Ve's Voyage

2009-07-14T00:37:00.002+02:00

Yes, it's officially over. Thats seriously hard for me to wrap my head around. Wow.

But its not really the end, there are still AFS meetings, camps, future studies abroad, and facebook to keep me connected to it all.

The return trip went by like a haze, one moment I was sitting on the never-ending flight from Budapest to Zurich, and then I had a seat on Swiss Air to JFK NY. Possibly the worst part was the wait in JFK airport. 6+ hours because my flight was delayed a bit, and the knowlege that most of the other AFSers around the world were already home and I would probably never see them again.

Someday though. Going on an exchange is an experience that cant ever be duplicated. Nothing can compare to how you feel the first month or the last. It might feel like a dream for the most part, but it will forever remain one of the most impotant years of my life.

Vera BP 08/09

2009-07-02T16:35:00.003+02:00

Sziasztok,

Today has been a pretty quiet kind of day. I'm attempting to finish a book before I leave. I went out to walk around a bit, last real day in Budapest and all that. We are heading off to Szirák tomorrow afternoon, so tonight might well be the last night I spend here. That's depressing, but I will come back. I don't really doubt that somehow.

Tonight I am going to a Bangladeshi restaurant with some people. Tomorrow more of the same maybe. The Rotary exchangers are all gone now. Time has really flown.

No more news. I'm really excited!

2009-07-01T16:09:00.004+02:00

Sziasztok!

So the thermal baths were awesome! There were lots of different kinds of pools, hot cold, warm, mineral, and more things I don't even know! In one was this circular wall that contained a whirl pool, slightly dangerous and full of human missiles, but FUN! Then there was one entirely for swimming, one with fountains, and one set at 10 degrees Celsius, or cold! We went into the sauna for a while (burned our feet sufficiently) then plunged into the freezing pool. There was a French girl looking at the pool and the people in it like they were out of their minds. You numb right up afterwards though. Next to the saunas were salt caves, you are supposed to sit in them for a long time, but we just had a look.

Szécsényi, the bath we went to, is supposed to be one of the best in Budapest, it was really great. Maybe some day I will go to a Turkish bath too or maybe not. They're a bit more nude in those I'm told.

Today, I walked around Budapest for a while, but it was really hot so I came back.32 degrees! HOT! I'm glad that I will miss the real temperatures in Budapest this summer, I don't know if I would survive.

The last preparations for my trip back home are still underway, I have a feeling it's going to be a mad rush right up until the very last second. Hope everything works out, see everyone back in the USA soon!

Ve

2009-06-30T11:52:00.004+02:00

Sziasztok!

So, I have been back from Romania for a while now. It was a really good trip. I should go back someday. We didn't get to see Bucharest.

The final countdown is going now, only five days left. Everything is in a kerfuffle though, I can't figure out what airline I'm going on or how much stuff I am allowed to bring with me. Maybe I will try to ship some of my books. I have been living with Charlotte since I got back. My other host family had to go off for the summer. We spent some time up in Szirák and we went to Szentendre, lots of museums.

Today I will be going to a thermal bath, finally. I can't believe it's taken me all year to get around to it. Yesterday, we toured around the old Jewish district. OK, five days and I will be on a plane! Szia,

Ve

Romania Photos

2009-06-22T00:39:00.006+02:00

Photos taken by my friend Erin when we were traveling in Romania.

2009-06-14T07:19:00.003+02:00

Sziasztok!

Guess where I am? ROMANIA! That's right, I have been staying in Transylvania for a couple of days now and it is awesome! I came with a couple of friends and a senior tour group. I took a train down to Bekescsaba and then on the 15th we loaded onto a short bus and were off. Getting through customs wasn't difficult, only long. They didn't even look at all of the Hungarians passports, but they took ours off to their secret little building and made us sit there for ever. Don't know what all of the fuss was about. Photos to follow.

2009-06-08T13:09:00.003+02:00

Sováll!

The last orientation passed, wow. That's kind of frightening really. I won't ever see most of those people again. Wow.

I missed half of it too because I stayed in Budapest to take my SAT on Saturday morning. It sikerült anyways. At least its over. I hadn't been in a room with that many Americans all year. I didn't get to talk to any of them though, because afterwards I had to book it to Keleti to get my train to Jászberény on time. I was early, but all the people that I asked for help gave me bad info. Hum. Oh well, when I finally got to the orientation they were in the middle of playing some kind of game. Here's the run down of it.

There is a net set up like a tennis net, but with string, everyone stands on one side of it and you have to figure out how to get everyone to the other side (through the net) without them touching the string. Basically, this means everyone has to be picked up and shoved through. It was fun though, pretty hysterical. We have come a long way from the first orientation. Somehow I doubt that it would have worked then. There were a lot more games too, for some reason they all seemed to involve picking each other up... IDK why?

Saturday evening AFS had a surprise in store for us. At about eight, the volunteers led us to some random field and had us stand in a circle. We weren't allowed to talk or stand next to someone from our same country. After a really long time, one volunteer at a time would choose someone randomly and lead them off somewhere. When I was finally picked, I got lead all over the neighborhood. Trust me, the reason is still kind of beyond me. He took me to a playground, a statue, to look at trees, around the block, into someones driveway, etc. I was so confused. Finally, we arrived a this random building with more volunteers in it. They asked me (all stern and serious like) "Was it you that did it?" By that time I was cunfundled so I said, yeah, of course it was. Then they looked at my bracelets... Huh? OK, after giving some random volunteer a hug, they lead me into this dark room with all of the other AFSers who had gone before me in it. They gave me a tea light. After a couple of hours, once everyone had finally arrived, they did an "oh so CBHS" what I am grateful for ceremony. I guess that was the point.

So, we came back to Budapest yesterday afternoon. The train was so sticky, HOT. Rain. Hot. Rain, pretty repulsive. Today I have to pack, or at least start, because after Romania I am going to my friends house for the last two weeks. Wow, this is going by too fast. I have to go and have lunch before my Fabien óra starts, OK,

Bye,
Ve

2009-06-04T08:25:00.003+02:00

Hellosztok!

So, things are all over the place here right now. No one really seems to know whats going on, including me, so many things to prepare for.

Yesterday, after school, I went to see Angels and Demons with my friend from Quebec. It wasn't half bad really. I will have to read the book in a couple of years when I've forgotten who won! Afterwards we met a guy from New Zealand.

Tuesday I went walking around Budapest with the girl from Belgium before the monthly meeting with AFS. She needed a new back pack, but the most we could come up with wasn't right. You wouldn't believe how many purses are for sale in Budapest though, they re everywhere! So after was the meeting. In the same tiny, hot cafe as always.

This weekend will be the orientation, unfortunately I have to take the SAT on Saturday, but I still have to make it to the orientation somehow, any suggestions? OK, I should get going, so much to do. Sziasztok,

Veronica

The Cave

2009-05-23T22:19:00.003+02:00

All great trips are accompanied by some kind of mortifying adventure, right? Well, that would have been today. In.... THE CAVE.....

I slept over at my friends house yesterday and we went with her host family to"walk around some caves," which we did, to a point. The first time we saw one of the low parts of the cave we began to worry, claustrophobia and lack of oxygen fore-front in our brains. Those were some smaaaaall holes. My hard hat could hardly get through, thus resulting in lack of light as my head lamp decided to fly off and fall apart. We got it back together eventually, with me sitting in a crevice. I can't decide whether it was at the bottom of where we were climbing or not, so many ups and downs. All I know is that it was small and very deep. The stalactites were cool though. Definitely not the most desirable for gripping, but cool nonetheless. We saw some urchin fossils and shells and crystals too. At one point I found this awesome shard of something shiny just laying there on the ground, that was hard to resist. Oh well. Pretty crazy place, you definitely feel like you aren't really on earth and in a way you aren't, you re in it.

The rest of the journey continued in much the same way, until we got lost. Our main guide (there were two) had forgotten the keys to get us out the door to the other end, so he went back for them. And, well, I guess the other one didn't really know the way. We took a wrong turn at one of the crevices and went a route that I don't think humans were ever meant to travel, let alone without ropes and gear. Yeah. It went straight up, like a well. It was about the same size and shape too, and wet. But mostly you just got showered by rocks as the person in front of you climbed. Well, I thought I was going to die. No joke. Eventually we did make it to the top, only to find more tiny holes. Then our guide realised it was really a dead end. Great. So back down the hole of doom we went to skooch on our stomachs and backs and other random body parts until we could get to a hole big enough to crouch in. Weewww. But we did it. After we corrected our wrong turn we found the stairs. Hallelujah!

So yeah, that's today's news. Sorry if it sounds over dramatic. I have to go now, its about 11pm here. Bye, Ve

2009-05-22T11:30:00.003+02:00

Sziasztok!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, to cut things short again. No time to really tell about the rest of the Euro trip, but I had my Vizsga! AHH! That's the Hungarian language exam. On Wednesday about 20 of the exchange students from AFS went to Szeged to have the test. We got a really early train and then studied like mad in our compartment on the train. There was some Hungarian guy in there, I bet he had a laugh at all of us foreigners trying to speak Hungarian. We got there about half an hour before the testing started, but the speaking section was all done individually so I had to wait for the longest time. When it was finally my turn, these two Hungarian women sat me down on this incredibly tall chair and had me take about housing. Somehow it spiraled off into trailers, and then FEMA, and then to cooking with pepper. Don't ask. They were pretty nice. The writing section, though it was more of a reading and listening comprehension test, was in the afternoon, and it was hard. They put us all in a classroom next to the train tracks and had us listen to questions and then fill in the bubble answer on our score sheets. Interesting, but my grades were OK.

I didn't really get to see much of Szeged, hopefully I will get to go back for a weekend of something later. Times running out though! There's a chance I might get to go to Romania in June, depends on if I decide to go or not. What do you think?

So, yesterday I was supposed to go swimming, but I kind of went to a French competition instead. My team, Les Allumettes, (we have an awesome name) got third place out of eight teams. It was fun. Then afterwards we went on a class trip to the theater that I didn't know about, but had already paid for somehow. Cool. We saw something called Stingy in Hungarian. We had the best seats too, second floor, right at the center. Oops, bell just rang, got to go to gym. I hope they don't make us run. Sziasztok, Ve

2009-05-19T12:04:00.004+02:00

Sziasztok!
So the Euro trip is over. Wow, that's scary to say. I don't know how to tell it all to you, there was just so much happening. Maybe just some of the places that we went? Eiffel Tower, Brussels, London Eye, British Museum, to the Crown Jewels, Leeds Castle, Westminster Abby, uncountable cathedrals, Napoleons tomb, Piccadilly Circus, The Tower Bridge, Champs-Élysées, boat tours, Canterbury, markets, shopping streets, crépe houses, bakeries, french McDonalds, hostels, trailer parks, the Louvre, and so much more that just isn't coming to mind right now.

I think the best was Leeds Castle. It was stupendous! And maybe because it was the only day I didn't freeze or get blown away by the wind. But we got to see all around the grounds, the bird cages, the moat, falcon show, and inside. It's really beautiful. Wish I could buy it. Right. In one of the lawns was a hedge maze, quite difficult actually, especially with a Hungarian/Chinese/American team. There was a dungeon like place there too, not very big but creepy! All carved with mermaids and shells, loads of colored lights. Reminded me of the mermaids we make on the beach in summer back home. Apart from the creepy of course.

The London Eye was cool too. That was the first thing we did once we had gotten to London for our four day stay. Right up we went and you could see everything. We got to hear Big Ben from it. The day before we had seen Brussels. I don't know how to describe Brussels. Like some kind of freaky beautiful festival with loads of vacant streets and then millions of people on stilts wearing goth clothes. Cool. The street performers were everywhere and their costumes really were spectacular. We go to go have waffles too, on the main street. And we visited the statue of the peeing boy who's really famous, but somehow I can never remember his name.

Going to England from France on the boat was interesting. Let's just say that it's the first time I've been seasick. The view was gorgeous though. We could see the White Cliffs the whole way. Those four nights we spent at a trailer park right next to the water. Also a first. Eight girls, 6 beds, one bathroom. One night we all went down to the beach though. We couldn't see the water because it had gone so far out, but I got some cool shells that I'll turn into earrings when I get home.

Most of the days we just walked around. Our "tour guide" gave us "free time" a few hours a day in the shopping districts. I don't really know why. She told us we could go buy clothes and things, and most people did I guess. But one time we found a Beatles shop, very cool, but I didn't get much, one sticker, 4 dollars. The Pound is a fortune! I have to go, again. I'm in the library. Today I have to swim again, 4 times this week. I couldn't the week before last because my ankle decided to swell like Aunt Marge. OK, see you, Ve.

2009-05-12T21:30:00.001+02:00

I'M IN ENGLAND! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This keyboard sucks, sorry... today we went to London! YAY! *has happiness*

We went to Brussels too! and saw everything! WOW! My favorite was Leeds castle though, I'm going to live there someday. :) OK, one minute left, it was a whole pound for 15 minutes. We are staying in a trailer park tonight. OK, have to go, more later.

2009-05-08T08:25:00.003+02:00

Sziasztok,
It's finally Friday and I can't believe that the London, Paris, Brussels trip is only one day away! Seems like only yesterday that it seemed like the distant future, something cool to do at the very end of the exchange. Wow, fewer than 2 months left. This is scary. Don't blink, you'll miss it.

So, yesterday was interesting. I presented my book project in Irodalom and immediately got gales of laughter from my class about how hysterical my accent is. I guess its pretty bad. I've always wanted an accent, though American wasn't really what I was going for... But the presentation its self went well. It's over at least. I think I might have freaked out my teacher a bit with the piece from the book that I read. For some reason I chose the most bloody scene. Interesting.

Afterwards, I went with my friend to have salad at a coffee shop. Lots of new interesting things, then we had really awesome cheap Bangladeshi vegetable paneer.

I booked it to Angol class afterwards. It's really funny to sit in on English classes with a bunch of Hungarian women. They're great. We studied shopping and how to telephone order a pizza, for some reason. I act as spell check, mostly, when the teacher is writing on the board. Sad, my spelling's not all that good either. Sorry about that.

So, then I went back to the house and discovered that my ankle was all purple and orange. New acquisition and I haven't a clue how it happened. Hope the swelling goes down before I leave tomorrow. OK, I'm in Informatika class right now. Sziasztok,

Vera

Photos of May

2009-05-07T01:57:00.005+02:00

2009-05-06T19:17:00.003+02:00

Sziasztok!

Sorry I ran out on that last post. The little window on the screen came up that said I had only another 59 seconds left. I had to book-it offline anyway.

So, Monday was pretty great too, I went up to Gellért Hegye (a big mountain overlooking all of Budapest) with a girl from Belgium. I hadn't actually been up there yet, which is kind of sad. It's one of the biggest tourist destinations here. They have their own Szabadság Szobor, which is their Statue of Liberty. Pretty cool. It's funny to see tourist junk labeled in English with the words 'Statue of Liberty' on it. We met at Nyugati, where I was shocked to see Hungarian Deal or No Deal girls parading around in gold dresses, advertising. It's really going global I guess. They asked me if I had seen their principal. Or at least I think they did. Strange.

Well, after we made it up the mountain, we walked in a big circle around the center of the city. We must have gone in 50 places. We even managed to find this great text book shop with 'learn Hungarian' books in it. Unfortunately, they didn't have the second of the Hungarian book that I just completed. Oh well. In two weeks will be the Vizsga, the big language test. I'm not exactly nervous, but I guess kind of scared that everyone else will get much better grades than me. Ugg.
This Saturday starts the London-Paris-Brussels trip and I couldn't be more excited! It's going to be really great! Only thing is that I haven't really received any information about it, only word of mouth. Hum. Should be good though. Yesterday was the chapter meeting. They told us to go to Érzsébet tér for the meeting, so that's what everyone did. But an hour later we decided we were cold and went for refuge in the coffee shop that we usually have things in. Guess what, that's where the woman from AFS was. But it was fun, I got to see everyone.

Tomorrow is school again. Today I finished nyelvtan-ing and fordittan-ing my irodalom homework. Tomorrow I present to my class. OK, I should go now, szervusztok!

Vera

2009-05-05T13:35:00.003+02:00

Sziasztok!

It's now Tuesday and this last weekend was completely awesome! Just about as perfect as can be here. Last Thursday, after my school's graduation ceremony, I went with my friend to her country house way up near the Szlovakian border. It's not as uncommon here, as it is in the US, to have plot of land that you farm, but it was great. We got to do so many things, but my favorite was when she found all of these real traditional costumes, that her mom had, up in the attic. We got to try them on and parade around the garden. Pretty awesome. She has new kittens too, not to mention bats, lizards in the garden, a cat called 'Ördög' (devil), and a whole lot of other things. On Friday and Saturday, we got to work in the garden too, and I got to make two enormous bonfires! Pretty sweaty work, but FUN! Are you jealous Izzy? On Sunday we cooked a combination of British cuisine and Hungarian. I have to take some recipes back with me. We made sorrel (don't know how to spell that) soup, black root with walnuts, cheese (Worcester like from Wallace and Gromit) and a lot more! I got to crack open all of the walnuts. They grow most of the things themselves. Sunday, my friend's dad took me for a tour of the nearby town, Hollókő (raven rock). There was a sweet little village, very touristy, but real, with some ancient castles, and a great view! Don't worry, I have pictures.

OK, I have to go, I will tell you about yesterday's excursions later!

Vera

2009-04-28T12:32:00.003+02:00

Sziasztok!

So, the May trip is coming up fast! I can't believe that it is going to be just 2 more weeks! I only realised that this weekend! For those of you who don't know yet, the May trip is going to be an 8 day long bus voyage with AFS to Paris, London, and Brussels! I'm so excited! Its going to be awesome! And the Wednesday after, I will be going with the other exchangers to Szeged to take the giant Hungarian Vizsga! Wish me luck!

It's Tuesday here now and today is going to be jam packed with things. I think I will try to go to art club for a minute, at least, because I really need to finish this block print that Ive been working on for ever. Well, its not so much of a 'block' as a piece of paper-like rubber, but you get the idea. Then I'm going to go searching for this Turkish store that I found this weekend when I was with my friend who's living in Békéscsaba right now. Shes from Washington. Then back to the apartment, off to some arts building who knows where to watch two of the other American AFSers sing in a chorus, then to dance class. Hüha... (Hungarian for oh no...)

Saturday was really good, as I said, an American girl who lives really far away (or at least as far as you can get and still be in Hungary) came to Budapest and I got to be her tour guide. We didn't really do much touring, but we saw the basilica, some stores, West End, the Apple store (wanting) Radáy utca, Oktogon, the opera house, and Margit Sziget. That was the best part, Margit Sziget (or Margaret Island.)

We decided to rent a Bringó, which is a two person cart bike contraption thing that you have to peddle. I made the mistake of letting her steer first... It was fun. We freaked out a bus and continued on through a bush and into a tree. Yeah, It was awesome! YAY! There are pictures of the bush somewhere.

This weekend is going to be a 5 day one. Hungarians and their vacations, lots. I might be going somewhere into the countryside for a few days, Ill let you know how that ans out, and maybe to Gellert Hegye sometime?

Ok, see you,

Ve

Rest from Poland and Week 32!

2009-04-24T11:39:00.005+02:00

Sziasztok!
OK, so I'm finally back, and in the school library again, what a shock.

The rest of the Poland trip was awesome! We went back to the city center of Kraków for the rest of the evening. At first our Rotary guy shepherded us around for a while, but we got to go up to this castle that had a really good view! There was also this amazing courtyard garden with loads of flowering trees and old gates. Afterwards we were set free! FUN! We were allowed out until 10, which eventually turned into about 4:30. I went with a group of three other Americans, all AFS surprisingly, to have real Polish food. We found this enormous restaurant that had outdoor seating, indoor, and dungeon. We sat outside, and there was absolutely no one else there! We though that that was strange for a Saturday night, but the food was good. I got mushroom Pirogi! YAY! And coffee. Leaving the guy a tip was an interesting process because Zlotys come in coin form until much larger amounts. And then all we had were Forints. Somehow we did it, we left little columns of metal, very strange.

The next morning we got back on the bus and went back to Budapest, I cant remember exactly how long the ride was, but it was long! We saw a lot of cool things though! My favorite was this castle up on a little mountain plateau thing, I think the picture is above. There was another one that I didn't see too. Apparently I slept through it twice, there and back. Oh well.

Back in Budapest we went to a humus bar! Before I left the US I knew about them, but only now have I gone. It was SO GOOD! And cheap! YAY! I got falafel.

This week has been about average. I went swimming three times and I think that I am getting a tiny bit better at the Butterfly. I still cant do the Breast Stroke to save my life though, the little girls in my lane pass me on that. Hum. We got to play water polo for the last 10 minutes too. Needless to say we lost, but it was good.

Today I am going to the Japanese library, we are going to watch an anime and I need to return a book. But I have to do a report on it for Irodalom class, I don't know how that is going to work really... OK, Sziasztok!

Vera

Pictures from Budapest and Auschwitz

2009-04-23T23:23:00.003+02:00

Auschwitz

2009-04-20T12:54:00.005+02:00

So! We are all back from Poland! I though the bus trip was going to last forever!

Saturday did turn out to be fairly awesome, too! Right after I last posted, everyone went into the bar and we had Polish breakfast. It was interesting. Sweet warm milk, a couple kinds of plain cereals, instant coffee, and black tea. Then we all went outside to wait for the bus to come to take us to Auschwitz.

We got there and it was so calm and unobtrusive, just a parking lot and a couple buildings. I was shocked by that. The bus pulled in, maneuvering around all the American tourists, let us off, and my little group of people headed off to find the bathroom and money exchange. We needed Zlotys. That done, we got back on the bus to go to a different area of the site. Auschwitz II according to out tour guide. She was a pretty strict woman. Bleach blond hair, huge accent, and quick to snap. On the bus, she didn't say much and we drove away from the center.
When we actually got there, we could see it for real. The view stretched for perhaps a kilometer in every direction with spindly skeletons of brick stoves and replica buildings structures sticking out of the field in a patchwork pattern. Stove, field, building. Stove, field, building. Train tracks ran through the center, creating a great elevated road between two ditches covered in little purple flowers and dandelions.

We were escorted up into the main watchtower in groups of thirty to take pictures, then lead down to see more of the buildings. There will be pictures. Make of it what you will.

The monument is at the very end of the train tracks in 12 different languages. Bulbous rock formations and black stone tablets. There is another tower there too. We didn't stay there long, many people were glad.

Arriving back at the first site, we got a tour through the museum. It was similar to the one in New York, only 100 times more real. It's harder to imagine that these things actually took place when you are on another continent, or even walking around the fields there. But the rooms full, literally full of items and pictures really get to you. The swimming pool like holes in the floors filled with human hair, children's shoes, even one just for brushes. You get a feel for just how enormous it all was, how many lives this one little place saw the end of.
Sorry, I have to go now. Rest of the trip later. Bye

Vera

2009-04-18T07:05:00.003+02:00

Hi Guys!

I'm in Poland! We drove up through Slovakia yesterday and arrived here at about 10:30pm. We were supposed to be here at 7pm though. Poland is beautiful, but I think the most drastic difference from Hungary are the buildings, not a single cement house, all wooden. You can start to see that in the Slovakia countryside as well.

Its definitely colder here. I forgot to take my coat out of my bag before we left, so I froze every time we stopped at a gas station (every gas station by the feel of it.) We got to take pictures of some incredible mountains too, all covered with snow.

In Slovakia, we could use Euros to buy thing, which I have a few of, but here we can't. It's kind of a pain because there aren't any ATM machines around the hostel. This place is pretty good. It's called Giraffe and is absolutely crawling with foreigners. There's a little kitchen that we can use as well, equipped with tea and everything. There's also a bar in the hostel, shocker. Guess why I couldn't sleep last night. They did let us have free ear plugs.

Today I'm not so sure what we are doing. Hardly anyone else is awake right now even though breakfast starts in 20 minutes. I just decided to get up the 8th time I was awoken. OK, people seem to be rousing. I can hear English. I never realised how easy it is to overhear other people when you completely understand what they are saying.

Yep, Americans are roaming the halls now. Got to go, szia! And I hope Junior Journey was good for everyone back home!

Vera

Easter and Trip to Poland

2009-04-16T11:49:00.003+02:00

I hope you all had a great Easter! Here in Hungary, it's two days long, both Sunday and Monday. We also had about a week off, lots of vacation time here! On Monday morning, I got the full blown experience of Magyar Easter; perfume. A group of my host families' friends came over to 'keep the women young.' Basically, the tradition goes that if a boy recites a poem and sprays a girl with perfume then she will remain young. Pretty cool, I guess, until you've been perfumed six times with two different kinds of perfume. It was very cute to see the little kids all dressed up and nervous though. Easter was pretty good.

Tomorrow morning I set off to Poland with the Rotary Club people and some fellow American AFSers. It should be an amazing trip. I really can't wait! We will take a bus through Slovakia too! OK, I'm in the school library right now and I really shouldn't be using the computer at all... Sziasztok!

Ve

2009-04-01T21:33:00.003+02:00

Just want to say a quick Bolond Napot! Its April fools day here. So far no one has been tricked in the slightest really.

I went swimming today and to art club yesterday. I entered a painting competition and they are going to be exhibiting the paintings in a gallery not far away from my school, starting tomorrow. I can't go though, maybe Friday. Tomorrow is going to be fast and long all at once. School, Hungarian language class, then I'm seeing my angel (volunteer) and going to Angol ora. There will be a new American teacher and I bet he's from Utah.

Last Friday was the first really WARM, take your coat off, day that we have had. I went with three of my classmates and our French lecturer, whose from Bordeaux, to the language college to compete in a French Dictée. Needless to say, I did miserably, but it was fun. My French is steadily decreasing. I got some good information about the school it was at too, who knows? It's supposed to be really good. Afterwards, I walked around Budapest for a while with my friend. We went to a load of foreign stores. It was fun.

Monday, I went for coffee and went again to the Piac near my school. My friend bought this awesome hand embroidered pillow case.

Tuesday, I had dance class. Our teacher is having a show this Sunday. About a third of our class going now, so it will be good, I hope. She also showed us this piece of paper that someone had just found a couple of days ago when cleaning a synagogue. It was money that the Jews used on Sundays. Pretty deep. Her apartment, where she teaches classes, is built in the old ghetto district.

Friday, I hope I can make it to the Japanese library. I still haven't gotten around to getting a card there yet. So, another busy week. See you all at home in less than 100 days!

Vera

2009-03-25T12:11:00.004+01:00

Hellósztok!

So, I am going to get to go to Poland in April. It's nearly all sorted out now!

This week has been pretty intense, just so much to do, but I get to go to swimming every day but Thursday, so that's good. I'm not quite sure if the trainer knows that I'm not Hungarian and can't always understand him. I should probably make sure. They want me to do the Butterfly and Breast Stroke too, so, new things there all around.

This morning was singing class and, for once, we actually got to sing. It was just a round of some kid song, but it was good. I even got marks for it. I wonder if CBHS will recognise ének óra as credit for school?

Yesterday, I had to perform a part of The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe, to my class. Let me tell you, that's no piece of cake in Magyar. I've been practicing all week. Could have been better, I suppose. I know my classmates all think that I have the most outrageous accent.

Föld Rajz test next Wednesday too. And the Hungarian Language test is coming ever closer. Hope all is good in the USA!

Vera

Lengyelország

2009-03-19T12:58:00.002+01:00

Quick update!

I might be going to Poland for a weekend, if I am lucky and can figure out how in the next 24 hours! I'm so excited! It should be good.

Ve

Horvátország!

2009-03-16T10:14:00.003+01:00

Sziasztok!

Just want to give a quick update on whats going on. I WENT TO CROATIA and it was awesome, of course! I got to see so many things. There was a short tour given by a guy called Lav (pronounced Love). He had the tour in English which was helpful, since I don't speak much Croatian.

We drove down on Saturday morning and walked around Zagreb for a few hours. We got to see a good portion of the city too. We saw the parliament, a famous street, Croatian crafts, the market, and so much more. It was really warm too. We didn't even need coats!

In the afternoon, my friend participated in a fencing tournament between Croatian, Hungarian, and Slovakian teams. That was pretty amazing! I have some photos that I will try to post later on.

So, it was a very short and fast day, but totally rocked!

Vera

Marciús!

2009-03-11T16:26:00.004+01:00

WOW, time sure does fly when you re having fun and when you don't have internet access everyday. Sorry about not blogging in nearly a month, but these last couple of weeks have been AWESOME! I don't really know where I should start...

Two weekends ago seems like a good place. So, I went with my friend from Ohio and her hosts to see caves in Aggtelek! They are some of the best in Hungary and overlap with some in Slovakia. We were that far north. I slept over at her house and left bright and early in the morning. Saturday we only had a short tour, but afterwards we decided it would be fun to summit the mountain. Hum. Lets just say it was very slippery, snowy, muddy, and steep, but the top had an awesome view. There were all of these ancient old metal frames of buildings up there too, from when they used to mine iron there.

We spent the night in a hotel nearby and I learned how to play a seriously complicated card game in Hungarian. That was a site, I'm sure, but it was great! Next day we set off for a 5 hour hike through the caves that turned into 8 hours and 21 kilometers. Check out my Facebook for some pictures. The stalactites and everything in there were amazing. They were shaped like the Statue of Liberty, dragons, dogs, freaky vampiric looking ones, little pink ones, orange, green, clay, mud, and who knows what else! In two of the bigger caverns, there were light shows and music shows, awesome acoustics in there! I went back to Budapest that night.

Then there was the chapter meeting, other things that I can't remember at the moment, and school, lots of that. I went to dance class, drawing, and started swimming. Unfortunately, I'm not going today because my host sister and anya are sick. But its spring!

In school, we have been opening the windows even! Well, we opened them during the winter too, I guess, but now I don't freeze as quickly!

So, what else... Oh! GUESS WHAT! Yesterday my friend asked me to go with her to Croatia on Saturday! I know, right! So, I've been frantically sending off permission forms, but if it all comes together I will bet to go on a day trip to Croatia to watch European fencing! How cool is that?

Sunday, I'm also going to be going to Győr, which is way North West of Hungary! I also just found out that the Hungarian language exam is to take place in Szeged, so, I will have traveled quite a lot by the time July comes.

School was good today, we learned how to do the Rumba. For the last few weeks we have been waltzing. Yeah... tomorrow are 2 Hungarian classes, back-to-back after school, and I must write an essay for irodalom on Friday. OK, wow, March is going to fly by.

Hope everything is marvelous in the USA! Still seems to be winter there, from what I've heard. OK, again, I have uploaded pictures on my Facebook, not many, but some. OK, Sziasztok!

Vera

Farsang!

2009-02-21T12:56:00.003+01:00

So today is Farsang! Which is Hungary's Halloween, only it takes place in February and kids don't trick or treat. There's going to be a party tonight, and guess what, I'm going as a cow girl. Only fitting, as I have to lead the Cotton Eyed Joe dance tonight... Oh no... Should be a sight.

This week was really good. Fast. My oh my was it fast. I got to go to a belly dance class with a friend from school. Who'd have guessed? Thursday I started to actually do something in Biology class and took an Irodalom test. I'm not sure I passed... Oh well. There were also two Hungarian classes after school. For one, no body showed up but me and another girl, so we just went to Cicergo and had coffee. Then the other was really an Angol class taught by an American missionary. So, this has been an interesting week all around.

The orientation last week was pretty good. We took a Hungarian language test on Sunday which wasn't so great... It put me in the beginning intermediate, so...

OK, I have to go now, hope all is well in the USA!

Vera

Best Week!

2009-02-14T07:49:00.003+01:00

Boldog Valentine Napot Mindenkinek!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week has been by far the most awesome ever! I don't have much time to write. I'm at the internet bar in the dorm where we are having orientation, so I'll be quick. School this week was great. I got to go to so many places. I'm now in Káposvár. It's the weekend AFS orientation and I'm in love with the automatic coffee machine. That about sums it up.

This orientation is divided into thirds, which I think helps a lot. There are only about 30 of us here and only two other Americans, also good. I'm not quite sure what AFS has planned for us today, probably something interesting, I hope!

My camera doesn't have any batteries at the moment, sorry for how few pictures I've posted... OK, I should go, but I wish you all a wonderful Valentines day back in the USA!!!

Vera

2009-02-08T17:46:00.003+01:00

WOW! Yesterday was so awesome!

So, I'm in a little village near Székesfehérvar at the moment. I got here on Friday night. I just took the bus. It's called Mór and it looks just like something out of "A Year in Provence," right down to the crazy neighbor whose name I can't remember. Mom and Izzy, you know what I'm talking about, but it's beautiful! My week family has already taken me to so many places. We even went to Veszprém yesterday to an Állat Kert (zoo)! I also got to go to Balaton Tó yesterday, an ancient church (crypt and all), Balaton Füred, and to a funny Hungarian movie called Made in Hungaria! I don't know if its out in the US or not.

So, I now have evidence that paprika can be used for everything from food to dyeing flamingos pink. That's right, at the zoo there was a little pond of flamingos with a sign stating " though flamingos normally receive their characteristic pink color from the crustaceans in their diets, that kind of food is out of the zoos budget. So instead we mix paprika into their food to turn them red!" Oh the miracles of paprika!

Today we went to a Mór-ian wine cellar! Its really mostly a restaurant now, but our table was in this old, massive barrel. Slightly claustrophobic but awesome!

Tomorrow I go to school with my week host sister! I hope its good! Sziasztok,

Ve

2009-02-06T08:43:00.003+01:00

Szervusztok!

Sorry, I don't have much time to write at the moment, it's the end of informatica óra right now. I've officially moved to my new family, so I'm settling in. Today I'm heading off for Székesfehérvár, where I will have a week long orientation next week. I don't know if I already told you that I was switched from the Békéscsaba group, which is kind of sad. I've never been there before, but next weekend I might get to go to Káposvár, another place I've never been. I think it's in the west, but I could be wrong.

Not much else going on at the moment, I had two Hungarian classes yesterday, which was good. Thursday is studying day now it seems... The chapter meeting was on Monday. I might be going to an opera the week after the orientation and maybe to a belly dance class with a girl from my class. OK, have to run, the bell's going off again. Such a weird Hungarian tradition, the bells all sing little tunes.

-Ve

2009-01-30T22:43:00.004+01:00

Sziasztok! Hossu ido volt!

Sorry that I've been something of an unreliable blogger over the last few weeks. January has been particularly interesting, but I'm officially moving tomorrow! My friend's family could take me for at least a month! So I will be staying in Budapest which is awesome! This is by far one of the best cities on the planet, well that's what I think. It's so international and there is just so much to do, so many places to see, and so much history to learn!

So much has happened since last time I posted! I don't even remember it all now! I will just give a small overview because it really is pretty late at night right now...

I started dance classes at the half term and they are hysterical. Great to see my class trying to avoid the inevitable dance moves our teacher has tried to get us to do! I went to my first Japanese library! It was so cool! They had most of the Miyazakis!

OK, what else... January has been pretty tough I guess. I haven't really seen many of the other AFSers. I have done a good deal of reading though. The Poisonwood Bible was great and so was HPGF!

Our Tesi teacher in school, my osztaly fonok (something like home room I guess) told us we will be having a class trip in May! That's really exciting! There will also be a week long orientation with week host families next week! I'm going to be in Be'ke'scsaba! I haven't ever been there before. Should be good!

OK, I really should go! Sorry again for not posting so often! Sziasztok! Jo Hetvegen!

transition

2009-01-07T22:35:00.001+01:00

I'm making a move in Hungary, so please don't send things via snail mail. I'll post when I'm settled.

First of 2009!

2009-01-02T17:10:00.005+01:00

Szia Ketto-ezer-kilenc!

(Before I start I apologize for any mistakes and the lack of accents in the Hungarian.)

I thought that a good way to start the new year would be to share the traditional recipe for a Hungarian 'good luck' food, so here it is!

Magyar Lencse

-Egy nap a lencset beasztat vizbe

-Utana forro az olajat es voros hagymat

-Teszel a lencse hagymaba

-Megmarodt vizel egyut raunt az olajra

-Teszel sot, sok folvagne fok hagymat, mustart szasz,

-Egy ora fozni

-Csinalsz egy liszt, tej, es/vagy krem

-Mikor a kesz a lencse, teszel a feher szasz a lencsebe

-Eszel Forro!

Here is the version in English.

Hungarian Lentils

-Let the lentils soak in water for one day

-Heat oil and fry onions in it

-Put the lentils in the onions

-Cover the lentils with water

-Put in salt, LOTS of minced garlic, and mustard sauce in to taste

-Cook for an hour or until the lentils are done

-Make a flour, milk, and/or cream sauce (roux)

-When the lentils are done put in the sauce

-Eat Hot!

This is a video that the German girl and I took in front of the Danube and the parliament, unfortunately I can not post one of the videos that is somewhat better. But the Cotton Eyed Joe has hit Budapest and Germany. Szia mindenki,

-Ve

Boldog Uj Evet!

2008-12-31T16:29:00.004+01:00

Wow! It is going to be 2009 in only a couple of hours here! Can you believe that! Time sure has flown. It's almost been half of the trip since I left the US! New Years here in Hungary is pretty similar to New Years in America, without the ball drop in New York on TV that is. They even have a similar pickled horseradish and lentils good luck tradition that is similar to my families' sauerkraut and black eyed peas! OK, have to go now, sorry that it is so short! Thank you everyone who has taken the time to write me here in Budapest!

2008-12-29T17:28:00.006+01:00

Boldog Karacsonyt Mindenki!

2008-12-23T11:04:00.004+01:00

Sziasztok!

Wow, I cant believe that tomorrow is already Christmas! That's so exciting! Christmas here in Hungary is pretty similar to in the USA, but with some small differences. Like, the Christmas tree is set up on Christmas day, in secret, by one parent while the other takes the kids on a 'walk' so that it will be a surprise, and Christmas dinner always includes fish. Presents are also opened in the evening, not first thing in the morning.

Lots of things have been going on this week, most inconsequential. School is finally over for a couple of weeks. We had our last day on Saturday when we had a 'Christmas party' in our classroom and swapped secret Santa presents.

Yesterday and the day before we decorated the house with the Christmas ornaments! Not quite sure what I will do with the rest of the day though. We might start cooking! OK, hope everyone has a great holiday! Sziasztok!

-Vera

2008-12-20T17:13:00.005+01:00

More of my class.

These are the exchange students in budapest!

This is a movie of three of my classmates saying merry xmas!

2008-12-13T16:11:00.008+01:00

Train to Budapest

Pensive

AFS Szekesfehervar

Izzy's spooka in Hungary!

Boom Chika Boom reindeer ears

The Holy Hand Grenade

The USA and one guy from New Zealand.

2008-12-12T08:25:00.003+01:00

Sziasztok! (pictures soon)

I am sorry that my posts are getting further and further between, but it is becoming harder to find good times to use the computer for more than a few minutes... Well anyway. This last week has been pretty good. The weekend was kind of an orientation from AFS, but not really. It was an optional weekend where we could go and live with temporary weekend host families and see more of the village of Szekesfehervar. I went and it was pretty cool. My weekend host family was nice. One of the girls is going to the US next year. She is very excited to become a cheerleader there (they don't have them in Hungary.) In Hungarian it is called pom pom lany. Literally pom pom girl. I thought that that was funny.

They also took me to see them practice synchronized swimming, which I have never seen before. Strange to see a load of Hungarian girls swimming in sync to High School Musical songs. We also went to the stables and the AFS Szent Miklaus party afterwards. The party, I guess, was to see more of the village, but the only thing that we really saw was this amazing clock tower that sung. I will upload it when I have a chance. (Unfortunately, I don't have access to any of the pictures because I am, again, in computer class at school right now.) So at the "party" every city chapter of Magyarorszag had to preform some kind of song or skit together. We had just heard about it so on the train we thought of our idea. You are never going to believe this Izzy, we make a Hungarian Christmas version of Boom Chika Boom (like from theater camp.) It was a Canadian girl who thought of it, but a German girl knew of it too! I would never have guessed that it was international! Cool. It was pretty great, then they made us sing Hull a Pelyes Feher Ho in Hungarian afterwards so that the host parents could understand what was going on.

There was a dance afterwards. Next day got the train back to Budapest where I had to pay full adult price by accident, which stunk. A whole 5 dollars. Oh well, that's OK. School all this week was pretty normal. I went with a couple of the other AFSers to see the Hungarian Music University (I can't remember the exact name right now) and then we got tickets to see one of the French boys in Budapest musical next week. It's the Nut Cracker, should be fun.

Christmas is making an appearance everywhere these days. My Magyar Irodalom teacher here in school has stapled chocolates all over her class room. They look nice, but all anyone in class can do is stare at the ceiling. Yum, chocolate... I got the Hersey's from the US, now that I mention it, and I brought a few of the to school and everyone loved them! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa T!

Yesterday I went all over Budapest in search of the cheapest Rubic's Cube that I could find. Found on for 800 ft at one point but I couldn't find it again when I went back to get it. Don't worry, 800 is a tiny number in forints. But now I have a Rubics Cube and I am determined to conquer it. OK, I guess that is about all right now. I am going to see my art teachers art exhibit today after AFS Hungarian lesson, then I don't know what. OK, hope everything in the USA is great!

-Vera

Short post

2008-12-02T21:03:00.004+01:00

Wow, so it's December already!

I have past the 100 day mark by a few days now. So much has been going on I don't even know where to start. Well I went to see Twilight at the movies. (we almost didn't make it in, so late) I also saw this really awesome eastern Asian museum with loads of cool things in it. Walked around Vaci Utca in the pouring rain. Went to the most awesome Xmas fair in the world! Got things in the mail. Went to school. Read. Went to the first of two chapter meetings this week. And sang a Hungarian Christmas song. Hungarians are big on Xmas here. So, short post, must be off. Sziasztok!

-Ve

2008-11-25T16:06:00.004+01:00

Sziasztok!

Wow, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I keep telling people here that and they are like.... what... One American tradition that most people haven't heard of. So, I have officially been inside of the parliament! We went with AFS on Sunday morning, had to stand out in the snow for an hour before they would let us in. This is the only picture that I managed to take. My camera decided to die on me, but the inside of the parliament is amazing. I think that they said there was something like 44 kilos of gold leaf all over the walls. Pretty cool.

I went over to the German girl's house yesterday. We looked at this German Harry Potter fan site. I am officially a German hp fan now. That's just awesome! YAY!

Last night I made a snow woman in the park. She is cool. Wonder if she survived until today. Ok, have a very happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! Sziasztok!

-Vera

2008-11-22T14:31:00.006+01:00

Sziasztok!

This week was also a very good one. Lots to do and things to see!

The AFSers in Budapest have all discovered this amazing little cafe. We had class there on Thursday, how CBHS of us. Usually there isn't anyone in it but our group. We've met the guy who works there too, hes pretty cool. he has adopted the American name Gabe, though we don't know if he only does that when he sees a load of foreigners. Well anyway, I had Wednesday off from school for who knows what reason. Seriously, I haven't got a clue. But I went with the German girl to this awesome palacsinta house. It was kind of like a fast food place I guess, except they only serve palacsinta. But the place is directly across the river from the parliament so it has an amazing view. No pictures I'm afraid. It gets dark here at 4:30 anyway.

Yesterday was pretty cool too. After a fairly average day of school I went with a girl from my class with her little sisters class on an after school field trip. YAY! Well, they were completely flabbergasted to discover that I didn't speak Magyar, and I think they had a good time trying to get me to say 1 -10 correctly. They were super cute. So we went to this massive museum. It had this Christmas wreath exhibit which I found kind of odd, but interesting. The kids kept asking me to read to them what the cards said. Didn't work out quite like they had expected I don't think.

Today we made more fozalak and it SNOWED! Its the first time I have seen snow here! I think I might go and touch it now. Or maybe not. I don't know. Ok, hope everything is good.

Jo hetvegen!

-Ve

PS!

2008-11-16T09:21:00.002+01:00

READ THIS!!!

Sorry, somethings wrong with blogger. The post right before this one can be displayed in its entirety by clicking on the title. More pictures and a text should appear. Hope it works.

-Vera

Snails in Trees

2008-11-16T08:48:00.008+01:00

This last week has been so busy, something most nights and after school. I guess that that is a good thing though.

Hetfo- Went to some cute little coffee shop in the Oktogon then stood around looking at all of the trains.

Kedd- Went on a wild goose chase through the market with a girl from school trying to find a lemon juicer with a handle. I know, right.

Szerda- I met the girl from Germany and a boy from Hong Kong at Moskva ter and we set out to find the Lions at Lanc Hid (Chain Bridge.) We walked along the Danube for about half an hour before we realised that we were going the wrong way. But that was fine. The Danube is so cool right now. It was all foggy and awesome. We did finally find the lions though (aren't you happy Izzy?) And yes I realise that I have (very) red eye in that picture. Afterwards we were standing at the metro stop and decided to try the roasted chestnuts that the little stall was selling. They were ok. First time for everything.

Csuturtok- Went to MOM park and then my first Hungarian class in about a month. We started the past tense.

Pentek- Friday was very interesting. I met some of the other AFSers after school and we went to this cafe where we ran into more exchanges from the US. They were from a couple different Rotary clubs I think, but that was cool. Then we went to this 'Blind Museum.' It was really interesting. The Hungarian tour guides led us around these rooms that were pitch black, not so much as a distant outline. There were rooms like kitchens, markets, streets, rain forests. By the end we could all tell who was standing in front of us by what their hair felt like. I still wonder what the rooms we like. The very last room was an imitation of a cafe. We could order something if we liked and try not to drop it. I was sitting on a couch with a couple of other girls when we realised that there was a fourth sitting between us and she wasn't talking. At first we thought she just didn't want to. But after a few minutes we began to really wonder why she wouldn't talk to us. We couldn't see her so we didn't know what was going on at all. When we finally tried to tell someone the whole place went quiet and one of the tour guides came in the dark and took her back outside. She had fainted and was fine in a minute, but it was kind of freaky. We had no idea that anything was wrong. Kind of makes you appreciate that you have eyes.

Szombat- We went to Szekesfehervar again. Made more tok soup. They tried to explain why it wasn't actually soup though. And it's not actually a stew. Apparently it is a Fozalak. Something that we do not have a word for in English. Kind of a thin vegetable stew with something else I don't know. Well anyway, don't call it leves, soup, or you will be corrected. Also, did you know that snails live in trees here? That was like, wow.

Vasarnap (today)- Not much today. I was going to go to this Museum that I keep seeing signs for everywhere for. It closes today, but I don't think I can make myself. Anyways, it might come to the US sometime. This afternoon Mira and I are going shopping I think. I don't know yet. So, that is my all so exciting week. Hope yours was fun! Sziasztok!

-Vera

2008-11-09T20:08:00.007+01:00

This is a picture of a metro stop.

In Deak ter.
Paprika.

Kutyak.

Sziasztok!

So the last week has been pretty normal. Well, as normal as it can be here. I got to go to the massive library again with some people from school. We tried to get a library card for me, but apparently I would have to bring my real parent all of the way from the USA to the library to sign the form. And basically that can not happen. But I got to check a book out on my friends card so it was good.

Speaking of books in the library, it is so fascinating to see all of these familiar books written in Hungarian. The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Jane Austin books, and a load of books based on American movies.

After we vacated the library we went to this little shop full of hand made jewelry and wood figurines. It reminded me so much of Mexicali Blues! I could have spent all day in there! Apparently the girl I was with knows the owner though, so I found myself being wholly welcomed in and shown around and such. He came up to me with this wooden basket of little funny string men dangling from a cell phone string and got me to understand that I should take one. Well anyway, I am calling him Bence ( pronounced Ben-ts-e... ) and he is purple. I quite like it. So many notable characters here.

So a couple of days ago was the monthly chapter meeting where everyone in the Budapest chapter gathers in some public place and just talks. It was pretty good, well, the last hour of it was. For I spent the beginning half wandering aimlessly around the streets of Budapest with an Italian and a German. It was fairly funny. We had to ask for directions from these Hungarians. I don't think that they could believe that we were all from different countries, totally befuddled them. But we got there in the end and it was fine.

Obama for President!

2008-11-05T06:26:00.002+01:00

I got up very early today, it is about 6:30 now, to watch the US news or Obama being elected. I got to see his acceptance speech! Its so amazing!

In other exiting news going on in the US, I have a new cousin!

I kind of wish I could be there in the US, just for today, to see everything that is going on. But I will go to school here instead and try to tell everyone that Barack (pronounced Buratsk, 'barack' in Hungarian means peach, there is a whole peach campaign here) Obama won the election.

Halloween here was uneventful, I did get to see some little Hungarian trick or treaters though, I guess the idea has caught on a bit here. I did have 'tok' soup though, very good. 'Tok' means pumpkin, but it was more or a squash. I was in Szekesfehervar at the time.

Ok, I am going to get ready for school now!

-Ve

Zsúzsi's Paprika Cheese Spread

2008-10-30T13:25:00.008+01:00

SZERBUSZ!

I am in Szekesfehervar again right now, I spent the night here. I got to ride here on a seriously cheap train, I think that it came to about 3 dollars. You never see that in the US, well, you hardly ever see people-carrying trains in the US. It was just me and my host dad, Mira is in school this week. We sat behind this British family with awesome accents. The little boy played a Star Wars card game most of the way. Isn't it strange how some things are universal in people?

Well, we got here and I went out into the yard and ripped out all of the paprika plants in the garden. They are something fierce, paprika plants. But I felt very accomplished. Then we found this huge bag of old yarn in the attic that no one's seen for years, so guess what Ive been doing? Knitting! YAY! I'm about half way done with one mitten right now, I hope that it actually comes out looking ok. Its blue.

This morning my host dad left for Budapest again so I am with Mira's aunt and grandpa until Saturday. This is both a good thing and very complicated thing. Mira's grandpa and aunt are much more traditional Hungarians, as far as I can tell. It's awesome to see it all. Lots of paprika too, lots. And in everything.

This is what I had for breakfast, I suggest that you try it.

Zsúzsi's Paprika Cheese Spread

Bagged cottage cheese
Lots of paprika
Lots of Onion
Lots of Salt
Pepper
Kifli, Hungarian bread roll, or just a piece of slightly stale bread.

Stir - (Eat with fork not on top of bread if you want to be traditional)

It was pretty good. There might have been other things in it that I couldn't tell. Maybe some lemon juice.

Today I really should do some homework. Hum. Ok, I hope that everything is great in the US and that Pumpkin is born safe and sound!

Happy Halloween!

-Ve

Nearly Halloween!

2008-10-27T12:19:00.006+01:00

Sziastok!

Its finally officially fall! Which is very exciting. All of the trees are nice colors and its comfortable to go outside with a coat!

So Halloween here is basically non existent, unless you count the 'Claires' like stores and MATCH shops that sell little plastic pumpkin bracelets and little witches made of hay. They do have a kind of death remembrance day on the first of November though. Everyone who has had family members who've died, goes to the cemeteries and give them flowers.

Another holiday, already passed, is the 1956 revolution day. At school the grade below us put on a play about it. Margit Hid was all decked out in flags, it was so pretty.

Though there is no real Halloween here, I couldn't not get a pumpkin like object to celebrate, some things just can't be let go. I went to a giant market and found that little squash. I then proceeded to get completely and utterly lost in some tourist district. I still don't have any idea where I was. I think maybe I went out the back of the market and just kept going, away from Kalvin Ter. I realised there was something wrong when i reached the Duna and saw Gellert Hill looming at me from the other side. The market isn't anywhere near Gellert Hill. Oh, well. It was quite interesting though. Perhaps I will someday develop a sense of direction. Ok, Happy Halloween!

-Ve

2008-10-17T14:05:00.006+02:00

It is starting to really feel like fall here now. All of the trees are yellow, and when I get off of the bus I can smell fall. Its wonderful.

Today our class went to the National Museum steps and took loads of pictures. It was pretty fun. Later I am going to a photo showing with some other people from AFS. Should be cool.

2008-10-15T15:54:00.006+02:00

So another week has gone. This one has been pretty good, but I can't remember where I left off last time so I'm just going to start with the weekend.

We went to this massive old castle on Saturday. From what I could get lots of queens lived there once. Then I went with Mira to the stables and watched her ride for a while. Look down and you will find a two second clip.

Then Sunday we cleaned a lot and I did lots of random things.

Hetfo was the start of S. Gy. Alb. Het at our school. We had to organise loads of game for the grade under us to play after school. The actual playing of the games was very strange, like a Casco Bay event gone very, very, very.......um..... strange. But it was fun. And hysterical.

Yesterday, kedd, I went to a Hungarian poetry reading after school. It was pretty good. They had me read a Shakespeare verse in English after the Hungarian version because they wanted to know what it was like in the original form. We got tea in little plastic cups too.

Oh yeah, some of these pictures are from last week when I decided to go exploring the castle district. Only problem was, I never figured out how to get into it. The castle district is this small hill that is all buildings on the outer. I could see the castles, buildings, and stairways. I just never figured out how to get in. I still got to see loads of cool things though. Almost everything from that section of my travel book! YAY!

Tomorrow is another AFS lesson, and Friday I think that I am going to some kind of photo thing. But I'm not really sure what that is entirely. Should be an adventure! Ok, Sziastok!

After the Arrival Orientation

2008-10-07T15:49:00.004+02:00

So this weekend was the after the arrival orientation. It was pretty good. Got the HEV to some remote area of Budapest with a group of others, and spent the next day and a half stuck in a hotel. The HEV is awesome, its a train that goes all over Budapest but I can use my monthly pass on it. Which means its basically free for me to go anywhere that I want to in Budapest

because AFS pays for the ticket.

The rest of the weekend was pretty good. Met loads of new people. Tried to understand the people who spoke French, tried to translate 'Garlic' into German, and played pass with a stress ball. Apart from that the weekend was pretty quite. And school started again yesterday.

Yeah, one of the weird things that is different about the schools here is that when a teacher is absent, you don't have class. Only rarley are there real substitutes. Which means that because there is a plauge going arouns and everyone is ill, I did not have to first lesson Monday and today. I don't really know if thats a good thing though. I missed drawing. But I got to sleep:)!

I am going to go to the Castle District and walk around sometime this week I hope. Must take more Matyas pictures. Hope all is well!

-Veronica

2008-10-02T18:45:00.001+02:00

A allant kert, az egy maci! nagyon cuki serintem!

2008-09-30T14:59:00.005+02:00

Sziasztok!

Its Tuesday here, kedd, and I am going to go to the ZOO in about half an hour. Isn't that awesome, I can just pick up and go to the zoo anytime?

So yesterday was quite a full one, after school I went to the Hungarian National Museum again, but it turned out to be closed so we went to this MASSIVE market! It was awesome, I could have spent ages in there, there was so much to buy and see. I do admit that it was an obvious tourist trap, but it was a good one. They had tons of paprika, palacsinta, scarves, etc. I have to go back sometime and look more closely becuase I had to leave right away.

Then I went to have coffee with some of the other AFSers, I like coffee... Wish there was more of it. I met this girl from Sydney, Australia. Shes been here for 8 months now and knows a lot more about what the rest of the year will be like for us. There was also a girl from Finland, germany, and another from the USA there. We went to this big cafe outside of Deak ter, which has this huge park and shopping block.

Here is a picture of my class. This is the most interesting room in the building, no joke.

2008-09-28T09:34:00.013+02:00

Het vegen hat. A istenem, az nagyon furcsa.

Well its sunday here, morning. Two days ago I went with my 'angel' as they call them here to (liason in the US) to this massive church. It was so cool! Huge and MASSIVE and very cool. We went all the way to the top and got to walk around. The view was absolutly amazing there, I could see the entirety of Budapest. I could see the same communist buildings that I mentioned when I first got here too. I guess that everyone in Budapest thinks that they are just as ugly as I do. But its very interesting. There is a great expanse of old building and squares and statures, then row after row of gray rectangles out in the distance.

But anyway, it was an amazing view. We sat on the steps after and had tiramisu, I've never had that before I don't think. Its so amazing to think, hey, I'm in Budapest having tiramisu on the steps of some ancient building. Yeah, it was pretty awesome.

Yesterday we went to Szekesfehervar again. I got to pick loads of black eyes peas, but I didn't get the chance to shell them because we went to watch my host sister ride a horse for a minute and that turned in to all day. I met this 10 year old boy who was hysterical. He has a load of horses and the tinyest little kitty (cica). When Mira got back we went for a bike ride. Or I guess that I should say I went for a bicycle ride, they went for a motercycle ride... through the forest. Its very diffucult to keep up to motercycles when you are on a bike. And I did feel a bit like Harry Potter in the side car. But it was ok. I can say that I didn't polute the environment.

We got back pretty late last night, Budapest is very cool to drive through at night. OK, sziastok!

Boldog Sulinapot JP!

-Veronica

2008-09-26T08:30:00.003+02:00

Guess what, it's Friday again and I am again sitting in a computer class with nothing to do. But thats ok. Good start to the day.

Ive been working on a project for math class most of the week, Mr. Burke and dad know all about that. I had to present on math history in the USA and you wouldnt believe how hard it is to find decent information about the US without dragging in some other country, Japan and Germany predominantly. But its done now so I don't have to work on it any more. I guess that it was kind of interesting. I got to make a whole bunch of posters in Hungarian.

Today I am going for pizza, if it doesnt get rescheduled again. Strange to think of all of the food that I haven't had since I left. There are lots of other foods though. I dont remember if I have mentioned all of them.

Poggacsa is my favorite
Alma
Garlic cheese
Onion and tomato soup
tea
AND CEREAL, its amazing here

We might be going to Szekesfehervar again tomorrow. Hope its not to cold out.

I am going to try to take some pictures today to post when I get the chance, and maybe a movie, I found out that my camera takes movies with sound. I think I will try to get one of my class. They are pretty cool. Ok, Viszlat

-Ve

Kulcs

2008-09-21T00:09:00.005+02:00

Today was pretty good, or i guess that I should say yesterday (its just past midnight here.

We did indeed go to Szekesfehervar today. And I finally figured out what that word means.

Szek -chair

+es -throne

feher - white

var - castle

or, the white castle where the kings are crowned. Pretty long name for a city don't you think?

So we didn't pick much paprika, we picked grapes. Grapes, grapes, grapes. Lots. There were lots of wasps in them, I got stung. But oh well. After Mira and I got to squish them in this ancient grape squishing gysmo. It was great! Then we got to drink some. It was kind of like condenced grape juice. I guess I can tell how much water is in the grape juice we buy at the store now.

They made gulas for lunch in one of those giant outside cauldrons. Very awesome. Heres a picture.

When we got back I went to one of the other afser's birthday party. Well, it was her

host sister's birthday party and hers. Which meant that there were lots of Hungarian people. Getting there was quite the production. I think I'm getting better with the public transport. Yay I love it! As long as I know exactly where I'm going I can do it.

Heres a picture of the hat I made. Yes, it is a bit big. But its warm and green and black so its all good.

Penték

2008-09-19T08:29:00.005+02:00

I am again in computer class with nothing to do. So íi think that íi will tell you about my week here. And wasn't it an interesting one.

I finally found a yarn shop, the fourth sewing shop that i went into had yarn. I made it to this one called 'Woolly' one day after school, but they didn1t have anything made of wool, lots and lots of rope, but no yarn. But I finally got some green and black yarn and I made a hat with it last night. I have a picture of it on Mira's head that I will post later. Going to make a scarf with it some time soon. Hasn't been that cold here yet really though, so no rush.

I am going to matyas church tonight with my AFS 'angel' Ensci and possbly a girl from Thailand. But I haven1t heard from her yet. Another girl from Germany was supposed to come too but she can1t make it. But I might see her tomorrow.

So yesterday was interesting. I was in Math when all of a sudden the teacher started to gesture at me to come to the froont of the class. I did, and then they started to ask me questions ablut Casco Bay High School and what was different. I think that I might have freaked them out a bit. They didn1t really understand the idea of expeditionary learning. They all think that I'm very strange anyways. Yeah, school here is SO strange when compared to CBHS, lots more sitting and listening for hours. Its very strange and abnormal for me. Its ok though, the people are nice at least.

We are going to Székesfehérvár on Saturday mabye. To harvest the rest of the paprika from Mira1s grandpa's garden.

I'm very glad that it is Friday, I'm excited for this sleep idea. Hope everything in the US doesn't go into a depression... that would be bad.

Ve

Zarva

2008-09-14T16:55:00.009+02:00

Yesterday we went to a wine festival up at the castle.

In front of parlaiament.

The most hysterical felt hats in the world! They were amazing!

The AFS picnic on Margit Island.

Szeptember hat - tiz

2008-09-10T18:15:00.007+02:00

This is a picture that I took of the parliament on night when we went for a walk on the Buda side of the Danube.

Me in Hungary.

Going to the bus stop.

Lots of stairs in the building.

A LONG HALLWAY at school.

2008-09-06T15:39:00.005+02:00

The lions on the Chain Bridge!

These are pictures that I took while coming back from an AFS meeting in Budapest last night.

2008-09-05T08:29:00.002+02:00

I am sitting in computer class right now. I don't really know what we are supposed to be doing, everyone is just doing whatever... Nem ertem. Oh well, hope the first day of CBHS is fun!!!

Kosonom Szepen, the phrase of the day

2008-09-04T15:54:00.007+02:00

INFO- MY BLOG IS NOW PUBLIC

The adress is http://vesvoyage.blogspot.com/

Today I got half a library card! it was very complicated, I was with this girl who speaks english but the woman behind the counter didn't and I had to run back and forth from the cloak room to get id's. So now I am allowed to go into the library, use the internet, and photo copy. But not check out books which is weird, I don't really know why.

My favorite hungarian saying right now is Nem Ertem, which means I don't understand. I use it quite frequently in fact.

Oh YEAH! I forgot, something totally out of the ordinary for me (but not for Hungarians) happened yesterday afternoon! The neighbor kids down stairs found a Greman grenade from WWII in the back yard! They called the police and they came and inspected it. Mira and I got a picture, hopefully I will be able to post it. But it was very strange. No one was like WOW, or thought it the least bit strange. I guess they find explosives all of the time around here. But weird, so many years later to still be finding grenades lying in a modern backyard behind an old wall.

Today was also my first PE class, or tesi, which I think sound very funny. It wasn't at all like a PE class I have ever had. We ran around in circles for a while and then played volleyball for a few minutes. No ultimate frissbee at all. Strange. But I got to meet more people from another class there. They all try to speak english and it is very cool to listen to the different accents they put on things.

Last night Szilvia and I went to a supermarket. I'm still getting used to all of the strange things there. Milk and eggs are not refrigerated, there are aisles or sour cream, and you have to put a coin in the cart if you want to use it.

After I got back from the library (I didn't get lost today!) I went to the post office and bought a student card. It should come in a couple of days and it will make everything easier. I have lots of id's in my bag right now.

Classes are starting to pick up. Lots to do and not much time. I am in the appartement right now, Mira should be back any second now. We are going to make fried zuccinni, which is good if it's cooked all of the way. We made fried 'pumpkin' (though it was a squash) last night, there is still so much left but it was SO good. I sugest that you try it. Just make sure that you don't make the peices to thick because it doesn't cook otherwise. It was just a fine layer of flour, egg, and a layer of corn meal I think. It was very good. Yeah, there is so much new food here, lots of it is recognisable but with twists. Like yesterday some people had pasta for luch and there were great bottles of ketsup that everyone put on their pasta. Furcsa. (strange)

2008-09-03T15:26:00.002+02:00

This is a picture of my host sister, Mira! We are in our study room doing homework and things.

So I started school three days ago and it is so different from school at home. Its fun though, we sit around and talk a lot so I have gotten to know many people. I have one group of students for my class and I have all of my classes with them. I have lots of new classes too! I can take drama, singing, dance, computer class, and two french classes. Very cool! The school is very large though, I keep getting lost wherever I go, but its ok.

Yeah, I get lost on the public transport a lot too. But I LOVE IT! Now that I have a monthly pass all that I have to do is walk up to a subway, bus, or tram and get on it. I take a bus and subway (which they call a metro, not subway) to school.

Yesterday was also my first Magyar lesson from AFS. I got kind of lost in Deli station for a while, but I walked into another American AFSer and he was with his host brother so we got to the AFS headquarters.

I went to an anime shop right next to my school yesterday, and it had Miyazaki things! It was very exciting to see. Today my whole class went to buy books after school, there are so many places to go in Budapest!

Ok, so I'm not so sick anymore which is great, all of the afsers had something, but anyways. I'm having a good time here, hope the US is fun!!!

-Vera

Which a lot of people call me.

2008-09-01T14:49:00.001+02:00

This is a wax exhibit in the castle.

2008-09-01T14:46:00.000+02:00

This is the crown!!! Cool!

2008-09-01T14:44:00.001+02:00

This is a picture of the castle in Szentendre where the crown is located.

2008-09-01T14:41:00.001+02:00

This is a picture of the Danube.

2008-09-01T14:27:00.005+02:00

More pictures from the open air museum.

Open Air Museum

2008-09-01T14:22:00.002+02:00

This is a picture from an open air museum in Szentendre, I went with another AFS exchange student who is from Thailand and his host parents. There were buildings from 'different time periods' that were very cool to go into. Yes that is paprika drying on the beams.

2008-08-30T09:08:00.003+02:00

View from Gul Babas tomb.

I went to see Gul Baba's tomb. It is only a short walk up the many alley streets behind Romer Floris.

Gul Baba means father of roses. He was a Turkish dervish, his tomb is octagonal though I couldn't see inside of it.

2008-08-29T22:04:00.001+02:00

csovi!

2008-08-29T21:58:00.001+02:00

parliament as we drive past

2008-08-29T21:47:00.001+02:00

yay

2008-08-29T21:44:00.001+02:00

Romer Floris

2008-08-29T21:41:00.000+02:00

People from Turkey doing a turkish dance. This was the culture presentaion thing.

camp

2008-08-29T21:37:00.001+02:00

Yes, we are American... Us at the orientation camp.

Plane

2008-08-29T21:32:00.001+02:00

This is Margit Island from the plane. Sorry for the lack of pictures, it takes for ever to load them.

Paprika

2008-08-27T19:23:00.000+02:00

Today I got to harvest paprika! It was so cool! But I have to go now.

Szia,

Veronika

Zurich

2008-08-27T19:20:00.000+02:00

Zurich airport.

SZIASTOK

2008-08-25T20:17:00.003+02:00

So I've been here for a few days now, I think that it is monday evening, about 8 or something, i dont know at all, everything is so blurry the last week. So here is the summary of where i have been so far since leaving Maine.

I was at the airport really early wednesday morning, but the plane was delayed for hours because there was some kind of computer problem that they could not fix until the crew came to work at like 7 or something. I sat next to this lady who was very strange. She was going to syracuse or something i think, but anyway. the plane finally took off and i was in ny in about an hour and a half. When I got there the airport was very easy to negotiate, thank god, nothing like their bus station, right izzy? So i got my luggage, but i had already missed the group of other afsers so i had to find the air train and take it somewhere to call a complimentary van or something. that didnt work out so great though. nothing at the air train was labeled, so i got on mabye three of them and eveentually one of them said my stop and i got off. then i waited for the van in the wrong spot fo EVER, but i made it there in the end.

'There' was the JFK double tree hotel that we had to stay in for so long. i met some of the other people going to hungary there, it was very weird, I was prepared for the culture shock here in budapest, but not in ny with all of the other americans. they arent anything like mainers, or at least the ones who go to casco bay. so there was mabye 150 of them, and about 20 going to hungary. i will upload pictures at some point but its too late now. we were in their huge room for ever, we just hung out for hours on end, there were only a couple of organised things that went on. we watched a movie on gestures, thats about it.

I roomed with this girl from arizona or california or something, she was really nice. so the next day we got to the airport fine and through customs, but everysingle time i was selected for screening. But anyways, we sat there for a while and played cards and things. then the swiss air got there and we got on, th ey didnt make us get off like the flight to maine though so that was good. they gave us all kinds or weird foodand things. your right though mom, there isnt ice in anything! but i will get over it. the flight to zurich was strange, i got mabye 2 hours of sleep, we had little tv things with games. It was very cool! So we landed in zurich and it was awesome! took some pictures, nothing to great, got on another plane to budapest and then got there! I took some pictures of the alps and weird buildings from the plane. in budapest we all kind of wandered around. the atm there didnt work so I didnt have any money yet there. We got on a bus with all kinds or italians and germans.

there at the camp it was very cool, it was on a lake but we didnt get to swim. met LOTS more people, all of the people from hungary spoke english which was weird, but there was a girl from brasil in my cabin, as well as from hong cong, germany, turkey. the thing was kind of unorganised, we mostly just stood around in groups and talked there were some activities. the one i liked the best was a culture presention to all of the groups. we were supposed to have one for the US but we didnt, so we improvised. we did the ymca, yep, the ymca. AND IT WAS GREAT! its weird to see a huge room of people from everywhere on the globe all dancing to one lame some together. there was lots of other music and things too.

the food was good, tons of potatoes at the camp though, with like half a cup of sour cream with each. one time i got two 1 x 5 x 5 in peices of deep fried mozzerella, it was interesting. but we got chesnut filled crepes, greek salad, and open faced sandwiches.

the last day we got to meet our host families. we had to memorize this thing to say to the whole group of host families. it was something like a nevem Veronika. americabol jottem, ...... sonething something something. and a lot more i remember but cant type with the accents you know?

so my host family is awesome! very nice, mira took me to the stables for a while yesterday, been watching hungarian tv (a lot like american and australian) been to margit islang, the park, seen parliament, learned a few words, the alphabet, met shy satyar, csovi ( who is HUGE) eated strange but good food, marveled at the weird trees, gotten lost in the house a few times, tried to work the shower, been to mamut (large mall) walked all around, seen the awesome public transport, and ate nuts off the trees. ok, i have to go! viszontlatasra!

-Veronika

13 hours left!

2008-08-19T23:19:00.002+02:00

I can't believe that the time has come at last! Today was my last day in Maine and tomorrow I will be leaving the airport at 6:00 am!!!!!!!!!! See you in Budapest!

12 Days!

2008-08-08T00:09:00.002+02:00

I leave for JFK in 12 days!!! The plan is to have a one and a half day orientation there, get on a plane to switzerland, transfer to on to Budapest, have a few day orientation there, then meet my family! After that I have no idea what anything will be like. Getting very excited!

Statue

2008-06-29T19:16:00.000+02:00

This is a picture of a statue on Romer Floris.

Templom

2008-06-29T19:12:00.001+02:00

This is Templom, a building on Romer Floris.

Google Earth Budapest

2008-06-29T18:52:00.003+02:00

This is a google earth image of the street that I will be living on, Romer Floris.

(click on image for better view)

Margit Island

2008-06-29T18:48:00.002+02:00

This is a picture of Margit Island which is just down the street from my host families house. It has parks, swimming places, and tennis courts.

Romer Floris

2008-06-29T04:07:00.002+02:00

This is a picture of the street in Budapest that I will be living on, it is called Romer Floris utca 18, Hungary.

Csovi the Bunny

2008-06-29T04:04:00.005+02:00

This is a picture of Csovi the Hungarian bunny eating lettuce.

Szotyar

2008-06-29T03:58:00.001+02:00

This is Szotyar (Bag) the Hungarian dog who lives with my host family!

Hungarian National Anthem

2008-06-12T19:52:00.000+02:00

http://www.nationalanthems.info/hu.mid

ENGLISH Lyrics

God Bless the Hungarians
With good cheer and prosperity.
Extend a protective arm
If they fight the enemy.
Torn by misfortune for long,
Give them happy years.
These people have expiated
The past and the future.
By Thy help our fathers gained
Kárpát's proud and sacred height;
Here by Thee a home obtained
Heirs of Bendegúz, the knight.
Where'er Danube's waters flow
And the streams of Tisza swell
Árpád's children, Thou dost know,
Flourished and did prosper well.

For us let the golden grain
Grow upon the fields of Kún,
And let Nectar's silver rain
Ripen grapes of Tokay soon.
Thou our flags hast planted o'er
Forts where once wild Turks held sway;
Proud Vienna suffered sore
From King Mátyás' dark array.

But, alas! for our misdeed,
Anger rose within Thy breast,
And Thy lightnings Thou did'st speed
From Thy thundering sky with zest.
Now the Mongol arrow flew
Over our devoted heads;
Or the Turkish yoke we knew,
Which a free-born nation dreads.

O, how often has the voice
Sounded of wild Osman's hordes,
When in songs they did rejoice
O'er our heroes' captured swords!
Yea, how often rose Thy sons,
My fair land, upon Thy sod,
And Thou gavest to these sons,
Tombs within the breast they trod!

Though in caves pursued he lie,
Even then he fears attacks.
Coming forth the land to spy,
Even a home he finds he lacks.
Mountain, vale - go where he would,
Grief and sorrow all the same -
Underneath a sea of blood,
While above a sea of flame.

'Neath the fort, a ruin now,
Joy and pleasure erst were found,
Only groans and sighs, I trow,
In its limits now abound.
But no freedom's flowers return
From the spilt blood of the dead,
And the tears of slavery burn,
Which the eyes of orphans shed.

Pity, God, the Magyar, then,
Long by waves of danger tossed;
Help him by Thy strong hand when
He on grief's sea may be lost.
Fate, who for so long did'st frown,
Bring him happy times and ways;
Atoning sorrow hath weighed down
All the sins of all his days.

Budapest

2008-06-12T02:58:00.003+02:00

~First~

2008-06-12T02:32:00.001+02:00

June 11, 2008 8:38pm Eastern Time

This is the premier of my life as a blogger. Hope I can figure out all of the buttons and gizmo's.

Yesterday I received a message from 'Mathew' from AFS Hungary! I called back and he went on to explain that AFS Hungary had found me a host family! There is a mom, dad, and at least one daughter, who is currently 14.

I guess that the dad travels a lot for work.

The mom was a vegetarian for 10 years once and is willing to take a vegetarian into her fold.

I don't yet know if there are more children.

They lived (or at least one of them did) in Australia for a time, so they (or some of them) speak English. This could prove the greatest gift or something to struggle with, but I am sure that everything will turn out great! I am very excited to be living in Budapest! Yay for public transport! And what could be cooler than an Aussie-Magyar family!?!

Ok
Bye
Ve