SCOTLAND!

6th stop: Glasgow, Edinburgh Scotland- Wewlyn Garden City (London), England


About 30 min plane ride from Dublin to Glasgow, the plane doesn’t even seem to have ascended before you start descending again. It’s just that close to each other, I mean not just the distance, but the nature, the sheeps, and the endless rolling hills makes me conclude that when the world was once one mass, Ireland was connected to Scotland. You will notice right away that definitely the capacity to understand the English language is miles more difficult. Scotish people at times seem to have something stuck in their throat that they just can’t seem to shallow when they speak English. I really had to make an effort to listen to what they said (sometimes). Everything is like a wee bit, a wee more, a wee bowl...

with Anne's FAM

It was so funny because me and my friend speak the same language, but there were so many times she would need me to repeat myself. We arrived in Glasgow her hometown, as we both went to Ireland together for the Mariapolis, and we were exhausted. I made some PANCAKES, which I was craving and literally we spent the whole morning just relaxing. Whenever you travel, there needs to be at least the first day where you just rest your body. Traveling gets so TIRING.

Well it wasn’ t long before we both headed to London or Wewlyn Garden City the next day from Scotland on an 8 hour mini-bus ride. We were off to attend “reGENerate,” a weekend with young people from all over UK. I was so hyped to go since many of the people I knew were gonna be there, and I just needed some “regeneration.” The theme was “Rooted or Uprooted” and the first session we had to divide into small groups to come up with a quote, and creative expression of the theme. Our group took a turn on the word root, and used “route” instead. We discovered this quote...

ohh YEAH

“A name is what you seek, an address is where it is, and a route is how to get there.” (Jon Postel)

from all over Italy, Scotland, Brazil, and yeah England

If you think about it, a root of a tree is similar to a route of a journey, it can diverge connect, travel to other roots or paths. We interpreted this quote as a name is what you seek such as something, or a concept such as happiness, love, joy... an address is where we can find these things, and a route is the mysterious way to find it. I thought to myself, on this journey around Europe, the name is LOVE that I seek, the address is in each person I meet in each moment of each day, and the route is always a surprise each day. Also everyone in my group of 4 happened to be people I had met even before going to regenerate, and how we ended up being in the same place is not a coincidence because most of us seek something similar, the places may be similar or the same and our routes may seem to intertwine and cross eachothers’ ways. Each group took different spins on this theme...
“For a tree to become tall it must grow tough roots among rocks” (Nietzsche) 
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you may be rooted and grounded in love, may know the love of Christ.”

all of us

but where it originated from is that whether we are rooted in our faith, or our belief in something greater, which is directly connected to being rooted in loving our neighbour-brother-sister. The more we love our brothers and sisters, the more we love God our Father, these are two inseparable commandments. So like the Mariapolis, we all tried to Live this, Practice this, and make this the tattoo of every action towards the Other.

The next day was just incredible because we were fortunate to listen to a life experience of a couple whose crosses were carried with such faith and love. She was diagnosed with lung and heart issues that the doctors just couldn’t seem to cure, and he married her despite all the odds of her health. Not much later after their marriage, she was only relying on a respirator, and physiotherapy to keep her feeble body alive as she desperately waited for a proper diagnosis. Later she discovered she needed a lung and heart transplant, and she recalled 9 young people having died just waiting for their transplant. She went through days where she wanted to just give up and one day she told the nurses she had enough. She wanted an end to all the excruciating pain she was going through every second of every breath she took. But on that day something in her changed, she wanted to believe, and she wanted to give herself another chance. And her prayer was answered, she received a call to have a heart and lung transplant, but even through this operation her chances were slim, but she held on to a flame of hope. Before going to the hospital, she literally gave away everything she owned, and said her goodbyes to each and every loved one because she was prepared that her chances of surviving weren’t high. But now she is breathing and surviving on a respiration level of 1/4th of an average person. Through it all, she gave herself to everyone whenever they visited her. She had a love for each person, and even ran a small lottery for the other hospital patients.

Maria and John- the testimony of true love

She is a testimony of LOVING in the midst of suffering, on the brink of dying, and when all odds were against her. This wasn’t just her story, but her husband also shared how much he struggled, and how much he loved and supported her through the most difficult times. At the end, he sang a song for her that says, “Maria (her name), you are a miracle, a walking, talking miracle.” Every time he looked at her, there was this smile that expressed his unconditional love after 21 years of marriage. If you don’t call that love, what is?

Love that surpasses all limits, overcomes all barriers, embraces all suffering, and sacrifices all of self. We will only discover real love when we have lost all, given all, and sacrificed all. Only then, if we have an empty heart and mind, with the door wide open that we can actually discover and experience what LOVE is. But it only requires our YES, a leap of faith to receive this love, to open ourselves, to makes ourselves feel vulnerable, to lose everything of ourself. This is what we were created to experience, to be LOVED and to LOVE. But we will never know how to love, if we don’t have love, if we don’t believe in LOVE. But thank God Maria did, she is one of the oldest woman surviving with a heart and lung transplant in the world.

at the Focolare in Glasgow

with Anne's friends Claire and Rachel

I went to visit a Sikh temple!

IRELAND!

5th Stop: Dublin, Waterford, Dungarvan, Glendalough, Prosperous, Ireland

with Anne in Dublin

baaaAAAAAA sheeps on rolling hills is much of what you picture Ireland to be. But even before I got to Ireland, my adventure started already. I was going from Zurich to London, then London to Dublin the next morning. As I caught the last train from Rhine Falls to Zurich (thank GOD) to catch my train to Zurich Airport, just imagine what I would do in the middle of nowhere trying to get into Zurich.

Since I flew with Easyjet, you can’t expect that much, as the flight ended up being delayed by a few hours, and then I just happen to start talking to a man behind me in line as I was waiting. I shared with him about my travel experience and adventures, then about my experience in Loppiano, which he remarked by saying, “sounds like a cult- but just joking.” I didn’t really care since everyone has their own opinion, but anyways we ended up going back and forth on the topic of having respect for others, and he didn’t seem to agree much about having respect for people that don’t have the “right” views-for example one who stands up for racism. And although I didn’t agree all the time with what he said, I just listened and tried to respect him in whatever he thought. Also I realized proving him wrong, or trying to would have no point, although humanly-speaking we always want to get our point across because WE think it’s right. But in the end, what matters really isn’t who’s right because each individual should be respected in whatever they say. I guess we maybe had a different definition of respect. Because for me, respect is this mutual love for one another treating each person as a brother or sister surpassing the barriers which makes us different.

I wanted to treat him the way I would have wanted to be treated, to be listened to, and to be respected. But as we sat waiting for our delayed flight by about 2 hours, we somehow started talking about science and religion. As he started talking about this, he hesitated because he perceived it to be a sensitive matter. But I obviously wanted to listen and to understand his point of view. And again, we definitely didn’t have the same views, but as he spoke I listened, and as I spoke he also listened. It was amazing because we didn’t get into a conflict like the beginning, and I’m sure you know whenever this topic comes up, it is a classic debate where everyone just wants to get THEIR point across.

I tried my best to put myself in his shoes, to see things the way he saw even though I had a very different perspective, because there would be no space for dialogue if I just saw things from my perspective. It always seems to be that way in society, that we see things from our way, our past, our thoughts, our opinions, and everything of OUR. But anyways, as we spoke endlessly, he commented saying, “wow, you’ve been really cool about this, we just met and we’re talking about this.”

The conversation only reached that point because I think it takes that first step to just love, to listen, to try to understand the OTHER, without letting the “ME” and “I” get in the way. But do we take that step to put ourselves in the OTHERS’ shoes, to put the OTHER before ourself?
We need to try in each moment, to LOSE our ego, the SELF, and to think beyond US, and to think of, to help, to LOVE the OTHER, no matter the differences.

Just to say, maybe you figured that he was an Atheist, and I am a Christian, with somewhat opposite views, but in the end I treat him like a brother, because in the heart of each individual, we are made the same way, from the same origin, part of the same HUMAN FAMILY.

As we got on the plane, he saved me a seat, he offered to help me bring my luggage in the cabin, and offered his candy. We ended not debating no more, but just talking and sharing beyond what makes us different. That is UNITY, that is this universal brotherhood I want to build in the world, that is the SOMETHING GREATER I live for. Unity is bringing together people who come from different backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, religions, and etc but with mutual love for one another. 

[On a side note, he is a professional Opera singer, and if you listened to Opera, you would probably know his name]

Dungarvan (where the Mariapolis was)

So we parted ways, finally after arriving past midnight, then helping these girls with their luggage I finally laid out my sleeping bag behind the chapel curtain at Gatwick Airport to get a “goodnight’s” rest. The next morning I was off to Dublin, and easily enough met my friend Anne from Scotland. We were heading to meet someone about 9 miles away from Dublin Centre, and guess what? We walked since we had the time, strength, fitness and energy, walked beside the railroad tracks for 3 hours until we reached our destination. Who is crazy enough to do that after 4 hours of sleep waking up every hour?

So we were heading to the Mariapolis, annual gathering of people, families, for a summer retreat held by the Focolare Movement on the coast of Dungarvan (2.5 hours from Dublin). Usually every year I make it to the one in Canada, but this year was quite special as I went to Ireland! It’s different people, a different culture, somewhat different language but not really, a different place, but it is the same atmosphere. The place where everyone who comes tries to live this basic rule of “love,” loving everyone, and treating the other as you want to be treated to bring unity amongst us.

our house-United World

We had a treasure hunt around the city working together, went to the beach to play sports and games (freezing cold water), danced the Ceili (Irish Dance), every night there was the Pub...of course there were also moments of talks and discussion. But more so, it is a “living camp” where everyone tries to practice the way of life of “Love.”  I stayed with a group of girls in a house, where we had to cook and clean together. But I mean in whatever we did whether it was cooking or playing, we tried to help one another, listen to one another, and have mutual love for one another.

The 5 days I was there wasn’t always easy as you can imagine living in a house with 9 other females, but I mean I did live in a house in Italy (Loppiano) with 50 other girls from around the world. But to be honest I think at times I couldn’t help but compare the two experiences which made it really difficult for me. I was holding onto the memory I had in those 9 months at Loppiano, remembering all the experiences I had lived, the unity I had built with each one of the girls, and the feeling of being in paradise on earth. I knew deep down I had to lose in a sense that memory, not to physically forget, but to a certain extent detach myself from that memory because I couldn’t fully live in the “PRESENT MOMENT.”

Memories are of the past, stored away in our hearts and minds, but in order to feel FREE, we can’t hold on, we can’t hold on to that person, or that moment, or that object. In order to fully love who is in front of you, or live fully in the present moment, we need to be “NOTHING,” to lose all our OWN thoughts, preoccupations, memories, and anything that is of “Mine and Self.” But to think, help, and love the “OTHER,” in each present moment of each day.


Care to Try?

Freedom.

at the Mariapolis Lieta (Prosperous)

Zone Centre in Prosperous

at Glendalough-monastic site with Ita
(who I stayed with)

SWITZERLAND!

4^th Stop: Lucerne, Ticino, Baar, Brugg, Au, Zurich, SWITZERLAND

-to visit Marita, Claudia

Rhine Falls: waterfall not better than the Niagara

The gem of Europe, the diamond in the rough, paradise on earth, -Switzerland, a country where the nature doesn’t stop taking your breath away. Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, rivers, forests, and endless beauty that is simply indescribable to the human eye. From the moment I arrived, this country definitely lived up to all my expectations, and surpassed it without doubt.

My journey seems to always begin by meeting someone interesting and this time around it wasn’t a Buddhist, or Muslim, but this time was an Agnostic. I was sharing with him about certain problems of the world regarding our environment. He was Irish, but lives in England, and we were discussing about how a country as wealthy as England is very non- eco-friendly. I was quite taken by not even seeing a bin for compost. But for him, he actually told me how he implemented a system at his work to have recycled materials divided, and promoted an eco-friendly environment. Even though he was telling me how difficult it is to be the “one” that starts, and brings about change.

Being the “one,” that goes against the current of everyone else, or the society around us, is always quite difficult as we can’t bear the judgements of others, or we care too much of what others will think or perceive of us. I shared with him that being that “one person,” bringing a new idea, bringing about a change in the world around us is not always easy, but nothing in life really is easy, or else we would never grow, never be better. We just have to act, to spread our message through our life, through our actions.

Since he was in business, we started discussing about the economy and its problems. I told him about this idea of a new economy, a culture not of “having” but of giving. This culture of giving is the main principle of the Economy of Communion, a branch of the Focolare Movement, where profits are divided into 3 thirds, one to the workers’ salaries, one to the development and improvement of the business, and the last third to the less fortunate to either find work, better their environment, or provide for their necessities. This “new” economy of which 1000 businesses takes part in, is something small, something idealistic, something new. But everything does start from small, Facebook just started from a computer game that Mark Zuckerberg created, but now if it was a country would have the 3^th most habitants. Isn’t that crazy that 1 in 9 people have Facebook. Even though when I was explaining this idea of a new economy, he commented saying, “it sounds too religious.” Since I realized he was Agnostic and was against the Church, I just tried my best to listen with an open mind and heart just trying to see him through his point of view and not mine. In the end he said to me, “So what’s that thing you were talking about...-the Economy of Communion.” So even though we had different views because each person is unique and different, he actually tried also to understand what I had said. Universal brotherhood, unity in the world is not by making each person the same, that’s communism, but it is treating each person as a brother and sister, respected and loved as part of a human family.

the view of Lake Lucerne from our table as we chatted

So later I met up with my friend who I hadn’t seen in 5 years, she came to Canada for an exchange. We just sat infront of Lake Lucerne, nature’s beauty, and talked for hours. Seemed like nothing had changed because friendships that aren’t built on superficial things, but built on love remain, stamped, and marked in your heart.

Next day we headed the southern region of Switzerland called Ticino, Italian-speaking! We headed on top of a mountain where only sheeps, mountains, waterfalls, and rivers exist, and hardly any existence of people. It felt like going back 40 years in time. We visited her uncle where we gathered the grass without machines, but MANUALLY by a rake. For breakfast we ate home-made bread, lunch we ate home-made dried tomatoes. We shaved the fur off these look-alike llamas, but called Alapakas. We slept in complete darkness at 9pm because there were no streetlights. We washed dishes with one dim light and I could barely see if they were clean. It was like living back in time, but so simple.

Me and Marita raking grass to the Alps and
 to the sounds of the waterfall

Life can be so simple, sometimes we freak out when the electricity suddenly goes out, or we don’t have internet for a few days, or we forgot to bring our cellphone charger. We don’t really take the time to appreciate how much we have, and these things just don’t seem to satisfy. Society is filled with desires, wants, surplus of needs, and consumes our minds.

But it was actually such a beautiful experience to work out in the sun for 4 hours, raking the grass manually, eating the basic foods, home-grown and home-made. Can we ever live life with our needs, instead of desiring always for more?

with Marita's uncle and aunt where we stayed at Ticino

Because the people that drink away their life, smoke to get high, or party so hard they forget what happened, find temporary happiness, find nothing by instant satisfaction, and are left with nothing after, nothing that remains, nothing that really satisfies that hole in their heart. But life is built for so much more, built to be simple, built to be valued, built to be treasured, and how often do we say thank you for all the things we have to the people we love. Life is built to live for something greater, to bring a change, to make a difference. But it is so simple, bring the love to whoever that is infront of you in each present moment in each day. “Do to others as you would do to yourself.”

PIZZA :) i made for the first time

And with my friend’s family, I felt like it was my family, her parents were like my own. Her mom was literally like my mother, helped me with my dirty clothes, left food and water on the side of my bed, made sure I was never hungry, cooked the most amazing food, listened to my experiences, and the list goes on. Her father would pull out the weeds after his work, just like mine. When we needed him to pick us up when we were stranded at a train station, late at night we came to pick us up without hesitation, and joked around whenever he could, listened to me with such attention. That’s what I call love, love that is without measure, that doesn’t expect anything in return, that gives everything, love that is free. 

Marita's Mom

Marita's Dad

In the end with such gratitude and appreciation, I made my first PIZZA for them, one with mushrooms onions and tomatos, and one with pineapple and ham. Little acts we do for love because in life we can only do small acts with great love as Mother Teresa says. 

demonstrating how freezing the water was by the waterfall

we went with Marita's theory music class for BRUNCH

with the Gen of Switzerland (Baar)

its LOVEE

ENGLAND!

3^rd Stop: London + Dorset, England

-to visit Angel, Vicky and Sarah

Bad weather, always raining, and grumpy British people is often what I hear of when I think of England, but these are such stereotypes, perceptions we have because the world around us tells us to think a place and its people is a certain way, but really that’s just being uneducated.

I encountered a little bit of both, Yes it rained almost half the time I was there. In the morning it seemed like a beautiful day, but then half-way it starts to get cloudy, a little cold, and windy. But the people on the other hand, were actually pretty nice and helpful, even at the supermarket, the cashier I encountered was surprisingly cheerful because usually some seem quite miserable.

But I forgot to say that when I was on the plane to London, I sat beside two Indian students in London, who had just returned from Italy. Don’t know how we started, but we began discussing about the problems of the world. Ideas, problems, career, cultures, education were such things we talked about. Later he questioned me on what I can do to help situations that occur far away, for example in the Middle East, and questioned me about my idealistic view of a “universal brotherhood.” This aim of treating every person as a brother and sister, with mutual love for one another is universal brotherhood.

When we witness such wars, disasters, murders, violence, and suffering, we often ask ourselves what we can do? How we can help?

And he asked me this question...

I answered it is not so much changing the world, or bringing a change in the world through going to a country where there’s these wars and unrest, but this universal brotherhood starts with the relationships we build everyday, to just the person that is infront of us. We think of the world as such a big place, but really we are actually connected to each person with only 6 steps or less. He was a student studying to be a designer that creates shoes, I am a Kinesiology student that thirsts for exercise. When we were talking and sharing about our ideas, it wasn’t always in agreement, he often thought every different from me, but we had common respect for eachother. It starts there, each person that we encounter each and everyday, in each “PRESENT MOMENT.” The society or the world we live in has the basis of individuals but in relation with others, and to build such a world that is something GREATER and BETTER, starts in each day, with each person, in each moment. At the end of the conversation, it was actually amazing as a friendship was built. He is a Muslim, and I am a Christian, but I didn’t feel any difference between us because in the end, we are part of a human family.

So a few days after, I was off to Dorset, which was about 3 hours by train west of London to visit my friend Sarah also with two others that came from Italy-Leticia from Brazil and Clari from Argentina. Yes I enjoyed proper home-made cupcakes, this is such a fad in London, American-style cupcakes. Also enjoyed afternoon tea as the English do, and there was more, scones with strawberry and double cream, and last but not least a two-layered strawberry cake.

 It was awesome to witness the beauty of the landscapes in Southwest England, we spent a whole day practically at the ocean, singing songs, dancing, and screaming, near Man of War Bay, and Durdle Door. We had a picnic as we packed some sandwiches and sat at the top of the hill overlooking one of the most beautiful views. Nothing beats adoring the wonders of nature while being in the company of friends that even if you don’t see often, nothing seems to have changed.

at Man of War Bay

Just for one second, count the number of friends that you have, that know you from the inside and out, that the things you talk or share is not just about people, careers, families, but are founded on something that is beyond superficial. I found it funny that I have close to 1000 friends on facebook, but if I actually saw them all in person, I don’t know if I would actually say Hi to each of them. Social relationships are ones that have become through cyberspace, communication through email, text-messaging, and other forms of non-personal ways. That’s just a little on the society that is transforming into one that seems like having 1000 facebook friends is more appealing than actually have one good friend.

some Gen of England

I could definitely say that the 78 girls I have lived with for the last 9 months in Italy before my travels are not just friends, but “SISTERS.” Though we are miles different, through culture, religion, language, and so many other ways, but if we base our relationships through mutual love for one another, and share things that are more than just talking about other people or events that happen, but things about LIFE. These relationships become one of unity, this universal brotherhood that we are brothers and sisters. Something that is polar opposite to what the society fills our minds with, where relationships have become texting to have a conversation, or facebooking to get the latest scoop on what’s happening with a “facebook friend” that you met the other day.

On another note, I was on the streets of London quite often, strolling on the streets, trying to give a smile at every strangers, or just enjoying each moment with my friends, but every corner all I saw was – SALE, 50%, BUY 1 GET 1 FREE, I’m being serious, a little exaggerated, but on some of the streets like Oxford St, Regent St. In London, that’s all I saw, either you had a shopping bag, or running into a store with a cellphone in hand. But because I try every moment when I’m on those streets to not even go into these stores because they will just lead me into the temptation of buying something I don’t need, but I want. The human desires never end in material possessions when you have the resources to buy it, and you wonder why some kids aren’t satisfied with a Ipod Nano, because it isn’t an IPAD 2. While I was in London, as hard as it was, even when I went to Portobello Market (where everything is so awesomely cool and unique) I bought NOTHING in London, not even a postcard I usually want to buy in each place I go to. I have even stopped doing that because I figured I can just take good pictures and having them as postcards. I try my very best to always question myself if I really need something before I buy it, or if is it just something I want. This money that I try to sacrifice goes towards a greater cause, goes to two kids that I sponsor, a boy from Philippines, and a girl from Haiti.

Portobello Market: everything is there

I seem to be very against and pessimistic about  society, but really I am just a person trying to be aware of what pollutes my mind each day, and not get washed into this culture of having more, but form a new culture. A culture where we can become brothers and sisters, a culture where it is more about giving than having, a culture where there’s love and peace, a change to live for something greater than ourselves, a change for a United World.

Side note: I rather do love the open culture in London, where people don’t take a second glance because you dyed your hair orange, or dress in different neon colours. Where being normal is abnormal in London- so I decided to cut off a good 5 inches of hair changing into a medium length bob-cut, and bleaching my hair to a golden colour on the divided part of my head where it’s half shaved. 

Angel: sisters from the inside and out

FRANCE!

Second Stop: Paris, France with my friend Santa (from Loppiano)

My adventure began as I was boarding the plane, I saw a Chinese girl who was struggling to place her purse in her luggage, and without hesitating I offered to help her…and giving her a simple smile.

Then later on the bus to the center of Paris from the airport Beauvais, I sat beside her, and we began talking…

After all the talking and sharing with her about my travel experience she told me she could really see how I’m trying to help others…but I really only did a small gesture of love, to help, without expecting anything…

We need to love without measure, without expecting anything in return, that is Agape love, the 3^rd type of love. Love that is FREE.

And later I discovered she was a Buddhist! And how amazing because I had met many at Loppiano couple months back, and I have begun reading and learning more about Buddhism. At the end, she offered to give me and Santa a tour of the city one of the days we were in Paris!

But the first day, we rested and bought groceries (which for the whole trip we spent 15 euros each for 5 days) which would be obvious we didn’t choose to eat good food, but HEALTHY food, but I ate instant noodles for the first time in a VERY LONG TIME.

RAYMUN noodles! with corn and chicken

Next day, we toured around with Sunny and another friend Anne, but before meeting them we also decided to do everything on foot in Paris, we live about 10 km away from the centre, and yes we WALKED. Took us about 2 hours, but we made it. And on the way when I walking down Champs des Elysees, I happened out of nowhere to spot a friend! He told me he would be in Rome, but I wasn’t able to see him while I was in Italy. But I happened to be walking down the streets of Paris, and I bumped into him!

we ball together

Nothing in life is a coincidence, each thing happens for a reason, and anything that happens even when somebody else has chosen to do wrong, at the moment we don’t understand, but in the long run, is for our own good. Like how the lady butted infront of us in line of the bathroom, but even though she had chosen to do wrong, in the long run it was for our own good, as I miraculously bumped into a friend, in a city like Paris, without even knowing that he would be in the city.

Since I had a student card, you can get into many museums such as the Lourve, Pompidou Museum (Art museum of modern artist such as Andy Warhol)

at the Pompidou centre: museum of modern art (for free)

typical french style restaurant

relaxing at Luxembuorg garden

Sunny, Anne, Santa

To understand the French culture a little more, and about the people…and one thing I noticed a lot around the city of the young people, many are tuned into their music with specific BIG noise-cancelling headphones… which makes me conclude that yes it is probably another fashion trend, but also the noise and the sounds of the city, or the busy life, really makes the young people want to find peace and their own space. That we as young people are so easily influenced by our environment because we are still forming our identity, and these young people subconsciously want to cancel out these influences, the sounds of the environment, and find what really gives meaning in LIFE. We all search to live for Something GREATER, not just be a nobody, but to be and do something BETTER to help the world!

when words fail, music speaks

And throughout the day, with Sunny who I only met couple days before on the bus, and Anne who I stayed with at Loppiano for around a month, we relaxed, walked, enjoyed a French Baguette as the sights and sounds of Paris roamed all around. 

French Bakery

Anne, Sunny, ME

But throughout the day, I tried to just love as I had first did with Sunny, offering her my sandwich because she hadn’t ate, or giving her my water because she was thirsty, and making sure she was able to understand what we were talking about as we spoke in Italian, a bit of French of course, and half-broken English. Also I witnessed how she was touched by this love we had as she also offered her umbrella to us when it was raining, or offering her bus tickets…and little acts but with GREAT LOVE.

at the end of the day we finished at Sacre-Coeur-
a beautiful church on top of a hill in Paris
overlooks all of Paris

And yes me and Santa, we walked all the way back, and for those that don’t know Paris, it is about 12 km from where we stayed. It was quite an adventure near midnight, (or past midnight on the streets of Paris) we were safe, ALIVE, and WELL.

But after walking probably a total of 26 km in Paris, and finishing a marathon, my pinkie toe was blistered, we rested the whole day after until night time we went out to enjoy a meal like the French do.

yummmmm

We bought a baguette for 1 euro, sat on the bridge overlooking the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed the baguette with cheese. YUMM. It is very typical of the French people to buy something and wine and then found a nice spot to enjoy a meal.

And then onto the next day, we journeyed to a community like Loppiano (in Italy where I stayed for 9 months-read past blogs), but this one in France is called “Arny,” because there was a televised Catholic Mass all over France with 700, 000 watchers. Guess what?

Sunny came along as we invited her, and it was her first time to participate in a Catholic mass, and to see the Focolare Movement of France together. We met many people, which one of them she remembered me from when I was young, named Teresa, who lives in France now but stayed in Canada. But most of all I remember the smiles on their faces, the joy that they expressed, and the love they had to always give a hand. And at the end of the day Sunny told me, “the weather was a little strange, I met so many people, I’m so happy and today was perfect.”

And that is my adventure in Paris summed up, love without measure, without expecting anything in return, and you will receive the hundredfold.

ITALY!

So First stop: Verona, Italy

to visit my friend Mariachiara who I lived with for 5 months at Loppiano (near Florence).

Taking the train for almost 3 hours before arriving was quite interesting…meeting a Nigerian woman wearing a fancy wig, an Indian boy whose feet were so sore after traveling for 17 days and hated Gandhi but loved him for one reason (Gandhi is the one face of every bill), and lastly an Italian 50 year old man who went to Saudi Arabia to earn loads of money.

Money, money, money, earn more, have more, buy more. That’s what the world tells us, as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer…that is the current of society.

And the 2 days we spent in Verona, we visited a nice medieval city Borghetto.

We visited some sites in Verona: Arena of Verona and Romeo and Juliet (of course)… all the beauty and romance of that particular city…

o Romeo Romeo

Arena di Verona

Inside the Arena

And to save money, we decided to go home for lunch instead of eating out which would be always easier and more convenient …because the world tells us to follow what is best for US, individuals, to think of ourselves.

The next we enjoyed half the day at a Lake (Lago di Garda)

freeezing

And yes again, instead of eating out, we brought sandwiches costing us little but keeping our bellies satisfied.

And later in the day we rollerbladed to Mariachiara’s grandparent’s house(who own a farm of cows, chickens, fruits, vegetables), the sense of family was really felt as they treated like their own grandkids!

nonna nonno

soo pro

In the western society, where parents work endless hours and have barely time to eat one meal a day together, the sense of family is really lacking, and the respect for the elderly isn’t the same as other cultures such as Italy. Grandparents are taken care of as they live with their kids, or live close to their kids. In the evening, we went out to enjoy a unique Italian meal called “Tigella Bella,” 

with the Girelli sisters

with Mariachiara's friends

we place ham, prosciuto, different sauces, cheese inside!

It was an amazing scene on a Veronian night, with the sounds of the rushing waves of the river, the patios filled with people enjoying their meals outdoors.

But all that doesn’t really matter, for me, meeting people is what forms my travel experience. 

do you live for SOMETHING GREATER?

Song: Something Greater

World’s says that life is difficult

And everyday someone’s getting hurt

There are scenes of suffering,

There are people desperately crying

Pain is in the story of humanity

So what change will there ever be?

I’m looking for something different

There’s more to life than hate and regret

I started a great revolution

Change my conviction

And now…

I live for something greater

Greater than the world could offer

Discovering Love as the answer

United world let us build together

Transforming wounds to happiness

Bringing down walls of differences

Having strength to destroy our livings

Believing there’s nothing it resists

Love without certainties

Life always gives the opportunity

Your simply Yes is what the world needs

To move ahead is solving all our fears

Take the step and you’ll see

That love is the change that is ought to be

Together we’ll build this revolution

And change with conviction

As One

We live for something greater

Greater than world could offer

Discovering love as the answer

United World let us build together

United World let us build together

Museums, souvenirs, Buy 5 for 1 euro, advertisements of barely clothed women…

Do we ever stop for a second and think of the world we live in? What are minds are polluted with each and every moment as we look at each corner…

The current of this world brings us down, pulls us away, and engulfs us in…

But each one of us has a choice, we have the freedom to conform ourselves like everyone else, or be different, to ACT, to DO something about the world.

But it starts between you and me, each person that we encounter in each moment of our day, to give a hand, to lend a shoulder, to spare some time…

Time is the biggest obstacle…

Many say…I don’t have time, I’m too busy…

But I try never to use that excuse because it is a matter of priority because you don’t have time to call a friend because in reality it isn’t important enough…or you would MAKE time.

MAKE time… to think, to do, to act,

To bring CHANGE.

For me I’m traveling 12 countries, 11 weeks. The first thing someone thinks…

Are you rich or something? I think that’s the first thing that comes to someone’s mind if a person said that.

But if we always bothered what the world thinks, or the perspectives and opinions of others, or the influences of everybody but ourselves…

We never see life as it really is, the person we ought to be, that we are created to be.

I’m traveling not to spend my money to visit museums, to eat at fancy restaurants, or to be washed into the culture of having of our society.

But I’m traveling  because…

I live for something greater

Greater than the world could offer

Discovering Love as the answer

United world let us build together!

Because I want to bring love into the world wherever I go, to meet people, to understand the different cultures, and place myself in the others’ shoes.