Buona pasqua! We had a magnificent Easter Sunday in Assisi where our tour guide enlightened us with the story of how St. Francis "rebuilt his Father's church," along with a historical overview of the city. We saw the gorgeous St. Francis Basillica and St. Chiara basillica. It was visually spectacular with ornate architecture and interior design. Meticulously painted works of art told the stories of St. Francis and St. Chiara. Later we enjoyed a light lunch, shopped for souvenirs, saw the tomb of St. Francis, and attended mass in Reiti.
One would think that celebrating a holiday such as Easter in a foreign country might be uncomfortable, strange even. But attending mass with mostly Italian-speakers made me realize what the holidays and family are about. Holidays are understanding people through their actions, not words. Family is smiling and shaking the hand of a woman who speaks a different language.
Today we explored the internal link between one's thoughts and one's art form. At the Art Monestary, we participated in workshops in theatre, dance, and songwriting. It was a beautiful thing to escape from the distractions of daily life and just improvise dance or write in pesce and quiet.
-Allysen.