Speed Bumps

I was housebound today due to the snow.

Gave me a long time to think. I understand that i'm going to live in Budapest but I don't at the very same time.

I left my whole entire life behind. Eight whole hours behind to be exact and it's kind of messing with me.

Hopefully I get over it. The studying is going well, and even though I joined a class already in session, I think I am caught up and doing well.

Tomorrow will be my second day of school and it will help to get out of the house.

It's also good that my text book has raunchy pictures.

More Birthday!

So today we ventured down to my mother's hometown of Tatabayna to celebrate my Grandfather's birthday again with my aunt's family. Since it snowed a lot (which by Colorado standards isn't really that much..... but it's cute to see them fuss about it) we took the train. And by train I mean two separate light rails and THEN the train lol

Riding the train was rad and the dude, at the station, playing the theme to The Godfather on what sounded like a recorder was equally as amazing.

We surprised Poppa (grandpa) by taking him to dinner at a place where I have been many times before with my parents. It's a neighborhood bar of sorts. I ordered my father's favorite meal and had a LOT to drink.

I realized over the course of the night how much like my mother and her sister I am. We're forgetful, we ask questions that don't necessarily need to be asked and we're fun-loving, jovial if you will.

The dinner went well and afterwards there was a band (a man and a keyboard but according to the paper that means band) who played a few hits. He was nice and played a birthday song for Poppa. Then afterwards, Poppa got up and sang a song, which was quite possibly the best thing i've ever seen. Such a good man. He then proceeded to dance around with Mama (grandma) and it was so touching.

It was also a wake up call when my cousin asked me what I was waiting for to get married, I am going to be 24 after all. LoL. They are still pretty old school around here.

It's good to see them all, I'm quite possibly becoming the best version of myself because of them.

YES. RULE.

Well. Today I started school and it was SO FUN. The teacher was super nice, in that awesome grammar school way where you aren't wrong and trying is always encouraged. The other students are nice and are from Finland, South Korea, Iraq, and France.... all super nice peoples. The school itself is pretty big and so far I am learning pretty well.

After that we went to the Vaci Utca (big huge long pedestrian street full of H&M, Mango, Zara, Promod and other amazingness) to pick up some books and grab some coffee.

Today I learned that to pay for certain things i.e. utilities or other things, you have to do that at the post office. It was completely strange. I'm sure if I went to a post office to pay my Xcell bill they would be zero sorts of helpful.

Hungarians LOVE Kansas. KANSAS. Nothing against Kansas it's just strange to see someone's eyes light up when they talk about it. My mother made sense of it and said it's probably from watching Westerns, which is also probably why when I say i'm from Denver they draw a blank until I talk about the mountains and the wilderness.

I also learned today that "fene" which is a word used in many curse words (think damn, or damnit) means anthrax. All these years my mother, grandmother, great-grandmother even have been cursing with anthrax. To me, this is completely hysterical and rather strange.

The kids here are precious. I find that when a child throws a hissy fit and whines in another language, I love it. It's cute. I also like the strollers they have here. Everytime I see one of these super Euro strollers in which the child is standing, strapped in the middle and carted around, I laugh. Sometimes I laugh real hard because it reminds me of a little baby hannibal lector.

This, translated, means pig cheese. There is only pig and no actual cheese in here:

Saw this. Hope it's the artists girlfriend cause that would be kick ass and pretty sweet:

THIS IS THE BEST CAR IN THE UNIVERSE. EVER. It's called a Trabant and I fully FULLY intend on owning one someday. Super cute and way classic. Forever I will love these cars.

I like it

There are a few things going on around this burg that I like.

Burger King:

They have fancy Burger King pants, which i'm sure all American men would like because it accentuates the prosterior. They also have egg rolls. This place rules.

Ketchup:

I LOVE ketchup. I need it to go with my fried potatoes. However in this country they don't have it at your table. And when you ask them to bring you some to your table, they bring you a teaspoon in a tiny jar. Which makes you think twice about asking for more. Or as in most situations, you have to pay for it to come with your meal. - that's insanity but one of the many things I love learning about this place.

Mexican Style Pizza:

That means you've thrown some corn kernals onto a slice of Pizza, don't ask me how that makes sense

This Guy:

I've seen this wine a couple of times and it cracks me up. Is this his wine, does he like the wine? Did he win a contest? I have no desire to drink a wine and stare at some dudes face the whole time.

Today my grandparents, ma and I went back to West End City Center. The biggest mall monstrosity. 400 stores. It's epic. I fell in love with a D&G watch and we'll see how long it takes for me to break down and buy it. This also depends on how much I like having food to eat.

I am completing a lot of big tasks such as getting student ID, student transport pass and an actual plan for my phone.

Next up I get to get a tax ID number (So I can get a job.... AWESOME) and a student Visa.

I start school tomorrow, which is earlier than first anticipated. They need extra time to assess my skill level. They decided this after I told them that I can read but not really understand what i'm saying lol.

School is from 9 am to 1 pm and I could not be more stoked on this existence.

It snowed today, and now i'm not so homesick anymore hahahaha

Every Man For Himself!

SUCCESS!

We have figured out two routes to the school, both of which take approximately 25 minutes. The joy! I love my sleep and I also love the simplicity. Everything is falling into place. It was colder than crap today and the views were not so awesome, and I refuse to photograph such a beautiful city when it's not at it's best. And you called it, i'm lazy.

My school. My school is much like the one I just graduated from: functional. Sure I had dreams of what vintage the building would be and if there would be grand lion statues on either side of the master entrance but... not so much. It's an office building. You hear that AIC? You got me. Elevators and all.

I'm really excited to start next week, it will give me something to focus on.

There is something interesting I learned today about my mother. Something I learned while walking through the city with her. She is a die hard subscriber to the "everyman for himself" european policy.

Let me explain. In America we walk together, have conversations, break the line of contact only to let other people through.... in Hungary they get there as fast as possible and worry not of their friends/family. Either you get there fast or not at all, who cares about together or at the same time. Hilarious.

At Dusk

I can see the Danube from my kitchen and I love the view at dusk. Ice chunks and all.

And yes that kind of looks like Portland.

I'm on the GRID

Well.

I'm beginning to feel a lot more connected. I have a bank account and a working phone, complete with a super long phone number and a + sign.

Let me tell you something about Hungary. There is paperwork for DAYS. Everything must be stamped and there is a long, drawn out, possibly impossible process for everything.

Including you, T Mobile lady. She was NOT stoked on helping us with anything and finally the end solution was to purchase the damn sim card (oh and there is no let's just try it out and see in this country either) and when and only if I make the phone work, can I come back and purchase a plan. Holy, holy.

My mother gave me the skinny on Hungarian customer service. It begins with an N and ends with an O and they will try selling you the most expensive option.

Basically, i'm starting to miss the good ol' customers always right policy in the US.

I'm pretty sure we were scoffed at.

Aside from that bonanza there was the adventure of getting the phone back to the condo and unlocking it through a series of internet tutorials and random application downloads.

6 hours later, and voila, I have a Hungarian phone. Oh and my first text message:

I am happy to report that everyone else in the city has been pleasant and accommodating.

Today my mother and I are going to ride the bus and figure out the direct route I need to take to school. I've since located my camera and cannot wait to go on this little mini adventure.

I just wish it were about 40 degrees warmer.