Monday, December 14, 2015

Week 29: don't have a title for this week

Dear people I love:

I'm getting bored of addressing my emails the same way. So, I might
get a bit creative in the next few weeks. Okay... To get this off my
list so I don't have to think about it anymore... The mission sent out
release dates this week for the entire next year. They asked us to
tell our families and people.. So, I will be getting off an airplane
at the Reno Tahoe International Airport on November 15, 2016. Be there
to pick me up please! ;) Okay, no more thinking about that...

This week was not my favorite. I spent the first part of the week in
Siracusa. On Monday, we went Christmas shopping in Ortigia. The only
thing I bought was for me. I think I have this Christmas thing wrong,
haha. I bought a really nice skirt from Zara. It is a long pencil
skirt with a slit but the slit doesn't come above my knee. It is
adorable, and you will see it on November 15, 2016. I felt kind of
silly buying something for after the mission, but it was too cute to
pass up. And it was only 18€.

Tuesday, I went to lessons with them since I still didn't have a
companion and we did English course and family home evening. Nothing
too exciting, other than the fact that I was still sick and I had to
run around Siracusa for a few days. We came back to Catania on
Wednesday, I felt horrible. I received a blessing and rested the rest
of that day. Thursday was transfer day and we had a lot to do. I woke
up without a voice, we had to meet Sorelle at the airport at noon, we
had a lesson, and then we had to be at the station at 5:20. We barely
made it in time and I credit it all to miracles from Heavenly Father.
Then I picked up Sorella Davison and we went to English course.

A little bit about Sorella Davison. She was born in Sydney, Australia
but her family now lives in Newcastle. She has 7 siblings and she
studied nursing. She has a boyfriend at home, and she has been out for
a year. We are probably at the same level as far as the language goes,
and as she would say, we are getting on great. I'm learning a new
vocabulary, haha..
Trackie dacks: sweats
Jumper: sweatshirt
Getting on: getting along
Shrapnel: change(money)
Foot-paths: sidewalks
Capsicum: bell pepper
She definitely has an accent, but she says it isn't as strong as it
was. They don't pronounce the r's and she says a's differently.
Overall, she is the Australian twin of Bella Favero.

Friday and Saturday, I had no voice. It was a very unfortunate case of
laryngitis, and I still sound a bit croaky, but it's coming back. It's
hard to introduce someone to a city or form a friendship when you
can't talk. But Sorella Davison was very patient. We both have a
desire to work hard, and this city has a lot of potential. So... I am
very excited! Speaking of which, Catania is pronounced Ca-tawn-ya. But
it would be pronounced ca-tan-ee-a if it was a normal Italian word. I
asked about that too, but I can't remember the reasoning. It might be
Greek or something.

Because I didn't have a voice, we organized the area book a bit and I
learned how to do area book finding for the next time that it rains.
I'm always learning something new. I also still haven't figured out
the not feeling guilty about staying in when I don't feel well. I have
the "I'm a missionary.. I don't have time to be sick." Mentality stuck
right now.

On Sunday, the ward had the primary program. My heart melted watching
the kids get up and bear testimony about the Savior in Italian. And
the singing was adorable too. Gah... Kids here are too cute!

Sunday night, we watched the Christmas devotional. It was so good! I
really enjoyed all of the talks. I feel like this Christmas is going
to have a lot more meaning this year. And I feel really blessed to not
be in the center of all the commercialism. It's kind of nice
disappearing out of the world for 18 months. :)

We have a Specialized training tomorrow. It should be really good. I'm
sad it is only going to be 2 hours long, because I cherish all the
time we get for those. So, look for pictures on the blog.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy holidays! Merry Christmas to all!

Love,
Sorella Flansberg

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