Janet W. Ferguson 
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Blog: Under the Southern Sun

Rome-lag, Art-lag, Food-lag, & Butchering a Beautiful Language

6/7/2015

10 Comments

 
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I woke up last Sunday morning in a daze. No scent of caffé in the air. Where were the chocolate croissants? The buffalo mozzarella cheese and prosciutto? Fresh fruit and yogurt??

NOOOO. I wasn’t in Rome anymore. And I had Rome-lag.

For seven or eight days preceding, the Italian language rolled melodiously from tongues surrounding my son and I as we traversed the streets of the ancient city. On each corner, my breath hitched at some new vista of history and ornate beauty. Could there be a street that didn’t host a basilica that held centuries-old frescoes and mosaics and priceless art or hidden momentous underground ruins?

My son’s the history fanatic, and it was his dream to go to Italy, but I was pretty sure the Coliseum was in the area—and the Vatican. I soon found that a week was too short with so many landmarks such as the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Sistine Chapel, the Borghese Galleria, St. Peter’s… you could spend decades in the city submerged in history.

We began our adventure with a small tour group of strangers, but we became fast friends under the leadership of an eloquent British gentleman guide. (A shout out to our awesome tour group if you’re reading!) He strove to teach us the culture and history. And the language. Each day he’d urge us to try to speak a few words of Italian. Can you say Trastevere? Buongiorno?

I can’t.

I avoided eye contact when he asked for volunteers. I practiced in my room. Thought about the words in my sleep. But each time I pushed them through my lips … the horror. I’m sorry, but Italian words with a Mississippi accent maybe aren’t meant to be spoken.

The previous Sunday, our first day in Rome, some of our new friends invited us to attend Mass at the church a block over. It turned out to be the beautiful San Clemente Basilica. The service was in Italian. Oddly, I was able to pick out when the priest read about the fruits of the Spirit and the Lord’s Prayer. The memory came to mind as I sat in my own church this past Sunday. I'd stood in a city where Peter perhaps taught the Lord’s Prayer or Paul penned a letter. Two thousand years later the words still carry such meaning and hope around the world, no matter the language. In the ancient city of Rome or in Jackson, Mississippi, there is one more ancient. A timeless God, the Ancient of Days, who speaks forgiveness and love wherever we are.



What adventure are you heading out on this year?

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10 Comments
Jackie
6/7/2015 04:36:41 am

Ancient of Days. Amen!

Hi Janet, I've enjoyed every one of your pictures on FB and here. Thanks so much for sharing.

Toward the end of summer we're going to visit NYC for a few days. We haven't been since before we got married. This time our son will go with us.

Have a great week back in the good ole US of A.

Reply
Janet Ferguson
6/7/2015 06:53:19 am

Sounds fun, Jackie! I haven't been to New York City since I was a little girl. I'd like to go back some day. Can't wait to see your pics!

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Karen Wolf
6/7/2015 09:24:32 am

Beautiful pictures and what great memories with your son! I love your sharing of the things that lingered in your senses even after going home. Someday I will get to Rome. Mrs Benton really shared a lot of art with us that is there and I look forward to seeing as much as possible in person.

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Janet Ferguson
6/7/2015 11:14:11 am

I hope you do go! I wish I'd taken art with Mrs. Benton. I might've known more about what I saw.

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Jane Freeman
6/8/2015 07:05:27 am

Lovely blog, sincerely enjoyed the read!!! Oh, and welcome home!

Reply
Janet Ferguson
6/8/2015 10:53:59 am

Thanks, Jane! I did miss home a bit, too!

Reply
LeAnne Bristow link
6/8/2015 01:42:25 pm

Loved your post! I'm so happy that you got to go to Rome. What an awesome experience for you and your son. You totally crack me up...I'd love to hear Italian with a Mississippi accent!

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Janet Ferguson
6/9/2015 09:45:53 am

Thanks, LeAnne! You really don't want to hear the words butchered, though, LOL.

Reply
Marion link
6/8/2015 09:48:49 pm

Great blog, Janet. Really enjoyed reading it. Adventure? ACFW conference in Dallas in September, and I can't wait to spend time with you and Heidi and Narelle :)

Reply
Janet Ferguson
6/9/2015 09:46:48 am

I'm looking forward to ACFW to. Just have to nail down how I'm getting there, ha!

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  • Home
  • Southern Hearts Series
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  • Blog: Under the Southern Sun
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