Team Retreat

Easter morning I found myself sitting in a very large, very old cathedral in an area of a city a poet once dubbed the Square of Miracles. As I sat there listening to the service, I couldn't help my eyes from wandering over the ornate carvings, beautifully painted frescoes, and intricate stained glass windows. The choir sang, the Archbishop sprinkled us with holy water and incensed smoke and the congregation chanted in reply. I got to experience Easter in an entirely new and incredible way. I really concentrated on what was being said...because it was Easter and that's what you do on Easter......it also could have been a little bit because of the language barrier since the archbishop gave his sermon in Italian. 'Italian?' you are probably asking yourself. Where on earth did she find a cathedral with Italian clergy...the obvious answer is the correct one. Team England decided to take our team Retreat over the school Easter Holiday to Italy which is how I found myself celebrating Easter in Italian. As far as retreats go this one can be counted as a success. We had relaxing moments, tense moments, fun moments, learning moments and downright confusing moments....but like most trips or experiences you have with one another, you grow closer. And I believe that's exactly what team England did over our retreat....I believe its what we've been doing all year....so going on a journey like this together was incredible. There is nothing like experiencing new and amazing things with people who you can no longer imagine your life without. Maybe it seems a strange thought to you but that's what this trip really let me see and realize. This year has ensured to me that I will always view Kaihle and Rachel as friends...they will always be a part of my life......its like I always tell Rachel to make her roll her eyes 'best friends forever' (the eye rolling probably comes from the fact I usually sing it in a high pitched voice). I've learned some interesting things about myself during orientation and throughout the year in terms of my personality quirks and convictions. One of those things I learned is that people like me might not have tons of friends but those we do have...the ones we let get close and get close to in return...we don't let go. And I honestly can't think of two more amazing people to have gotten this close with. Experiencing Italy with two of my 'best friends forever' was a once in a lifetime kind of trip.....(or maybe not so once in a lifetime if our future plans work out hehe)....but I digress. The purpose of this post was actually meant to share with you what we did during our retreat, so let me get to that.

We traveled to Pisa, Italy the Saturday before Easter. We spent two days there experiencing all Pisa had to offer.....literally all Pisa had to offer. I suppose there is probably more to see and do than what we did....but we did the only things that most everyone chooses to see when they visit Pisa - the leaning tower and the Square of Miracles. There wasn't much else to see and do...plus the weather was not on our side....but we had a really fantastic time anyways. While in Pisa we had some seriously AMAZING pizza, took the expected leaning tower pictures that everyone groans at, listened to a woman sing a cord with herself in the baptistery, explored the beautiful cemetery with huge frescoes and attended the Archbishop's Easter mass. All in all we had a really great time together...bonding over strange 'hotels', gelato and art. Pisa was good.

Next we traveled by train to Florence. Florence was by far my favorite part of the trip...I believe it was probably everyone's favorite....we didn't even do that much but it was still wonderful because the atmosphere of Florence is an experience all its own. We spent 3 days in Florence with relatively nice weather. We did some pretty cool things while there. We climbed a very high hill to one of Europe's oldest churches. It was beautiful! Sculptures, frescoes, monks, crypts, the view......amazing! We looked out over Florence from Michelangelo's piazza, window shopped along Ponte Vecchio, explored the Uffizi museum, stood in awe of the Duomo, and climbed its famous Filippo Brunelleschi designed dome. We also spent a lot of time just wandering around the city and along the riverside...art, culture, history...what more can you ask for?

We then took a train to Rome....a city known world over for its history. For those of you that know me....you know I was in my element. I love history....all history....I like learning about past people, things, cultures, peculiarities, religions, traditions....all of it! Rome is historically incredible! We sat on the Spanish Steps, threw pennies into Trevi Fountain, saw Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's basilica, stared in wonder at the Sistine Chapel ceiling, walked the ancient halls of the coliseum, wandered through the Roman Forum, and saw Raphael's grave in the Pantheon. We complained and moaned in harmonious accord as we experienced torrential downpours, soggy luggage, and hotels miles away from civilization. :)

 









 ...and ya know what? It was great! We learned what it meant for a place to inspire worship, what a masterpiece looks like, how a sculpture can radiated emotion, and what it felt like to walk in the same places people have been walking for thousands of years. We came back with so much new knowledge, so many shared feelings of delight and amazement, and so many hilarious stories that will continually be fun to recollect. Our retreat was everything a retreat should be, but the best part of all was probably when we all admitted we were ready to go home....and by home we meant Bradford with the people we have grown to love and respect. I now understand the idea that home can be a place.....but it can also be people. Retreat in Italy = Success.