05.16.06

Off to Turkey, Greece and Italy

Posted in Uncategorized at 3:38 pm by Melissa

Well, I am off to Turkey, Greece and Italy with my parents and Auntie Meng. We are traveling on a religious pilgrimage. My Dad normally takes on the job of altar boy while I take on the job of lector. Hopefully this year someone else will want to read. I think it’s best to participate in the mass so that you actually get the religious part of the trip.  I think my Mom might volunteer since she started lectoring at church.

Jason is in Austin on a business trip, so either way, I was going to end up in Rome visiting with Kristen and the rest of the Cain clan or on this trip. It’s tough planning last minute trips, but I know that it will all be worth it. I have already spent time in Italy when I studied abroad my last semester in college. I have never been to Turkey or Greece, so I am looking forward to this trip.

I’ve always had the traveling bug in me. I thank Mrs. Joan McCown, my high school world history teacher, for instilling in me the desire to see other parts of the world. The way I ended up on the study abroad Italy trip in ’99 was because I had always wanted to see Renaissance art up close and personal. Also, since I am a Roman Catholic, I was so excited to be visiting Vatican City at some point during my studies. I was hoping for a glimpse of Pope John Paul II, but he was back in Poland at the time I was in Rome.

It’s really sad that I never got to see Pope John Paul II. A lot of my friends went to see him when he made it to the U.S.A. My parents attended a mass with him a few years ago on one of their tours. On this trip, I think we will attend a mass with Pope Benedict.

If you are one of the few strangers reading this who might still have a chance, I highly recommend studying abroad in some form or fashion. If money is an issue, don’t forget to check into financial aid. It’s a rewarding experience as long as you open your mind to learning about other cultures.

I might be offline for the next two weeks, unless I can find a computer somewhere along the way. I know…I need to post pictures.

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