Today while herding my crew of teenage boy campers to our next destination the following conversation took place;
Camper A: Relish do you have any brothers?
Me; Yep three.
Camper B: Do you have any sisters?
Me: Yep three.
Camper A: So you've got three brothers and three sisters?
Me: Yes and one on the way.
Camper C: You have 7 brothers and sisters!??! Eight kids in your family?
Me: Yes.
Camper D: 10 people live in your house??!!
(in my head at this point thinking, "Well I'm glad they can do that math.")
Back to Camper C who's an only child: That's so many people living in one house!
Then the conversation turned to my age. Those dear children thought I was four years younger than I actually am. So I guess it makes sense why Liz Taylor and I are confused as twins. I look the same age as her according to my campers.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
What I Learned Today
I have an accent. And according to one of my campers, I have a South Jersey accent. I told him that wasn't where I'm from but he didn't seem to care. When he mimicked me the accent was from much further south than South Jersey.
The conversation about my accent took place yesterday. Today as we passed my companion who hails from the dear flatlands as well, he declared we both sound alike. His shock at hearing multiple people with our accent was quite entertaining.
The conversation about my accent took place yesterday. Today as we passed my companion who hails from the dear flatlands as well, he declared we both sound alike. His shock at hearing multiple people with our accent was quite entertaining.
Monday, May 23, 2016
What I Learned Today
Putting on a habit (or uniform right now for me) makes random people comfortable talking to you about anything.
Yesterday we went to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the altar of Mary Help of Christians. Sitting with some of my companions waiting for Mass to start, an elderly gentleman came up and took the open seat next to me. He turned to me and began talking about the Basilica. I asked him if he had been at the dedication of the altar 50 years ago which launched him into telling me about himself. He lives at the Veteran's home in DC and since he's 94 years old he figured he should go yesterday because he just never knew how much he longer he would be able to go out. Then he showed me the speaker device he had for his hearing aid because he had lost most of his hearing in combat. "Take care of your ears. Stay away from all those loud noses and things or else you end up with bad hearing like me. They didn't tell us that back then. And make sure you brush your teeth. They didn't tell us to do that either and I didn't brush mine." At this point he popped his dentures out of place and showed them to me. "See. You got to take care because you only get one shot. God only gives you one body. God bless you." And with that he turned back forward.
It was very sweet of him. Although it really took a lot to control myself when he popped out his dentures to not get a little bit of the church giggles, but I kept myself composed.
This particular situation is really a mild case of what happens in habit/uniform and honestly it could have just been an older gentleman taking a chance to share some things he had learned in life with a young person. Either way I take it as preparation for the conversations that could happen when I don the habit, God willing.
Yesterday we went to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the altar of Mary Help of Christians. Sitting with some of my companions waiting for Mass to start, an elderly gentleman came up and took the open seat next to me. He turned to me and began talking about the Basilica. I asked him if he had been at the dedication of the altar 50 years ago which launched him into telling me about himself. He lives at the Veteran's home in DC and since he's 94 years old he figured he should go yesterday because he just never knew how much he longer he would be able to go out. Then he showed me the speaker device he had for his hearing aid because he had lost most of his hearing in combat. "Take care of your ears. Stay away from all those loud noses and things or else you end up with bad hearing like me. They didn't tell us that back then. And make sure you brush your teeth. They didn't tell us to do that either and I didn't brush mine." At this point he popped his dentures out of place and showed them to me. "See. You got to take care because you only get one shot. God only gives you one body. God bless you." And with that he turned back forward.
It was very sweet of him. Although it really took a lot to control myself when he popped out his dentures to not get a little bit of the church giggles, but I kept myself composed.
This particular situation is really a mild case of what happens in habit/uniform and honestly it could have just been an older gentleman taking a chance to share some things he had learned in life with a young person. Either way I take it as preparation for the conversations that could happen when I don the habit, God willing.
Monday, May 16, 2016
What I Learned Today
I'm not valid. Turns out my lovely home state doesn't issue IDs up to federal standards and you can't get on federal grounds at places like West Point.
Today as culmination of our Don Bosco class, Sr. D took us on a field trip to visit West Point and our Marian Shrine where there is a replica of Don Bosco's childhood home. The first stop of the day was West Point. On arriving at the security check, point my companion and I were informed we couldn't go in because our licenses' didn't meet federal requirements, and we didn't have any other form of identification on us. Divine Intervention saved the day as we had just met an officer from West Point when we were getting breakfast and he had graciously arranged to meet us and give us a tour. Thank goodness he was able to come and get us in so we could join the tour.
Today as culmination of our Don Bosco class, Sr. D took us on a field trip to visit West Point and our Marian Shrine where there is a replica of Don Bosco's childhood home. The first stop of the day was West Point. On arriving at the security check, point my companion and I were informed we couldn't go in because our licenses' didn't meet federal requirements, and we didn't have any other form of identification on us. Divine Intervention saved the day as we had just met an officer from West Point when we were getting breakfast and he had graciously arranged to meet us and give us a tour. Thank goodness he was able to come and get us in so we could join the tour.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Things I'm Not Ready for
Sunday morning we had our final CCD class. It was my week to be with the 2nd graders as a teacher's aide. When the teacher walked in I wished her a Happy Mother's Day, without skipping a beat she said Happy Mother's Day to me. In the moment I said nothing, but at lunch later I was relating the story and how in my mind I was caught off guard by it. Sr. B then pointed out, "Um spiritual motherhood." Oh yeah. Well, still not ready to be wished Happy Mother's Day by people.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
The Alarm Clock Strikes Again
Some of you may or may not remember on my first morning in the convent, I had a bit of a struggle with the alarm clock and slept right through Mass, this morning the alarm clock struggle reappeared. Part of the problem I think may have stemmed from falling asleep while reading last night and walking up a half hour/45 minutes later to shut off the lights and actually go to bed. This morning I rolled over to look at the clock thinking it was the middle of the night and I could sleep longer, only to realize it was 5:41 and I was officially a minute late to meditation. Whoops. As I scurried about my room getting ready I awaited the inevitable knock on the door. 5:46 Sr. TK was knocking on my door to make sure I was awake. She was concerned I was ill. I reassured her I'd be in chapel in a moment and she departed. As Guardian Angel Grandma would say, I must have needed the extra sleep which I think was absolutely true because when I got in chapel I actually stayed awake for meditation.
#1 on to do list before bedtime tonight: Check the alarm clock.
#1 on to do list before bedtime tonight: Check the alarm clock.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Spring Break Convent Style
First off when you live in the convent spring break becomes Easter break and it starts Holy Thursday and lasts the whole week after Easter. At least that's what I've been told, I'm not sure if it's the same in all of the Salesian houses.
Before break even began Sr. TK sat the six of us down and informed us in the Salesian world a break from school means a new job description for the break. To be honest it really could have been much worse if you think of all the new job descriptions the six of us could have gotten.
Monday: This was a half free day. The morning was spent doing a spring cleaning in the dorms. In the afternoon five us loaded up and headed to a mega mall 30 minutes away. I'm pretty sure it was quite obvious as we wandered through Target we don't get out much. Oh well. We celebrated with some TGI Fridays and finished the evening off with some Coldstone.
Tuesday: Morning was spent washing all the chairs in the cafeteria. Afternoon was spent helping Sr. M reorganize and clean the development office after they got new carpet the week before. They had some very interesting things in there that had been donated for use at fundraising parties.
Wednesday: Back to cleaning the school in the AM. I got to wash windows with Sr. R. As I've been declared a tall person here and I'm about five inches taller than Sr. R I was put in charge of all the windows that were higher up. In the afternoon, I accompanied one of the development office employees to check out all the Easter sales at CVS, Walgreens, Dollar Tree, etc. to get Easter/Spring things for the upcoming raffle basket party. On returning from the shopping excursion, one of my companions and I were in charge of supper.
Thursday: Field trip day with Sr. TK. After loading up the cargo van with things food to be used at the retreat center where the novices live we headed to their house for the day. I got to drive the cargo van. It wasn't too bad. I'm thankful for the Red Bus driving experiences I get asked to drive the larger vans around here.
Friday: Just like when I was in school, all the homework due Monday had not been touched so the morning was spent doing homework. In the afternoon, we headed down to the Provincial House to entertain the elderly Srs. with a skit we had put together based on what we've learned in our classes about Mother Mazzarello.
Saturday: Chores and then we got to go with Sr. B and Sr. G to NYC for Catholic Underground. It was a super cool experience. Catholic Underground is run by the Franciscan Friars and it consists of Confession and Adoration with praise and worship music being performed. There were people of all ages there which was neat because most of those types of events I've been to are mostly for high school/college age people. After the Holy hour they have some form of entertainment in the basement of the church with refreshments and stuff, hence the Underground part of the title.
Sunday: Back to CCD and enjoying the last few hours of break before going back to the regular schedule.
And so concludes my first convent spring break.
Before break even began Sr. TK sat the six of us down and informed us in the Salesian world a break from school means a new job description for the break. To be honest it really could have been much worse if you think of all the new job descriptions the six of us could have gotten.
Monday: This was a half free day. The morning was spent doing a spring cleaning in the dorms. In the afternoon five us loaded up and headed to a mega mall 30 minutes away. I'm pretty sure it was quite obvious as we wandered through Target we don't get out much. Oh well. We celebrated with some TGI Fridays and finished the evening off with some Coldstone.
Tuesday: Morning was spent washing all the chairs in the cafeteria. Afternoon was spent helping Sr. M reorganize and clean the development office after they got new carpet the week before. They had some very interesting things in there that had been donated for use at fundraising parties.
Wednesday: Back to cleaning the school in the AM. I got to wash windows with Sr. R. As I've been declared a tall person here and I'm about five inches taller than Sr. R I was put in charge of all the windows that were higher up. In the afternoon, I accompanied one of the development office employees to check out all the Easter sales at CVS, Walgreens, Dollar Tree, etc. to get Easter/Spring things for the upcoming raffle basket party. On returning from the shopping excursion, one of my companions and I were in charge of supper.
Thursday: Field trip day with Sr. TK. After loading up the cargo van with things food to be used at the retreat center where the novices live we headed to their house for the day. I got to drive the cargo van. It wasn't too bad. I'm thankful for the Red Bus driving experiences I get asked to drive the larger vans around here.
Friday: Just like when I was in school, all the homework due Monday had not been touched so the morning was spent doing homework. In the afternoon, we headed down to the Provincial House to entertain the elderly Srs. with a skit we had put together based on what we've learned in our classes about Mother Mazzarello.
Saturday: Chores and then we got to go with Sr. B and Sr. G to NYC for Catholic Underground. It was a super cool experience. Catholic Underground is run by the Franciscan Friars and it consists of Confession and Adoration with praise and worship music being performed. There were people of all ages there which was neat because most of those types of events I've been to are mostly for high school/college age people. After the Holy hour they have some form of entertainment in the basement of the church with refreshments and stuff, hence the Underground part of the title.
Sunday: Back to CCD and enjoying the last few hours of break before going back to the regular schedule.
And so concludes my first convent spring break.
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