Szeged

This weekend I visited Szeged, Hungary. It was a really relaxing weekend with my friends and I loved it. I posted some important pics ;) The first one is a Hungarian cullinary delight..Stuffed Cabbage served in a hot clay bowl with a mound of bread baked on top. The second is a picture of Szegedi Fish Soup. One of my favorite things in the world.


This is Samm Cheeseman. This summer, we will have been friends for 10 years. Its so cool that we met in Szeged 10 years ago and now we are living together once a week when she comes to work in Budapest! :) It makes my Wednesdays more exciting!

Walking on Water

I went to Vienna for the weekend. One of the highlights was going to the Danube which is frozen over. It was a bit terrifying at first. It was strange. I really did feel a bit anxious when I stepped onto the ice..thinking that it would crack and everyone would fall into the horribly cold water. Then I just had to reassure myself that 100's of others were on the ice and its really okay. It was really neat just walking along the river for about a quarter of a mile.

I'm sure my fear of walking on the water can parallel a bit with Peter and Jesus.. Not even meaning to find a spiritual parallel...joking while I was walking on water..at least I had snow and 100's of people to look at and step..Peter..he had nothing but water and a rocky water. He sure was brave!

A icy Wednesday

Its icy and cold outside and I chose to stay in today. I'm exhausted from lisetning to 49 of my students talk on average of 5-6 minutes each about 1 of 12 topics.  I have 7 more hours to go this week and I'm going to be very greatful for these mid-terms to end! 

I have started Grad school again and my class is on Special Education. So far I've just read a lot. It hhelps that its cold outside so I just enjoy my warm apartment and read. 

On Monday, I went ice-skating in City Park.  Its a huge rink right beside one of the castles.  I went with some of my new Turkish friends, two Polish friends and Attis. They are all Erasmus students studying education. I have enjoyed getting to know them but am sad they are leaving soon. I think it had been about 8 years or so since I iceskated. It was a bit scary at first..but I soon got the hang of it again and sped around like a fast skater :) jk. Just meandered around.

I'm going to Vienna for the weekend and am looking forward to seeing some friends and getting some much needed encouragement. This is the part of the year that its the hardest cuz its so gray and dreary out there! 

Hope you are staying warm! 

First Week of School Finished

Its been a busy and unusual week. I was able to hopefully, adequaltey prepare all of my students for their Speaking Exams next week. They have 12 topics which they must learn then they will pick a topic form a hat and must speak on that subject for 3-8 minutes depending on what grade level.

Tuesday night I was still jet lagging and I slept for 12 hours. It was a lot but I was back to normal on Wednesday. Its really cold here this week. I don't remember it being this cold last year. Its in the 10's and lower at night and about low 20's during the day.. brrrr.

trying to get my house in order and clean cuz Monday I start Grad school again :) Nothing like being organized to hopefully get the right foot off the ground :)!!

4 years ago...

4 years ago, a precious woman entered my life. I picked her as my college roomate on a whim of liking her last name. She had just returned from Africa. I had just returned from Hungary. We met and instantly knew we'd get along.

She read her Bible faithfuly an prayed intimatley. I looked at her in awe and knew someday I'd be like that too.

We shared a rare thing in common...size 11 shoes :)

I wanted to finish my degree in three years and move to Hungary. She wanted to Graduate and work at JH and move to India. We both did just that :)

Last Friday, we met at the airport, to just chat for an hour. We never thought our dreams would come true. After so much prayer and encouraging one another in missions. She was returning to India and I to Hungary. Its amazing how God works out our dreams even though we both had to wait some time :)

A new Day

Today was the first day back at school. It was normal, busy and good. Next week is the Oral Exams for all of my students so I must listen to all of them speak A LOT :)

Its cold here..I'm wishing for some warmer weather but I know it will come :)

The beauty of Sleep

After my last words to God going to sleep..."please help me sleep through the night"... I did. I actually went to sleep around 11:45pm and didn't wake up till my alarm at 8am. I promptly rolled over, turned off my cell phone and went back to sleep till 11: 40. It was beatiful. I'm not jetlagged and I'm feeling more myself. Now if only a little elf (rebecca) could come unpack and organize all my crap from America that would be AMAZING :) but I'll do it instead!

Back in Budapest

I'm back in Budapest. After a great Christmas Vacation..nothing like the Grizwalds...I'm back in Hungary. Its strange being back. I'm full of unsettling emotions of wanting to be home, wanting to be here and being utterly exhuasted. I will post some pics and stories about my holiday which truly was wonderful. Tonight, in order to keep me awake, I went to see my friend Rachael where we celebrated her 24th birthday. We took a walk along the Danube on the Pest side. Its cooolllddddd here but it was wonderful to walk along such a beautiful road :) I've been awake for 34 hours with a 4 hour nap..I'm going to try to sleep :)