First Night out.

So I felt I should write about my first night hanging out with friends. The night was kinda like a homecoming thing except the only similarity was the fact there was a dance. In Midland for homecoming everybody dresses up, meets up with friends, takes pictures, eats and then goes to the dance which is usually pretty blah. In Hungary this night begins with the Freshman Induction Ceremony. This isn’t like a regular induction to a school. All the freshmen sit on the floor and everyone else stands around them. (In Hungary each grade has 3 classes- A,B,N) In the freshman induction ceremony the students lead it and they call up 1 or 2 people to do a silly task from each class. For example, the upperclassman put shaving cream on a balloon and the freshman have to shave it off without popping the balloon. Whoever out of the freshman does it best, their class gets a point. The last event the upperclassman brought out a coat hanger and they called up a guy from each glass to like grind on It and all the other students through money at them while they did it. After that ended there was a dance (by the way everyone is in street clothes) and that went to about 10. Then me and my friends decided to go to a “bigger” party. As we were walking I was thinking it would be like the Midland High after parties. The party didn’t start until 12 so we did a lot of waiting I didn’t see many high schoolers . Then at like 12:30 we all decided not to go in. At this point it was like all gypsy-middle aged men and their girlfriends. So we called my host mom to come get us. While we were waiting we were in the corner of the place and it was really uncomfortable. There was a guy dressed like Jack Sparrow and another one who looked like he tried to grow and afro, and then gave up and shaved the sides of his head but not the middle. Freaky! So when they arrived we ran to the car and got out of the gypsy invested hot mess! Then we came home.

On another note; I thought making friends would make missing home soooo much easier. I’m really glad I did make friends. But coming home after I just felt very incomplete. Then I realized, even though I did make friends, they aren’t my friends at home so it won’t be the same. This made me sad so I quickly went to bed. I think this feeling will become less over time when I start learning the language more and become closer with my new friends. Then I will be able to love both! But I am still glad to have friends here J

Does this require a title?

I didn’t go to school all last week because Barbi was sick and I didn’t want to go alone. Plus I had Visa stuff to do. I went to Budapest for a Rotary Presentation on Tuesday night. The presentation went well, and Budapest is gorgeous. I now know why Katy Perry chose it for her firework video. So beautiful, and no picture could do it justice. Anyways, I did my visa thing in Eger (nearby city) and the people said they couldn’t give me my visa because I don’t speak Hungarian- and then my host mom had me give them the speech I gave in Budapest the previous night (in Hungarian) and apparently that didn’t do it for them (I secretly think they were impressed though) and so they gave me a residence permit. Don’t know if this is okay- let’s hope!! The rest of the week was pretty- blah. The only thing of importance I did was join a gym- so I don’t go a lardy dough ball. I went to my host dads on Friday and that was fun. I explained baseball to him, because he didn’t understand the point. So of course I had to make him understand the American Past time! It was a little weird for me because at home everyone knows and most have played baseball. This reminds me of when my foreign exchange student, Priscila, (from Brazil) came home and told us her class played baseball in gym class but she didn’t know how to play so she hit the ball and just stood there and then her teammates all were yelling for her to run… hahahaha. It just seems strange but I guess it isn’t as common in other countries. So on Sunday we went to Budapest and saw Colombiana (in English!) which I would definitely recommend. Today at school I talked Noella, (mentioned in early posts) and we made official plans to hangout (before they were like sketches of plans) and she told me her Grandpa lived in the USA for 20 years and would like to talk to me, so that’s exciting. Lastly I just want to give some advice (if you want to call it that) or things I have learned.

1.       1.  When someone is visibly upset, don’t ask them why. If they are like me they are probably trying to forget about why they are upset. So asking will make them remember. Also, they probably don’t want people to notice and by commenting you obviously noticed.

2.     2.    I finally learned what “to miss” means. It’s not “oh I haven’t seen you in a week because you were up north and I’ll see you when we hangout tomorrow but I miss you”. No. To miss someone is like a physical thing. It’s like you would pay money to talk face to face or hug that person.

3.       3. Be nice to the exchange students. Invite them to hangout. What I didn’t expect  coming  here is the longing for people to hang out with. I expected the missing everyone, missing English, and missing food. I didn’t think it would be hard making friends. I didn’t think about the fact that the students already have close friends and that it would be hard because you have to “infiltrate” the group.

4.       Also, for future exchange students reading this. The best piece(s)  of advice I can give you is

A.      Enjoy your time at home!!!! I cannot stress this enough.

B.      My good friend Marisa told me this and I think about it whenever I’m homesick. Whenever you are homesick remember every day you survive you are one day closer to see everybody again.

And finally a quote I read on facebook.

“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be.”
— Marcel Pagnol

Ps. The end of this might have been slightly depressing. I assure you my host family is great and I’m having a good time. J

Ps #2. I have enabled comments so you can comment if you wish. 

Budapest :) 

Budapest at night 

Early September.

So this blog might be long, because a lot has happened over the past week(s?). So last Friday I went to the Matra Mountains with my host family, which was a lot of fun. We drove up and then walked up this path and took some pictures because we were at the very highest point in Hungary. Then we walked along a forest path and my host mom told me about how there are a lot of little squirrels in this forest and you have to call them to see them. She said the person that lives in this huge old mental institution looking building lives there because he needs clean air to breathe, and every morning he gets up and feeds the squirrels. My host mom got some acorns and was hitting them together saying “mow-kush, mow-kush” which is what the Hungarian word for squirrel sounds like. Eventually the squirrels came, and it was a good time. When we left we went to this other place overlooking the city and rode a mini roller coaster. Then we got traditional Hungarian food. I don’t remember the name but it was like pancakes (acorn and chocolate filling flavor) and a fried potato dish that had cheese. Both were very good!

On Saturday we went to my Host Grandparents house. Both sets were very sweet and we ate lunch with them. I met my host mom’s brother and his family, and then went to see my host dad’s house. We just looked from the outside because he wasn’t home. At this point was didn’t feel good, and was exhausted. I slept on the way home and then crashed when we got home. I slept for about 6 hours so I didn’t go to the festival they had on that day. On Sunday we chilled at home and I had a really good day. As the week went on it started to sink in that this is my new life and I won’t be going home. That was really difficult and I was sad. It was especially hard because I hadn’t made many friends and felt very alone. After two days of self pity I decided I needed to make a move and ask someone to hang out. I did that, and now I have plans to go out with people. It was nice because I finally felt like I was making progress. So as the week progressed I learned I 1) Have to do a Rotary Presentation on Tuesday evening, partly in Hungarian 2) Will be moving to Budapest in January and 3) Had a orientation meeting for Rotary on the weekend.

So on Friday I had ice cream with a Turkish exchange student who isn’t with Rotary, and that was fun. Then I headed of to Debrecen for a Rotary conference. (Debrecen is like 1.5 hours south of my town). We met a school and met all the other exchange students. Then we went to a set of cabins outside of town in the woods. They were very dirty but it was okay. We didn’t do much and when we woke up we had breakfast and were bussed back to the school. We then sat through orientation for 4 hours. It was boring except for the fact that we were told all the trips we have a choice to take throughout the year; including Italy, Austria, Poland, trips in Hungary and of course the Europe tour at the end of the exchange. Then we got to go into Debrecen and were told to meet up around 5. The Debrecen mall is where everybody pretty much went and it was so cheap! The shirts were on average from $8-12. I saw an advertisement for $13 jeans, but I didn’t buy anything anyways. Then we went back to the camp and had dinner and then had a disco. I was debating on whether to go and I’m so glad I did. I met so many of the other exchange students (there are 43 total so it’s hard to talk to everybody) and I had a blast. We danced until like Midnight when it was just me a Brazilian and a Mexican left. It was a good time. Then I thought I was going to go to bed but me and this girl Annika (Colorado) went into one of the Brazilians rooms where we stayed until like 3:30 am. All the Brazilians were in there and it was like walking into Brazil. Brazilian music, food, and flags everywhere. (Brazilians are very patriotic) and everybody speaking Portuguese. But we ended up playing Truth or Dare which was a good time. The next day we got breakfast and went back to Debrecen to be picked up or take a train. My host dad and sister picked me up and we stopped at a store and then went to his house. I met his partner, Orse, and her son Bence- all very nice. They also have to dogs and a cat. It kinda made me miss my pets but it was a good type of miss. I didn’t go to school today because my sister is sick. I think I should post some pictures now.

Cinnamon Bread and Apricot jelly- yummmm. 

Not the school (referred to in blog) but I different school.

Americans! Included- New York (2), Michigan (2), California (2),
 Pennslyvania, Colorado, Alaska, Ohio, Washington, Florida

First Days

Sorry I have not been writing! I feel like it is never a good time…. But I know I always stalk other exchange students’ blogs, and when they don’t post it is annoying.  After leaving my family in Detroit, I boarded the flight to Chicago. I sat next to a nice ginger businessman. He was talking about Europe, but I was sad and didn’t really want to hear it- although to his credit he did try to make me feel better. After landing in Chicago I followed the signs and monitor boards on a long walk to another gate. On the way I noticed another teenager who seem to have a blue blazer on and did one of those walk- past- and- do- a- quick- glance- back type walks and she noticed and told me she was an exchange student headed to Brazil from Mexico. It was nice to see someone in my position. It turned out we were walking to the same gate except her flight was the one leaving at that gate after mine. After getting in line I waited and waited to get on the plane and finally did. I got Erik (pillow pet) out during the walk so all the little kids stared. Did I mention at the airport I felt like a was a zoo animal? Not in a bad way, just that when every other passenger walked past, they stared at my pin filled Rotary jacket. They wouldn’t ask me, just would stare at my jacket. Anyways, my plane to Frankfurt had to decks, three rows of seats. 340 passengers. The man behind me to the right was quite attractive. He had his son with him who looked to be about two.  The little boy was really cute- but he cried a lot. So on that long flight I got about 2 hours of sleep. Landing in Frankfort we were picked up by shuttle. I’m going to be honest, I’m not a big fan of that airport. I didn’t know what was going on and the English speakers I talked to didn’t either. We were taken right to a monitor board and I didn’t see my plane. So I asked this man and he told me the new gate. Then I tried to go through to get to my gate (past this visa stamp thing) and the man and woman were like “Did you read the sign?!?” Of course I said no. Then the woman snipped “Next time read the sign!!!” I still didn’t have any idea what she was referring to but I just handed over my passport and the guy says “Are you a European Union citizen?!?” And again said no. And he told me in a not so nice way that HIS little gate thing was for only European citizens, but that he would sign it anyway, and to next time “read the sign!!” So then I went through security and then began the longest walk to find my gate which was the 2 to last gate at the other side of the airport. I sat there and tried to call my parents with my mom’s phone (she got it in Italy) and tried to call but it kept telling me the number was wrong. (Or something like that because it was in a different language) and then I had no wifi. So for about an hour and a half I sat, with nothing to do because I finished my “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book on the last plane. Finally I was boarding and they told me my carry-on was too big, they would store it. In the back of my mind I could hear my dad “keep your carry-on!” but there was not much I could do, and I had all the important papers in my purse. Boarding this plane marks a low point. I felt alone. No English speakers. It was just me now. To keep from being sad I slept. When I woke up we were about to land and my nerves kicked in.  As I walked off I felt more nervous than I did for my mini IOP in English class. My knees were wobbling and my stomach was in knots. I got my luggage and walked around the corner. I saw my host mom jumping up and down and smiling and waving. My nerves disappeared. I was showered with gifts and the boys took my suitcases. We again tried to call my mom and it finally worked. We got in the car and drove home. My sister and I immediately started talking, and we get along well. I’m glad she can relate because last year she was in Argentina and knows how it feels. When we got home I gave them their gifts, which they thanked me for. I did a bit of unpacking and then got on the computer. My mom, sister and I were all checking facebook and emailing. Then my sister took me on a walk around the city and we talked about school. We went to the store, and then came home and ate. We then chilled and went to bed. This morning I woke up around 5:45 my time (11:45pm  Midland Time). We got up at like 6:30 and got ready then walked to school. For celebrations  they always wear a traditional outfit. It’s not the cutest- but that’s okay because all the girls were wearing the same thing, and the boys had on suits. At the beginning of the first day of school they stand out in the courtyard and some students perform. This marks another low point. I again felt alone and missed my friends at home. When that ended we went to class. First we just had the beginning hour, I don’t think it has a name. Then I went to German 1 and Barbi went to a higher level of German. The teacher didn’t speak any English, I don’t think many of classmates did either. She tried to talk to me which was an epic fail. Then she said something that sounds like “nem, too dumb” which to me meant “no, she’s too dumb” and then the class laughed.  I wanted to say “I’m not that dumb, I haven’t even been here 24 hours! But I didn’t when I asked Barbi she said it means “I don’t understand” which makes much more sense. I went to history, art, chemistry, literature, and English. I liked my lit class because the teacher had me introduce myself to the class, and they were suppose to ask questions. Barbi wasn’t in this class, but luckily I met a girl named Martina who speaks English well and she was my translator. One boy (he looks like Amanda Bynes love interest in “What a girl wants”!) gave me a piece of bread that was like a cinnamon roll. Then I went to English and we listened to Madonna and some other 80’s band and we were suppose to fill in the blanks for the lyrics. It was kind of hard! The teacher really likes British English so she sounds British. She kept asking me the meanings of the songs. Anyways, school ended and we went to get ice cream. Then I went to get money from the bank and ate lunch when I came home (3:30ish) and then I just chilled. The good news is I’m learning lots of Hungarian terms. J Sorry that was so long. I’ll post more sometime next week.