Lovely reflections! I felt like I was in Italy from reading this. I did a short study abroad in London in college and I loved the feeling of having settled in enough to use the Tube without a map and go where I wanted to go.
Have you read The Enchanted April or seen the movie? The experience of time in Italy (from four British ladies) has some shared flavors with yours. It was a healthy, humbling, grace-filled time for them. The book (and the movie) is/are like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day.
In the recent book The Awakening of Miss Prim, the main character (who lives in Spain) is told that every woman needs to live at least a month in Italy, and I feel like the author is using that advice as shorthand to reference The Enchanted April (a favorite book of the author's). That every woman needs to get what those women got from a month in Italy.
Thanks for this, Kate! I haven't read The Enchanted April but it sounds lovely. I've also been hearing about The Awakening of Miss Prim, so I'll need to check that one out, too! ☺️
Beautiful essay. Reminded me of my semester living in Rome 20 years ago! It was a life changing experience for sure. My most enduring lesson there was the ancient and universal nature of the Church, far deeper and older than my small home parish in New York State.
Maybe my new favorite essay of yours! LOVE IT. And you ❤️
Lovely reflections! I felt like I was in Italy from reading this. I did a short study abroad in London in college and I loved the feeling of having settled in enough to use the Tube without a map and go where I wanted to go.
Have you read The Enchanted April or seen the movie? The experience of time in Italy (from four British ladies) has some shared flavors with yours. It was a healthy, humbling, grace-filled time for them. The book (and the movie) is/are like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day.
In the recent book The Awakening of Miss Prim, the main character (who lives in Spain) is told that every woman needs to live at least a month in Italy, and I feel like the author is using that advice as shorthand to reference The Enchanted April (a favorite book of the author's). That every woman needs to get what those women got from a month in Italy.
Thanks for this, Kate! I haven't read The Enchanted April but it sounds lovely. I've also been hearing about The Awakening of Miss Prim, so I'll need to check that one out, too! ☺️
Enchanted April and Miss Prim are two of my favorite books! Definitely capture the flavor of Italy!
Who needs to go to Rome when you brought Rome to us? Thanks for sharing in such an evocative way!
Thank you so much!
Beautiful essay. Reminded me of my semester living in Rome 20 years ago! It was a life changing experience for sure. My most enduring lesson there was the ancient and universal nature of the Church, far deeper and older than my small home parish in New York State.
Yes!! I experienced that, too -- and I felt such deep gratitude for being part of something so much bigger than myself! Thanks for reading! ☺️
Oh my gosh, Rome was also the first place I visited in Europe as a college sophomore. To read your words took me back…what a rich essay!
Thank you for stirring my heart and memories☺️🫶
This is beautiful!! Stirring imagery.
Well this is gorgeous! I am definitely going to borrow a couple paragraphs for retreat I'm giving later this week!
That’s for “taking” me to Rome with you
Ah, just in time for me to literally board a plane to Rome! Thank you!
Ahhh! I hope you have a great time!