Fun-Filled Final Week

Very soon, my dears, I shall be able to share with you the reason for my "early" return from Hungary! Until then, a few more bits to share from my final days...

My last week in Hungary couldn't have been any more perfect. A few highlights:

A trip to the cinema with the Fekete family to see Gulliver's Travels 3D

Getting lessons on how to drive a manual car {sadly I've never learned}
from Tibi and Agi

Girls night! Gerda and I did some shopping, saw a movie, and then met up
with Sema afterwards at a tea house

Meeting Marianna at a charming cafe for coffee and cake

My final day of teaching at the Euro high school; this class presented me
with a beautiful bouquet of flowers {white lilies} and a big box of chocolates

This is the quote on the door to my 9G classroom--it
never fails to crack me up!

My 9G class surprised me by planning a tea party for our last lesson.
How sweet!

Zsani, Barbi, and Betti

One of my 9G students gave me this smiling moose; we named him
"Csoki" {short for csokolade, which means chocolate}

Barbi brought her sunglasses to class and I asked if I could try them on--
then the girls grabbed my camera

There is a tree near to a window at the school which is inhabited by five
owls; I got this great close-up of one of them

This is my class of older students which I teach in two different groups;
they also presented me with chocolates

Such a lovely, bittersweet week...

Magic in the Air

I am sitting here in the Hid café, watching the snow fall softly and quietly outside the window. I'm trying not to think about the fact that the weather report is predicting rain here in Debrecen on Christmas Day. Hopefully that will not be the case!

Yesterday was my last day of teaching before Christmas break. I brought in my laptop to show my classes some Christmas films such as "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "A Christmas Carol."

I decided to take a photo with my favorite class {9G} but unfortunately only four of the six were there. I also brought in some chocolate for them to enjoy while they watched the film. I love these kids!

From left to right: Betti, Zsani, Betti, and Atilla.

After my lessons, I was making my way back to the Bridge building from my bus stop. I was walking along one of the more run-down and ugly side streets in Debrecen when suddenly, something so lovely caught my eye that I literally stopped dead in my tracks.

I came across this perfectly Christmasy-looking little bush.

I admired it for several moments. It was such an unexpected surprise.

It just goes to show that beauty can be found in the most unlikely of places.

Tonight, I'm going to get all dressed up to attend a Christmas concert in the city center. My heart is filled with so much joy this time of year. Christmas Carols are playing constantly like a soundtrack in my mind, and it truly feels like magic is in the air.

I hope you all are having magical Christmas seasons as well......

Sick again!

I thought that I did my "time" for being sick back in September during Matt's visit. Apparently not.


So many, many people here have been sick, adults and kids alike. With how much time I spend teaching kids during the week and with the kids in the youth group, it's really not that surprising that I caught it.

Thankfully I didn't get the killer sore throat this time. Just a nasty, severe head cold, a cough, and a little fever. Oh, and a very scratchy, man-ish sounding voice. Lovely.

It hasn't been fun and I've been sleeping a lot, which is the last thing I want to do during this, my favorite season of the year! I think I'm on the ups and have lots to share with you this week.

Hoping all of you in the US are much healthier than me!

Adventures in Teaching {Hungarian-style}

About one month ago, I disclosed that I am now teaching formally in a local Debrecen high school. This was such an unexpected thing for me and has provided me equally unexpected experiences in the classroom!

To begin with, I am only teaching two mornings a week, five lessons each morning. I have four different classes of students between the 10 lessons--classes 9G, 10G, 12N{K} and 12N{H}. My schedule is as follows:

Wednesday
7:45-8:30 -- 9G
8:40-9:25 -- 9G
9:40-10:25 -- 12N{K}
10:35-11:20 -- 12N{K}
11:30-12:15 -- 9G

Friday
7:45-8:30 -- 9G
8:40-9:25 -- 10G
9:40-10:25 -- 9G
10:35-11:20 -- 12N{H}
11:30-12:15 -- 12N{H}

The number represents the grade level, and in the case of the grade 12 students, it is a single class divided into two language-ability groups. The 'K's are beginner-level English and the 'H's are advanced-level.

The class I teach the most {5 lessons per week} is my favorite group of students: 9G. There are only six students in this class--four girls and two boys, all age 14. They are friendly, pay attention {most of the time}, and interactive. Their language ability is intermediate at the English comprehension level and beginner at the speaking level. I feel the most relaxed in this class and I also feel that they are learning the most from me {due to their attentiveness}.

We joke around quite a bit and I have fun coming up with games {educational, of course!} to play. The four girls requested to be my "friend" on Facebook and they write silly little messages to me. In class, they love to say "in the toilet" and burst into giggles. You see, they learn British-English, and one day I asked where someone was. A student replied, "She's in the toilet." This is a totally correct phrase in British English, but since I'm American, I often explain the different words and phrases that are used in the two countries. So, I explained that in America, if you say "in the toilet," we literally take it to mean that the person is inside the toilet. In addition, I drew a toilet on the board with tiny people inside to make sure they understood me. Of course, they thought this was hysterical, and now it's kind of like our inside joke.

The 10G class only has six students, and I have yet to have all six in attendance at once. I only have these students for one lesson a week, and they are mostly attentive, although two of them tend to doze off or be in their own little world. This is also an intermediate level class and for the most part, they listen to me and are quite interactive during my lessons. One student is probably nearer to the advanced level, and sometimes he borderline gets on my nerves because he's been to the US and Canada before, and therefore thinks he knows everything about both countries and the English language in general.

But the two 12N classes...they are completely in their own category. Let me preface by saying that this high school is not "normal" compared to other high schools in Debrecen, which is what I've been told by other teachers and what I'm relieved to know. It's almost as if this high school has no rules, and the students are allowed to do whatever they want. I have been given no authority to rule out any punishments, dismiss students from my class, send them to the principal/director's office {something not practiced here}, or even take attendance/tardies. Nearly every student would get a tardy with each class...often students are still trickling in 10 or 15 minutes after the bell has rung. Some students ask permission to use to the restroom, while others just get up and leave randomly. They can eat, drink, sleep, listen to music, or use the Internet on their phones in the classroom. All of this results in a limited few who are actually listening or interacting at all.

I've been told from the other teachers that it's not just me...this is normal in all the classes. Why more rules are not put into place and enforced is beyond me. I was also happy to learn that my two encounters with a student/students playing with fire in class is also a common occurrence. {Um, really?} As a whole, I enjoy the students as people and no one has been unkind to me, but rather the opposite. It's just that these kids have never been taught appropriate classroom behavior. At all.

Of course this is very frustrating, but I have decided to not let it get to me. I can do this! I just keep reminding myself that this is a great experience for me and it is definitely stretching me and growing me in many ways. Despite my frustrations with the 12N classes, I find myself feeling a fondness for all of them {of course some more than others}. It makes me sad, however, because nearly ALL students in this high school have little or no regard for learning. They are simply at school because the law forces them to be. They cannot be motivated to do homework or study, and getting bad marks is of no concern to them.

Now I am the official "Lektor," meaning teacher of English, also being a native-speaker of the language. But as I mentioned before, I'm not an official, under-contract-with-the-school teacher, but rather like a volunteer on behalf of the Trinity Church. I show up and do my thing. Basically I was given no instruction whatsoever by the school except that I will be teaching conversation--whatever and however I want--and that I will not be teaching curriculum and I don't need to give homework or tests. Also, I was told nothing about how to manage my classrooms or anything about disciplinary measures {which now I've learned--there basically are none}.

Maybe it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not! I have just been surprised by the way some things are done {or not done} at this school. Regardless, I love the teachers and I love the students even more. They really are good kids with lots of potential, but they have an immeasurable lack of guidance and discipline.

I am so grateful for this opportunity and the ways I am being taught things myself as I take on this new role of teacher. I look forward to each day of teaching more and more, and I pray that I can impact these kids' lives in some way, however small it may be. It's quite ironic, isn't it? That as I am teaching my first "lessons," I am in turn learning some very great lessons myself? Life is funny like that.

Jane in Debrecen

Jane spent one week with me here in Debrecen. Unfortunately, the weather was not nearly as pleasant as what we had experienced in Budapest.

Poor Jane...I'm afraid she got a bit bored here. There already isn't a lot to do/see in Debrecen, and Jane wasn't interested in shopping too much. Wouldn't you know that the Great Reform Church {the big yellow church and symbol of Debrecen} is closed for renovation, and the main museum in Debrecen is currently closed for renovation, as well as a restaurant where I wanted to take Jane being {you'll never guess...} closed for renovation.

We did a lot of walking, talking, and eating out. I took Jane to the University of Debrecen's campus and showed her the Great Forest. We visited one small museum that displays religious relics from Debrecen's history. We also went to the cinema twice and watched lots of girly DVDs in our pajamas.

Best of all, Jane and I discovered the most marvelous little tea house which we visited a few times. They have a truly exceptional list of teas and specialty drinks and I have had tea there unlike anything I've ever had before! The tables are low to the ground and the patrons lounge on cushions and pillows, all the while enjoying the Hindu-inspired décor and music and the soft scents of aromatherapy. I plan on being a regular customer there during the remainder of my time in Debrecen!

Jane came to the high school where I teach to join me in my lessons. I thought it would be a wonderful and rare chance for my students to hear an American accent and British accent compared side by side, in person. Jane also helped me teach my students about all of the many different words that are used in British English versus American English. I could tell the students really enjoyed Jane being there as they were unusually attentive!

Jane left last week, and our goodbye was as sad and tearful as our goodbye two years ago in Gatwick airport. She is such a dear friend to my heart and we had such a lovely couple of weeks together. I am so blessed to have Jane as my friend!

In the park behind the Great Reform Church

A view of the park

Not sure who this is, but he's appears to be quite important!

This was a room in the museum we visited, filled with the most ancient-looking
books and manuscripts. We weren't allowed to take photos inside, so this is
a photo of a photo found on the sign outside the museum.

Oh, except I snapped this photo sans-flash.

I fell in love with the weathered and warped wooden steps that have
been tread upon for centuries.

Equally enamored with the beautiful hand-painted doors...

Debrecen on a dreary day

A better view of the walking street and tram tracks

Enjoying some soothing tea in the tea house

Three months down

I have now officially been in Hungary for three months! It's very odd to me, however, because on one hand, I feel like time has flown by. On the other hand, I feel like so much has happened in these past three months--I can see the growth in so many different areas of my life.

I am behind on updating you on a few major things that have happened since Matt's visit ended one month ago. In no particular order, they are as follows:

1. I am part of a small group in the church now. We meet every Tuesday night in someone's home. Our small group is comprised of lovely, lovely people, and fortunately for me, there are a few who speak English very well, so they can help me to be in on the discussions. Csilla Steiner is our small group leader.

2. I found a private Hungarian tutor! Her name is Mirjam (pronounced Miriam) and she is my age. She has taught Hungarian to other Americans in Debrecen. She attends another Baptist church in Debrecen, and it really was a God-thing that we met and started this relationship. She's a wonderful teacher and I've learned so much already! We meet at least once a week {we try for twice a week if we can} for two hours.

3. I officially have ten private language students. I tutor nine individuals in English and one in French {Rachel Steiner, who is beginning to learn French in school this year.} Six of the nine English students are kids and three are adults. I am really enjoying tutoring privately!

4. I had to go to the hospital two weeks ago because of a problem with my left eye. I had been helping the Steiner family move firewood in their garden and the wind blew something large into my eye, which then went back behind my eyeball. I couldn't get it out myself and I was hoping my eye would push it out eventually, but five hours later, my eye was red, swollen, watering profusely, and I couldn't keep my eye open. God provided a kind eye specialist at the University hospital who then removed three tiny objects from my eye--two tiny stones and a tiny sliver of wood. The three things had scratched my eye ball, and were contaminated with bacteria, so I received a prescription for strong antibiotic eye drops to use five times per day for a week. After the incident, my left eye was blurry a little for the first two days, but since then, it's been fine!

5. The biggest piece of news I have for you...I am now teaching two mornings per week at a high school! Yes, that's right--a high school, called Euro Baptista. It's odd for me, given that I have had absolutely zero training on how to teach a classroom, but I am teaching English conversation, so there's not many strict guidelines for the course. The school was pretty desperate to find a native English speaker to teach this course {clearly!}. Essentially what I'm doing is volunteering as a teacher there, and in return, the school is "donating" to the Bridge Ministries. I teach 9th, 10th, and 12th grades from beginner English to advanced. I like it a lot so far, but the students can be challenging, as they are teenagers. I told my family that I feel a little like I'm "playing teacher," in the same way that little girls like to "play house." I think I've managed to hide the fact from the students that I've never taught formally before! The biggest challenge is trying to get the students to speak in English. The advanced students have no problem, but the students in my other classes are either afraid to speak in English, or they just plain don't know how. I certainly didn't envision teaching at a school during my time in Hungary, but I'm glad for the opportunity and the challenges of it are stretching me. Jozsef is very excited that I can be a branch of the Bridge and Trinity Church, outreaching in this school and establishing further involvement of the church and ministry center in the local community.

As you can see, the above things, on top of my normal responsibilites with the Bridge and the church, keep me very, very busy!

Nagyon boldog vagyok Magyarországon {I am very happy in Hungary}. :)

Fall Fun

I have definitely been enjoying the beautiful fall colors and weather here in Hungary. But I have missed out on some of my favorite yearly fall traditions and also the celebration of Halloween, a holiday I adore.

Since it's one of my duties to organize a monthly event for the Trinity Church youth, I thought it would be a good excuse to enjoy some of my favorite traditions and introduce the youth to some popular fall activities in America.

I deemed the event, "Trinity Youth Fall Celebration." Seven youth attended {out of the eight invited} and each was asked to wear a simple costume. We had so much fun!

In the beginning, the youth enjoyed some snacks and drinks while I gave a devotion and shared some thoughts. Then we got busy! Each student had his/her own pumpkin to carve. They did a great job and everyone enjoyed it, although the girls complained a bit about removing the guts of the pumpkin. Of course we added candles to the freshly-carved jack-o-lanterns and left them on display for the rest of the party.

We then did a candy toss game and the Apple On a String game {where you try to bite the hanging apple using no hands--it's harder than it sounds!}. Next, I had the pleasure of introducing the kids to Caramel Apples. We each made our own, dipping it in melted caramel, and then rolling it in either peanuts, bits of chocolate, or both. After 15 minutes of hardening in the refrigerator, everyone had a gorgeous apple to take home with them!

We ended with the explanation of the "Trick-or-Treat" tradition in America. The kids got to Trick-or-Treat at several doors in the building to get an idea of the experience and to be able to stock up on some candy {like American children}. Our final event was a Mummy Race game and the two teams had to race to make a "mummy" out of toilet paper that could walk to me {the finish line}.

The kids left toting gooey caramel apples, bags of candy, and jack-o-lanterns {with extra candles}. I certainly was able to enjoy my fall activities, but it was much more enjoyable sharing these new traditions with the youth. I love these kids so much!!!

The snacks included popcorn, pretzels, doughnuts, and
pumpkin seeds.



The boys were really excited about the knives.

Bogi and Fanni with their jack-o-lanterns mid-creation.



The finished jack-o-lanterns! Everyone did a great job, and it was
the first time for each of them to ever carve a pumpkin!

The group--some in costume, some not. We have two baseball players,
a bat (me), a cowgirl, a scary clown head, and yes, even
Obama himself. {this boy purchased the mask in the US}

 

Team 1 of the Mummy Race.



Team 2 of the Mummy Race {and winners}!



The apples before...

...and after. Maybe not perfectly pretty, but it was oh-so-delicious!

Oh Challenges, how I love you

As foretold, this week has been much busier. I've begun teaching private English lessons--I gave two on Monday and three yesterday. Then today I tutored Rachel in French. She's just begun learning French in school and she loves it already. How can you not?! C'est la plus belle langue du monde... {it's the most beautiful language in the world}


But living in France was different than it is living in Hungary, because in France I had lots of confidence in speaking the native tongue, and here I have none. I was with Rachel today in Forum {the four-story mall in Debrecen...the "it" place} and we were getting some lunch. I remarked to her that it felt like I was a child, because she had to take me around the food court and explain what some of the food displays were; I couldn't read the Hungarian labels. She assured me, "Don't worry, I will stay with you while you order." Then she ordered for me while I relayed to her what I wanted.


I feel confident in saying certain things in Hungarian and I am definitely understanding a lot more now. But I kind of freak-out {inwardly} when someone starts speaking to me in Hungarian and my brain suddenly becomes a jumbled mess. It's embarrassing and very frustrating for me. This is what I need to practice--listening in general conversation. I think most of the time I should know what the person is saying to me, but because they speak so quickly, {and because of my freak-out moment}, I feel like I didn't understand a single word.


For example, I have been learning the Hungarian numbers, but when I go to a cash register at a store, the cashier always says the amount due so quickly that I catch nothing. Sometimes there is a display screen with the amount due, but sometimes there's not. In those moments I panic a little and just hand the cashier the largest bill I've got {if I'm certain it is enough} or use my debit card.


This foreign language element has definitely been stretching me and taking me outside of my comfort zone. It's frustrating to feel helpless in many situations and also to know that the little you can communicate is basically at the level of a two year-old.


On another note, I did receive some happy, happy news today...from Matt. We still don't know when he will fly in to Hungary, but Matt says he's certain that the military is booking him to fly in/out of the Debrecen airport. I'm so relieved! I was certain Budapest would be the airport the military would choose for Matt, and that would have required me to take a two and a half hour train ride from Debrecen to Budapest, and then maneuver a way to get myself to the airport to retrieve Matt.


His arrival will now be more convenient for us and a bit more private. I'm glad we can come right back to the Bridge building to settle in, and then take off for our Budapest excursion the next day, or whenever we choose. {we're planning to explore Budapest for 3 or 4 days}


Although I'm in love with being here in Hungary, it is challenging. But I honestly would be disappointed if it weren't. After having experienced so much growth from challenges in my past, I find myself seeking them out. My heart says, "try me, test me." It is only outside of my comfort zone that I can grow in certain facets. And sometimes I just like to see what I'm really made of. Okay...so go live and work in a country where you don't speak the language? Sure, why not? Do that on top of the painful absence of your husband while he's deployed? Absolutely.


I'm ready to learn whatever lessons may be in store for me. To grow with God as I rely on Him for all my strength. To see new places, and meet new people. To broaden my view of the world. To do things I never would have imagined possible.


After all, I am a dreamer. It's in my very nature. Bring on that horizon.