When you are foreign to a region, the unfamiliarity entrenches you. Step off an airplane in a different country, walk around a town in a nearby state, visit a new restaurant, and the feeling echoes: stranger status. You might not know the local language, or the regulars who frequent the area, leaving you feeling left out and alone. This scenario, however, is eliminated in Jehovah's organization.
Among the many loving provisions gifted to us upon leaving Paris and entering Milan was receiving the airport welcoming committee.
To give all of you lovely Bluebearies a little background on Special/International Conventions, when delegates are chosen, they get to choose activities pertaining to their specific location. The local friends, through the organization, help to arrange tours, sightseeing, entertainment and other fun things during the week of the convention. The delegates get to have a taste of the worldwide brotherhood, and THAT is an experience like no other.
Back to the airport scene.
Our fun little trio had to leave the City of Lights quite early in the morning, leaving behind our delightful friends. With suitcases in tow, we boarded the tiny plane directly to Milan. Fortunately for us, we wouldn't be in the air for long, the flight being a mere hour-long feat.
Returning to the scenario I mentioned before, upon disembarking from the plane, the three of us realized that we were very far from alone. Right by our intended exit were at least 50 Italian brothers and sisters, holding up convention welcome signs and smiling from ear to ear. The lyrics of the original song "The Joy of Conventions" rang deep within my heart as we locked eyes: "We are sisters, we are brothers, sons and daughters and more. And I love you even though I've never met you before." As we went in for hugs and double-cheek kisses, more delegates began arriving as well. What a witness seeing all these strangers interact with so much agape love must have been for any onlookers!!
The other sisters with us would be arriving later that night, so we decided to leave for our intended accommodations.
Here's the catch.
When we had first made our hotel reservations months ago, there had been a bit of difficulty acquiring hotel rooms in the Milan area. The boys caught the worst of it, their reservation falling completely through. Fortunately, in an act of maneuvering really only possible within Jehovah's organization, JJ had a friend in a town an hour away from Milan who offered them a place to stay. The girls and I managed to secure a room, but this would mean that the dudes would have to coordinate coming to the hotel for the Branch activities that whole week, including the actual convention.
Ribz, being the incredible big brother he was/is, decided to stay with me to ensure that I wouldn't be alone at the hotel while waiting for the rest of the gang. We hopped into a waiting vehicle, where the CUTEST elderly brother drove us to my hotel.
We did not have any other agendas for the day, so it consisted of unpacking and prepping for the following several days of fast-paced activity. The girls did not arrive until MUCH later, so I ended up hanging out in the common area of the hotel. Once Ribz left, I ended up making some new friends among the other delegates, eventually being treated to a much-welcomed dinner.
There's the end of *technically* our first day in beautiful Italy! Onto the rest of the delegate week! Hope you all enjoyed this adventure and stay tuned for the next post!
Love,
The Adventurous A.
Back to the airport scene.
Our fun little trio had to leave the City of Lights quite early in the morning, leaving behind our delightful friends. With suitcases in tow, we boarded the tiny plane directly to Milan. Fortunately for us, we wouldn't be in the air for long, the flight being a mere hour-long feat.
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| I dressed as if attending Milan Fashion Week 2017 #FirstImpressions |
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| Courtesy of Ryanair, where the water is almost as expensive as the flight. Kidding. |
Returning to the scenario I mentioned before, upon disembarking from the plane, the three of us realized that we were very far from alone. Right by our intended exit were at least 50 Italian brothers and sisters, holding up convention welcome signs and smiling from ear to ear. The lyrics of the original song "The Joy of Conventions" rang deep within my heart as we locked eyes: "We are sisters, we are brothers, sons and daughters and more. And I love you even though I've never met you before." As we went in for hugs and double-cheek kisses, more delegates began arriving as well. What a witness seeing all these strangers interact with so much agape love must have been for any onlookers!!
The other sisters with us would be arriving later that night, so we decided to leave for our intended accommodations.
Here's the catch.
When we had first made our hotel reservations months ago, there had been a bit of difficulty acquiring hotel rooms in the Milan area. The boys caught the worst of it, their reservation falling completely through. Fortunately, in an act of maneuvering really only possible within Jehovah's organization, JJ had a friend in a town an hour away from Milan who offered them a place to stay. The girls and I managed to secure a room, but this would mean that the dudes would have to coordinate coming to the hotel for the Branch activities that whole week, including the actual convention.
Ribz, being the incredible big brother he was/is, decided to stay with me to ensure that I wouldn't be alone at the hotel while waiting for the rest of the gang. We hopped into a waiting vehicle, where the CUTEST elderly brother drove us to my hotel.
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| I don't know if this video will play, but if so, you will be able to enjoy our linguistic fails attempting to speak Italian |
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| Welcome to the NH Milano Fiera!! |
There's the end of *technically* our first day in beautiful Italy! Onto the rest of the delegate week! Hope you all enjoyed this adventure and stay tuned for the next post!
Love,
The Adventurous A.
