Why Am I Doing This?

With my back against the Italian Consulate's proverbial wall, I have to keep reminding myself what I'm going to be doing in Rome and why I want to be doing it. Fortunately, a friend of mine came through with this article about a local university that sends students to Rome for a semester. I think one of its best points is this paragraph:

"Making the out-of-the-classroom experience complete for our students in another culture is also being willing to embrace the cultural differences and the little, ordinary things that make the student’s experience a meaningful and memorable one. Hence the purpose of living and studying abroad is for the students to expand their horizons and view our world from a different perspective. As Rome was not 'built in a day,' it cannot be enjoyed and absorbed in a day either."

What a fantastic reminder about why abroad experiences are important! This is part of the intention for the Graduate Preaching Fellowship - that future leaders of our church are able to spend time in another place and context to give their preaching and ministry further depth and dimension. The act of living in another place uproots someone in such a way that they not only have to find who they truly are, but what this new place means for them.

Even if I never get a chance to leave Rome (something which I hope is not the case, since I really want to see the rest of the country and region!) there would be plenty of living to do in the Eternal City for a year. After all, part of my intent in choosing Rome for the Fellowship was to be in a place so rich in history, culture, religion and architecture that I could learn just by living in the area. Add to that the first-rate religious education I get to take part in, and you've got a resounding recommendation for Rome.

So I'm willing to keep plugging through the bureaucracy on my way to an exquisite year in Rome. Here's hoping Chicago sees it the same way!

Little Things

Getting ready to spend a legal year in Rome involves all sorts of little things that you might not expect. Sure, you should learn some Italian, get a visa, find a place to live - all stuff you'd expect for living in a foreign country. But each country has its quirks, and when you're headed to a country as full of legalities as Italy, there's bound to be a few catches.

The first interesting piece of red tape is the permesso di soggiorno (PdiS), literally meaning "sojourner's permit" but referred to in English as the permit to stay. This little piece of paper work effectively registers you as a resident in a particular area of Italy. While your visa allows you to enter the country and stay legally, the PdiS alerts the government to your actual presence in a particular place. The application process appears to vary by different accounts, but basically it sounds like we need our passports with appropriate visas inside, a few passport photos, proof of address, a small fee, and the correctly filled-out form. Add to this that it has to be done within eight days of arriving, at the correct building, and all in Italian, and you have a bit of a nerve-wracking situation. But considering we could be asked at any time to prove our legality in Rome by producing a PdiS, we should probably have ours ready.

Next is the codice fiscale. In the States, everyone has a social security number which identifies them as an individual and is necessary for all sorts of legal documents. Italy has the same thing, except it has an even bigger role. A codice fiscale is necessary for all sorts of purchases, everything from cell phones to car rentals, helps you get on the national health insurance, and basically makes you a functioning member of society. Fortunately it's not hard to get - in fact, the combination of letters and numbers that makes up a codice fiscale is based on a reliable combination of name, date of birth, place of birth and so on making anyone's codice fiscale far from secret. In fact, my husband and I already have one, thanks to our consulate's website. However, if we hadn't heard about it ahead of time, we never would've known we needed one.

Then, once we arrive, we need to register with our local US consulate in Rome. This is mostly for our safety as US citizens - should something happen to affect the status of Americans abroad, they would be able to contact us immediately.

So we just add all these things to our list to keep preparing for our year abroad. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that there's so much paperwork to live overseas, but it's still a little overwhelming!

The Process

While the journey to Rome really started this past spring, when I was awarded the Fellowship, the real preparations only really just began this fall. At that point, my application to the Angelicum was complete and my new husband and I could really start cracking down on making our next year a reality.

First, we had to find a place to live. Not only would it ensure safety and security once we arrive, but a signed rental contract is essential for a completed visa application. (You have to prove to the Italian government that you won't be a drain on the system, after all.) Searching for a furnished apartment in a good area was simplified by Craig's List, which gave us invaluable apartment-hunting resources. After a few false starts, we found ourselves a little place near Termini, which is the main transportation hub of the city. It's cozy, it's bright, and it's a great location.

Next, we had to get a flight. Surprisingly, this is also a requirement for a visa, since you have to prove that you can afford to get yourself in - and out - of Italy. Just last night, we secured our tickets, so 18 January means the beginning of the adventure!

Now, we need our visa. This is the big deal. Without this document, we have no legal right to stay in Italy longer than 90 days - tough, when I have a year of school! Since I'm a student, I have a different set of documents to supply than Chris does. Visa applications are notoriously ridden with bureaucracy and backwardness, so we have a lot of work to do. If only the FBI would come through with Chris's background check, we'd be almost there - no joke!

But there are other procedures as well. We need to pack up our home, set up our friends in our house, provide for my two kitties (which we will leave behind in my friends' able care), and say goodbyes to family and friends for the year. It's a time of great change and excitement, but also some anxiety! As the Romans say: in boca al lupo! It's the equivalent of 'break a leg', but literally means 'in the mouth of the wolf'. Guess that's where you'd most need luck!