Ver a sívem

As we last left off I was on my way to go see a show in another part of the city.

I had a GREAT time. Great time. Everyone was nice and I was able to kick it with people around my age. The venue was a bar/upstairs venue type of a deal which is nothing new, but the interesting part is while there was thrash punk going on upstairs there was what was the equivalent of The Church or Bash downstairs. Madness

In the stairway downstairs from the venue.

I loved the music and it was nice to see how things go down at shows in Hungary. There were no men running around puffing out their chests and making sure everyone knew how tough they were. It was refreshing.

The band Reflections of Internal Rain from Serbia:

Oh and there were some delicious late night eats at a turkish restaurant.

That also used to be a strip club:

The next day I was invited down to see my great grandmother and my great aunt and uncle again. I had some very delicious food and we talked about how school was going and how weird I find learning the language is. They are such wonderful, wonderful people and I love that I can hop on a train and see them when I want to.

As far as the learning is going. Holy, holy. I haven't even started past or future tense because I have about two more weeks to go on just how many different ways there are to say something. Not in the way of there are multiple words or multiple meanings to every word (well there are but I don't want to get into it right now) I mean.... I mean..... I just need to study is all haha.

This is a chart of suffixes that I made to help me understand: (if this gives you any idea)

What else, what else. I've been trying my best to walk around and listen to everyone talk but I am SO not feeling the weather. For the first time today the sun came out, and actually stayed out. Today I also got a visit from my cousin Nati, who is probably one of the sweetest people i've ever met. She told me all about her school which is not far from here, she's going to be a medical technician! She also showed me pictures from her vacation to Montenegro. Which by the way is probably one of the most beautiful places i've ever seen. HELLO! future honeymoon spot. Speaking of honeymoon there are some extremely attractive dudes here. It's insane.

But now I have more studying to do. I've also decided to limit the amount of english intake that I will expose myself to. So after studying today I'll be watching The Break Up in Hungarian. I can only imagine what kind of voice they are going to use for Vince Vaughn.

I'm American

So i've slowed my blog roll. I've been hanging out, studying and trying to get used to this new atmosphere.

Along with language courses, there are also a few that i've unwittingly signed up for.

Included are: Advanced Buearucracy and social politics in post Communist Eastern Europe.

I find here that there is still a very strong presence of the "iron curtain". People have heavy hearts. It's almost contagious.

I find myself saying "In my country we CAN" as much as people here are saying "In my country we CAN'T"

It's completely eye opening. I don't think I would have been able to grasp the freedoms afforded to me by my own government without this trip. I can (and yes this is corny) say now that I understand what it is to be American. To experience the way they do things here, the way they handle customer relations and the way they handle official dealings. It's strange.

I've been having a few hang-ups, with my school and with the immigration office, but i'm determined to see them through. It has to work out, and it will if I believe.

My class is starting to get really difficult as this language builds on itself. It's amazing, and quite beautiful.

Tonight i've been invited to see a show with some new friends, and that will definitely help me de-stress and get ready for next week.

Until next time.....

Hell to the Yes

Yesterday, on my way to school, my bus stopped and turned around about 6 to 7 stops before mine so I walked the rest of the way in the snow. AWESOME. I guess this was just one of life's little tests.

After I got home, my new Hungarian friend Mate (Ma-tay) gave me the scoop on a pizza place you can order from and I SO did. It was kinda geeky feeling proud of myself for ordering pizza, mostly because I was SO confused about how to read them my address, but none the less, delicious pizza AND a special Hungarian delicacy were both delivered to me.

Their website:

http://www.pizzaboy.hu/

Today I slept in (finally) and then spent some time watching movies i've rented off of I tunes (which take FOREVER to download and are only available for about 24 hours after you start to watch them... bogus? A little bit). Got to talk to my mom, and I asked her where the Tesco was by our house because I needed a few items.

Now going to the store and buying stuff is not a hard thing to do. Did it everyday in America. BUT I suddenly felt myself being excited for this new adventure. I was about to validate my whole existence here. Find the way there, pick stuff out, pay for it, pack it into the bag I brought (SO weird, I still can't get over this you must buy a bag to take it with you thing) AND enjoy the fruits of my adventure.

I was nervous but OH so excited. I also made a new friend on the Vilamos. He asked me if I wanted to "marry", which immediately after that his friend smacked the back of his head, pulled him close whispered something in his ear. My future fiance turned back toward me, mouth totally agape and said "I NO MEAN MARRY, I THINK DATE? DATE ME? I take back marry. no marry, no marry you..... date" Completely amazing. I politely declined but secretly thanked him for the HILARIOUSNESS that was the great moment between us.

Tesco is an amazing place. I really, really, wish we had them in America. I didn't take photos of it because I decided to not take pictures of things that others find normal such as stores while i'm alone because that sends signals such as "She's not from around here" and I don't need that to send them other signals like "Easy target".

But I do have other photos (yes I know i'm cheesy and lame):

On my way!

An engagement ring. How romantic.

SO STOKED, I did it.

My bounty: Which included a fleece blanket, choco balls cereal (AMAZING), popcorn, a new movie, and soup in a bag. Life rules.

I'm totally doing it

This is the view from my classroom. We are looking out over Buda.

I'm totally doing it.

Today was wonderful so far! I even went to a bookstore, asked for what I wanted in Hungarian (they didn't have it) but the point is I tried! I can do this! Yesterday my mother left, and I already miss her so, so much. I am alone now, so it's time to put on some big girl pants.

I like what this no car thing is doing for my thighs (I type as I'm eating a Hungarian carmel, cake, pie cookie type deal) Delicious.

Well what's new huh? Sunday night I went to see Henry Rollins perform spoken word on a boat. I've been talking about it non stop since then and be thankful that I'm not in the US because i'd have been smacked by now. He is amazing. And incredibly sexy.

At school i've been meeting some more new students. One guy from Kazakhstan, who actually likes Borat. And it was he, not I, who brought that up because i've learned that most people from there HATE that movie. I met a nice Egyptian guy, who had the best pair of Diesels i've EVER seen. He bought me some coffee in the cafeteria. Very nice guy.

Speaking of fashion there is a GREAT assortment of things going on out here. There is a great deal of western influence. So basically a lot of people look like hipsters, but have actual working class jobs. It's interesting. There is this brand out here called Mayo Chix. They make really cute stuff, I just can't bring myself to wear anything that says "Mayo" because I find mayonnaise completely repugnant and I'd feel strange. It pretty much says condiment wear to me.

Other interesting facts:

1. My teacher does not believe that my grandfather cooks because, men don't cook in this country. Huh.

2. In Hungarian the words are A KAGILLION miles long because they are a complex code of pre fixes and suffixes that make me want to poke my eyes out. Oh and they also put the verb at the end of the sentence. A phenomena that I am completely perplexed by

3. I have no idea how to convert from the metric system, and I don't plan on learning.

Now, as an American ambassador, I feel the need to educate these Europeans on a couple things.

First is the door hand off. You know what this is, it's when a crowd is walking through a doorway and one person extends a hand, supports the door, and looks back long enough to watch the next person extend their hand and take the door's weight from you. NO SUCH THING OUT HERE. I've often found myself looking back, realizing the person behind me has NO INTEREST in the door rapidly approaching their face, only to keep holding the door, facing away from them and thus looking like a dipshit. Not cool, Europe, not cool.

I will make sure that by the time I leave, this is common practice.

Another thing that I find quite strange is the elevator behavior going on around here. In Hungary it is completely customary to wait until you or you and your party board the elevator, push the desired floor button and then immediately push the door close button. Regardless of ANYONE ELSE in the vicinity of the elevator area.

I propose we wait maybe? Be courteous? Especially since all the elevators are the type that go where they are told and do not stop off at any floors before reaching the desired floor. BOGUS.

And lastly, this:

This is a sticker that is on the back of my classroom door. I found it the other day. I think the gist is that penis plus vagina equals baby carriage, which is technically correct. I have no idea why it is here. It's most likely a safe sex, educational type, sticker, but I find it completely hilarious.

Finally.

Well yesterday, after a great day at school (great but super challenging) I went to see my great grandmother and eat some DELICIOUS food. Seriously, best food ever.

The amazing women of my life. My great aunt (far left) the first person to go to college our family. My great grandmother, she was in her early 20s when the Nazi's came to Budapest. She is courageous, loving and she likes the show Friends as much as I do. And my mother, the continent hoping pioneer of the family who will always be a personal hero of mine. She is so brave and just overall amazing.

and finally, pictures of my new house! By the way, my parents went all out, and I cannot believe i'm living here.

This is the living room and a little bit of the dining room, from the kitchen.

Here's the kitchen. My contribution? The two empty Stella bottles.

The master bedroom

The view from the bedroom windows

A close-up of the FML shower, complete with the I don't contain anything shower door

A full shot of the bathroom.

Laundry room and the most complicated washing machine i've ever seen. Each wash cycle? Two hours. TWO WHOLE HOURS.

the spare bedroom

I guess you could say i'm learning pretty quickly. There are however really strange things going on with this language which confuse me to no end. One example is there are prefix and suffix games which rival some calculus equations in it's difficulty.

Speaking of which I have 7 worksheets for homework. Which I am SO stoked about because when compared to the homework I used to have this is a cake walk.

Better.

Today went considerably better. I am more than likely approved for a student Visa and I now have a tax id number. Sweet. I also have a permanent address in Hungary which is super rad. I live somewhere here, officially.

After that success Ma and I wandered over to the mall to eat at the food court. As luck would have it the straps broke on my purse so I got to go shopping! Bought a new bag at H&M (which I am going to rally in the streets for a Denver H&M when I get home) as well as another smaller bag at Mango (not a high priority but there should be one of those in Denver as well).

oh and I found this: the penis bong:

Hilarity. Now the greatest news? I made a new friend. He's very nice and is interested in the same sort of subcultures as I. He also invited me to the Henry Rollin's spoken word which is happening on a boat. Something I never thought i'd see and am probably going to go attend.

I think this was the best day yet.

Stronger Than All

Paintings from my school building:

So I guess you could say i've had a really, really shitty day. Like the kind of day that you feel like you've been shit upon by whatever higher power it is that governs the amount of crap that you deal with on the day to day.

My school, pretty much, is completely backwards. And not like Wayside school funny haha backwards, more like completely stressful and unecessary. I love my class, learning Hungarian is a wonderful experience and my teacher, is SO great. However, the administration is rude, unorganized and somewhat dumb.

long story short, I might be cutting my trip short 5 months and coming back in the end of July or August. The second semester which deals with the history, culture and literature might just be out of the question. I don't want to go into here but suffice it to say, i'd drown, and they know it.

Now after I came home and felt like the biggest failure, my grandfather poured me a beer and I sat down to lunch and calmed down.

My mother and I decided to go out on the town to help take my mind off stuff and help me explore the transit system.

We ended up at a bar called the Negro bar. Now my father has been to this bar, loved it and so do I. I could not get enough of the Negro bar. It's super SUPER nice inside and it makes me crack up inside. They have a drink called "Mulata" AND personal sinks in the bathroom. Basically, I want to live there.

At the Negro bar, drinkin' cosmos with mom.

Oh and I had to not laugh when the bartender, a very nice Hungarian man, would come over because underneath is Absolut emblem, it read Negro. GENUIS.

In the coming months, when I get enough courage, i'll take a picture of him.

I guess after being enraged all day, there are always things to look forward to. Funny things.

Beautiful basilica, around the corner. I'll take a better picture in the daytime.

GET ON THE BOAT!

I've learned a very important lesson about this country.

You must get on the boat! No one is going to tell you where it is, when it leaves, what color it is or if they mean boat or bus.

This place is crazy, but I love it oh so much.

I've decided that in America we baby ourselves and we also help out strangers. Not so much around here.

Today I kicked ass in class and I actually managed to study and get a little bit ahead. This ego trip was soon deflated after I ran into the key card debacle.

Wherever I chose to go to school, America or any other country there is always going to be a piece of dick "I hate my life" security guard. They are also going to seek me out and exact their revenge.

Unbeknownst to me, they have decided that they must keep out the random strangers from the building (and if anyone is mistaking this building for a place where they need to burglarize, they are SURELY mistaken) and that all students must have a keycard.

I don't get telepathic memos, so I had no idea. I only found out upon entering the building, not being able to move the turnstile (TURNSTILE REALLY?) and then having the security nazi come around from his glass case of misery to rain down a shit storm of Hungarian telling me that I, in fact, needed a key card. (SIDE NOTE: You would think that screaming Hungarian at a school full of international students who are there, TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE would be both ineffective and SUPER annoying.)

Anyways, I was then thrown into a bad mood.

It took a lot of Prince and a few notches of Massive Attack on the ride home to equalize.

And if you don't know what kind of magic Prince can be when you're in a bad mood, you're missing out.

But when I got home my Poppa had cooked a delicious meal and had a shot of whiskey for me :)