שלומ

I had to laugh as I looked across my table - it's actually my kitchen table, my dining room table, and my work table. In any case, there were assorted papers in English, a newspaper in Dutch, some copies from the Bible in Hebrew, a few canonical documents in Latin, and some articles I'm reading in Spanish and Italian.

So a language report - I'm doing okay around town with Dutch, but it's a little rough when we get beyond the basics. I've been to Mass a few times in Dutch, there's a little church really close to me. Latin is coming along - I'm okay with figuring out what stuff means, but when you have to get to the technical fine points, it's a little tricky. Apparently they are planning to do another semester of Latin for us next year - I'll be ready to chat with Cicero; but it won't help me much talking with the dear neighbor.

If I decide to concentrate in Scripture for the Theology program, I'll have to do Greek and Hebrew. I'm already somewhat into Hebrew, but Greek is - well - Greek to me. So I'll have some work to do there.

I finished classes for my Spring Break. I had originally planned to try to do a longer trip somewhere, but then tried shorter trips, and now I have nothing planned. So I'll probably just go around in Belgium. I have some friends here that might be interested, otherwise, I'll take off for day trips by myself. I certainly can keep myself busy studying, etc. But it will be good to get out.

We have had nice Holy Week services at the International Parish - and we'll have the Easter Vigil tonight, and tomorrow morning the choir is singing again for morning mass. That is always a nice group to hang out with, and the liturgies are always good. During the washing of the feet, for example, we had it where we all wash each other's feet - it was particularly moving with people from all over the world participating. The international element continues to be one of the greatest sources of enrichment of being here. So I guess that gets us back to language.

peace - frieden - paz - paix - pace - vrede - pokój - שלומ,
Amy