Eww, McDonald's!

So I'm sitting in McDonald's right now stealing their power and signal because I'm still waiting for internet to be installed in my flat. In fact, two nice gentlemen from T-Kabel showed up on Friday to turn of my cable signal (all three channels) but had not yet received papers for my internet, so no dice. But I found McDonald's on the walking street and they have a wireless signal too. Just in case anyone was wondering I haven't bought anything from them yet, and I'm hoping I don't get caught. I'm trying to be as inconspicuous and in the corner as I can be. (Any readers with iPhones wouldn't be a complete loss if they came to visit) And I decided that I was past due for a blog entry, I apologize to anyone who has actually been checking in to see if I had posted anything yet.

I can't seem to upload any pictures yet but when I can I have some nice shots of Paprika Festival in Kalocsa, Budapest city shots, and I'll have some separate entries for some of the food I've been making while I've been here. So far I continue to gather recipes and ideas for cooking Hungarian food. I hope everyone is doing well! I'll blog again soon! Szeged will be having their own Paprika Festival (Paprika Napok) October 3-5.

Debrecen

Another weekend another city. This last weekend I went to Debrecen for its jazz festival. Do to a lack of looking up times for the free concerts and thinking they would be later when the day was cooler we waited to venture out. The weekend, however, was still a success! We partied, ate pizza, drank palinka, and danced. That was the weekend in a nutshell. A huge thanks to Ali and Rachel for hosting! And to Rachel's friends Sucre and Edit for dinner and hanging out. And to Lyla, Lauren, Jacob, and Vivvi for all attending.

Kalocsa

I went to beautiful Kalocsa this weekend. On the way, during the 3 hour bus ride from Szeged, I passed a sign for Sükösd. I was very excited to be that close. I hope I go there soon. I crashed with Franny and helped clean and break in her kitchen.


We went to the farmer's market and bought fresh peaches (barack), onions, parsnips, potatoes, a paprika plant, tomatoes, and garlic. I made peach soup, and a vegetarian gulyás. Both were very good! The peach soup could have definitely been made into a peach ice cream.

Safe and Sound!

I have arrived and am happy to not be circling the globe in an airplane. I'll be in Budapest for a week then I'll be moving on to Szeged. So far I have been to an outdoor club, had goulash at a nice restaurant, and begun orientation. I am attempting to get into teaching mode...

If anyone needs to get ahold of me I can recieve calls at no cost, from America, at 011.36.30.519.9096.

Craziest things I've ever done!

So I have a plane ticket good for two weeks from today that will take me from Portland, OR to Budapest, Hungary. The Point? To teach English in the city of Szeged. How crazy is that?


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Happiness

I'm finding that happiness is becoming evermore elusive to me. I'm not sure why, or even if happiness is important. But I do know that for those who subscribe to the idea that perception is in fact reality then a good face on everything is the most important expression of that idea in certain situations. I do not necessarily agree. I do, however, enjoy moments when I am happy. So this continues to be a conundrum.

So in order to begin processing this idea of happiness as it plays out in my life I am attempting to make a list of things that I enjoy and bring the feeling of happiness to moments.

Traveling, sharing, bettering myself, challenging myself, school, friends, good food, wine and spirits, cooking, creating, discussing, doing things for others, giving and receiving massages, and music.