Winter Wonderland

Snow, snow, snow and more expected to come this week. Here are a few pictures of the beautiful snow in my neighborhood.

View from the front door

Our art projects at school to represent the outdoors.
Project one: Tape and Watercolor. We also did crayon resist where I colored with white crayon on white paper and they painted water color to see the picture. 

Project two: Painting Snowmen

Yesterday we had a lot of snow and there were only three children than came instead of our usual nine. Needless to say it was a little more quiet and we spent a little more time outside running, making snow angels, snowballs and a mountain.

I might not like the cold weather but I LOVE the snow. It is so beautiful to look at, take pictures of, and play in (especially with kids).

Culture is a little different...
While we were playing outside one child had to sit out because he was not listening to the teacher. He decided to start eating the snow and Agi (pretended) to call the doctor. He stood up and started wailing like there was no tomorrow.
1. To me, eating snow is no big deal and I don't find it necessary to call the doctor but here it is very unhealthy because it is so dirty with all the pollution.
2. Going to the doctor is a different experience for people here, it is free (payment is included in your taxes) but in order to get good service, you need to pay extra. Apparently, the doctor does not bring good memories for this child.

Christmas Recap...

From runny noses to family car trips, Mexican food to peanut butter and MUCH more in between my Christmas break couldn't have been more complete. 

My flight home started off with my first flight delayed which meant every flight after that was delayed too. Thankfully I had time in my layovers to run (literally) to catch the next flight. My stops included Frankfurt and Philadelphia. Small world: while I was waiting at the gate in Philadelphia, I heard my name being called. turns out it was an old friend from church and we were in the same family group for mission trip (to Europe ironically). Our parents are in the same Sunday School class at church. 

The first few days at home gave me time to catch from jet lag, slowly recover from a cold and run a few errands. Thank you to the genius bar at the apple store for retrieving all my files and pictures because my hard drive crashed mid December. Mom and I went to Costco and I was caught off guard by how they took everything out of the cart before the item is scanned and put it back in your buggy. (One time I just put my basket on the belt at the grocery store in BP and the lady just stared at me. She would not begin scanning the items until I took everything out of the basket.) When I was at Walmart, I was had forgotten about the varieties of one product. Example, I wanted to buy Goldfish for the kids to bring back and there were at least seven different kinds, I went with the original, ha. 

On Christmas Eve, Mom, Dad, Sarah and I spent the evening together and opened presents. they finally got to open their gifts I brought them back. 

Mom's handmade nativity scene from the Budapest Christmas market

GF flavored oatmeal and my favorite cereal :) 

Christmas Day we drove to Shreveport, Louisiana to my Uncle Ralph and Aunt LaVeta's home for delicious Christmas lunch and opening presents. We spent the night my wonderful Aunt Melba in Alexandria and then headed to Lake Charles and DeRidder, Louisiana to spend the day with more family. 

We drove back to Texas on Thursday and Sarah had a minor surgery on Friday. Her wound had not been healing correctly from appendix surgery in August. She is one tough cookie! 

Saturday included lunch with Jenn, Katie and Sarah. We have all been friends since Jenn and I were in the fourth grade and Sarah and Katie in the sixth grade. Our friendship means so much to me and it was such blessing to all be together for a sisters lunch. 

Dad and I drove to Arkadelphia Saturday night and had the pleasure of staying with the Teeds. Liz came over and we all got to catch up around the fire. We went to Fellowship Church and the Teed's hosted us and the Quick's for lunch. I am so blessed by their friendship and thankful ate lunch together with the Quick's. Sadly I didn't take any pictures. 

On my way back home passing through Texarkana, my dear friend Nikki and I caught up at Starbucks. She has a beautiful heart for teaching and will be getting married very soon! 

Monday was a day for packing and an open house. We had many wonderful neighbors and friends come by to visit and see me. I got to share a few pictures and share about some neat experiences. 

Tuesday I departed the great state of Texas and had the same route that I flew over on and arrived on the second. None of my flights were delayed and was stopped for them to check electronics in security and got a new stamp in my passport. The man checking my passport was very friendly (especially for being around 6 am) and wished me a Happy New Year.

Questions II

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!”

We have our Christmas Show tomorrow at the Town Hall and Thursday morning is my flight home! Woo Hoo!
 

Christmas Time

St. Mickulas

On December 6, we had a special visitor at Rainbow Hills, St. Mikulas! St. Mikulas is more commonly known as Saint Nicholas or Santa Clause. Everyone's name is somewhere on the yearly calendar to celebrate as a "name day."  Nicholas' name is on December 6, therefore he is celebrated and remembered on this day. (Natalia was celebrated on Sunday) Santa Clause came to each house of children and talked to each child about how they were nice or naughty. He gave them each a treat bag filled with chocolate, peanuts, an orange and more chocolate.  

The tradition is for the children to put their boots on the window sill the night before and hope that they will receive chocolate from Santa in their boots, if they have been naughty they will receive coal, a wooden spoon or a willow switch (virgács). Apparently, Santa thought I have been very good because I found a chocolate snowman in my boots before we went outside to play in the garden. 

Market

Another tradition is to visit the Christmas market. It is held at Vorosmarty Square and in front of the Basilica. It is a series of outdoor booths with many handcrafted items, ornaments, toys, baskets, sweets and interesting foods (sausages, langos, rooster testicle stew, hot ginger, hot tea, and mulled wine). 

THANKSGIVING

Celebrating Thanksgiving at Rainbow Hills was more about teaching the kids about the holiday and being thankful. We made some turkeys out of lunch sacks and made pumpkin muffins together during the week. 

The Gibson’s hosted Thanksgiving in their home with friends from Danube International and the International Christian School. There were over 43 people that came to celebrate. The gathering started at 3 but I had to work and tutor so I arrived a bit late.  

Nancy and I, she is a leader of Bible study on Tuesday night.
Thankful for her GF cooking for me every week!

Thankful for the Karas family!

On Saturday morning, I went to the Ferencz home to start cooking for Thanksgiving lunch. I am tutoring their son twice weekly after work and they celebrated Thanksgiving when they were living in the UK a few years ago. I brought the recipes and stuffing (thank you Aunt Melba and Christa!!) and she had the ingredients for the green bean bundles, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pie and the lovely turkey. 

Saturday evening I went to the Stanteen’s for kid patrol at their Thanksgiving with most of his coworkers that are expats with Exxon.  ...Time for more turkey and sweet potatoes at the kids table! 

Chelsea and I had a sleepover on Saturday night together, she is my absolute favorite little first grader in Budapest! We love all the same things: word searches, reading, coloring, experiments, painting and Jesus - I think we can be buds for life. 

Sunday morning I went to International Baptist Church Budapest, that is in walking distance from their home. After church, I got to take part in helping decorate for Christmas! Which included some hot chocolate, Christmas music, a little dancing and maybe a science experiment too. I am so thankful for each of the Stanteen's, they are a sweet blessing to me. (Thank you to the wonderful Michelle Lanza for getting us connected.)

Needless to say, I am so thankful for my community and families that have adopted me as their own. 

Thankful

Often I find myself at a loss for words when I think about how richly the Lord has blessed me. I don’t know how to measure the amount that I have learned, all the new things I have seen and experienced or the wonderful friendships I’ve made since I moved to Budapest. Not that everything is peaches and plums but God is constant, faithful and His love is never ending. 

A few things I am thankful for:

Danube International Church

Bible Study on Tuesday night

Game night

Cooking at the Gibson’s 

Families

Community

Daylight 

Sleepovers

Christian English Library

Face Time/Skype/Viber

...and Túró Rudi  

“My advice is: Go outside, to the fields, enjoy nature and the sunshine, go out and try to recapture happiness in yourself and in God. Think of all the beauty that’s still left in and around you and be happy!” -Anne Frank

“And my God will meet your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippines 4:19 [Theme verse from CentriKid Camp 2011]

Field Trip, Fall Break and Fun Vacation

Field Trip

The Friday before Fall Break, Rainbow Hills went on a field trip to a small farm and pony rides.  We all walked around to see the animals: bunnies, pigs, chickens, emu....

We all rotated between playing on the playground, eating a snack and riding the ponies. 

Fall Break

During the first half of the week, I had lunch with a friend, toured the American International School, helped out at the Christian library and was a substitute for second grade at the International Christian School (ICSB) on Wednesday. 

Fun Vacation: Salzburg

We left early Thursday morning and arrived around one. We went to the hotel to check-in, went to Old Town to eat and walk around. Megan (roommate for the trip and teacher at ICSB) had a self guided tour from Rick Steve's so we knew what exactly we were looking at. 

Salzburg is located in a valley with the Alps surrounding the small city. It is the birthplace of Mozart and location of the filming of the movie Sound of Music. 

Friday "Tourist Day"

Fortress

Sound of Music Tour

Shopping

We went into a store called Interio, which had quite an assortment of things for the home. They had the cutest cookie cutters! Many of the souvenir shops had beautiful ornaments. One store had hundreds and hundreds of hand painted egg shells that were beautiful. We also went in a few souvenir shops to look around. 

Saturday "Nature Day"

Hike in the Alps. Couldn't help but sing "climb every mountain..." 

Mirabell Gardens

Sunday

Train ride home.  

Salzburg was a beautiful and quaint town. Spending four days there was the perfect amount to see sights and not feel rushed, learn our way around the town and enjoy our mini vacation.