Wednesday, August 31, 2011

I'm Alive I Promise

Hi Everyone:

I just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that I am alive and I have not forgotten about you, nor about my promise to write in this blog at least once a week. I'm sure you are thinking, well Kristen it has been two weeks since you wrote anything. I really do apologize and I promise it was not my fault!! It felt like the surface of the sun in Budapest and the hostel did not have wireless that agreed with my computer. There was a computer lab, but it was located next to some sort of indoor pool and felt like an incredibly humid surface of the sun. As such, half of the computers did not work properly as computers dislike heat and humidity as much as I do. So I thought, well I get wireless on my phone, I can live without it on my computer this week. I'll have it when I get to Kőszeg. Not so. Ah the frustrations of moving to a foreign country. I am currently on one of the school computers typing very slowly on a Hungarian keyboard that has letters in all kinds of random places.

I have had a rough couple of days, not gonna lie. It is unexpectedly difficult to be the only person in a town that speaks English fluently, meaning a native speaker (and it seems very few people speak English at all here). As English speakers, we are all too used to the world bending to accomodate us and knowing our language. I thought I was prepared for the struggle that this would present, but I don't think you really can be until you experience it. I have a Master's degree in the States and here I am illiterate, I can't even buy what I want at the grocery store without trouble. I can't read how to make the Hungarian version of Ramen noodles, but luckily that seems to be a universal process. (P.S. my stove doesn't work yet, I am not eating Ramen by choice). And speaking of my oven\stove, I have to light it with a match. Yeah. I feel like not only have I moved to a foreign country, I have also gone back in time. Not altogether a bad thing, but definitely an adjustment. After a small meltdown on the phone with my mother last night, I realized as always, that is is really easy to get caught up in many little things that are negative. I have been so welcomed by the staff here at JMG, the town is BEAUTIFUL, and my apartment is huge, clean, and more than I could afford in the States. I went to an excellent classical concert by the local symphony last night with the principal of the school and one of the English teachers held to commemorate the town "defeating" the Turks way back in the 16th century. They really just survived the seige and the Turks thought it was too much trouble to keep going and left them alone, but hey, that's one way to do it. Anyway, both the principal and the teacher were so concerned that I would be cold and made sure that they drove me home and even walked me to my door. I almost feel like some sort of combination of a porcelain doll that everyone is afraid to break, and a new toy that people really want to show off and play with. It's an odd feeling.

On top of all of this, the Hungarians are very difficult to grasp. As in much of this region, they have had a very rough history, but there is a deep pessimism that permeates this culture that I have not experienced before. In Poland, people seemed cautiously optimistic about the future and were striving to improve their English to make themselves more marketable. Here, people almost seem resigned to staying forever and resigned to the poverty and negativity. It's weird. People don't smile. Those of you that now me well know that I don't necessarily consider myself to be an optimist or even an altogether positive person, but the Hungarians make me seem like a freakin care bear. So anyway, the care bear of Kőszeg will live to see another day. Tonight is the opening ceremony of the school and tomorrow is the first day of classes!! I feel ok about it, actually looking forward to meeting the kids and getting things rolling. I think the stress of the unknown is actually the worst part right now. I will let you know how things go! Wish me luck!

2 comments:

  1. Go get 'em Kristen- you're going to knock them dead! You'll be able to laugh soon at the adjustments- they make for great stories :)

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  2. There are so many changes happening all at once, that meltdowns and times of stress are completely normal! It's okay -- you get through it, and move on to a happier day where you're in some way better adjusted than you were the day before. :) - Kellie

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