Preparing for a trip to Budapest.

Step One: Eat home-made pancakes and get hair braided.
Step Two: Say good bye to the village church.

Step Three: Walk the long and lonesome highway!
Step Four: Have a sweet old lady try to take your picture in the train station. It is hard to use technology!!

Step Five: Have an intense Yatzee tournament on the train ride.
Final Step: Stop off in the Keleti train station for the best gyros ever!!

T Day meals and fun!!

While Eric and Alicia were visiting I had the chance to show off my culinary skills. Living alone, and having and endless amount of freetime, one has the time and energy to experiment in the kitchen. Anyone who has been to my flat knows that I have the perfect kitchen for doing such experiments. I have to say that it is more fun cooking for and with someone than simply on your own. I had a blast, and together we all jumped into the kitchen to prepare an American/Hungarian Thanksgiving meal.

We had a wonderful time making the meal, but eating it was much more fun. Nothing beats good food, good drinks, and most important good friends.

Magyarorszag vs USA

One morning, after a quiet night of DVD watching, four americans went for a tour of Hernadnemeti. We encounterd my neighbors first while standing on my patio, and on the street we met some of the children I talk to everyday going to and from school.



We traveled to my school where Eric was put through many tests to see if he was up to par on his 4th grade knowledge...don't worry the kids helped him. We also traveled outside to the play yard where the real fun begins!



The 4th graders loved us. Eric was popular to the girls, and we were all popular for playing a football match. The teams: 9 fast, skillful footballers in 4th grade vs 4 out of shape Americans. To make a long story short we, the Americans lost big time, but not without Alicia getting revenge on Marko and landing on him to which he screamed in Hungarian, wow she must be 50 kilos!!! We said that was all she was and continued playing. Alicia also made friends with the Mayor's son Peti and they posed for the camera.

Sparklers or Csillagszóró

As many of you are well aware of sometimes in my flat the water will go down the pipe and out of the pipe comes the most discusting smell somewhat like sewage. Thankfully this does not happen all the time, but when it does it needs to be taken care of ASAP! Jenna was here on one of these smelly occasions. We left for the shop to buy food and get away from the gastly smell. We had everything we wanted from the shop and waited in line to pay for our goods. We noticed a small package with csillagszóró written on it. Well csillag is the word for star, and it being Christmas we thougt ah this must be Christmas incense!! We smelled it, and stuck it into our basket as my neighbor behind the checkout smiled and shook her head yes. With her approval of our decision we purchased this wonderful smell great thing.

When we arrived back at my flat we were engrosed in a converstion so forgot about the incense. Soon after our discussion had lulled for a bit we decided to make an event out of lighting the incense. We made a holder for the sticks, because I usually use cones and prepared. We lit it once and a little spark came out but it did not stay lit. We thought well isn't that festive? We continued to light it and sparks came flying out everywhere. I hurried to move all my books aside, we laughed at the fact that we were that daft as to not realize what we had bought. And, my flat smelled worse than it had to begin with, there is nothing like the smell of tons of sulfur in a small area!!

Phase One Of Our Thanksgiving Holiday

On November 21st, Alicia and Eric began their epic journey to the center of Eastern Europe for a five day journey. They did not know what to expect. They encountered hardships, no sleep, containing all their precious liquids in minimum space, and last but not least confiscated sensitive toothpaste. They over came these perils and arrived safely in Budapest at high noon on the 22nd of November.
I traveled only 200km to meet them in their journey and show them way . We boarded a train in Keleti to begin the hike to Hernadnemeti. We switched trains in Miskolc, then walked the long and lonely highway to my flat. From there on out it was a relaxing evening. I am sure they traveled all the way from St. Paul to watch DVDs, but anyone who has been to my flat knows that after 4:00pm there is not much else to do. We enjoyed each others company and battled jet leg.
I made them a traditional Hungarian first meal, and we drank non other than Borsodi Beer!!! We enjoyed But I’m a Cheerleader, and snuggled under the covers to sleep. It was a good night, when we awake it will be Thanksgiving day and the anticipation of the popular American holiday is getting to us.

Thanksgiving with friends.

My weekend was wonderful. I not only had Thursday and Friday off due to the American Holiday of Thanksgiving, but I also took Wednesday off to pick up some friends of mine, Alicia and Eric. I was so excited that I arrived at the airport early and had to wait through my anxiety of seeing them.
On Wednesday night we took a train to my village, and hung out in my flat. It was a good way to handle the jet leg that I assume they were under having just landed. We enjoyed each others company, laughing and watching a DVD. The next day my friend Jenna joined us and we had a tradiational Hungarian Thanksgiving. I will be explaining the rest of the adventure over the next few weeks as pictures become available.

T.hank G.oodness I.ts F.riday

I look out the window and struggle to see the small farm across the way yet the alarm of the roosters has crowed telling me I must get out of bed and begin my day. I wearily walk out my door having not yet felt the effects of the cup of coffee I have just consumed. I head to school thinking TGIF, thank goddness its Friday. It could not be more true, having had a busy and stressful week. I hear the pound of hooves on our mainstreet. Again, I am thankful for the sound because I see nothing past the thick fog that has over taken everything. It may dissapear while I finish this week's lessons. It seems to be the Hungarian fall, fog fog fog!
Sure enough the fog had cleared as second period was finishing. Today went smooth, which usually my 2.a class gives me some problems. We had a wonderful day of bingo, reviewing all of our new vocabulary. But, alas the last class has finished, the bell has rang, and I was quickly out the door.
Now I sit typing while watching my neighbors play a make shift volleyball. They hit a small rubber ball over a closed fence and it appears they are allowed to catch it. I am endlessly amazed at the games they come up with and all the fun they have with a simple green rubber ball. I have joined this fun. They have been to my door to see if I will join but I was talking to my mom on MSN. The pleasure of internet finally had in my flat.

It's here I have Internet

As most of you know I have been in an uphill battle with Hungary and T online about getting internet. Tears shed and three months later, I have internet. It was a struggle, phone calls with Aniko, Istvan spending time in my flat on my computer, a wasted weekend and it ended with a quiet little Hungarian coming and solving my problems and worries. I only had to try and translate my computer's English so he could put in the Hungarian codes and such.

I had to put in a phone line which took a month on its own. I was then handed a modem and told Na...go install it. Too bad it was all in Hungarian. I figured out the first half with szoltar in hand, but did not know all of the technical hungarain mumbo jumbo, if it were in English I still would not know though. Thanks for the help Hungary.

Well let it be, I can not complain now, I have internet!!! I talked with my sisters as soon as it was hooked up and immediately felt better about the whole situation. I will let you know that I will be updating my blog more often now that it is in the comfort of my flat.

Gypsie Treatment!!!

As everyone who lives here knows, as well as the people who have had an opportunity to visit, the treatment of the Gypsie population can sometimes be down right cruel. As I was walking home from school with one of my sixth grade students we happened upon a group of gypsie boys ages 7 to about 11. Boys will be boys, and in their young nature they were singing, playing and being a little rude, but no more rude than any other child their age.
As they were playing on their way home, and not paying attention to the world around them in their own little world of 10 year olds, talking of football, and videogames, two of them bumped into a parked car. At this time the driver was trying to back up out of the store where he was parked. He hollared at the boys, which to me was o.k. because children should realize it is important to watch out for traffic on the street, but let's face it, it is Hernádnémeti and like 2 cars travel on the "busy" street a day. As soon as he is done yelling the oldest of the boys screams something back, probable a cuss word heard somewhere else, but uses it with strength in his voice. The car which is partly backed out onto the street, quickly throws it into drive and trys to hit the youngsters. The children have terror in their eyes and run to find safety. The only way to go is straight because to the left is the road, and to the right are the dogs that are trained to bite and bark at them.
I was uncertain what to do, when a man comes running out of the store yelling at the driver that he is crazy to try to hit small children, and a younger boy runs out crying that his brothers and friends may be injured. I wanted so much to reach out to that little one and comfort him but I thought that I would just make things worse not being able to communicate fully.
The child I was walking with seemed to think the fault all lied with the gypsie boys because they are stupid and well gypsies. That is when I realized that the man shouting on their behalf must have been a gypsie too because who else would stick up for small, helpless children being chased by a run down trabant?

The September Sum up

I started the year off great, and it has passed so quickly. In september I have visited the Aggtelek Caves, and had a wonderful time with both new CETPers as well as a dear old CETPer, Jenna. I have made two trips across the border to Slovakia in order to obtian a Visa, I am now allowed in Hungary!! I went to a wonderful winde festival on accident in Satoraljaújhely with a new CETPer named Erin and learned how to make the best pancakes ever!!! I spent a Saturday on the pitch with my Hungarian women's team, that was fun I made the ref made and my best friend in one small toss of the ball...who knew tessék did not mean toss the soccer ball at me?? And last of not least I spent my last September weekend in Nyrígyhaza with Erin a newly aquainted CETPer and Jenna a dear old friend. September was wonderful.

Things to look forward to in October.
1) Some day I should be getting internet in my flat!!
2) A camping trip with old friends.
3) Rosemary in Budapest
4) Janos and Liz over fall break!!!
5) Dinner with my fourth grader, Bence, and his family.

A few trips across the border.

In lue of needing a new visa in my trusty passport some of us have been making the journey across the Hungarian border to Slovakia. A few women on a journey to gain acceptaince in a world unlike any other, or just get some stupid paper work so we can get paid our peasant salary.
Erin, Harpswell, Jenna and I are driven by our trusty guide, Hajni to the edge of Hungary and with her aid we make it successfully across the border to have her car start smoking in the rear. "Oh my God, everyone out of the car" is heard for miles or should I say kilometers since we are in Hungary. We stand there for some moments while Hajni on all fours inspects the vehicle. She has been known to be a little nervous in certain situations so she calls Erin's personal shoffer to the scene to help us in our mission for Visas.
Three go with the un named man, or maybe it is just I who does not know his name, and I ride with Hajni and explain my life's theory of GOOD THINGS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME and that today I could feel it we were not going to die. She laughed and talked of her amazment in my optimism.
We obtain the Visas, WOO HOO WE CAN GET MONEY!!! and headed back to familiar territory MAGYARORSZAG and live to tell the story.

Great Hungarian Moments...Who says teacin doesn't pay well?

Wonderfull Village Conversations

Over the past few days I have encountered unique conversational moments. Back and settled I went to my "BIG" store, the Coop. I am anxious to start cooking some good meals after I had spent a week eating out during Budapest's orientation. I decide I want to make sausage and cheese stuffed chicken mmmmmm.
Having to ask for nearly everything at my store I approach the meat lady. The name makes her sound mean, but in fact a very lovely women who is always helpful. I order 1/2 kilo of chicken breast, a stick of paprika sausage, and 20 deka of swiss cheese. After doing this with success, which mind you for me is very rare, she comments on my nice Hungarian. She continues to tell me how the teacher before me had learned no Hungarain and knew nothing, and how happy she was that I decided to stay a second year. It was a real "feel good" moment.

Walking home from the post office, where I bought another phone card, which is used up already, I bumped into three gypsie brothers. I only caught two of their names Szilveszter and Gergő. We had wonderful conversation about computers, video games, and football (soccer). Szilveszter, who later I found out was in one of my new classes and prefers to be called Bruce Lee,(it just goes to show you that if you ask a child to write what they prefer to be called, they will... I was thinking more like Szilvi or Veszti but whatever it is his name now), tried extremely hard to incooperate English into our conversation. Soon their mother and three sisters happened upon us and joined the conversation which lasted 1/2 hour. Eventually the mom said it was time to go and let me on with my day, and off they went.

After a two hour football practice I bumped into one of my 4th year students, Roland. He is wild in class, but rather quiet outside of class which can probably be chalked up to nerves of conversing with a non Hungarian. He walked me home. While doing so he showed me his new, yellow bike and some cool tricks, the pop a wheely is still cool!! He showed me the beautiful moon which was full and orange, and explained the reason for the big smoke in the fields, and told me where he lived in relation to my flat. All of this was in broken English, but I was amazed that he could dig deep and explain things with his limited Enlish vocabulary. Being a teacher does have its perks...and we all know we are in it for the money!

Back in the saddle agian...

Another year has started in Hernádnémeti Hungary. Unfortunately I missed the wonderful opening ceremony to bring in the new school year. I was hanging out with Kat in Budapest waiting for a ride to Hernádnémeti. I did not want to travel on the trains with all of my luggage which came late, boy was it a relief for all when I finally had the chance to change my clothes!!!

During orientation I had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful new teachers who I hope to make friends with over this school year. I also had some free time where Emily and I went to take in the culture of the museums on Hösok Tere. The artists on display were very cool and it was good to get the chance to see some works of political nature to a more traditional style of barok and midevil nature.

I am now settling back in my peaceful village. I went shopping at Csaba's store and was greeted warmly by all I chanced upon on my way. I have had my first day of classes as well as am in my second as I type. Both went and are going well. I found out that the teachers move up with the students so each child will have the same teacher from 1st to 8th grade. That to me was very interesting. I am sure a family bond is formed therefore love and hate toward each other is understatndable. I was also shocked by how the second year seems so far, in my second day, just like the first. It hardley seems I had a break away from them, and we can continue where we left off. I have had some new students though and I look forward to getting to know them.

No harm with no luggage when aou are safe.

I battled flight attendents, heavy luggage, and boarder patrol to end my journez in Hungary without clothing. I was a little nervous about traveling without a valid visa, overweight luggage, and my hidden toothpaste in my carry on. I made it though. I had a story planned for when they questioned my expired visa and everything. The only scare I had the whole trip was when a women from the Netherlands felt me up in order to believe I was not harboring anything I should not. It was only because I forgot to take off my belt. so away from her tight grasps on my body I continue on my merry way. I get to Hungary without a problem and think wow that was really easy...not so fast, my luggage did not arrive to its destination and I have yet to shower and I smell like Hungarian cattle on their way to the river for the day.

Before the big trip

I am sitting in an office in Chicago visiting a friend of mine. In just 30 minutes I will make the trip to the airport to embark on a journey across many lands, large bodies of water, and end in a familiar place...Budapest. Orientation has begun, I will be late, so much for planning, but will arrive shortly to greet the new members of our program. Talk to you soon.

Home for the summer!

I have arrived in Wisconsin where I will be spending the summer living with my sister, her husband, my nephews Collin and Kade. It was a long trip across the ocean, but I made it without a struggle and met cool people along the way.

On my plane trip from Amsterdam to Chicago I sat between two gentlemen who were both in the ministry some how. We had a wonderful conversation about my father being a minister, one being a youth minister, and the other going to seminary to become a minister. Well the were great at holding a conversation without being annoying and talking the whole plane trip back, it was a perfect balance. Also one of the gentlemen knew a family that I went to college with. One was my teammate for basketball and her father was the men's basketball coach, what a small world.

On my bus trip from Chicago to Madison I met a man who was struggling with the failing health of his mother. He has been traveling back and forth trying to help her maintain independent living and deciding weather he thinks she is up for it. We talked of many things, one being Madison where we were heading. I was explaining my apartment to him and he said he knew someone who had lived there as well. He then asked me if I knew Emma Burns. I did and we talked of that and then he explained about his raspberry farm which I had heard about from Emma before so that was interesting too. It just goes to show it is a small world after all.

I met my new nephew Kade, he is very cute but if you want a smile from the little guy you better be prepared to work for it. He is already a very serious boy. He is content to just hang around on the floor with some toys, or to watch his older brother dance and jump to the characters of his video games. It was also great to see Collin. We had a sleepover the first night I was back and he woke me many times to say, "Warah, I wub you", while stroking my face. After this I hung out with my family and then started work with my old students for the summer. It is good to be back for the summer to see everyone so far, but I am still not sure I have grasped being home yet.

My black eye

So to make a long story short I fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a black eye. It is very pretty and just in time for my parents to come on monday. The best part of the story is that my contact teacher, Anikó brought a little lamp from home and between each break I am to hold it to my eye. Everyone looks at me a little weird, and it has been fun trying to explain myself to everyone in Hungarian. All of the children think that I got in a fight and I have been trying to explain it to them that I did not get beat up, that I beat the stairs. Well hope mom and dad love the purple coloring that I have put on for them. I look different but this is unreal. Also I must make the point that I am writing this while all of my seventh grade students watch, and they think it is amazing that I can type and watch the Hungarian fulm that they are watching for another class. It is also a little nerve racking to perform and keep their attention on the video they are here to watch. Well that is all for now. 6 Days until my mom and dad are here.

Had a wonderful weekend

Today the sun has hid and rain scatters all about Hernádnémeti. I would be sad but I had a wonderful weekend with some CETPers. It started on Friday when I played football and forwent the Spanish party at Liz's I had to trade one good thing for the other. But on Saturday I met them in Miskolc to head up to the Aggtelek caves. First of all I almost missed the train, even with living here this long I still have no idea why it did not come. A long story short I made the train and headed to the caves.

The caves were absolutely beautiful. The only complaint the whole day was the fact that there was not an ATM within 30km. No worries the caves were georgious. I was so happy to have gone. I was having fun and did not want to go home so some of us decided to dine in Miskolc. After this I went to Liz's and watched the end of the Desperate Housewives season one. I was so into this show that I did not go home until Monday and had the opportunity to dine at Mama Rosas. It was great. That concludes the weekend. And only 12 more days until I see my mom and dad.

Whats up with laura

I am pround to say that I have had a wonderful week here in Hernádnémeti. I have been enjoying the great sunshine. I had visitors one weekend and we enjoyed watching my sixth through eigth graders play in a football match. Unfortunately they did not win but Liz, Jenna and I sure did. Jenna ran and scored us some ice cream from a passing ice cream truck. We all went to Miskolc and had a good time shopping and talking.

At school I have been busy. I have been taking the kids outside to teach them 4 Square. It was my favorite game as a kid so I thought they would like it. I was right. They love it, plus we made the court way bigger so it is more of a challenge. I am excited for the weekend where I will be traveling to Tata. It will be a good time I am sure. I am also interested in planning a cooking weekend where we will attemp stuffed cabbage so anyone who is in the area and interested let me know. I have a good cooking kitchen. Oh yeah 30 days until my mom and dad will be here!!!! Well the sun is hogh in the sky and I have avoided getting any real work done at home so I better get going to be productive.

Still stoked about Kade's arrival!!!

At this moment in my hungarian adventure I am enjoying a wonderful spring break. The weather is wonderful, the sun is shining, the birds are happily bathing in puddles created by the many rivers that are on the verge of flooding, and the storkes have landed and are busy doing what storkes do in their nests about the city. I am enjoying my break in Szolnok, a city to the south of Hernadnemeti. I am spending the time with my just as cheap as me friend Emily.
I bought some interesting and wonderful books today for a wonderful price in hopes to further my knowledge in the hungarian language. One is called the Story of Hungarian, a guide to the language, and it discusses the liguistics and gives information on the nature and workings of this unique language. I also, being a huge classics fan, found a book that has William Shakespear's sonnets written in english and hungarian. I am hoping this will assist me in figuring out word order and forms. I was excited on both finds and am excited to dive into these books. First I have to finish The Drowning Tree, given to me by Mariah and The Prince's Bride from Emily. If you did not already know that is what most of us teaching in Hungary do on our free time...read.
I have also been preparing for a visit from my parents. I am so excited to show them how I have been living for the last 8 months, to ease some worries, and to show off the wonderful people that I live with. And they can see my CETP crib!!!
I have already touched on the subject of my new nephew Kade Edwin Olson who arrived on March 22nd. I am so happy and excited for Amie and James in their new addition. I am also a little sad that I am missing such a huge family event. I can only imagine the look on Collin's face when witnessing all of the first times. I am very appreciative of Amie. She is now the proud parent of two boys, just had a major sugery, is sleep deprived, and she still takes the time to send me pictures and call me to make me feel as if I am really not missing the introduction to Kade. The top picture is Collin being happily awaken by his new little brother who in the words of the happy three year old, "Kade eats boobs". The bottom picture is Kade. I am told that Kade is a easy baby, and Collin is a great helper. Congratulations Amie, James and Collin, Kade turned out great.
That is all from the wonderful world of Hungary.