Part of my childhood

When I was in the convent or institute as you want to call it we had many nuns. We had nuns that stayed with us during the day. I actually don't remember if one nun had us in the morning and then another one in the afternoon or the whole day and then change. I am sure they had turns but I don't know how their system worked. We had a piano nun she taught piano to the boarders and people who didn't sleep there, they came over just to learn piano. The earning was of course for the mother superior. There were some nuns living and staying with the boarders so we didn't see them much. The place and how it ran was very much in order and routine. I would have loved to learn the piano, sometimes, the nun would let us touch it and try out some keys because we couldn't play anything. The piano sister was called sister Emanuela she had the perfect beautiful fingers and soft hands, she was happy and make you feel at ease. As maybe you know we were four sisters there, sister Emanuela picked us four sisters as her singers so when it was Christmas, she teaches us songs suited. In the beautiful small chapel there were a narrow round stairs which took us upstairs and we will sing from up there. I felt very special and it was such a good feeling to be able to sing beautiful songs. The nuns between them spoke Italian so we couldn't understand everything they said to each other. Sister Emanuela,we called her Manuela too had another job, she took care of the chapel. She would prepare the dress colour for the priest, who would come everyday for mass and another day for confessions. She would fill the wine and water bottles that the priest uses during mass and decorate with flowers. I had a small part in those chores but not for long. Oh sometimes, how I miss those days and I would so much thank those nuns. I never wanted to be a nun but I can't help feeling grateful how much they did for us.

My punishment

When I was in the convent all you know and love are the people around you nuns and the girls. We were all girls so if a girl leaves the convent I used to find it hard. When a nun leaves I sometimes cried for them. They become part of your family. It was very good when we had young nuns they were creative. I remember when it used to be a nice summer day we used to be playing picture lotto and the older ones would be cross stitching I learned how to do that too. We had a summer place we used to go there maybe for a week. We used to go swimming but I vaguely remember that. If by any chance a nun forgot to put her veil on I used to think she was naked and sighed. About once a month or when my mother could take us home to stay for the weekend she had to use transport as she or my father didn't drive at that time. Transport was not convenient those days buses did their route till eleven in the morning. Once a week my mother would take our dirty clothes and bring them clean sometime during the week. We didn't always see her maybe she would be in a hurry. She would bring us a packet of biscuits which we shared between four siblings. Once, a week we used to have a catholic gathering called Legion of Mary, there we would pray the rosary and report good deeds or prayers we had done the week prior. In one of these gathering I couldn't stop talking and laughing so the lady kicked me out of that room, one of the nuns saw me and asked me why I was behind the door, so I had to tell her why, she told me as a punishment no home visit. So my sisters went home of course it hurts that I didn't go but instead the few girls that were left there went for a walk outside the convent. When life falls into a routine you will not remember much of it, it is the special instances that you will remember. I hold a special place for the nuns, I love their commitment and dedications I loved being there and I considered it good times. No payment all for God, I wish God will reward them 1000 times more which I'm sure He will. Talking with my sisters they say the same thing about the nuns. Till next time.

My childhood

In our school we had children that came and go. I must have been ten, I don't know how they knew about me having head lies. I never had them at home. The nun took me in that room where we hardly used and she would put stinky stuff in my head cover it with white towel for awhile and she would pick the lies, like the gorilla and then brush with special black comb. I don't know who else had it they were nice about it. I bet no one knew I had them. She checked me few times after that and I was all good. I also remember in summer we had to help our gardener he was old and we had to water where he told the nuns. We were pumping water  which we all took turns and some carrying buckets to water the plants were needed, it took forever and it was very tiring. Our snack would be bread and butter and if there was extra the older ones would have it if they were still hungry, that's  how it was. We always played after lunch and dinner and we sang a special song at night which sadly don't remember it. We said prayers in the mornings and at nights, and also before and after meals. I think we were about twenty of us back then. Since our nuns lived on providence my mother used to bring what she had to spare we weren't wealthy but once she brought four of her best chickens and my sister put them in this room where she forgot to tell the man about them. They were locked up for a long time without food and water, they must have been laying eggs and eating them to survive, I know it was a month when someone remembered about them, you know what they lived. Some more of what I can remember next time.