Note to Agi

Sweet Agi who I teach with was diagnosed with tonsillitis and was dearly missed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I sent her this note via fb to let her know the "middle house" (eight Hungarian four year olds and myself) was thinking about her. I hope you can get a good laugh out of this post. 

P.S. The capital letter represents a child's name. 

Agi, 

I have a few things to tell you so I made a list:

1. I think you are the best. 

2. I miss you. 

3. I want you to have plenty of time for adequate rest so don't hurry back too soon. 

4. D walked in and asked where you were first thing. Then he gave me a flower, I think he intended it to be for you so I am saving it for you. 

5. Z wanted to draw a map for you with Rainbow Hills as an X so you could find us.

6. B and C have been first to arrive both mornings

7. D was absent today. I called his mom and he didn't want to be here if you weren't. 

8. Z wanted to visit you after school today because she is a good girl. 

9. R scratched her hand this afternoon and needed a bandaid. 

10. I turned around and lost C, he was hiding under the table at breakfast. I used one of my few Hungarian phrases, "not funny."

11. I tried to tell a finger puppet story but it wasn't as good as yours. 

12. You didn't miss any good food except for Z's birthday cake, we saved you some!! 

13. L has been trying to teach me some Hungarian words. They were words for mom, dad and eagle. 

14. C wet his pants in circle time yesterday. 

15. I think you are the best!

16. I had a dream last night that Timea was gone (she helps prepare food, get breakfast, lunch and snack ready, translate for me, set the beds up for nap time and many other wonderful things) and there were two new Hungarian children that didn't speak any English. I think I am considering that dream a horrible nightmare.

17. D pushed B two times outside. Tears were shed. 

18. I have been cracking quite a few walnuts during free play outside.

19. I have no idea what M has been thinking lately. He has been washing his hands to much but he comes and leaves RH with a smile. 

20. B wants to bring new fish, her dad asked if it was okay.

21. L has been giving me many hugs when I need them :)

22. My arm has been wet from all the sweet kisses of B and C. 

23. Our Grandparent's Day song needs some serious work. I dreamed about it last night. 

24. Nap time is not the same without you. I miss your sweet company. 

25. You are loved dearly.

Natalie

Questions

How is culture shock?

Honestly, I haven't had a problem. I am still in the vacation stage, ready to discover all that is around me. I was given an article about the different stages of culture shock, read a book about Hungary and researched about this adventure that I am on to help mentally prepare myself for the world around me. I am really trying to keep an open mind and I desire to see everything through gospel centered lenses. No matter where we are in life, where we are, we all need love. 

Have I seen a lot in the city?

I am trying, it is a work in progress. There is SO much to do and see, it is impossible to do everything. There is caving, Challenge Land, market hall, museums, house of terror, national theatre, libraries, squares, castles and the list is growing....

Do I miss home?

More than anything, I want to experience this with my family and dear friends. I honestly feel like I am simply living life in a new city. I do not feel over 5600 miles away especially with technology these days. I am so blessed to be welcomed here with open arms of families and new friends that have taken care of and loved on me. 

Do I get bored in the evenings?

No. I will read, go walking or a jog, fix dinner, talk to family and friends or prepare for school (which is not time consuming). I have gone to nearby stores like IKEA, Decathalon, Auchan (grocery store similar to Walmart) or Bible study which is on Tuesday evening. I am also tutoring a fourth grader to practice English and help with studies twice a week. One night I spent the night with Fruzsi at her home in Budakesi, which was so fun! Fruzsi, her dad and I went on a run together that evening and ate her favorite pasta dish. She is a native Hungarian and graduated from college in the states last May just like me. 

Street in the neighborhood

Map of my neighborhood

Missing American Items?

Many items are still available here. I have seen peanut butter, corn tortillas, marshmallows, canned pumpkin, salsa, tortilla chips, Rice Krispies, Ben and Jerry's.... Yes, they are much more expensive so I will likely not buy them but they are here if I felt I couldn't live without it. 

Gluten Free?

I have been blessed with people who are very understanding, aware and accommodate for me. It is much different here because they are not required to write on labels if items are processed in the same facility as wheat. I am trying to read labels but is a little difficult with it being in Hungarian.  My coworker, Dia, knew of a gluten free store and she gave me a flyer about it. There were many options like pasta, pizza, rolls, loaves of bread, frozen items, cereal, bars, muffins, desserts... When I walked in I must have written on my forehead "not Hungarian" because a lady started speaking to me in English. I think I might have been in awe from the new store and I was quite glad to have found it. The lady was so sweet and showed me her favorite items and baked goods. Turns out she has been GF for 2 and a half months and lives in my neighborhood. She was So sweet and glad to have met me. We quickly exchanged emails. She helped me to communicate with the store owners. I am thankful to try "Hungarian style" breads and danishes that are GF. Prices of GF items are naturally more expensive but reasonable. A loaf of bread is about $3 and in America they are $5 and up, pasta is around $3 - $4 for a package (which will last me quite awhile). 

There is also a "bio" store in walking distance to me that has some GF items too like pasta, brownie mix, oats and various kinds of flour.

                           

What I've been listening to:

Sermons from the Village Church

Louie Giglio "How Great is Our God"

Current playlist includes Bryan and Katie Torwalt, Audrey Assad, Shane and Shane, Kari Job, Cory Asbury, Matthew and Lizi Bailey, Meredith Andrews

Weekend with the Ewings in Györ

Larry and Melinda Ewing, missionaries with the IMB invited for me to come to Györ for the weekend. We made connections in May through Larry's sister and our family friends the Carter's about meeting up together in Hungary. 

Through my coteacher Agi, she helped me figure out what buses I needed to take and directions for buying my first train ticket. I felt quite accomplished for finding my way, buying my ticket and getting on the right train. I met a teenage boy sitting next to me, Baloks, that helped translate when they used the loud speaker at stops and he was very interested in practicing English/learning what life is like in America. 

Larry was there to pick me up at the train station and then we headed to their Friday night Bible Study with about 30 high school students. The students were easy to talk to and it was so encouraging to see how they take a proactive role for Bible study - leading, planning, worship, activities, games, clean up, etc. 

On Saturday, we had "Ranchero scrambled eggs" with fruit for breakfast and went to Vivian's apartment for a meeting to discuss future plans for Friday Night Bible study. Vivian is also a missionary with the IMB and the Bible study is at her flat but she will be coming back to the States at the beginning of November. She has been serving in Hungary for 12 years! The Ewing's took me to lunch and we enjoyed vanilla latte's together from McCafe! They showed me around their beautiful town. I got to see the city square, court house, Jewish synagogue, old ruins, an art galley and more! We stopped in a tea room on our way back that we walked by that was new and they had never been to before. It was such a nice setting, comfortable chairs, peaceful surrounding and delicious drinks! I got a dark hot chocolate speciality drink and it was like pudding. It was so good! We came back to their house and rested after being on our feet all afternoon. We ate dinner together and they showed me summary videos of their ministry for the past three years. It was incredible to hear stories of how the Lord has opened doors and provided.

 Sunday morning was home church with about ten other people. We sang hymn and worship songs and then Agi (she has been apart of their ministry for awhile and translates too) taught from John 15. The Ewings, Vivian and I went to lunch at the mall and got to visit some more and then headed to the train station for my departure. It was such an encouraging weekend and such a blessing to be with them. Even though we just met this weekend, I felt like we were already friends. They took such great care of me and I am SO thankful!! 

Town Square

Jewish Synagogue 

Jewish Synagogue

Jewish Synagogue

Yummy Hot Chocolate

Things I have learned

Chirket (not correct Hungarian spelling but it's how I read it) means chicken

Decathlon is a great sports store. 

IKEA is about ten minutes away from me on the 140 bus. 

A walnut and cherry tree are in the garden (the backyard/playground). There are some raspberry bushes too!

Fun with Families

Spending time with families have made me feel at home and welcome here in this new place. The Gibson's are a missionary family that I met at Danube International Church that live in my neighborhood. It is roughly a five minute walk to their home. Last Sunday, they took me to church and we went to Burger King for lunch. There is a yogurt and herb salad dressing that has become my new favorite. I stopped by their house last week for a small visit and to borrow a an American movie! 

The Baker's are a family I met my first week in Budapest through Trey and Elise Atkins because they are missionaries with the IMB together. They hosted me in their home for pizza night on Friday evening. April was so thoughtful and made one using chickpea flour, it was delish! They have four wonderful children that are so welcoming and fun to be friends with. They dropped me off at Rainbow Hills and took a tour. The kids loved the gym upstairs and hopefully we can plan some play dates and sleepovers. 

The Stanteen family had me over this past Saturday and invited me to come watch some Aggie football on Saturday. Their oldest daughter, Chelsea, enjoys art and they had some left over face paint from a Back to School picnic earlier in the day so she did a pink and purple butterfly on me! Their son Cade enjoyed painting his arm while Chelsea painted me. I spent the night and we walked to their church, International Baptist Church Budapest in the morning that met in a high school. The "girls" went to lunch together and did a little grocery shopping and the boys, Larry and their two sons stayed at home because nap time was soon. I am so thankful for the Stanteen's and their precious kiddos who are so much fun to be around and play with. 

On Tuesday and Thursday, I am tutoring a boy in the fourth grade with English. This family was recommended to me by a former employee at Rainbow Hills. After tutoring on Tuesday, they invited me to stay for dinner because it was the last summer evening. They grilled pork and chicken, veggies and we had delicious ice cream for dessert. It was a delightful evening and I am enjoying getting to know a Hungarian family! The weather is now in the 50's. 

What I've learned:

Squash is the name for the sport racquetball.

Some Hungarians do not wash their hair everyday. Maybe 1-3 times a week. 

Sandwiches generally have one slice of meat, maybe two. 

There is a meat spread to put on bread like we use peanut butter in America. The kids ate it for breakfast and many asked for seconds. 

A New Routine

There are ten children in our class and two teachers. The schedule is quite simple and similar to one in America. The day begins and ends with free play as the children are arriving and leaving. We eat breakfast together which generally consists of bread, milk or tea or corn flakes. We go upstairs for circle time. Our focus this week was reviewing numbers and letters. We go to the garden (backyard) for free play for one hour. Lunch is served with two courses everyday. They serve traditional Hungarian foods which includes pasta, soups and vegetables. The cook here is able to use corn flour instead of all purpose flour when preparing my food. After lunch is time to brush teeth and have craft time or work in workbooks for fine motor skills. We head upstairs for a puppet show or story time then it is nap time for an hour and a half. We have snack that is generally fruit and crackers or bread. They eat bread at almost every meal. Then it is time to play outside and go home!

Most of the children do not speak much English which makes it quite difficult for me to communicate with them. They hear and understand but have to think very hard to respond back in English. At the beginning of the week, I felt a little helpless because the kids were standoffish because they did not know me. They would try to talk to me but I couldn't understand them so I was continually pointing to Agi, my coteacher. As I have been learning the routine and spending time with the kids, they are slowly warming up to me. During recess, the kids would give me blank stares when I would talk. On Friday, a little girl asked me to put a flower in her hair and to come play with her after school. Each day progress is made with the kids being more comfortable with Engish. 

Job Chart

Children playing dress up during free play

Books

What I've learned

A smile is a smile no matter what language. 

Hungarians have a list they have to choose from when naming their child. Throughout the year is a day that your name is celebrated called Name's Day.

Poppy seeds are much cheaper and sold in a larger quantity here.

When checking out at a market, it is much faster to pay with forints than visa or mastercard.

My First Week in Budapest

On Monday, Elindi a fellow teacher from South Africa who also lives at the school, went to get our transportation cards for the city. It took a little longer than expected due to communication and needing a certain size picture of ourselves but we just laughed along the way. Then, I went to go meet Elise Atkins!! Trey and Elise were the missionaries in residence at Ouachita  this past year. They currently live in Bratislava. Trey had a meeting with his colleagues with the International Mission Board so Elise and I had time to catch up and go to the mall next door for coffee. We all went to dinner together with their boss at a wonderful restaurant in the city outside. 

On Tuesday, we (the Atkins, their boss and I) went to the Castle District with Trey, a missionary with IMB in BP, being our tour guide. I remembered being there seven years ago with the Prestonwood choir on mission trip taking pictures. We all went to lunch at Arriba!, a Mexican food place like Chipotle. They all had a meeting at two with the other IMB missionaries in BP that I joined in on. I can't express what an encouragement this time of gathering, prayer and fellowship this was to me. Connecting with other missionaries and knowing about the ministry occurring was a wonderful blessing. We ate dinner together outside in the city.

On Wednesday and Thursday were teacher training days. Wednesday we talked about procedures, policies, curriculum, calendar. In Hungarian, Kindergarten is called "óvoda" which is anything before first grade, ages 3-7. At Rainbow Hills, I am teaching in the "middle house" which is considered PreK in America. So, I am teaching at a Kindergarten but it is the PreK age group. Thursday, we cleaned out old things and put up decorations in the houses.

On Friday, Elindi and I went into town together. Here are a few pictures I took of the city.

On Saturday, Elindi, Fruzi and I went to the Szechenyi Bath House. Fruzi is another teacher at Rainbow Hills who is from Hungary and went to college In the States. 

Here is a little history on it compliments of budapesthotelstar.com: It is one of the largest bathing complexes in Europe, the premier medicinal bath of Pest- Its thermal springs were discovered in 1879; they are the deepest and hottest ( 74 - 75 C. ) thermal wells in the capital. The neo - Baroque baths were built in1913, the swimming pool in 1927. 

Things I have learned:

If a dish is red, it is Hungarian because of the paprika they use to flavor the food.

At school, kids have inside shoes and outside shoes for the playground.

Sour cream and shredded Trappista cheese is used for a sauce on pasta if you don't have any meat.

Tortilla chips, salsa and peanut butter are found on the international isle (in every grocery store i have been to so far).

Fruit teas are VERY common, there are many choices. I tried banana and cinnamon tea the other day.