotel sites and compare them with airbnb before making a final decision.

A tip for lodging, especially if you are staying in an airbnb type place, before moving or touching anything, take pictures of the whole apartment.  That way, if your host decides to blame a broken outlet (or worse) on you after you've gone, you have proof to show them and the third party (such as airbnb) that that is how it was when you arrived.  

Do you have any tips or tricks for finding good plane tickets and accommodation? I’d love to hear them, share in the comments below!

Coming Soon to the Interwebs Near You: New and Improved JennyBlogs.com

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I'm updating the blog!  Soon to feature not only recipes and baking tips and random rants, but ALSO all the Italian stories of adventures and struggles, insights, and tips and tricks of survival! Yay! 

Ever wonder what it's actually like to live in Italy?  What you should pack for your Italian vacation?  What delicacies you shouldn't miss while here?  What it feels like to almost ask for something inappropriate instead of a canvas at your local art shop?  All that and more coming your way! 

Because, somebody has to chronicle all the crazy things that happen here. 

Having now spent roughly 20 months of my life in Italy, (is that all? it feels like way longer) some as tourist, some as student/missionary, some as vagabond, and soon to be worker, I've had my fair share of experiences and have gleaned plenty more from people who have lived here for wayyyy longer than I have, Italians and not.  Although I am still learning, I think it's about time to start getting some things off my shoulder.  I do not in any way confess to be an expert on any of the above categories, but if these new Italian posts serve in any way to entertain, enlighten, or help you in a future Italian vacation/study abroad/living experience, then that is all I could hope for.  

Please note, everyone's experience here will be slightly different, especially depending on the region and time of year you are here.  In the posts to come, I will try to accumulate general information about Italy, nevertheless, some of it will be Tuscan-specific and may not completely mirror your experiences because that is the region where I live and learned the culture, which will differ at times than say, Calabria or Milan.  And it will always come from an American perspective!  That said, here's to dispelling some of the over-exaggerated information peddled by Rick Steves and other guide book authors! ;) 

See you next time, alla prossima! 

Pappa al Pomodoro

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I remember clearly the first time I ate Pappa al Pomodoro.  It was DELICIOUS, and at the time I had absolutely no idea what it was.  I had recently arrived in Italy for the second time in my life, and my friends took me to a local pizzeria.  The owner, who knew my friends by sight, brought us each a little plate of this red...mush...with olive oil drizzled on top.  I took one bite, might have closed my eyes and had a Ratatouille moment, then wasted no time in devouring the rest. The flavors seemed such ordinary everyday ingredients, but each took their turn on the tongue, twirling and waltzing together in such harmony as to become a dish not quickly forgotten, and leaving the palate wanting more.  One of my friends can't have gluten, and asked if any of us wanted her mush.  "Really, there's gluten in this?  That stinks, I'm sorry you can't try it...I'll TAKE IT."  Actually, the rest of us probably split it, I don't really remember.  

After this first encounter, I needed to know what that magical substance was.  What is it called?  What are the ingredients? How do you make it?  I'll save you all my searching and wondering: Pappa al pomodoro has a base of bread, tomatoes, and broth, and where there are tomatoes there is usually basil, and round it out with some garlic and good extra virgin olive oil.  That's it!  And I bet, you probably have all or most of those ingredients on hand.  

You can think of it like a very simple tomato soup, but you just add a bunch of bread to thicken it up. Haha honestly, I’m still working on a way to describe this that doesn’t make it sound weird. It’s just one of those things you have to try to believe how simply and deliciously wonderful it is.

Pappa al Pomodoro is a traditional Tuscan "poor" dish, and once I knew what it was, saw it everywhere on restaurant menus around Florence.  It's normally eaten as a primo piatto, or first course, but I like to make it the MAIN course.  At home, of course, away from the overly inquisitive eyes of the Italians.  The genius of it is, it uses stale bread, reducing food waste.  Hence it being a "poor" dish, in which the Tuscans back in the day found tasty ways to recycle every food bit. 

If you've been to Tuscany and tried Pappa al Pomodoro, hopefully this recipe will bring a bit of its exuberance back into your life.  If you've never tried it, give this recipe a go for a taste of Tuscany!  Because the ingredients are simple and each flavor really shines through, I recommend being a little extra picky on the quality and freshness of ingredients you use.  (But, I'll give you some cheats, see "Jenny's Notes" below.)

Pro tip:  As you're pronouncing "pappa" really lay on those p's.  If you say it too quickly, your Italian friends or Italian wanna-be friends might think you're talking about the Pope, whom they call "Papa."  And a tomato Pope, at that, because, ya know, pomodoro means "tomato."  :)

Recipe adapted from the cookbook "Toscana in Cucina The Flavours of Tuscany."  Click on the Amazon link for more delicious Tuscan dishes, with recipes in both English and Italian!  

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Pappa al Pomodoro

Serves about 6-8

Ingredients:

• 6 Tbsp / 84g olive oil

• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste

• 1 lb. / 500g ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped

• several fresh basil leaves, plus more for the garnish

• 4 cups / 950g vegetable broth

• 10 oz / 300g stale artisanal bread, sliced thinly (breads made with just water, flour, yeast work best)

• extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling

• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-low heat and add garlic, cooking until sizzling and fragrant, ensuring it doesn't burn.  Add a bit of crushed red pepper, then the tomatoes and basil.  

2. Bring to a simmer; after a few minutes add the broth.  

3. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then add the bread.  

4. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

5. Remove the pan from the heat and leave covered for about an hour.  

6. When ready to serve, stir gently and drizzle with olive oil, dust with pepper, and top with a basil leaf or two.  

Buon appetito! 

*Wine Pairing from Toscana in Cucina: Muraccio - Parrina DOC Rosso - La Parrina, Albinia (Grosseto) 

Jenny's Notes:

• Also super delicious with grated parmesan on top…

• I know the bread description is a little vague, but you probably won't find the 1 kg hunk of unsalted Tuscan bread in your local grocery store in the States. You want a bread with simple ingredients: flour, water, salt yeast, or at least as simple as possible. Enriched breads, or those made with milk/eggs/oil, aren't the kind of bread you want to use for this kind of recipe. Nor is the sliced sandwich bread with preservatives ideal. You could look for a good ciabatta, or, that bread labeled "Italian" at the grocery store could always make do.

• To make this recipe simple, the bread should ideally be sliced or torn into chunks BEFORE it goes completely stale. Trying to slice a solid loaf of stale bread is not fun. However, should this happen, it is still possible to make this recipe work. You can add the bread in one big chunk to the pot. You will want to be a bit more proactive in stirring and making sure it stays submerged as much as possible, flipping if necessary, so it has time to soften and break up. If at the end of the hour it has set there are still some chunks, they should be soft enough where you can break them up with a spoon.

• If you find chunks of bread, particularly of crust, still present after the hour is up, and you can't seem to get them to break up, an immersion blender can be used in a pinch. It changes the texture a bit (makes it a bit creamier/pastier), which isn't ideal, but I have done this before and it was still very good! You may want to consider using a different kind of bread the next time.

• You could also use chicken or beef broth, but vegetable seems to be most commonly called for in the Italian recipes I've seen.

• This freezes well for quick meals, simply bring to room temperature and heat before serving!

• I do confess I've made this once very much modifying the freshness rule, and to my surprise it didn't turn out half shabby. Just promise me one thing. Make this the real way before going for the modified version. What follows is for emergency situations only. ;)

1. 1/2 tsp garlic powder instead of garlic cloves

2. 16 oz jar tomato sauce, tomato purée, or can of diced tomatoes instead of 1 lb. tomatoes (I've used sauces with grilled eggplant and even olives added to them for a satisfying twist.)

3. Plain ol' water instead of broth. You'll probably need to add extra salt and pepper, though.

pappa al pomodoro, Tuscan recipe, Italian recipe, Florentine recipe, stale bread

Main, side

Italian

Yield: 6-8 servings

Author: Jennyblogs

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Pappa al Pomodoro

A classic Tuscan "poor man's" dish that utilizes stale bread, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Serve as a main dish or side.

Prep time: 25 MinCook time: 15 MinInactive time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 40 M

Ingredients

• 6 Tbsp / 84g olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
• 1 lb. / 500g ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• several fresh basil leaves, plus more for the garnish
• 4 cups / 950g vegetable broth
• 10 oz / 300g stale artisanal bread, sliced thinly (breads made with just water, flour, yeast work best)
• extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-low heat and add garlic, cooking until sizzling and fragrant, ensuring it doesn't burn. Add a bit of crushed red pepper, then the tomatoes and basil.
2. Bring to a simmer; after a few minutes add the broth.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then add the bread.
4. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and leave covered for about an hour.
6. When ready to serve, stir and drizzle with olive oil, dust with pepper, and top with a basil leaf or two.

Notes

Also super delicious with grated parmesan on top…

I know the bread description is a little vague, but you probably won't find the 1 kg hunk of unsalted Tuscan bread in your local grocery store in the States. You want a bread with simple ingredients: flour, water, salt yeast, or at least as simple as possible. Enriched breads, or those made with milk/eggs/oil, aren't the kind of bread you want to use for this kind of recipe. Nor is the sliced sandwich bread with preservatives ideal. You could look for a good ciabatta, or, that bread labeled "Italian" at the grocery store could always make do.

To make this recipe simple, the bread should ideally be sliced or torn into chunks BEFORE it goes completely stale. Trying to slice a solid loaf of stale bread is not fun. However, should this happen, it is still possible to make this recipe work. You can add the bread in one big chunk to the pot. You will want to be a bit more proactive in stirring and making sure it stays submerged as much as possible, flipping if necessary, so it has time to soften and break up. If at the end of the hour it has set there are still some chunks, they should be soft enough where you can break them up with a spoon.

If you find chunks of bread, particularly of crust, still present after the hour is up, and you can't seem to get them to break up, an immersion blender can be used in a pinch. It changes the texture a bit (makes it a bit creamier/pastier), which isn't ideal, but I have done this before and it was still very good! You may want to consider using a different kind of bread the next time.

You could also use chicken or beef broth, but vegetable seems to be most commonly called for in the Italian recipes I've seen.

This freezes well for quick meals, simply bring to room temperature and heat before serving!

Nutrition Facts

Calories

298.55

Fat

18.68 g

Sat. Fat

2.61 g

Carbs

28.07 g

Fiber

2.95 g

Net carbs

25.1 g

Sugar

6.06 g

Protein

5.88 g

Sodium

892.31 mg

Cholesterol

0 mg

Nutritional information is approximate; based on 6 servings.

https://jennyblogs.com/blog/2018/4/12/pappa-al-pomodoro

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November Newsletter: Homecoming!

Photo credit to Practical

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mosaico Church, my church family in Italy. Celebrating the 3rd Anniversary!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, good time with family, and lots of delicious food to eat.  Christmas music has now been unleashed full force, and I hope we are all able to head into this season with joy in our hearts, thankfulness, and eager expectation to again remember the birth of our King, Christ Jesus.  

Gallery 4 Italy Ceasing Operations

Russian Academy of Art Bible study we host in our home!

In early November we received the news that the founder of Gallery 4 has chosen to suspend operations in Italy.  With the extreme difficulty in finding a space for the gallery we knew something needed to be done, but the news still came as a shock.  Although it is easy to look at the situation with disappointment and sadness, we trust that the Lord will have used our time here for the good of His kingdom and advancement of the Gospel, and will continue to use it in ways we may never fully realize.  Even though the original vision was not fully accomplished, we were still able to minister to people, host Bible studies, give out Bibles, and talk about Jesus with many.

I will forever see art in a new way thanks to art classes and all my cool artist friends.

Coming Home

In light of these recent events, I will be coming home from the mission field on December 5.  It truly grieves me to leave Florence, it is a magical city and I will greatly miss the friends and people I met here.  However, I am overjoyed to be able to be home for Christmas with family, friends, and church family, as I was not originally expecting to be able to do so.

 

Firenze is extra magical around Christmas time

Coming Weeks

The next few weeks will be spent getting my affairs in order, spending time with friends, and getting ready to come home.  I am so thankful for the time I was here and I would like to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for supporting, praying, and encouraging me in this venture.  To God be the glory!

Prayer Requests:

• Praise! For all the friends here that makes it so hard to leave. Although it is sad, I consider it a very great thing indeed to have such friends that makes saying goodbye so hard.

• Praise! Being able to be home with family, friends, and church family for Christmas.

• Prayer: For my remaining time here to be meaningful and for the glory of God.

• Prayer: For the people here, whether friends or strangers, to continue to be exposed to the Gospel.

• Prayer: For a smooth transition, closure, and safe trip home.

Grazie a tutti!!!

October Newsletter

Buon Novembre/Happy November!

It's so nice being back in Florence.  It feels like autumn, the leaves are falling, and the weather is truly starting to turn chilly.  Here's all that happened in October:

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Morris in Poland, ME

October 1-5 Jeffrey and Rachel Got Married.  Our family drove to Maine to celebrate the marriage of Jeffrey and his new wife, Rachel.  I love her so much and am glad she is now an official part of our family!  It was a beautiful ceremony, simple and intimate in a beautiful autumn setting.  We got to experience a real Maine lobster bake, stay in an inn on a lake, and stopped in Boston on the way home.  It was a great adventure.  

October 6-12 Soaked Up Some Good Time with Family and Friends, although time went by too quickly!  My family humored me and we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving so I could at least be home for one holiday.    

October 13 I voted.  And that's all I'm going to say.  May the good Lord do as He pleases. 

October 13 I Flew Back to Italy, arriving on the 14th.  My two wonderful roommates, Vanessa and Silvia, had coordinated with Paul and Cody (Pastor of Mosaico, the church I'm a part of) to use his car to move all my belongings from Paul and Melinda's spare apartment.  What a relief to come home to that, especially since I didn't have so much as a hairbrush with me! 

October 17 I Started Attending Classes at the Russian Academy of Art, a requirement for having a student visa.  Paul and Melinda are also in the classes, which keeps things fun.  In the mornings we have 3 hours of painting and in the afternoon we have 2 1/2 hours of drawing.  The professors are all Russian and speak little to no English, and so we have translators for every class. Спасибо.  (Thank you)

Look, an almost still life!

I also really enjoy the other students.  I am used to artsy people and the world of dance, but all of a sudden I find myself thrown into a world of a different kind of art.  I find it all very fascinating and inspiring.  Vanessa and Silvia also attend the school, and so I frequently find myself amongst this group of friends.  They regularly whip out their sketch books and sketch anything that sits still for more than 5 minutes.  It's great fun, and I am learning to see things in a new light, about the composition, perspective, lighting, and pause, both in art works and real life.  I occasionally sketch outside of class too,  and frequently find myself thinking, "What is my life?"  Attending art classes in Florence, Italy, learning classical Russian techniques? Che figata/How cool!  The Russian Academy of Art attracts people from all over the world, and I now have friends from Chile, Argentina, France, China, Australia, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, and other places.  Some of their stories are fascinating and I am honored to know them. 

Vanessa, Silvia, and I host a Bible Study at our apartment for the other students of the Russian Art Academy who are interested.  Paul leads the study; we are in the book of Philippians.  It's a lovely Sunday evening, consisting of talking about Jesus, drinking tea, and eating cookies in our regal apartment.  

We Are Still in the Works for Gallery Space #5.  At the moment we are trying to project the cost of remodeling this space, (actually two spaces, one for the gallery and one next door for the studio) working with our business consultant, landlord, and architect. 

Prayer Requests:

• Praise! I made it safely back to Florence and am loving my new apartment and roommates.

• Praise! Art classes are going well, and many new friendships are being built through that.

• Pray: For new friends and old, and relationships to continue to grow.

• Pray: For Gallery Space #5. If this is the space the Lord has for us that things would continue to move forward and be within our budget.

• Pray: For Christ's love and compassion to be made known in Italy, especially in this time of devastation with so many earthquakes.

Thank you to everyone who prays, supports, and reads these little (and sometimes not so little) updates!  I am so very thankful for you!

Blessed be His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory! - Psalm 72:19

September Newsletter

Buongiorno family & friends! 

September was a good and difficult month.  The first half of the month was mostly apartment searching, calling, visiting, and the second half I came home to Michigan.  In Florence we finally felt the heat of summer start to break; the air turned from stifling, summer hot, to earthy, autumn hot.  But really, it was so refreshing to feel the onset of autumn after a long, hot Florentine summer. 

September 1-14 Apartment Hunting in Italian and All That Ensues.  Once the immobiliari (real estate) opened again in September after the long vacation of August, I talked to every immobiliare I could to find an apartment.  I had already been going into and calling every one I could, but without little to no success.  I got to see a few apartments, but they weren't what we needed.  It was crucial I found an apartment before I flew home because I needed a contract in my name in order to apply for a visa.  And so, I started going to so many immobiliari, visiting every apartment website I could think of, and calling 12-15 immobiliari every day until I could secure some appointments to see apartments.  Even friends were helping and asking around for me.  So many of the apartments had already been rented out, didn't rent to students, only wanted a family, were out of our price range, or too far out of the city center.  (You recall I like to walk? Yes.) 

Ponte Vecchio at night.

Sometimes I would call an agency, spew out my little prepared-before-hand-Italian spiel, only to barely follow what the agent spewed out, and then they would hang up apparently assuming I had understood them.  Ummmm, I shall assume that apartment was not available.  And had bed bugs.  Probably had a Medici skeleton in the closet and the wifi didn't work.  And the floor will cave in if you jump on it.  We didn't want that one anyway.  Then there were the agencies that never answered my phone calls or emails.  Yep didn't want those ones either.

Finally,  I called an agent and got an appointment that evening!  I made a few more calls and accidentally called the same agent again.  Oops!  He must've recognized my spiel.  Drats.  I saw the apartment and it was beautiful.  A little on the small side at 70 square meters, but extremely modern and brand new.  The apartment was being shown to several other people that day, and so the typical pressure was put on me by Giuseppe the realtor, I had to let him know if I wanted it by tomorrow.  Ahhhhh I don't like pressure or decisions! 

The next morning I got a call from a realtor who had been trying to help me all along but never had anything that worked.  This time, she sent me photos of an apartment with beautiful painted ceilings right in the city center!  I got to see it that night and suddenly had this big dilemma.  This apartment was bigger and so much more romantic than the other one.  Yes, the oven is older, but hey.  I talked to my roommates and we decided to go for the 13th century building in the city center vs. a new but un-Florentine building. 

The amount of paperwork needed for the apartment became a joke.  My poor roommates who were out of the country had to scan and email me document after document.  Would you also like a photocopy of my Kroger rewards card from when I lived in Mississippi?  Mamma Mia.  Then I went to sign the contract, and the proprietor at the last didn't want to sign it because he doesn't rent to people without either a visa or permesso di soggiorno (permission to stay), I had neither yet.  Things got a little tense between him and the realtor and my knuckles turned very white, but by the Lord's grace he changed his mind and signed.  So...he didn't want to give an apartment contract to someone without a visa, and you can't get a visa without an apartment contract.  Oh, Italy.  Porca Miseria.  All this to say, everyone who prayed for our apartment, we needed your prayers and the Lord heard and was gracious to us!  My roommates Vanessa and Silvia just moved in this week and saw it for the first time; they love it, too.  Grazie, grazie, grazie tante!

Arrived at the Consolato 45 minutes early. How very un-Italian of me. (But hey, I got in early!)

September 6 I received my codice fiscale, or tax code.  I had to go to the Italian equivalent of the Secretary of State, and wait in line.  It was very easy to get and is similar to the SSN in the U.S.

September 17 I flew home!  After countless planes, shuttles, trains, walks, security checkpoints and a delayed and almost cancelled flight I arrived in Grand Rapids around 2:00 am.  I even got to translate for an Italian gentleman trying to get through US customs in Chicago.  My mom, dad, and JohnPaul were all there to greet me, and then we drove 2 1/2 hours home.  There is no place like home to restore the mind and body.  Unfortunately I ended up getting sick for the first part of being home with an unknown ailment and some infection, and made the discovery I am allergic to amoxicillin.  

September 21 Appointment at the Consolato d'Italia in Detroit.  My mom and I drove to Detroit so I could apply for my student visa.  Nerve racking, but it went very quick.  After the appointment I waited around because I remembered there were papers I never signed.  When the officer came back to the waiting room he said "brava" because he had forgotten to have me sign and that would've been "grave."  He said if I wanted to wait half hour he would have the visa ready.  It is "supposed" to take so many weeks to get to you, but I walked out of the consulate that day with my visa in hand!   

One of my favorite fall-time activities. Apple Picking.

I am continually humbled and grateful to the Lord for allowing me to be in Italy, even with the hardships.  It's easy to see past the romantic history and rolling hills of Tuscany once you've been living here, but it is a privilege and a blessing that I do not want to take lightly.  Thank you to everyone who has been and is praying and supporting this ministry, I appreciate you so much!

Prayer Requests:

• Praise! I finally found and have an apartment. A beautiful 13th century apartment at that!

• Praise! I made it safely home without any major problems.

• Praise! I got my visa to return for the rest of the year!

• Praise! Some new supporters joined the team and I am now at 80% support! It's exciting to be so close to full support as I prepare to head back for 9+ months. Please pray the Lord would provide the remainder and finances would not be a stress.

• Pray: We made an offer on Gallery Space #5, but there are still many hold ups and new rules and regulations being thrown at us. We never expected it to be this difficult and sometimes it's hard to see what the Lord's purpose is in this, but we have to keep trusting.

• Pray: For the relationships we are building and the new people we are meeting, also the realtors, contractors, and architects we are working closely with.

• Pray: For continued advancement in learning Italian. It seems for every victory there is a plateau of discouragement to follow.

• Pray: For Christ's Kingdom to be advanced in Italy!

Vista of Firenze from Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte

Process of Moving to Italy Thus Far

This post really should be titled, "Why the Heck Am I Moving to Italy and Other Scary and Uncertain Things" but I really like the word thus.  It makes me feel like I know English well.  And sometimes I need that little pat on the back of feeling like I know English well as I am struggling to learn Italian. 

Or, if I really wanted people to click on this link I should've titled it something like "Jenny Decided to Move to Italy and THIS Happened."  And like most articles that use that particular marketing scheme, not reveal what the THIS is until the end and have it be something really normal or predictable.  Aha ohhhhh I really dislike that kind of marketing.  Even if it looks like an article I'd want to read, I don't want to give that type of marketing page views.  It's against my principles. Haha.  If you are wondering why I'm moving to Italy, I've written about that here.

I left off that post with making a decision to move to Italy on December 31, 2015, after spending 3 months in Florence, Italy, with Gallery 4 as a vision trip.  The next steps were telling the Gallery 4 team and the excitement there, my friends and family, job and coworkers and the bitter-sweetness there. 

In February I flew down to Tupelo, MS, to receive Missionary Orientation Training, squeezing my brain full of everything I need to know to prepare, go, and live as a career missionary, and then some.  It's very exciting and overwhelming, and certainly is a roller coaster ride of faith and trust in the Lord, knowing that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and will provide everything I need if it is His will, from financial support, learning Italian, to downright courage.  I'm already amazed at some of the things I have been pushed to do, that by no means I could have done without a slight mental breakdown if it wasn't for the grace of the Lord ....ahem *public speaking* .... 

Melinda and I representing with the Italian flag. (At first we accidentally picked up the Mexican flag...)

In March I officially started support raising.  I'm so very thankful to those who have have already been so generous with their prayers, finances, time, and encouraging words and am excited for those who are yet to join my support team!  It's a long road ahead, but I intend to run this course with the strength, perseverance, and diligence of the Lord!  In the words of Cinderella, "Have courage, and be kind."

"Sii gentile, e abbi coraggio." - Cenerentola

Some next steps include buying a plane ticket and applying for a Student Visa so I can stay for more than 3 months.  In order to qualify for a Student Visa I will be taking art classes at the Russian Art Academy, they're pretty legit and I'm pretty terrible at drawing/sketching/painting, so...pray for me. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. When are you moving to Italy? My goal date is June 14, 2016! I have a little over 2 months before takeoff.

2. How long will you be there? It's easiest to say I'm starting with a year, because my visa will be good for a year, but really I will be there for as long as the Lord keeps me.

3. Do you get paid? No. Legally I am in Italy as a student and can't work.

4. Where does your support come from? Family, friends, church members, organizations, anyone who wants to partner with me and see this ministry come to fruition, for Jesus to be made known!

5. What will the average day look like for you? Teaching dance classes, performing and helping with Gallery openings, learning to be a local. Lots of walking, and maybe some pasta and gelato...

6. Do you speak Italian? Un po', sto imparando a parlare Italiano. Haha. A little, I'm learning. I took classes for 2 months when I was in Florence last fall. I've been trying to keep up and continue learning, but it's challenging when I don't have many people to converse with and that brain muscle doesn't get used every day. I'm anxious to get back in June to continue learning.

7. How long will it take you to become fluent? They say it takes about a year. Some friends I made while I was in Florence confirmed that, it took them about a year to become fluent after moving to Italy.

Have more questions or want to learn more?  Comment below, or you can find my contact information on the Give page.

Springing Forward While Looking Back

Happy Pi day!  More accurately, happy gray, rainy, slightly sleepy Monday!  What a perfect day for coffee, snuggling up on the couch and reading a good book.  Too bad my near future doesn't include any of those things.  Because, coffee is already in my past. Tear drop.  I have no excuse for being tired, though, I accidentally got so much sleep last night.  By accidentally I mean I went to bed at 10:45, thinking it was "actually" 11:45 with the recent time change, not realizing it would've "really" been 9:45.  Time change, the struggle is real.  Just don't go down that road of "but it's REALLY..." Embrace that new time, we're only prolonging our adjustment.  Wow, this could get really deep really fast. 

Anyway, why am I moving to Italy?  To be a missionary volunteering with Gallery 4, using dance, art, and music to share the Gospel.  Two big events shaped my life that helped prepare me for Italy.  One was the first mission trip I ever went on when I was dancing with Ballet Magnificat.  Before that, missions never appealed to me.  I thought it was great that people were painting houses in Haiti and holding children in Africa, but it didn't seem right for me.  In my second year with Ballet Mag, I went with the Events Company to Honduras, where we used ballet, performing and teaching, to share the Good News of Jesus.  Using a skill set I had trained many years for, to bring glory to the Lord and as a first stepping stone to talk about Jesus?  Yes please.  Not only that, but to see a people who love Jesus like I do and how their culture shapes the way they worship and interact with each other, different strengths and weaknesses than American churches, was eye-opening to me.  Having only traveled within America, the country where I was born, I suddenly wanted to learn more about different cultures, to try and understand how their world-views were formed, and for them to know Jesus.  I realized on the plane ride home that if the Lord ever called me to missions, for the first time, I was open to it.    

Events Company performing at a school in Honduras for over 1,000 students

The second event was when my parents, JohnPaul, and I took a 3 week vacation to Europe.  We were able to go to London, Paris, Bologna, Florence, Cinque Terre, Orvieto, and Rome.  I loved every second of it, (except leaving Paris, I shed a tear or two) but I left a part of my heart in Florence.  I wanted to go back so badly.  I love my home in Michigan, but the only two times I have not wanted to go back was flying home from Honduras and flying home from Italy. 

Happy family in the Louvre

My mom and I at Vernazza

About the same time we got back from Europe two friends of mine were heading to Florence, Italy, to work with a ministry called Gallery 4.  Naturally I started talking to them about it, and soon I had decided to go see if it was something I might like to do.  September-December of 2015 I spent with Gallery 4 as a vision trip.  I was hoping three months would be enough, that I would have my fill of Italy and that would be it, but no.  I came home shortly before Christmas and took several weeks to pray about returning longer term, but I think I knew that was where God was leading me even before I had left Italy.  And so, on December 31, 2015, I made the decision to pursue moving back to Italy. 

If you made it this far, thanks for reading, I feel pretty special.  Coming soon, the process of moving to Italy and what's ahead!