It is fixed

To continue the story, I ran quickly down to my neighbor's door. The last time I have seen them is when I saw the eyes of my fifth grade student light up when asking for a wine opener. Marko comes to the door, and I state problem, visz, and point up stairs. Gabi comes up stairs with me to see my new indoor pool and runs back down to retrieve her husband Janos. To make it short he shut the water off in the building. Everyone came to my flat to see the american and her blown up bathroom. I even got a visit from the village mayor. It was an adventure, we had to soak up all the water with my towels, and then clean it while we waited for a man from the city to come and fix it. It is fixed just in time to pick up Kat, and then the cookie making continued. Making cookies was great and we had tons left over. We all had time to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail too. And that concludes the before Christmas activities except my singing at school, which I did crappily wonderful.

Cookies and Jello

So it was suggested that we get together and make some traditional American Christmas Cookies by myself in hopes of hanging out with Kyle whom I enjoy, but never see. She ends up eating a nem jo brat and remains in Eger nursing her stomach back to health.
Mariah calls and states that she is annoyed with the ticket woman and may not come, I am a bit sad because I told my co-teachers that I could not do something due to the fact that a friend was coming. Kat couldn't make until Saturaday so I was about to be made a liar. Emily texts me saying she is on the way and will be here at nine tonight. I quick call Mariah back and convince her that she should brave the ticket problems and come anyway. It works and she is on the way. I owe her something big because not only did she come but she trudged through a winter storm wearing only black on the highway. We have time to stop at my ABC store and buy our first batch of liquior and venture home to make some Jello that my parents included in a wonderful care package. We did not have a single problem the whole trip through the ice and snow, and confidently I step firmly into the step of my building...and Biff!!! I go down, but in the words of Kat's hot brittish man Simon Webb, No Worries I saved the beer and only had to sacrifice my elbow and a little pride.
Once safely inside we get down to buisness and make the jello. Satisfied with the results we break out the beer and wine and sit down to an intellectual game of chess. Mind you at this point we have only had a beer a piece. We have finished only two moves each then pour ourself a glass of wine. I am showing her my new travel opporation game given in another package from my parents. As everyone has seen in the game when the medal tweezer hits the side a buzz goes off that can be somewhat alarming. I do this and the poor injured man lurches. I am suddenly wet and there seems to be an interesting color all over my game. I look up and Mariah looks like she is going to die. She obviously thought that this was the funniest thing she has ever seen and unlucky for me she happened to be tasting the wine as I missed the shin bone. The wine was sprayed over me, the game, the chess board, and anything else that was in its path. It was very nice.
We clean up and head out to retrieve Emily. We take the wine with us because it is cold and we thought it would keep us warm. My train station is quite the hike and not thinking we do not bring our phones. We get all the way to the highway and there is no sign of Emily. We venture back and are a little worried that maybe she took the wrong way. We are not so worried however that we would pass up the opportunity to buy a beer to go at the bar. We get back to find that Emily got a ride to my house. Let the consumption begin!!

The evening was wonderful my favorite part was making a new friend in Jonah, we are tight perhaps we will marry in the future. I stumble out of my room to find my house covered in red jello. I called various individuals throughout the night including my new above mentioned friend. I also took a carpet ride and still had the time to write down some needed cleaning supplies. Boy am I hungover.
Lying in my living room trying to make it stop spinning I hear and unusual noise coming from my bathroom, one I have never heard before and was continually made fun of for making the same noise when a dog tried to eat me. Mariah screamed!! A little annoyed for having been aroused from my hung over state, I go to see what she is screaming about. The scream was the perfect action considering that a pipe in my bathroom blew up and water was flowing everywhere converting my bathroom into an indoor pool. The follies of this adventure will soon be exposed because at this time it is my duty to cook the rice for our awesome chicken dinner.

Getting sick and going home!

As we left off we were all boarding the train to travel home, well I am going to Nyrigyhaza so I don't have to brave the cold as you probably remember. Things are going okay at this point, we buy tickets and actually we buy an extra ticket which sucks but I use it later so no worries. The ticket lady told us to ride in the dinning car so that we could all sit together, as we do so some train conductor tells us not to, but as soon as he is out of sight, we go there anyway. I have always been a rule follower, but just this once I decide it is okay to break a little rule. The train starts up and we begin on our quest. We had a rough night and soon Jenna is passed out while the rest of us enjoy food and refreshments. The train stops and we say goodbye to Emily, and continue on our way. The train stops several more times, and finally the train conductor comes and asks where we are trying to go we tell her, and she tells us we missed our stop, but it is all good because we are in Kisvarda and that is where Mariah lives so we can crash at her place. We do so and I get to witness the wonderful wake up of a super happy morining person scrambleing to make coffee while grumbling the morning goddess for waking her. Jenna and I board the train and find that the train goes north, back through Kisvarda, and then onto Nyrigyhaza, that means I missed my only connection that would get me to my town on time to teach. I feel really sick at this point and can barely talk because my throat hurts and I feel like I may have a fever. To make things worse my phone has decided to re code itself, so I can not call my school to tell them I will not make it to class. We have a master plan to go to Jenna's and call Hanji to call school for me and I really can not talk so she tells me to stay in bed. That night I go to the train station to try again, the train does not show up so once again I will spend the night at Jenna's. I finally get a train the next morning walk home and get picked up half way and told to stay in bed and that I was not allowed in school that day or the next day. So I stayed in bed and acted Hungarian, because my co teacher told me that this is not america and when you are sick you stay in bed. I slept and regained energy for the next weekends adventures. All I have to say for that is J-E-L-L-O!

We make it to Roz's and move to phase three.

The weekend proves to be a very American weekend starting out with ordering Pizza Hut, and women drinking beer....from a can!! Dinner is finished and I can feel the beat of music running through my veins, and that means... Let's Dance. We venture to the clubs. Once again the dancing shoes are on my feet and I more than cut a rug, I think we as a group must manufacture them. Also I saw a lot of action on the dance floor, some wanted and some that could have never of happened. But all and all a great night of my favorite thing dancing, which we did until about four in the morning when we decided to travel back to Roz's to regroup. We had cramped sleeping courters and a lot of wonderful cuddling happened with close friends who have become family in Hungary. This so ends phase two but we will continure right onto phase three.

Trying to get home in Hungary can sometimes prove harder than it is worth. So after a wonderful night sweating the alcohol out of our systems, we send Janika to gather some provisions to get the greese to counteract the small hangover many of us were suffering from. The wonderful man takes charge and brings home an american favorite...BurgerKing. We enjoy our gressy meal while talking of our dance moves to out new favorite song, Who the F#*@ is Alice. Where is Jacek when you need him. Later we continue the american genre by lunching at subway. As much as one would like to denounce the american food industry taking over the world, sometimes it is damn nice to order something and know what it is going to actually be. Jenna, Emily, Mariah, and I decide the weekend has been great now lets go home. The beauty of this is that all of us will be traveling on the same train.

My train station is a short hike along a dangerous highway that I would rather not brave in the dark, so it is decided that I will spend the night at Jenna and Yerik's and travel to my place in the morning in the safety of the sunlight. The plan is set and put into action. To enjoy the follies of this trip try back tomarrow.

We still have not made it to Roz's!!!!

Jenna, Emily and I gradually roll out of bed to make coffee and of course switch on MTV. We are enjoying a relaxing morning waiting for Chadwick to call so we might travel to Budapest. We were a little happy that it is getting late and he has not called because we all had hopes that he was getting something only the married people get while living in Hungary. Noon rolls around and we are starving do we saunter outdoors to buy gyros and hot wine. I call Chadwick. The phone picks up, "Hey are you awake yet"? I calmly ask. "I am in a cab in Budapest", was his jack ass response. Although we are well over it now, we were a little pissed because we had been sitting aeound for three hours waiting.
No big deal we well used these three hours to come up with a brilliant plan, Let's mix drinks for the train! Yeah!! To say the very least the train ride was awesome, three women discussing the last night's events and three bottles of rum, vodka(apple flavored), and something clear that was wonderful tasting. One was to be a bitrthday gift, but it made it about half way before we consumed that too. The train arrives and we venture the streets of Budapest to find Roz's house.
We walk out of the tunel and have no clue where to go. The only thing we know is that we are looking for Arpad Bridge. I decide to go and ask someone for help. I scan the area for a safe looking older couple. I approach then and say, "Bocsanat". The reply with we have no money go away in Hungarian. I say "Nem, nem, hol van Arpad Hid"? There faced immediately change and smiles crossed their faces. "Oh yes it is right over there dear".
As I walked away, I took a look at myself and decided that I was dressed pretty good and did not look like a bum, so there was no need for them to treat me like a beggar. At this moment of thought another crossed my mind, I need to break the seal. I am not the only one and we discuss that it can not be much further to Roz's palace so we should hold it. That lasted about a half an hour when we became desperate. Just when I think that I might have to change my pants when we arrive a light shines on a sigen reading WC. We run to find that it is locked. Whatever we drop trou, and only one of us does not make it. I will not release the name of who that was, but I lived in the woods for a year and am a pro outdoor pee'er, just ask the marathon that ran past as we did so. We are almost to the birthday party. To find out who got free drinks, a little action, and what we danced to check in tomarrow. This so ends the reading of today's gospel of Laurnia. PS Baby Jesus takes the Hungarian part of Santas job to help out and he brought me two puppets. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good holiday adventure.

Just before phase two.

The Christmas Party was wonderful. I wore my beautiful elf shirt and helped in a little american christmas presentation. It was also fin because at the end of the presentation we each, and by we I mean the four americans Jenna, Em, Chadwick and myself had conversations with hungarian families who were trying to learn english. It was quite the conversation I had. I was speaking in Hunglish, and only felt confident after the happy litlle family bought me some alcohol. After my conversation with the family I met up with Em and some of here older students who were around our age so it was a more interesting conversation. They taught me some colorful Hungarian workds such as mige and lofasz, this is a PG sight so translations will not be provided.
I as usual danced a lot and ended the evening on a wonderful note, plans to meet Chadwick in the morning when he calls so we can begin phase two of the weekend...the trip to Budapest.

Aside from my wonderful weekend I just wanted to throw a little Boldog Karacsony es boldog uj evet to all. I hope all those who I can not share the holidays with find themselves safe and happy. And get good presents tooo. I love you mommy and daddy!!!!

Thank you James for the facts.

Getting around in Hungary can be challenging at times. Just as you think you have the system down they go and change it without asking the permission of the americans. The group of CETPers decided to gather in Budapest in honor of Harpswell, Kat, and Mariah's birthdays. I decided that I would first go to Szolnok to attend a Christmas party with Emily and her Oxford shcool. This is where I met a wonderful man named Yatzee or something who was a great fan of the Star Wars and thought up until me that girls knew nothing of the subject, James would be proud that I battled with the best and had the correct facts. After class on friday I was in a rush to the train station and pretty much ran to catch the train. I buy my ticket to find the ticket lady in a tizzy about who knows what. I was proud because I understood some of what was said and found out that the schedule was changed, but then she lost me which is not uncommon when she started writting stuff on my ticket. Just as I thought all was lost Janna calls and plans to meet me and I then regain my travel confidence and decide the train lady has no clue what she is talking or writting about. As usual I had no minutes to call anyone so her call was music to my ears, we met in the wonderful city of Nyiregyhaza and traveled onto the christmas party. To find out what happened at the party tune in tomarrow. Viszontlatasra.

A wonderful Thanksgiving

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with all of my fellow american CETPers. We had wonderful hosts in Jenna and Yerik, and great cooks all around. Harpswell made a wonderful bird and Liz carved it beautfully. I also lovedthe hot wine and that is saying something if I liked something I know. The best part of the whole weekend aside from ditching the highschool chick, was hanging out with good friends. The club was hopping and I couldnt stop laughing at the bar....thanks Harpswell. I am proud of our accomplishments of alcohol consumption......Bravo group. We miss those of you who couldnt make it.

There are some things a person just shouldn't see!!

As many of us do, or all of us I should say who live in Hungary walk to and from their work each day. Well I was doing just that one afternoon after a day of struggling with communicating with my students. I was reflecting on my struggles when I happened across a man doing that as well. He was a man in his fifties or so, and was hauling what appeared to be lead pipes on his bicycle, another key transport. The bike was getting unsteady and so being the good person that I am quickened my pace to see if I might offer him some Stigen assistance. As I closed in on him I noticed that he was spilling some water or something on the ground and i thought it was a weird time to be quenching ones thirst while struggling along so. I just about reached this man when I realized that it was not water that was pouring and splashing where I walk but urine. The man was struggling to releave himself, while carring his load of goods. I was shoked and totally grossed out. I quickly moved to the road so I would not have to step in it. I once again quickened my pace to out walk the man to my street. I have farther to walk on the street than the walking path, and we met in the crossing and in Hungarian he turns to me and asks if something smells odd. Well in my head I had a lot of things to say beins somewhat sarcastic. I did not had the hungarian words to communicate my not so nice thoughts so politely stated yes, but I dont know what it is. This makes the list of things one should not ever see.

The joys of a language barrier!!!

So as many of you may know learning Hungarian is difficult. My town has not quite got that I myself am not a native speaker and rarely understand what they are saying. I when nervous smile which leads them to belive I understand, and I also have a habit of nodding and smiling when I can't hear which also sends this message.
Well having been in Hungary alone in my appartment I also have been known to dance and sing to whatever music I have selected at the time. Doing so I have developed a reputation and my co workers often comment on it on Monday morning. The first mishap for me came when the teacher who sits next to me in the teacher room, Gabi said something to me with the words enekel and tancol in it. These are the words for sing and dance. I thought she was making jokes about my latest moves. I was wrong I accedentaily joined the school choir and will be singing amazing grace in the christmas pagent. I blame the language barrier.
The second event this week was when Liz and I decided it would be entertaining to go to 40 Year old Vergin. Buying the tickets were a challange and the man kept laughing at us stating that we do not speak Hungarian. I was like duh, good thing it is an English film. Well we finally get the tickets and sit crammed like sardines into the last row. Apparently in Hungary movie tickets come with a seat number and they pack you in even it there are only ten of you you will all be in the back row. Anyway we were waiting for the movie to start and boasting that we will be the only ones laughing because the translations will be so bad in the subtitles. Oh no the joke was on us it was dubbed and that is why the man kept stessing that we did not know Hungarian. Language barrier again wins. On my way to walk Liz to the bus stop some little old lady said a whole bunck about Monday, I had no clue I quickely walked away and on the way back I got an earful from another lady about missing the bus to Miskolc and could not tell here they go every half hour. So I leave with the message this language is really hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good things always happen to me.

A group of us gathered for sausage fest with Gaines. It was a wonderful time. We ate plenty of sausages made from variousthings I imagine. The most intertaining part of the evening aside from the random making out witnessed at a near by disco, was that of a young musitian and his female companion. First we must discuss the type of teenager we are dealing with. He is a lead singer, who on occation has been known to stand on his organ and jump off, have his shirt accidentally fall off, and make love to the microphone stand. Well after his colorful 27th oncore, he found a young lady in the crowd who, my commitators and I hope was a friend already. She with one leg hiked on stage opened up for this young sweaty man stating 'oh you are so hot when your shirt falls off and you wear really tight stone washed pants'. And they proceed to have a moment of seven displaying for all to see their affection for one another. It was wonderful. It almost made it worth the trouble of getting to a small town on a national holiday.
Coming home from sausage fest is where the real adventure lies. All was going as planned when I walked to my first train station and made it to Szolnok with Emily and Chad. We found the one place open to eat McDonalds. Leave it to an American chain to not celebrate a holiday, but we did not mind it was the only food we were going to eat for the day. This is at like 1 in the aftenoon mind you. So I then proceed to my next destination which should have been nirigyhaza. I was told no for the first time that day, and told to boarda train going to Hatvan and that is whereI woould transfer to Miskolcs. Did it all is going fairly well but long because of the holiday I had to take all of the slow transportation. So in Miskolsc and due to thedarkness I decide it would be safer to take the bus. I go to boeard the number two tram and get told no again. So I decide I can walk to the nearest bus stop. I missed the bus to my village by two minutes. The next was at 10 53 and it was only 8 or so. I walk back to the train station and ask information which train goes through hernádnémeti, i was told there was only one the one heading toward tiszaujvaros. well anyone who thinks about it would think that was crazy so I asked her again and she said yes and only that one. I board the train. The ticket master did not sayI was on the wrong train, but luck would have it that that train never went to my village. The last sotop comes and I am getting out and ask the conductor where am I? He says some random town and asked me where I want to be. I state the name of my village and he laughs. Tells me to get back on the train and he will take me all the way back to Miskolcs. At this point it is around 10. I think oh idea my friend liz lives in the town over, i will stay with her. Luck has it again and she is out of town for the night and her flat is locked. She calls a friend and has her father meet me at the train station. He allows me to stay in his son's flat and lizcomes for me the next morning. We walk to the bus station and I have missedthe last bus going to my village until 3, I teach at 11 50. I seethere is one going to Böcs the town next to me and it leaves now!!! I think fast jump on and make it to Böcs at 10, I walk home and change into dress clothes by 11 15 and have time to spare. Good things always happen to me.

It is not always what you think!

I would like to state that the spell check on the computer is not working and since living in a world were we spell phenetically I am sure there are many mis spellings, but as I do with my students I overlook the gramatical errors and look and fluency and understanding.
Upon reading an e mail from my friend Yerik about his pleasant meal of liver in the Hungarian cafeteria, I started thinking of all the things we think we are eating and it turns out to be something very different. I think Liz can understand this from her adventure in Kalocsa where she bought the lovely cow intestions which were horrible. Those who took a taste can vouge that they were real hard to chew and going down the felt somewhat like a catipillar crawling down your throught. My sister once had an experience eating a catipillar once when she was one. Our friend Mike had placed a jar in her playpen on a camping trip. She always was a clever one and found a way of opening the jar and eating the fuzzy little creature. To say the least it was the last time she ate red meat.
So as I was saying about my appearance in the world, to no suprise to my mother I was delivered by means of a seasarian section. My mom knew this because my sister, the catipillar eater, decided if anything she would jump into this world feet first. So I am here and I am heading to my new home with my family.
My home was a small and wonderfully colored house. Since this home I have always dispised the color pink. It is not fair to say that I hate pink because of this house it might in fact be because of an ugly episode later in life while wearinga brand new pink wind breaker. Anyways this home treated me well and next to this ink dwelling lied the dark brown home of my best and favorite childhood friend Hans. We had many good times together playing in the tree house hiding from our sisters. I was three and together we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new siblings to join us in our thirst for adventure. And to take the place of the easy target that the youngest always seems to be labled with. Hiding was key for Hans and I because our sisters Amie and Sarah were clever and tricky. "Hey Laura I have some really good chocolate milk, would you like a taste"? Boy would I I thought as Hans and I raced down the tree. You see from the events of my birth I was always troubled with breathing problems and milk sometimes aggrivated my breathing so it was not often that I could be seen drinking chocolate milk. I often saw the other kids drinking chocolate milk and longed for a taste and in my excitement I ran up to Amie and Sarah. I grabbed the brown filled cup and thrust it to my mouth letting the liquid pour into my mouth. It was chunky and hard to swallow but at last I recieved the taste I was searching for and quickly spit it out. Yuck!! This is it this is what I was wating for? Hans also tried the potion and exclained,"This is not chocolate milk this is mud". I was heart broken as the girls ran away laughing and shrieking the way only girls can. Hans and I returned to our tree house fort where we waited for Paderick, Hans' older brother to plan our counter attack.

where has all the time gone?

So this last weekend I spent with a wonderful group of Hungarian teachers on a little jaunt to Göndölő, a well known castle district. It was very interesting yet I was lost because the tour was in Hungarian, and I understood about a fourth of it. Anyway I was presented with a tour booklet with some english written into it and used that to get the history behind the areas in which we were looking. We also saw a horse show where a man showed us how the Hungarians used to battle and the way it is a little different from the techniques used by master bow men today. As I was watching a little cat climbed and sat upon my lap. He nuzzled his head into my legs for warmth and made himself comfortable and enjoyed the horse show in my company. I am not fond of cats but the always seem to find me it is in their nature I suppose.
Well upon my arrival back to my flat I realized it was near nine at night and we had left at eight that morning the time flew I was having such a great time. The teachers broke open the first bottle of palenka and cracked the first beer by 8 30, so I was drunk by about 10, you do not refuse liquer from a hungarian they will have non of it. Sunday flew too before I knew it it was time to make some lesson plans and hurry off to bed. I feel that time is moving too quickly if I blink my trip will beover. I need to slow my role and enjoy my time for all its worth. I am sorry to say there will not be a clever story this time, I haveto teach the kids, but I promise a good one for next time.

Daily Routines

For the last few weeks my students and I have been discussing daily routines or in their case napirend. As we are talking about what time they get up and when they do what it is they do all day I began thinking or daydreaming rather, because I think I have ADD and no one told me, anyway I began thinking. I think about how it is getting harder and harder for me to get up in the morning. Is this due to the weather or amI getting lazy with my challenging schedule? At any rate I know it is not due to lack of sleep because in the week I go to bed no later than 10, and sometimes I even fit in a nap. Napping reminds me of siesta a clever name given to the naps we had a camp. Which then makes me think of my past daily routines and how I like this so much better. Some may have heard this story but because it just gained me enterance to a writting program I would like to enter it into my blogger report it I may, and I know I may because this is my damn blogger so there.
After I lay awhile and wake up I start my morning routine. It is very repititious for I do this every morning. I slowly, and I mean sloth like, I slink under my bug net and begin the task of changing from my sleepwear into my really stylish camos and a T shirt usually reading soething obscure like Do Not Lick Frozen Flag Poles. This is exspecially amuzing die to the fact it is Georgia. I guess they need to be told not to lick frozen flag poles because it would be an unusual phenomenom to have the temperature drop low enough to have it freeze anything. After I have placed on my socks and hiking boos I slowly stumple toward THE BOX.
Ahh the box, the most feared adventure for the boys and chiefs alike. A boy would hold it up to a week before entering this toilet of doom. The smell itself is enough to purm anyones nose hairs not to mention the creepy crawly things that have made a home in what lies beneath. Flashlight in hand I open the think wooden door, I light the area scanning for any sudden movement that could be slithering or crawling about the inner cavity of the box. After the area is secure I quickly get down to buisness, run out rapidly to inhale the morning's fresh air. It is a relief, fresh air ahh.

I am so lucky to be away from that and living in a cute little village of Hernádnémeti, where instead of the box I have roosters and cows which sometimes produce a stench as putrid as the box, but I have the plesure of hiding in my wonderful flat listening to music and watching BBC.

Living through the eyes of Laura

This is my new means of informing those I am close to as well as those who I only pretend about my adventures. This is the first time I have done this some might say that I am infact a virgin blogger. As i sat down to create the perfect first entry my hands started to get sweaty with fear that all will be disappointed and will not want to read about ly life. It may not be interesting to all so my fingers start tremblimg and the letters become jumbled exspecially because I am still hesitating my typing strokes due to the backwards way the keyboard is set up. Well friends and family here it goes no stopping know I am on my way to a brand new adventure.
I arrived in the small and quite town on Hernádnémeti not long ago approxamately a month and am enjoying the small pleasures of city life but let me go back to the beginning. On a quet night on June 21, 1979 a yong couple tucked in their first born to the pleasures of toddler dreams. They shut the door and move quietly down the stairs carefull not to wake the little one. They take their usuall nightly positions in the livingroom, the man in his rocking chair reading of politics and religion while listening to the moving sounds of his latest big band record, and his wife in her soft chair picking up her knitting where it left off and dreamoing of the little one that is to come who is growing so strong inside her. As she is finishing her knit pearl sequence she grimmices and thinks to herself I told Ed not to cook the meat so spicey I knew I would have heartburn. Ed looks up from his book and questions is everything okay dear to get the reply yes but it was too spicey. To say the least it was not heartburn aching in my mother it was me impatiently wanting to get out of the cramped quarters I had been residing in the last few months. Grandma was called to watch after my sister and my mother and father hurried to deliver me their precious laura. It was not an easy thing to do, I never can do things the easy way I always try to challange myself in everything even birth. In my impatient temper I sucked down some embionic fluid during the sea section and landed myself in a plastic box for the first moments in life. I guess the best things do go to the ones who wait. I however did not wait and put my parents through some un needed worries which I will be doing more in my next few years. Laura Jo Stigen welcome to the world. The end

Welcome to Blogging

Hey Laura! Welcome to blogging. I hope to read about many an adventure here. Emily.