My Christmas in Italy

Just got back from my Italy trip. It was tiring but an adventure nonetheless. Met a lot of new people along the way. Strangers at first but our common love for travelling and the fact that we are living (in Europe) away from the people we love made us friends right away. Specially at a time where you should be with family, Christmas.

Christmas wasn't all that bad. Aside from the drama of missing being away from my family and being torchured by seeing families during the season, I was having the time of my life.

I started in Rome. Stayed there for 5 days. In hindsight, I should have tried taking a train somewhere else since 5 days was too much for Rome. The highlight was seeing the Pope and attending the Christmas Eve mass INSIDE the St. Peter's Basilica. How awesome it that? Thanks to P, for getting me in. The experience was so surreal, words cannot explain. Also followed the Angels and Demons trail which made me feel like Robert Langdon. I Spent 2 days with the merchants of Venice and made an impromptu day trip to the land of  Romeo and Giulietta in fair Verona. I missed out on Pisa and Florence. I should do that next time.

Spent a few hours in Brussels. Checked out the peeing statue and had my hair cut. I have yet to taste Belgian chocolate and drink Belgian beer. Maybe next time.

Blog Traffic because of Veronika Decides to Die

I just noticed that people have been landing to my blog because of my post about Veronika Decides to Die. Sorry guys to disappoint you because I do NOT have any links to its OST.

Just like you, I am a fan of the book, SMG and the upcoming movie. Nothing more.

Roma

Im spending Christmas here in Rome. In a few hours I will be seated inside St. Peters Basilica for the Christmas Mass. I feel so blessed and lucky to be able to get that chance to be in His Holinesss presence. First it was Notre Dame in Paris, now this. It couldnt be any better than this. Though Im so sad that Ill be so far away from my family and loved ones this Christmas, Im still happy to be here. Only if I can be in two places at once, Id be the happiest ever.

Prayer Time

Just something to ponder on.

If we do not want to hear what God is saying to us through the people and situations in our life, we can so easily rationalise and reject the bearer’s frailty and in the process reject the Gospel as well - which is actually quite illogical. "A priest shouted at me in confession so I don’t go to church any more." It would be like rejecting democracy because of the corruption of a democratically elected official.

http://sacredspace.ie/livingspace/a1026g/

Christmas in Italy

Hello All,

I can't believe it. After hours of trial and error for the best cost of this Christmas trip... I just finished booking everything for my Christmas in Italy! Saved on a few but its still pretty expensive. Shoestring na 'to, sagad pa! Maybe, I wont just eat for the entire trip. Hahaha.

Just a glimpse of my itinerary, without the price of course.

16-Dec 1:15 PM 4:15 PM Flanders
21-Dec 6:35 PM 8:35 PM AD 1 Hostel
22-Dec AD 1 Hostel
23-Dec AD 1 Hostel
24-Dec Chianti Hostel
25-Dec Chianti Hostel
26-Dec Chianti Hostel
27-Dec 9:45 AM 10:50 AM Ostello de Venezia
28-Dec Ostello de Venezia
29-Dec 9:25 PM 10:55 PM Sleep Well
30-Dec 12:45 PM 2:15 PM

I'll be missing the Philippines so much during the holidays. Something to keep me busy. I'll be meeting Paolo and Fr. Danny during the trip to keep me company.

I'll be spending my New Years at Lille. I hope I get to find a nice party there. If not, I just hope I wont get homesick.

Patch

New place like home

Today I finally got my own place. Not to shabby but fits the bill.

Things I like about it
1) Its saves me a lot of money. Rent is 50% cheaper than what I budgeted
2) Its close to school. Literally, just walking distcance
3) I got my own place

I'm annoyed by my faucet at the moment. It drips. I have to have it checked by Mimi, the designated maintenance lady of the building. She might think I have something to do with it. I didn't break it, excuse me.

Had dinner with Iulia from Romania, my classmate who lives on another residence down the street. She's not for globalization/capitalization.

She showed me a shorter way to get to my place. If I knew about that, I wouldn't have walked a mile from the metro with my luggage awhile ago. Oh well. Did I mention it was drizzling when I moved in. Imagine me walking with all my luggage. Hassle. But all is good. I'm just glad I can finally settle down.

Classes got cancelled for tomorrow. I'll do some shopping for my new space. Some things on my list. A water filter, some hangers, detergent, air freshener, bedsheets, pillow, sticky tape, water boiler, few snacks, and some things to make this place more like home.

Until then.

Patch

First few days in Lille

Hello All,

I'm finally in Lille. Been here for the past 5 days already actually. It's been crazy. Been walking a lot. There are two major things that I need done ASAP. First, that I get enrolled. Second, that I find a house.

So far enrollment is a FAIL. Apparently you need to schedule an inscription appointment online. The slots for these not that much. So I'm still waiting for my turn. Maybe next week I get to do it. Please!!!

As for the lodging, good thing a fellow GEB student told me that I need not be enrolled to apply for a CROUS residence. Voila. I was able to get one today. But before that even happened, I was already panicking that I looked for a place outside the residences. I found one. Out of desperation. At least for the next two weeks. The place was actually nice, I visited it and talked with the landlord and told them my intention to start moving in tomorrow. But now, since I've got CROUS, I wouldn't be needing the private lodging. Although the private one will definitely be much bigger, its going to be very far. The CROUS - Galois residence wont be as big but its closer to the school. And did I mention way cheaper. That means, more travelling money for me!

I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow.

Patch