What I Learned in Philadelphia

Monday, August 24th 17 new Augustinian Volunteers (AVs) met for 8 long days of training before we were sent to our sites.  On the first day, we awkwardly sat in the church fellowship hall talking and introducing ourselves every time a new person came in.  Throughout the week the office staff, Joanna, Hannah and Taylor, drove us around, taught us about the Augustinians, and tried to explain what our 10 months would look like.  Eight short days later we said goodbye to our new family and headed to our sites.  We never thought the goodbye would be hard, but that shows how important this week was for our training.  To recap our time in Philadelphia I have put together a list of things we learned throughout the week.  Although Tori said she didn't learn anything, I think the Tangerine Dreams (explanation in the next blog post) can agree on most of this!

1. Roll down the windows when backing in large vehicles.

2. Saint Augustine's Rule and the charism of the Augustinians.

3. Check the church basement for prayer groups.

4. The pillars of the Augustinian's are community, spirituality and service.

5. Your phone will deactivate your room key.

6. The meaning of community living and how special this time is together.

7. Midwestern drives get lost in Philadelphia.

8. Philadelphia was the first place the Augustinian's became established in the United States.  We know this because every Augustinian we met told us.

9. Always go to dinner thirsty when visiting an Augustinian community.

10. The many ways to pray and the many people who are praying for us.

11. Anyone can rock a polo.

12. What the Social Justice teachings of the Catholic church are and why they are important.

13. Sunday night is a good night to enjoy Afro Beats at Bleu Martini

14. Don't run on the trolley tracks.

15. "Our hearts are restless until they rest in God"  -St. Augustine