Back in Rome...

You might recall that when I first arrived in Rome (that was about three months ago) the first order of business was to apply for my legal residence permit which included several trips to different offices and waiting at the "Questura" (police station) for four hours.  The next step was to attend an "Italian Civics" class.  Last week, I had the honor of watching a four hour video that taught me how to be a good resident in Italy.  It was in English, and for all four hours it was simply two people (one form the U.S. and one from Great Britain) reading at a camera.  One of my favorite parts was when the British guy comes on with a t-shirt that says "Brooklyn."  Naturally, I thought to myself, "So this is what it means to be Italian!!!"   I also learned that...
    1) There are almost 1000 members in the Italian Parliament. 
    2) Work is good for you and for the state, so get a job.
    3) Make sure your kids go to school.
    4) Social workers are good people.
I am happy to say that Friday I returned to the Questura and picked up my "permesso di soggiorno."Woo Hoo!  Here is the new class proudly showing our newly acquired "permessi."

 Of course, I still need to get an identity card from the local government (that takes 3 passport photos to get) and then I can purchase my annual bus pass.  I also think I have to sign up for the government health care.  I figure that by the time I'm finished with school, I will have everything completed :) 

In the meantime, I'll share a few more photos.  When we were returning from Pallanza, we had to switch trains in Milano and had four hours.  So, a few of us hopped on the subway and went downtown.  I'll warn you that one of the pictures is a little strange, but I had to share it. 

Ciao!

Here we are at the Duomo (Cathedral) of Milan.  We were there in the morning, but that afternoon the funeral for Cardinal Martini took place in the church.  We were able to walk past his coffin in the sanctuary and pay our respects.

The Duomo really is an exquisite building.

This advertisement was in the subway.  I wanted to go because it says that "Charlie and his friends are waiting for me!"  But, the brothers said we didn't have time to go.  By the way, this is not the strange picture.

The Church of St. Ambrose.  He was Bishop of Milan in the fourth century.  This is also probably the place where Ambrose baptized Augustine after his conversion.  When we were here, it started to rain, but I think it was just Monica's tears.  (You theology nerds will understand this.)

And finally, in the crypt of the church, one can see the tomb of St. Ambrose.  Or, rather, one can see St. Ambrose!  Here he is (dressed in white) with a martyr whose name I don't remember (sorry).

Seeing skeletons of saints dressed up like this is more common here than you might expect.  I have also seen seen the body of St. Francis of Rome and the skull of St. Dominic (in Bologna).

After all, they always say that two heads are better than one...

Bro. Jinu posing with St. Dominic's head (it's hard to see it, but it's encased in the reliquary.)

First Impressions...

So, I live in Rome now.  It’s still a little hard to believe.

The Aurelean Wall near Via Appia Antica

 That pretty much sums up the last few days as I begin to settle into my new city and my new community.  I’m still the same person:  I don’t want to get up in the morning and I look forward to that first cup of coffee.  But, then, I’m reminded that I’m in Rome: the shower is smaller than I’m used to, I’m greeted in the chapel with “Buongiorno, Fratelli,” and the coffee is much stronger here.  When I look out my bedroom window onto the street below the traffic is crazier, the sirens sound funny, and laundry is hanging out to dry on balcony railings.  It’s hard to walk anywhere without seeing some piece of centuries-old architecture.  And let’s not even talk (hee, hee) about the different language thing!  Toto, I don’t think we’re in Dayton anymore!  Amidst all this change, the Brothers I live with have been very helpful.  They are very welcoming and generous in introducing me to life at Via Latina 22, and they are very patient with me as I make a feeble attempt to use the little Italian that I know.  Even though we are from many different countries, the same Marianist spirit is evident in the house!

And then there’s Italian bureaucracy.  One of the first things I need to accomplish in Rome is to get my “permesso di soggiorno.”  It’s like a residency card that allows me to be in Italy for an extended period of time.  Here’s the basic plan:

• Go to Vatican Congregation for Religious Life and get a letter signed that says everything is legitimate

• Go to post office and get an application

• Fill out the application

• Return to post office to turn in application and pay a fee

• Go to Police Station to be fingerprinted and receive the card. 

Sounds easy, right?

Here’s how it really works:

• On Friday: Go to the Congregation office and find out they’re closed on Friday, but we can come back on Saturday.  Go to nearby post office and hear that they are out of applications and don’t know when they will have more.  Go to another post office across town (you can only get the forms at certain offices) and get the form.  Stop by a photo booth to have pictures taken.  Go home (we’re close by this point) and fill out application.

• On Saturday: Return to the Vatican and wait in line for about an hour for a signature that takes no more than five minutes.  Go the post office and find out that they don’t process applications on Saturday.  Stop for gelato on the way home.

• On Monday: Return (again) to the crowded post office where you are told that they are too busy and too far behind.  They won’t do any soggiorno applications for another two weeks.  Meet a Sister of Mercy trying to do the same thing who knows of another nearby post office that we can try.  Begin praying to Venerable Faustino (a young Marianist on his way to sainthood.)  Take a ticket at this post office and wait in line.  Finally have the application processed.  Thank Faustino and report this as his first miracle.  We also receive an appointment at the police station in two weeks, but I’ve been told that this might not mean anything…documents get lost and appointment times are just suggestions.

All I can say is: “Welcome to Italy.”  It is my understanding that this is very typical.  I won’t complain the next time I have to wait in line at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in the United States.  Compared to Italy, the BMV is quite efficient!!  I’ll keep you updated on how things end up.  Feel free to start making bets as to when I’ll have the card in hand.

I’ll leave you with a few pictures from the wandering I’ve done.  Today, I went to the Coliseum area.  I only had a few hours and found out very quickly that there’s no way to see everything there in a day.  As I passed a group of tourists hurriedly snapping photos and quickly going from place to place in a frenzy it hit me: I can take my time and soak in the sights since I will be here for three years.  I found myself slowing down, simply meandering along the sidewalk, and telling myself I can see more things on another day.  Maybe I’m starting to become Italian!

Ciao!

Constantine's Arch

Church of Sts. Cosma and Damian

The Colosseum

Old and New

The Roman Forum