Prague pics

gloomy start to the day, but makes for interesting pictures! This is looking toward the Prague castle

The Charles Bridge

One of the many synagogues in Prague

Old Town Square

the Astronomical clock

the tower

St. Vitus Church in the Prague castle grounds

the Jewish Cemetery

The Romanian Embassy

Light reflecting off the stained glass window in the cathedral

Good "King" Wencenslas' tomb (of the Christmas carol fame)

Prague

The gate of the Charles Bridge

The gate

Touching a relief of some sort that was to bring the toucher good luck

lots of stacking dolls in a store

Megan and her mom eating dinner in a beer hall

Prague - Fall break!

This trip started out so smoothly it was almost unbelievable. I had no trouble or stress getting to the train station, to Budapest and on to the correct train. Boo was all ready to come with, but I had to leave her behind in the oh-so capable hands of Zsuzsi my cat sitter.

The train ride to Prague was beautiful. I was in a part of Hungary that I haven’t seen yet, and I got to pass through Slovakia on the way to the Czech Republic. It was a really nice train ride, and it went fairly fast. It’s 7 and a half hours from Budapest to Prague – roughly. For the first three hours I had a four seat area to myself, but after a while and as we got closer to Prague, more people loaded in on the train- ah such is life.

My first night here, I relaxed a bit and just settled into the hostel. I wasn’t feeling the best, and I figured it’d be the best idea to get a good night’s sleep and be ready for the next day of walking and sightseeing. It’s a very interesting hostel. It’s basically old apartments that they’ve converted into a hostel. I am in a 3 person room – with 4 beds.

the bedroom - my bed is on the left hidden in the corner

the kitchen and common area

There was only one other person in my room (naturally an Asian woman) though she was not like the other Asians I have stayed with J My room was right off the “common room” which was never really that busy. The only drawback is that my bed is against the wall – and directly on the other side is the public computer. This wasn’t even really a problem since I have TWO pair of ear plugs with me this time. However, when I was reading the first night (fighting to not fall asleep before 8 pm – no joke) it sounded as if there was one half of a dueling keyboards session. Seriously, it was as if someone was tap dancing on the keyboard. I can type fast, but I don’t usually type with force. This was obviously someone who was angry while typing – tiggita tiggita TAP TAP TAP tiggita tiggita TAP! It literally sounded like tap dancing, but I knew it was only the keyboard. I’d sure hate to be on the receiving end of that Facebook message!

The other interesting aspect of hostel living is that there is never that much actual wall between you and the room next to you. There was a nice couple in the room next to us (I use the word “couple” lightly and you’ll see why). They opted to have a conversation about the status of their “relationship” after having a few drinks out on the town. I was reading at the time, not sleeping yet, so I paused to listen to a bit. Unfortunately, the guy had already decided that it “just wasn’t going to work” between them and he “wasn’t sure why she came along on this trip”. His friends “think I’m crazy to even be talking to you let alone traveling with you.” She was a bit stubborn and responded with “I have every right to be in Prague right now, don’t I?” Yadda yadda yadda – desperate girl – yadda yadda, It was kind of funny, but I felt bad when I ran into her in the common room later that night. She seemed like a nice enough person.

Anyhow – I decided upon arrival in Prague that it was too big a city with too much information to go through – I had to carry the Lonely Planet with me. I abandoned any pretense to avoid looking like a tourist (which I often try – unsuccessfully- to do when traveling). I set out bright and early the next morning with an eager anticipation of meeting up with Megan and her mom. When I say bright and early, I mean I was out of the hostel by 6:50. Could I do that on a school day? No. But I was in Prague and I wasn’t going to waste any daylight. It was a bit of a gloomy morning, but I wandered for quite a bit – getting lost in the process – but having enough time to kill that it didn’t matter. Prague is a complex city. It has many different areas that each have their own flavor. I enjoyed meandering through the different side streets and seeing the great Old Town Square. I am constantly amazed at the beauty of many of these European cities. Prague especially since there were only a couple of buildings that were affected by the wars. I feel like if Hungary ever came upon some money, Budapest could be restored to be as beautiful as Prague one day. I met up with Megan and her mom and we had a wonderful walking tour. I’ll let the pictures do the rest of the talking (once they get posted)… as nothing too eventful happened.

Prague!!!

Hey all - I'm in Prague on my fall break - this is so much better than MEA... but anyhow, I'll update you when I get back. I love it here and it could be the next place I move!!!

The picture is Megan and me in the Old Town Square. Loved having her here!!!

Boo time - it's been a while :)

Here's a silly video I made of Boo the other day - we're working on our fighting skills to be able to fend off the crazy Grandpa when we get home...

Invasion of privacy...

Last week, I had an interesting invasion of my apartment. While I was hosting some of the other teachers in my program, a Hungarian maintenance man came to the door. With the help of Christie and Tara, we understood that there was some work that needed to be done on the radiators. He wanted to know when I was going to be home so they could return and do some work. I told him I wasn't free on Mondays until after 5 because of my lesson with Csenge. Tuesday I was free and he was to come after 2 on Tuesday. Or that's what I thought we decided on.

Monday afternoon I wandered into my apartment building after school, and the same maintenance man was there. He asked me if I was home then - weird question - I replied with "itt vagyok most" (I'm here now). So they paraded up to my apartment to get started. Um... ok? I was to leave at 3:30 for my lesson, and it was 1:30 at the time - it wouldn't take that long would it? Yup, it would. They had to detach the old valve controls from my radiators and install new ones. First they were surprised that I have 5 radiators in my apartment. THEN, they were upset because they were apparently pretty stubborn valves to work on. We tried to communicate a bit because they needed some things from me, but I wasn't understanding them well. I got out my dictionary and they couldn't read the print since they didn't have their glasses. Hmmm... well, I can understand school Hungarian, and food Hungarian and travel Hungarian - but I'm sorry I haven't brushed up on my radiator and heating Hungarian. Sheesh. Turns out they needed a towel and a bucket - both of which we found, though they ruined the only nice towel I have due to rust. Hmph.

I wasn't sure what to do while they were here so I parked on the couch and started to do some school work. Eventually I noticed that it was creeping closer and closer to the lesson time - so I sent Viki (Csenge's mom) a message asking if she could come to my place for the lesson. She (thankfully) agreed and the chaos continued. We set up on the couch and started singing the rainbow song, which was interrupted by occasional drilling noises or some sort of hammering from other rooms. Csenge was not phased, and kept focus while we were doing some new learning. I'm not sure how she did it - but props to her for wanting to keep going.

Eventually the lesson was over, and the maintenance men left - only to return the following day to adjust some things. It was quite an ordeal, but I have working heat and I can adjust the heat amounts unlike last year when it was a 24-7 sauna.

He's clearly not having any luck DRILLING my pipes to get them to come off... notice the small propane tank near the sparks... ahhhhh Hungary.

Teachers come to town!

Tara, Franny and Jon in the classic Tata pic

Tara, Randy, Tibor, Christie, James and STAN

Xander in my bed- Boo was jealous!

Me and Stan the man

this is what happens when you ask for separate checks in Tata... he he.

Fall in Tata

Leaves changing - the only trees in Hungary that changed color.

St. John the Baptist

Pretty house on the lake

Looking out to St. John the Baptist

One of the old mills in town

Me? Aggressive? Nah.....

I was following a student up the stairs yesterday, and he was moving quite slow- talking with friends. I pushed on the bottom of his backpack and nudged him forward so as to encourage a faster pace. When he reached the top of the stairs, he turned around to me and said, "well aren't you aggressive today!" It struck me as funny how they use the language in appropriate ways that seem to catch me off guard. Good work Balázs!

"You can't touch this" and I'll hit you if you do...

Last Friday was the 9th grade hazing ceremony. I work closely with the 9th grade again this year, mostly the bilingual program English speakers. They invited me to be in their program, like the 9th graders did last year, and purchased me a shirt for the occasion. We all were to wear our shirts for the school day, and for the performance. The only problem is that the shirt has two large hand-prints where ones breasts are - and reads "U Can't Touch This." Hmmm.... I tried to explain that at Burnsville, I was the inappropriate t-shirt nazi so there was no way I could ever wear this shirt. Not to be a poor sport though, I turned mine backwards and wore it just for my brief appearance in the performance. Yeesh - 9th graders.

Feel free to click on the picture to enlarge it and get the full effect of the t-shirt :)

"Canoeing up the Danube"

It wasn't so much canoeing as it was EXTREME canoeing - and not so much up the Danube as it was leading to the Danube... nonetheless it was a great experience. I wrote earlier that Bence's family had asked me to join them for a canoe excursion. I wasn't sure what to expect - so I didn't expect anything really... as is always the best plan in a foreign country.

They picked me up Saturday morning... well Bence's dad had called the night before to say they'd pick me up at quarter past nine. So, when I received a call at 8:56 asking when I would meet them, I was a little surprised. I tore out of my apartment, grabbing an extra shirt, a plastic bag, a small backpack and my camera.

They drove me all of a quarter of a mile to the "Danube" - or a small creek that leads to the Danube. We were going to be canoeing on this small creek that is water draining from the lake in Tata. Our lake in Tata is man-made. Each fall, they drain it (not sure why) and capture - I mean "catch" all the fish that are in the lake. The fish catching is quite a large event that coincides with the October 23rd holiday. The canoeing event happens the first weekend in October - the first time they start to release the water from the lake. So this normally grungy ditch turns into a fast running creek.

Bence waiting to get started!

the canoes lining up at the creek side

Dori getting into the water in her canoe (in the brown shirt)

canoes and more canoes

eating sandwiches before the start - you know, because it's 9:30 am...

I was amazed at all the people who were there participating. I bet there were no fewer than 400 people who took part in this canoe excursion - many of them drunk before it started. I was offered the requisite pálinka and politely denied -stating that drinking and canoeing is frowned upon in my country. We registered, and received our t-shirts (yes!!!!!), I met Bence's sisters who would be in a different canoe and we prepared to start. The event was open from 10-2 you could start at any time that you wanted. We waited our turn and launched our canoe into the creek. I was in front, then Bence's dad Zsolt, his mom Ági, and Bence steering.

It was really pleasant. We hardly had to do any work because the water was moving so fast! We had 14 km to canoe and it went very fast. The scenery was interesting because it was parts that I had not seen - fields and homes along the water - really beautiful. I took pictures from the front of the canoe when I wasn't paddling, enjoying the picture taking too much to put my camera in the plastic bag I had in my backpack... after all - how many times does one get to canoe in a creek that only exists for one month each year.

sharp turns along the way

from the front row seat!

a little debris never stopped anyone

looking behind

The event was kind of a Hungarian version of floating down the Apple River. People were drinking, singing, parking on the creek sides to relax - it was fun. The weather was nice too - sunny and just a bit of a fall chill in the air. I was thoroughly pleased that I agreed to go on this trip. It was relaxing, and I got to spend some time with more Hungarians that I hadn't met yet. Bence's dad speaks English so I was able to talk with him and Bence - and the mom through them. All was going well until I heard from the back "nyugi Anya, nyugi" (relax mom, relax) and then we swayed sharply from side to side and tipped in the water. It wasn't so bad since the water was only waist deep, but it was a bit gross and chilly. I managed to go under all except my head, but the others were head to toe wet. They didn't seem to mind as much because they weren't carrying a camera - their electronics were sealed in a tupperware container in Zsolt's backpack. Dang it. We re-grouped and clambored back into the canoe and continued on. It didn't help that we received lots of pity stares from drunk Hungarian men who really deserved to be in the water more than us, but such is the luck of the draw. Also, I don't want to put all the blame on Bence's mom - it was a team fail... so we all were to blame.

Admittedly, there was some rough rowing while we were in the canoe - there were some "falls" which I deemed a bit scary since I was in front - and there were some tricky turns to maneuver also. Unfortunately, we tipped as a result of bumping into the side of the bank. oh well.

When we reached the end, we were treated to hot gulyás - I thought I'd practice my Hungarian and deemed it "babaleves" - Bence's dad laughed and said yes it was - though Bence, being the teenage boy and the student corrected his teacher and told me it was "bableves, nem babaleves." Apparently I had said it was baby-soup, (babaleves) not bean soup (bableves) - ahhh the Hungarian language. Before we had the gulyás though, we had to dry off. Bence's mom had brought an entire change of clothes for me, just in case. There were pants, a shirt, socks, shoes and underwear. I put on the pants and the socks and shoes, used my dry shirt and headed for some delicious gulyás.

What a great day to spend doing something I'd never tried before. I love this country!

My Hungarian "good-bye" (I know it's a bit early)

Earlier this week, we had our school "fall meeting." The whole school comes together and airs their complaints and announcements. The Headmistress starts the whole thing off, and then basically anyone is welcome to speak. I chose this occasion to say a "goodbye" to the students and faculty since there won't be another opportunity like this. I'm trying to upload the video, but it's taking for ever with my squirrel run connection...

The following is the text I read:

Faculty, staff and students of Eötvös József Gimnázium,

Kedves tantestület, diákok, és az Eötvös József Gimnázium minden dolgozója!

In a few short months, I will be returning to teach in the United States. Before I leave, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you for welcoming me to your school.

Néhány rövid hónap múlva visszatérek tanítani az Egyesült Államokba. Mielőtt elmegyek, szeretném megragadni az alkalmat, és köszönetet mondani azért, ahogy az iskolában fogadtak.

Your kindness, care and concern for me will never be forgotten. I will always speak highly of my colleagues and students and of all things Hungarian.

Kedvességüket, gondviselésüket és törődésüket soha nem felejtem el. Mindig nagyra fogom becsülni magyar kollégáimat, diákjaimat és mindent, amiben itt részem volt.

I will miss Eötvös and Tata when I return home. Thank you for all you have done for me.

Nagyon fog hiányozni Tata és az Eötvös, amikor hazatérek. Köszönök mindent, amit értem tettek!

Visit from Margaret and Dick!

After the rocky experience at the hostel in Vienna, I was certainly ready to spend some quality time with Americans speaking in my native tongue with people who understood my background and life at home. It's rare that you have someone here that you can really talk with - who knows enough about you that you don't have to explain everything or go through a series of small talk questions.

Margaret has been a friend of my mother's since we were in grade school. They have participated in numerous "parent" events together and have remained friends as their kids grow old and become adults. Margaret is also a die hard reader of my blog (at least my mom tells me this) :) and I was thrilled that she finally had the opportunity to share in so many of the things I write about frequently.

We met at the Vienna train station. I'd been there before so I had no problem determining a place to meet and we were plenty early for our train. I did a brief lesson on train timetables and reader boards, as Margaret and Dick were going to make the journey back to Vienna on their own. We found our train - Budapest bound - and boarded... only once we were on the actual train, I noticed that almost EVERY compartment and seat had been reserved. WHAT? Why would a train bound for Budapest on a Friday in off-peak travel time be completely booked? I was a bit nervous since we didn't have seat reservations, but it was not a problem. Margaret spotted a series of seats that were open - though in all reality I doubt that the train came even close to filling up. I envisioned a multitude of high school students running to catch the train at the last minute, but this was not the case. At any rate, it was a smooth trip with interesting scenery (at least I think so) on our way towards Budapest. Though it was raining a bit when we left Vienna, the sun began to shine almost the instant we crossed the border into Hungary. (ok, maybe it was shining before then, but I like to consider Hungary the bright spot of Europe) We transfered trains in Győr - not passing up the opportunity for them to see the favorite "pink" bathroom that Megan and I always stop at. It's a fairly clean bathroom, but the attendant sits there and smokes the entire day away, so it's not the most fresh smelling place in Győr. We went outside to see the big town hall, and watched two women planting new pansies in the beds out front of the building. Hungary is very keen on flowers, and Győr is no exception.

Boarding a new train to Tata, we relaxed for a quick 45 minute ride to my part of Hungary. We took the bus into town and headed to my apartment first. I'm sure they were blown away by the luxurious living standards... not really... but we rested for a bit and then headed out again - we were burning daylight after all!

They were both troopers throughout the day. I made them walk all over town, and they had had a restless night, and I certainly was tired, but I didn't want them to miss anything while in town. We started with the compulsory visit to the clock tower - the symbol of Tata.

We continued through the "main drag" to the grand entrance to the lake- through a beautiful park area. As we rounded the corner, I said to them "and there is my school" pointing to the wonderful building that perches over the lake. At first they didn't believe me as it's quite a sight- but I swear I have the prettiest setting for a school known to man. We walked to a nice Hungarian restaurant on the lake (that incidentally does NOT serve paprikás chicken) and enjoyed a wonderful meal over looking the Öreg-tó (the Old Lake). I had a grey beef stew - (it's called that because the longhorn cattle here are grey) and they ate the "Castle Defenders Roast" which should actually have been prepared in a Turkish manner, not a Hungarian one because the Turks are the ones who defended the castle after taking it over... (eventually the Hungarians got it back, but still).

After lunch, we wound our way around the lake to my school, stopping for some pictures along the way.

They are in front of the lake with the castle in the far background

Margaret and Dick with the castle in the background again

We ran into several of my students leaving school, and all of them spoke to us in English, no matter how nervous they were to see more than one "native speaker." The weather could not have been more gorgeous for us to walk around and see the sights of Tata. It was a bit chilly, but it apparently turns to fall over night here. So I wasn't quite ready for it - but Margaret and Dick had enough layers to be comfortable.

They got a quick tour of my school, encountering Kata the choir director (nevermind that I haven't been to choir yet this year) and Kata my favorite secretary- who wondered why my parents were not here, just their friends... They got to see the 200+ year old building that has caution tape surrounding it to protect innocent bystanders from getting hit with falling debris. They also got to see strangers cooking gulyás and exiting my school with glasses of beer. I'm not entirely sure what was happening at the school - but two things were clear. 1. I was not invited and 2. this was not the norm for a Friday afternoon (at least not that I know of).

We finished our sight seeing in the old center of town while in search for a plate from Hungary. Both of the Catholic churches were open, I'm not sure why since that is not the norm, but I was glad they got to see the inside of both. We rested for a bit back at my apartment, prepared some sandwiches for the road home and headed out one last time.

Margaret making sandwiches :)

I went with them to the train station to get them on safely - then they were on their own. I about cried when the train they were to ride pulled up - standing room only - Great - they were exhausted and had to stand? Yikes! Luckily I was told that they got a seat after the first stop. Phew. What a great day of visitors and sight seeing! Thanks for coming - and for the M&M's!!!!