Weather
It
is cold. I love the snow but not the wind. This week is a high of 30 and a low
of 19. The wind makes it feel like it is around 15 degrees farenheit. I have
yet to meet a Hungarian that enjoys the cold. It will only get colder and this
little Texan has been drinking lots of warm drinks.
Culture
Shock
I
thought culture shock would come to me in a wave of tears and second guessing
myself of why I am here. Instead, I had more feelings of helplessness and
feelings of being inadequate. The language is the main reason for these feelings.
When something needs to be communicated quickly or there is a change of plans
at school, Hungarian is used. I have been learning more about watching people
and using gestures. Many of the kids have made wonderful progress and speak
more English (knowing the personalities of each of the kids helps A LOT). English is very common and I have never been
anywhere that I was unable to communicate with other people.
Difficulties
Running
errands is very time consuming (partly due to public transportation).
Larger
superstores like Tesco, Auchan and Spar have most items but don’t always have
everything on your list. Example, you see celery in the produce section for
three weeks then when you need to buy it won’t be there.
oh
and the language
Evenings during the week
By
4:30 this afternoon, it was dark, dark, dark. The sun starts to sets around
3:30 as we are waking the kids up from nap. In the evenings, I often loose
track of time very quickly. I am
continuing to tutor on Tuesday and Thursday after work and I have been going to
Bible Study with Danube on Tuesday evenings as well. The past couple of
Mondays, my GF neighbor has hosted me for dinner in her home. After my kick of
cracking walnuts, I have started to doing some arts and crafts inspired by
Pinterest.
Small World
My friend Laura, invited me to the Winget's house for chili and Christmas decorating on a Friday evening. Cheryl Winget is the piano player at my church but I had not had the opportunity to meet her or her husband yet. As we were eating our chili, they mentioned that they were from Chattanooga, Tennessee. I mentioned that I have family from Chattanooga, my Aunt Madelyn and Uncle Carl. Little did I know that they knew each other and my Uncle Mike and Aunt Jeanine! Cheryl and Aunt Jeanine were in the same fifth grade class and Steve Winget was my Uncle Mike' soccer coach at Temple in college.
Next Semester
I will be returning to Hungary on January second and continue working here at Rainbow Hills on the third. I am thoroughly enjoying this entire experience and what the Lord has been teaching me living cross culturally.
Favorite
Things
People
and friendships
All
the new things to see and do
Learning
more about myself
Time
to be still – Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted
among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
