Battling the Storms of Budapest

I was planning on writing last night, and got involved in Facetiming people back home, so that didn’t happen.  But, that’s ok-I now have a new adventure to share!  Last week, we had orientation, and today was the first day back to work with all new staff.  I scheduled a manicure today to treat myself to something relaxing after a full day of meetings, and my mind overflowing with new and exciting information!  The nail salon is on the top floor of the mall, about a seven minute walk from my apartment.  I enjoyed sitting at the nail “booth,” and helping the technician practice her English.  After a satisfying result, I headed down toward the exit. 

It had rained earlier today, as we had all been hoping for, as it has been SO hot and humid.  As I approached the door, I recognized what was happening.  People were gathering at the door waiting for the rain to stop.  With no umbrella, I had to pause and problem solve.  After a longer glance, I realized it wasn’t just RAINING, it was POURING, and FLOODING.  Cars were starting to flood, so I knew taxis were becoming out of the question.  I raced back upstairs to the sporting goods store and bought one of two ponchos left.  I placed the red, waterproof, poncho over my bags and took off-“now or never,” I thought! I wouldn’t have been worried, but my phone, and some school books were in my bag—things that couldn’t get wet.  For the next five minutes, I held my dress up with my left hand, curled my toes around my sandals, and waded through, at some points, thigh deep water.  The further I went, the “better” it got as I was walking uphill.  But, there were cars that were flooded, traffic backed up with no where to go, and some people (like me), wading through water and looking at the others thinking “WOW.”  One man even told me he had NEVER seen anything like that and asked me to take a picture.  I made it home safely and soaked and laughing tucked that experience in my memory.  It reminded me of a time I got caught in Spain in a rain and wind storm when bricks were flying off a building!!! I guess we learn here to not complain about the heat :).

This past week, I have crossed some things off my “to-do” list.  I hit up Ikea once again, and am finally satisfied with my apartment.  My credit card is also happy I’m done.  I am enamored with the character of the apartment, with high ceilings, and an amazing balcony that looks at the Parliament building.  For me, it is simply a place that feels like “home.”  I also finished a week of new staff orientation at AISB.  I have met many wonderful people, who are both professional, and welcoming.  It could be a bit overwhelming, but I think all of us newbies tried to soak in what we were hearing.  The school perfoms very highly on the international stage, and sends some kids to the best universities in the U.S. and Europe.  The focus is definitely on student learning, and I have observed a big emphasis on collaboration and documentation.  I am overjoyed to become part of a dynamic staff!

In addition to orientation, we were also treated like royalty by being taken to dinner by the director and administration, and then on another night, having appetizers and drinks at our director’s home in the Buda Hills.  At first glance, from a semi-outsider perspective, the staff emphasizes team building in activities outside of the school.  I find this an important and appealing aspect, seeing as though most of us are away from our families.  I have been impressed by the warm welcome of the staff.  I have also felt blessed to have been able to spend time with the other new teachers who are in the same situation as myself.  There are only three of us this year, and so we have spent nearly every night this past week having dinner, and discovering the city together.  From taking the rickshaw that we picked up in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica, and getting “advice” on where to go from the cute little bike rider, to wandering the streets of Pest (mostly because were were lost, with no Internet), it has been a great adventure, and many laughs thus far with Ashlee and Dennis.  

Individually, I’ve also found a little Catholic chapel in Buda that has mass Sunday mornings, so that has been some nice stability with a little piece of home.  Yesterday, I went to breakfast at Ashlee’s and then to mass with her, before heading home for some Sunday relaxation.  I ended up (after a nap of course), taking off on a bike ride to Margarit Island, that was filled with people.  It was a great ending to a week filled with laugher, growth, and adventure.   

Surviving the flood.  Thank goodness for the poncho.

My living room 

My cozy bedroom :)

This was part of our dinner view on Saturday night!

Langos, a traditional Hungarian food.  Kind of like pizza-fried dough & you choose your topping!

Catholic chapel in Buda

Just a little flash flood, no worries.

BUDAPEST Discoveries

My first week in Budapest: quick, majestic, filled with new experiences, and many opportunities to laugh….at myself.  The first impressions this city gives are incredible. I suppose it depends on the outlook of the person living the experiences, as with any new experiences of the sort.  I came into this new phase in my life with a promise that I would be willing to try new things, not fret the small stuff, absorb changes, experience trials, and celebrate the triumphs.

  My first seven days have been filled with repetitive “Szia,” (Hi/bye) and “Koszonom,” (Thank you)  with a large smile on my face hoping that the Hungarians will be accepting of someone making an effort to speak their language (partially).  Heck, the man who carted every single box I shipped over up my stairs showed me that he appreciated my effort.  I offered him “viz¨: (water) as his huffing and puffing each trip up didn’t go un-noticed.  The young guy who was unloading the truck must have won the bet, he only made the trek up once.  From there on out, each box he brought up, he taught me how to say the number on the box.  This was a great situation to practice the language with someone who doesn’t speak mine.  I have also been reminded the importance of learning-through-observation in situations like, for example,  in the grocery store and public transportation.  Where do you put the basket after you have loaded your items onto the belt?  How do you “unlock” the carts at the grocery store when they are chained together?  Who validates your metro pass?  What greeting will the cashier greet me with?  

I’ve also had to problem solve.  What do you do when Ikea is supposed to deliver your purchases to your residence, your phone doesn’t work internationally, and they don’t show up?  (Solution: have someone from school call for you and they arrange to deliver on Monday-your first day of work.  Awesome. A new problem).  How do I get this giant fan home that I purchased?  (Solution: carry it, and the million other things you purchased, you dummy).  Lots of fails, and therefore learning has also occured.  Thirst quenched my first day here, I confidently walked to the grocery store down the block from the Beatrix Panzio (my pension), entered the wrong way, and threw some waters in a basket.  Unbeknownst to me, when I returned to the hotel and thirstily and rapidly opened the water, I heard the “shhhhh” sound.  I quickly learned that the pink lid means flat/still water, and the blue lid, like the one I was holding in my hand, meant carbonated.  Duh.  In Europe, sparking water is king.  Fail.  Sparkling water doesn’t quench my thirst….but that night it made do!

Generosity and exploration have also played a significant role in my life this past week.  Multiple colleagues volunteered to help me move, meet up with me, and assist me when needed.  This is a gift I will certainly never forget, and hope to pass on to others in the future.  Budapest is also filled with endless opportunities for explorations.  I must admit that I did not know much about my new home before accepting this position, and many reactions from people back home were not always favorable when I shared where I would be moving.  I believe in great part, this was due to the changes this city has lived through in recent years.  In my eyes, this is a must-see European destination that will completely fulfill, if not exceed, expectations.  My first few days here I didn’t need to look for an apartment like I thought I did when I had the ticket booked, so I was able to play tourist in my city.  I jogged, and walked all over Buda (where my apartment is located), and into Pest.  I saw things such as the Parliament, Margarit Island, the Buda Castle, Andrassy Ave, City Park, Heroe’s Square, and also ventured out to Nagykovasci to see my school campus.  

At this moment, as I sit on my balcony looking across at the Parliament Building elegantly lit, and listening to country music, I feel blessed to be here in my new home, and reminded that each place I go is just another amazing piece added to my puzzle of life.  Each piece adds more clarity, but the pieces themselves don’t mean anything isolated.  It makes me happy to listen to my little piece of home, look at the pictures of my family and friends, and to add more pieces to this puzzle with each passing day.  A grand life indeed.  

                                       
                                         Buda Castle

                                       
                                          Heroe's Square

                                          City Park

                                          City Park

                                          Parliament

                                         Chain Bridge

                                      St. Stephen's Basilica