Hungary [Part Duex].

We got on the bus and I knew I was in trouble; my knees were already rubbing against the seat in front of me.

Fast-forward 26 hours.

We arrived in a small town on Lake Balaton – the largest lake in Europe – and got settled. Our accommodations were a mix between Scout camp and a Holiday Inn provided by the Municipality of Debrecen. With hot water and a bed, I was happy as a clam.

Our breakfasts and dinners for the 4 days at Lake Balaton were served buffet style – a Peace Corps volunteers dream. We were stuffed with Goulash, paprika chicken, dumpling-type noodles, and plenty of fruit for desert. The breakfast was the typical European breakfast, sliced meats and cheeses with strong, strong coffee. They had scrambled eggs a couple of times which was fantastic.

The Mansion.

Our days were left free for us to relax / explore the town. One day, we went to a former (reclaimed by the state during communism) aristocratic Austro-Hungarian mansion. Its grandeur really spoke of the wealth these families wielded. Its library was astounding – complete with a secret door, opened by pulling a fake book.

The café's view.

After a few days of doing nothing in particular, we headed to Budapest. We only had three hours in town and most of it was spent touring around the city in the bus. Luckily, we had a hour to wander on the Buda (hilly) side. I found a great café with an amazing view of the Parliament building. Since I had been in Budapest just a few months ago, I just got some coffee and cake and enjoyed the view.

The reason for our trip was Debrecen’s - our ‘sister’ city - Flower Festival. It was a three day affair and culminated in a parade of performers and floats covered in fresh flowers.



Painstaking Detail.

And as quickly as it had begun (after the 24 hour bus ride home), it was over.

As if 50 hours of travel in a week and a half wasn’t enough, we got in to Shoumen at 6 am and I had to take a 6 hour train ride to Sofia at 9 am. Ouch.

Oh well, I am alive and better for it. Hope all is well,
Mark


Fireworks on the last night.

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(312)

Things have changed.

Through the miracle of high speed internet – and no small aid from my brother – when you call a certain number with a ‘312’ area code (ie Chicago), you will make the phone sitting on my desk 8 times zones away ring. Strange, strange world. [Email me for the number – I am not going to post it on the website.]

On a completely unrelated point, I am leaving for Hungary this Sunday. 10 days spent mostly in small towns with 40 Bulgarian colleagues - 48+ hours of it on a bus. I was instructed to be sure to bring my bathing suit, food for the bus, and under no circumstances to bring 'dressy' clothes. I really don't have any idea what to expect out of the whole thing but, at worst it should be worth a couple pictures and a tale or two.

Hope all is well,
Mark

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A Field Trip, Three Random Acts of Kindness and the Chili that wouldn’t end…

Yesterday (Tuesday) was my 2nd annual field trip with the local orphanage. We took 10 kids (and will be taking another 10 next week) to a larger, nearby city to see the local zoo and Dolphin Show. It was good fun.

We started the day with a minivan ride to the Zoo. Unfortunately it was a hot morning and one of the little guys spent most of the 45 minutes throwing up on a nurse. Aside from that, the kids were angels – they always are shockingly well behaved for a pack of 3-4 year olds.

We got to the zoo and it was fun to watch the kids run up to an exhibit (aka chain link fence ‘habitat’) and launch into questions.

Them: ‘What is that?’
Me: ‘A camel.’
Them: ‘Is it a horse?’
Me: ‘No, it is a camel.’
Them: ‘What is wrong with that horse’s back?’
Me: ‘It is a camel that’s how camels are.’
Them: ‘Hey, what’s that? [pointing to a peacock and running off].’

So, I am not sure how much education they got out of the whole deal, but at least they saw something new and were asking questions. I was able to deem the Zoo trip a success when we had covered the required zoo checklist (you know - lions, tiger, and bears).

On our way out, one of the trinket venders stopped us and asked if the children were from a home; we said yes and he gave each of them a small blowup beach ball. As we walked out of the park, he started singing a famous children’s song and like out of a movie, the kids took the queue. We sang our way to lunch, which was a hunk of cheese, two slices of bread, and a cucumber. They seemed to like it and we were all happy to get in some shade and get some water.

Lunch time gave way to the Dolphin show. The kids seemed sufficiently dazzled and clapped like mad when the dolphins made the hoop jumps. I don’t know if they will remember it, but it was fun to see them so excited.

Outside the show, a family of German tourists came over to the kids and started giving them little bits of candy. The mother had that look of ‘I wish I could do more’ on her face and we chatted about the home and what kind of work we have been doing for the children. I recognized her reaction from my first experience with the kids – pity, anger, etc… A reaction you have to get over if you really want to do any good at all.

The last bit of kindness was the most interesting. Our walk back to the car took us past a row of junk venders. And our time was mostly spent keeping the kids from grabbing the key chains, refrigerator magnets and cheap stuffed animals off the tables. Just as we got past it all, a baba (grandmother type figure) came and told us that she was an orphan too. She made sure each of the kids got a souvenir and sent us on our way.

All in all, a very good day.

The never ending Chili…

I made a giant batch of chili on Sunday. I guess an attempt at some ‘comfort’ food for the week – strange since I never liked chili until I got here.

I have now eaten chili four times in the last three days. Believe me, this is too much chili. I predict the batch to be finished by Friday and that I will never cook that much of anything again.

Hope all is well, full of kindness from strangers, and chili free,

Mark

PS: Looks like I have a place to live in Chicago – a big hurdle down and one step closer to the land of the free.

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