Still here!
Hello Everyone!
I know I haven't kept to my promise of one blog per week. Some of it is my fault of not wanting to get up and actually write and the other is from the internet hating me here at the dorms. However, due to my gap in writing I will write either a long one now or several short ones this week...probably several short ones due to my upcoming trip to Transylvania!
Things I have learned thus far of living in Budapest for a month!
1.) English is not something that I should take for granted. Everyone has their right to speak their mother tongue and thus it is not fair or right of me to assume that others will know mine. Language is part of our identity for each and every person and my growing knowledge of Hungarian has only made me appreciate the very concept of language and how much emotion (thank you vowel harmony) and history ( A FRANCE!) is within every language.
2.) Care packages are amazing. I had never really received any when I was in college but to get a package this far away from home...it's like Christmas!
3.) I truly do enjoy the simple things. Sure I like to see and experience extravagant things as well but what really makes me happy and at peace are the small things.
4.) Soul mates exist. I know, I know it sounds corny and maybe it is but being 5000 miles away makes you think...A LOT!
5.) Chocolatechip cookies are amazing and extremely difficult to make in Hungary. I haven't found a cookie sheet so thank goodness for Rachel, who also went and proposed the adventure of making cookies, had tin foil.
6.) There are words that sound a lot like English words in Hungarian and I should make aware to myself and others of which language I am using. (Thank you Petra for my ever lasting Hungarian lessons O_o)
7.) Even though families fight and bicker I still miss seeing mine.
8.) I still don't fully know what I want to do with my life...and I am coming to terms that this is ok. I should not feel pressured to make decisions I am not ready for. I should continue to better myself and along the way try to better things around me. Graduate school will happen. I am not one to start and never finish. I was not raised that way. I just need a break to regain and re-focus and there is nothing wrong with this.
9.) It is not selfish to focus on me and what I like. I have spent years worrying about others and taking care of others and it is ok to find out who I am....still an ongoing process :P
10.) There are cultural differences everywhere I will go and I have to get used to them....even if I don't particularly appreciate them. (Girl issues, not finishing food, Pálinka)
There are plenty more and these above are just self reflections but I have come to realize they are good to have. Going abroad has been the best choice I have made even though it is also the hardest. When you go abroad and you meet amazing people and in my case make amazing friends it is easy to see what you are missing, taking for granted, or never notice in your own life.
Next post: Excursions :D
