Love & Responsibility

I love love

I love learning about love

I love reading books about love

I love hearing people's love stories

 I love loving everyone around me

I got an email from my Aussie uni with the subject 'How To Love?' 

It immediately sparked my curiosity

The email explained that 'How To Love?' was the #1 google search in Australia and the United States 

and the #2 search in New Zealand and Canada in 2012

The University of Notre Dame Sydney was starting a 6 week social series about love & responsibility "A fun way to make new friends, nibble on free food and sip on hot chocolate, whilst chatting about how to grow in authentic and genuine friendships and relationships"

Sounded awesome to me! 

One of the main reasons I wanted to go was to meet Australians and grow in genuine friendships 

I had been here for about a month and I was friends with about 2 Australians and 20+ Americans

 that wasn't how I wanted to be spending my time abroad

I was ready to meet more Aussies.

Throughout the 6 week program we ate lots of chocolate, brownies, tim tams and hot cocoa. 

At the start of each night we would gather as a large group, 

listen to readings from Karol Wojtyla's words on Love & Responsibility, 

break up into small groups to discuss the readings and talk about any questions we had, 

and then come back together with everyone to share our thoughts. 

We talked about everything from virtuous relationships, sexual attraction, fatal attractions, 

sense and sentimentality to the gift of ourselves, tenderness 

and of course:

LOVE AND RESPONSIBILITY! 

At week one of this wonderful event I met Patrick and Lauren Langrell 

not even realizing, until later, that they were related

Patrick was the first person to come up to me on the first night

I'm sure I looked as awkward and out of place as I felt (the bottom picture shows my awkwardness)

I didn't know a single person at the event but I was there to meet Australians and learn 'how to love'

Pat came over to me offering chocolate 

and the most friendly face I could have imagined in a courtyard full of strangers

As he was busy running the event 

I sat and listened to the readings and joined a small group which was led by his sister Lauren

Another joyful, friendly face in a crowd of strangers

I immediately felt at ease chatting with her about the readings and discussion questions

We bonded over our love for coconut hot chocolate from Max Brenner 

She was soon off to help move her older sister to New York City to join the Sisters of Life, 

a beautiful group of religious women devoted to poverty, chastity, obedience, 

and the sacredness of human life. What an amazing family! 

These two have made me feel so welcomed into their lives 

Inviting me to different events, masses, nights out, introducing me to more lovely Aussie friends, forcing me to go Cuban dancing and planning road trips, 

and weekend adventures for the coming weeks. 

I also met their brother Tom in the following weeks, who is as great to know as they all are.

I am so thankful that Patrick sent out the email that brought me to Love & Responsibility 

where I met some of the greatest friends 

I am so looking forward to getting to know them better and making more unforgettable memories.