Today as I was coming home from school, I had a hard time stopping the tears from falling. It's so ironic to me, I think back about 19 months and I was doing the same thing. The only difference is then I was crying because I missed my family immensely. This time I'm crying because I only have two more days at my school. All these relationships that I have formed over the past two years (different from relationships in the states) are soon coming to an end. I know I can still keep in touch with many people. Although, there are some, who barely speak English, that I can communicate with face to face, once we loose that proximity, I think the relationship will be almost impossible to keep. These are people that I have grown to love and I will miss them more than I can say.

May 31 in Hungary is Pedagogus Nap (Teacher's Day). Often the students will bring flowers or bottles of wine to the teachers as a thank you for their service. It's kind of similar to Mother's Day for children.

Well this year, my school decided to give the teachers the day off from teaching. So we went into school at 8:00 am for a meeting that finished in less than an hour. After that we were free to play ping pong, chess, and some other games. The teachers worked together to make lunch for each other.


It's totally different than anything in California. They set up two fires outside and were cooking meat these pots. I couldn't imagine this back home. The fire department would come and shut the school down.

The month of April passed by so quickly. It was actually a very difficult month for me so I'm glad it's over. I had meetings on two Saturdays and had to work another Saturday. That is part of why it was difficult and why it passed so quickly.

I do have to say that my students blessed me. The group that I meet with most often outside of school invited me over to one of their homes for lunch. It was very sweet. Betty made three different kinds of chicken. One was a chicken and cheese casserole another was baked chicken legs and the other was basil chicken. It was all very good. She also had rice and french fries. Oh, and she made chocolate/coconut balls... can't really explain it, I haven't had anything like it in the states before. It was all very good. I'm really going to miss my students as I won't be returning to teach next year.

Today I went to a botanical garden with three of my students. We didn't have school. The teachers had to go in for meetings, but I didn't have to go because everything is in Hungarian.

It was really nice... I wanted to share some pictures. This is in the middle of the city, but I didn't even remember I was in the city, it was so tranquil.

Iskola Nap
(School day)

Today we had a different day. It's more for the students to have fun than anything else. There are movies showed in some classrooms. One classroom was full of chess boards another had tables set up like a casino. We had a school talent show as well as other contests. Since my school is a catering school, they also had some contests involving food and drinks.

One of the food contests was involving cooking out on the football field. You might think that's okay... kind of different, but no big deal. It wasn't what (in America) would be a normal cookout. On the football field, they set up about 6 or 7 firepits (just put some brick and wood down) and were cooking soup in big pots over it. I felt like I was at a campsite with the way the firepits were set up. I did try some of the soup, it was very good.

Today I was playing 20 questions with one of my classes. Basically, I wanted to know what they do in school. I only see them once a week. They have three English lessons, but I only teach one of them. I have noticed that they don't bring much to school. The girls basically come to class with just their purses. I found out that they don't have any books. They only have notebooks and papers.

They have approximately 30 lessons a week, Monday through Thursday. On Fridays they work at different places around the city and receive grades for it. I would consider it an internship, but I'm not sure if that's what it is or not.

This group is one of my older groups, so they will be finishing school this year. I asked them what they will do when they are done with school and they said that they aren't sure. They will probably work in a similar position but in a different workplace. I asked them if they will continue schooling at another school. They all answered with a resounding "NO".

They really aren't learning this year. They feel hopeless and I think abandoned for reasons I can't post.

The students just say... this is the education system in Hungary. I wish I could help them. My heart goes out to them. I know there is nothing I can do but pray for them and hope that one day they will have the same hope I have. This hope doesn't rest in a position in life, but in the one who created life.

Trying something new...

I decided two weeks ago that I'm not going to work on weekends anymore. Well in work, I mean grading, lesson planning ... school stuff. I still have other work to do, ESI administrative stuff, housework, and wedding/marriage preparation stuff. It worked last weekend. I was surprised at how much energy I had going into the week. I felt like I had been away from school for a while, when in actuality it was the same amount of time as any other weekend. I am hoping that I can keep this up for the remainder of the year.

Back to school...

In Hungary, Christmas break ended on January 2. We were all back in school on Thursday January 3. It was a nice way to ease back into school for me, having only two days before the weekend. I ended up staying home from work for almost two weeks before the break. So it has been about four weeks since I've seen many of my students.

Yesterday, the graduating or leaving students had their Szalagavato. I enjoy going because it gives me a chance to see the students in a different setting as well as learn more about the culture. The students receive a pin from their form teacher as a symbol that they are becoming adults. There are a couple of fun dances; one group of students danced to Grease, another did the Charleston. Then there is the big waltz. They are all choreographed and the students look beautiful.

Joey was able to go with me. It gave him the opportunity to see a little bit of my work life. He was able to meet some of my colleagues as well as see some students. I really enjoyed having him there.

Semi Housebound

I have had an infection for about six weeks now. I have gone to the doctor a bunch of times. They aren't sure what's wrong with me.

I ended up staying home from work most of last week. I need to stay close to home with this bug.

Being home has given me a chance to catch up on some things that I haven't had the time to do. But still I would like to be better. I have a small Christmas gathering planned for some of my students. I don't want to cancel it... may have to change the location to my home.

Please pray for me.

Oh my... I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted anything on here. You may be wondering what has been going on in this part of the world...

Well I went to Bratislava, Slovakia twice in October, once for a meeting, the other time for fun, to visit friends. I was also able to hop on a train and be in Vienna in an hour while I was saying in Bratislava.

I also had to work two Saturdays in October. They were both to make up for a Monday before or a Friday after a holiday so that we would have a few days off in a row.

We had our Fall Break during the week of October 29. I pretended like I was a tourist and visited some cities around the country that week. It was really nice. Everything was so beautiful with the leaves changing colors with the season.

This past weekend, Teach Overseas Central Europe had our annual Thanksgiving get together. We met in the Czech Republic. I had a good time there. It even snowed on Saturday before we left.

Please remember to keep me in your prayers as living and working in a different culture can be quite a challenge.

A Pleasant Shopping Experience...

Today on my way home from school I decided to stop at a Vegetable/Fruit Store. I pass this store everyday that I go to school, but this was the first time for me to stop. As I walked in, the man working there said, "Tessek" (How can I help you?). I responded, "Beszelsz angolul?" (Do you speak English?). And to my surprise, he spoke English fluently!! Then he asked me where I'm from, what I'm doing here and told me that his neighbor lives half the year here in Hungary and half in Los Angeles. I could have communicated what I needed to him without English. But it is nice to be able to speak English sometimes outside of the home and classroom.

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Little updates...

I am currently (well I was) eating Chicken Paprika. It is a typical Hungarian dish composed of chicken, paprika, and pasta. It's very good!

Yesterday we had our central administration retreat. We (8 field area leaders) met most of the day at my flat, then we went to the baths to relax a little, then we went to dinner at a nice little restaurant/pub called For Sale Pub. Today I'm having my leftovers for dinner, trying to do some Hungarian homework and watching a movie. It's a good day to be in Hungary.

I've been back in Hungary for less than two weeks. In some ways it feels like it's been over a month. It was so easy for me to jump back into things. . . and then start running. Things have been very busy here. I have gone to the immigration office twice only to find out that I still have a temporary visa. The last I heard, it should be ready in about 30 days.

School started this past Monday. It has been so nice to see my students again. When I see their faces and talk with them in class, I remember why I am here. In spite of the difficulties of culture shock and language barriers, I know that God has a plan for my life in Hungary.

I'm home!!! . . . in Hungary again!!

It is so nice to be back! I had a wonderful summer, visiting with friends and family and attending Teach Overseas training. But I must say, I'm glad to be home. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for this new year.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. (Psalm 33:11-12)

May Hungary's God be the LORD! I pray that this nation would be grafted into the the vine that the Lord speaks of in John 15.

Home again. . .

I've been back in California for about two weeks. And though it is my home state it feels much more temporary than it used to.

Right now I'm staying with my mom and step-dad. My mom has the summer off because she is an elementary school teacher. It has been really nice to be able to visit with her and do mother/daughter things. I have also been spending a lot of time with friends and other family members. I love being home! I value the relationships that I have here; I treasure every minute I have with everyone in CA. I know that this is not permanent, the Lord is calling me forward to another place. I will be in Hungary for another school year, and then we will see after that.

Needed: Small tub full of cold water . . .

It is so hot today! (Over 90 plus humidity!!) And unfortunately we have no air conditioning in our flat. I had my window open for a little bit, but since it is so windy, my curtains end up flying out the window. And since my window is west facing, I would be sitting in the sun. I could always work on my tan. . . :-)

Receiving Teachings...

The Lord is constantly teaching me things... if I am willing to stop and listen, then hopefully I learn. But when I am too busy, I sometimes miss the JOY that he has in me. God is so good!

This morning I was watering some plants we have in pots outside our front door. Two of the plants are herbs, rosemary and mint. I'm not sure how long we have had them, but long enough for them to really grow and produce fruit so to speak. As I have had plants over the past couple of years, I have learned to really enjoy them. I love it that I can see how my care for them allows them to grow and to be healthy. I love running my hand over the mint and the rosemary and then smelling my hand, the scent transfers onto my hands and it smells so good, so fresh.

What came to mind in that this morning is that as the Lord pours himself into me... as I am open to being in his word and in prayer and growing in him that I am a pleasing aroma to him.

God is so good... and I know that as I find joy in my herbs and seeing them growing and thriving I know that God finds joy in seeing me growing and thriving.

I'm done! No more teaching until September 3.

I had my last classes on Thursday. Then on Friday we had a staff lunch. It was very nice. They gave us little espresso cups and coffee as gifts.

It is so hard for me to believe that the year is over. I did spend some time with my students last night. One of my friends let me host a small handful of students at his house. We had snacks and pizza and watched a movie and talked a little. It really still hasn't hit me that I won't see them again until September. I feel like I should be seeing them again on Monday or Tuesday.

As things come to a close... I know that some are wondering how the school year went for me. It was good. I am so glad that I took this opportunity to move to Hungary to teach English. There are (of course) things that could have been better, things I could have done better. But I'm looking forward to next year. I will be going into the next school year with more understanding and being better prepared.

I am very much looking forward to seeing people back home this summer! I'll be home in less than a week!! I love you all!!

I am loving where I'm at right now! Things are going so well. I met with my students at the YWAM coffee house again yesterday. It is so much fun! They are so sweet, and they are really opening up to me. Some of them have been bringing their boyfriends and one girl has been bringing her sister. I realized last night that I'm going to miss them while I'm back in the states. I thank the Lord for allowing me to be a part of their lives and for allowing me to have relationship with them for at least another year. I miss everyone at home, but I'm so glad that I'll be back next year!