Olympic excitement albiet China needs to get it together!

So Austra from Lithuania returned a few weeks ago from the states where she's been intensely training for the Olympics. In 2004, she set a world record in women's heptathlon events and she's out to do it again this year. Why do I care so much?

I remember hearing about Austra while rooming at a college conference with my friend Lara and Lauri back in 2004. They were friends with her and she was competing and we all celebrated when she won Silver in heptathlon events! Now, my friend Lara is living with Austra in Lithuania and honestly I'm so excited and rooting for her to beat her last record and go for the gold. I can't wait to follow her this summer.

Speaking of the Olympics, China is still trying to get it together with their human rights and environmental issues. Part of me is glad the events are being hosted here for the sake of the people in that nation who deserve better. Sometimes I think the only way to get things done is with attention and spot light on an issue. One of the UN under secretaries recently said that things appear to be going well and that all the money the world has invested for this event is paying off specifically with the environmental issues. Achim Steiner said: "it appears to have been well spent - if the lessons learned and measures adopted are picked by municipalities across the country so as to leave a real and lasting nationwide legacy.” We shall see. Honestly, I'm more concerned with China's human rights issues that don't even get media attention. It's frustrating to hear validated stories from other sources and be sworn to secrecy for fear of the lives of some in China who have to keep quiet for fear of retaliation because they are believers in Christ.

China has so much potential as a nation. I hope it's leaders wake up and release their people into greater freedom. Can we just say it's ridiculous and China's leaders need to get it together?

Wordless Wednesdays

Fellow blogger Anne has a great idea. She calls it "Wordless Wednesdays" and every Wednesday she posts a unique picture. If you get a chance, check that out. I like it. Sort of a break from routine blogging although I always seem to have so much to say I don't know if I could manage to only post a picture!
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Just got done rearranging my room. When the weather gets hot, heat rises so having a loft bed isn't that cool anymore. I moved my bed downstairs near the window, rearranged the "office" part of my bedroom and I think I'm good to go until the Fall. I don't really like the way it looks aesthetically but this Summer is supposed to be sweltering hot so I'd rather have it comfortable than cute.

The weekend.....

I'm avoiding Margaret Island this weekend as there's a health fitness festival "Szigeti Sportvarasz" and tons of people will be there. The Island is incredibly huge and in every corner on Friday morning there were events setting up and getting started for the weekend and I could foresee the weekend madness. Here's a few pictures of these health conscious Hungarians playing everything from field hockey, Euro soccer, to some sort of martial arts, to name a few.

Gypsy music at Godor

Last night Luca and I went to the Godor Klub in downtown Budapest to see the gypsy exhibition and listen to a few gypsy bands play live. The Godor Klub is this very cool place with a huge outside teared-terrace where you can sit and enjoy the fresh air while bands play at the bottom but it also has a few stages inside along with the exhibition and that's where it gets sticky!

Not only are my lungs not fit for the smoke fest inside closed quarters, but people were getting drunk and stupid. Luca and I ignored it for awhile because the band was incredible! It was funny because there were two accordians (which reminded me of how my grandpa used to play an accordian -- and I always thought he was weird). But we were listening to the sounds and enjoying it. After awhile I could barely breathe with all the smoke inside so we went outside again so I could catch my breath.

Don't these people know that smoking is bad for your health? And second hand smoke is like 10 x as bad for non-smokers!! Hello???!! I wish someone would send the memo to Europe that SMOKING KILLS LIVES.

By the time we left, I was ready for a brisk walk home. We missed the metro by 5 minutes, so I walked part of the way home which wasn't a big deal because first of all Budapest is really safe (it's nothing like LA -- these people don't own guns) and second of all, I needed the fresh air!! I walked down the famous and beautiful Andrassy Utca, past Hero's Square and then took a bus the rest of the way home. I took a few pictures of some buildings with interesting carvings of human like figures in the buildings along Andrassy.






I've noticed these buildings in the past but never had my camera with me. This time I was ready to get a few shots,even though they aren't the clearest and it's dark. Oh well.

Mixed thoughts

This morning I made it to Margaret Island and swam 40 minutes working on technique with my arms and legs. The weather was overcast, but I brought some books and actually had the time to read a little and write in my journal. Although I didn't want to do it, later this evening around 5:30 pm I got out and ran 3 miles. My first split was kickin' at 8:10 and the other two came in at 9:33 and 9:35 which was much better than my crazy recovery from Wednesday's 7:43 which quickly turned to 10:27 split. Anyways, I was encouraged in both workouts. My biggest challenge is eating right. I LOVE chocolate and all the crap food. If I were absolutely serious about this I'd be more mindful. I've read Endurance Sports Nutrition and all the other stuff. I know what to do I just don't do it. I wish I would choose healthier options sometimes. So, I know that I'm going to try but maybe after this triathlon in July I'll get serious about eating habits for the next one!
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As the school year winds down and summer begins, I have mixed emotions about being in Hungary. Of course I'd love to be in Reno with my family, enjoying Lake Tahoe and Truckee River bike rides. But there's a part of me that is just ready to "hit it hard" this summer and finish 2008 strong in Budapest.

A lot of things depend on my visa situation which is still in process. I have a temporary permit to stay until the end of July and we will find out before the end of July what the final verdict is about a residents visa. I would appreciate your continued prayers in that direction. It seems to be the ongoing saga of living overseas. But worst case scenario, my time would be cut short at the end of the summer and I'd go home to be with family. That's not a bad case scenario in my book but honestly I just don't forsee that happening! I think there is a purpose for me being here this summer.

Although we don't have our weekly English club schedule and things wind down to a tremendously slow halt, I've got some unique opportunities to encourage the students who will be around this summer. Although I'm a little uncomfortable with a slow schedule, because I like to be busy, I am making the most of it. Many girls are going to be traveling abroad periodically and some of them are going back to their home towns for the summer.That's going to be a great chance to see some new parts of Hungary as I go and meet up with them there.

This Fall there are some exciting things taking place too. One of the girls, Dori, is most likely (if her university approves) going to start an internship with us using her major which is English translation. This is exciting -- like finding Gold in a dark mine shaft. Also, there may be a girl coming from the states to do an internship for 3 months on the high school campuses with Chris and me. I want to work myself out of a job here before I move on and so that's what I'm hoping takes place the next 6-9 months. I can hardly believe that when my lease ends next February, it will be 2.5 years that I've been living in Hungary.

Although I have absolutely no idea what God holds for the future, I'm excited about it.
I know it's going to be great whatever it looks like.

20 Bucks

This must sound pathetic, but I have to be honest. Tonight while sifting through a pile of papers and tossing a lot of stuff out, I found $20 and got so excited! I put 20 bucks in an envelope with a bunch of pictures and I just found it tonight! Woohooo!!!

Although 20 bucks doesn't go as far as it used it, it sure helps! The dollar is in decline folks and this pocket book is suffering big time because my rent is figured in Euros and it just keeps going up.

"Don't tell me my business"

So, my brother's girlfriend is a fireball. Lots of lively discussions. I laughed a ton. She's really fun to tease and she can dish it out too!

Our favorite line to say to one another, "Don't tell me my business." We're both sort of bossy, I guess. :D Actually, it just became a running joke.

If you're wondering why my brother didn't join her to come and see me, I was sort of wondering the same thing. Nah, actually he's a firefighter and fire season started in May. So unfortunately, he couldn't make it over. Plus, he spent 3 months in Europe a few years ago and I think that was more than enough for him.

I didn't know Tanya that well before this trip because her and Greg started dating a few weeks after I left for Budapest 2 years ago. Other than a few bike rides along the Truckee River in Reno last summer, we hadn't spent much time together. But she was here for two weeks! The crazy thing is she grew up one street down from us in what is now considered the ghetto of Carson City.

All I have to say is she's sort of a brat -- a cute brat. I told her so. And, by the end of the time together and all our conversations, I told her her business (our little joke) and she told me my business and, well, yeah. I had Tanya bonding time.

Greg called a few times while Tanya was here and once he said to Tanya, "Take good care of my sister." I think that's because his love language is acts of service. Later he said to me "Thanks for taking care of my girlfriend." She loves him and he loves her from what I can tell.

Strange because with a brother you don't really talk a lot about it. It's sort of their choice in a partner and that's that. I guess that's sort of the male way anyways. Not to talk much......So different with sisters and girlfriends. I know that's a stereotype and not true for everyone. So men, I won't tell you your business....but still. I think there's a lot of truth in the stereotype that men don't like to talk (or don't have as much to say) as women do! Am I right or am I right?

Expatriate by Definition

Tonight I met a handful of people in the Expatriate Running Club. They meet on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings on Margaret Island. Since Let's Talk at Lake Balaton didn't happen for me this week, and since our last University English club meets tomorrow night and since I'm an expatriate by definition "a person who lives outside their native country," I thought I'd join fluent English speakers from other nations and be challenged in my running.

We were supposed to meet under this digital clock at Margaret Island. I was there alittle early, hoping to find a friendly face and get comfortable. I went up to one lady who I presumed might be part of the runners club. After she said, "Oh, I don't speak English" I waited around a little while longer. Another guy was lingering so I thought I'd ask if he was there for the club. He said "No" and then asked where I was from. When I told him the U.S., he wanted to know my opinion on who would win the presidency. It's funny but many Europeans are following are presidential elections maybe even more religiously than some Americans. He said he watches the news on it every night.

Finally I found the handful of runners from England and the U.S. and we were off. They posted 7-9 minute miles, and they weren't kidding. My first split as I struggled to keep up with these 7 minute mile runners was 7:42. After I couldn't do it anymore, my second mile was a pathetic 10:47 as I struggled to catch my breath from the first mile. My final mile was 9:45. Also not the best. Even though the running times were terrible, I know myself. I'm that turtle and I'm not giving up. I might be slow, but I'll take whatever this body gives me! I'm not discouraged. I think that this Running Club will be good for me because I'll be pressed to push it for speed and hopefully I'll decrease the time on my personal mile per minutes.
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Let's Talk at Lake Balaton had too many facilitators per students so at the last minute I was told I didn't have to go. I was mostly relieved that I could get things done around here. It provided a bit of relief in the schedule and since Chris has been sick the last few days, it worked out well for me to help Blake cover High school English clubs. Today Blake and I kept the Ujpest high school group entertained (or maybe they entertained us...) as we decided to play Taboo and Apples to Apples.



The group of guys who are coming quite regularly are bright, active and make me laugh. I really like this group of students. Akos, Chrisztian, Gabor, Adam, Thomas and Alex. They seem eager to be with us and learn English so that's great! This school is basically students who are really intelligent when it comes to computer science and the highest percentage happen to be of the male persuasion. Thus, almost all of our English club gatherings in Ujpest end up being male dominated. There are female students at the school but I guess it can be a bit intimidating for the girls with testosterone levels high and competition being a thread in all that's done in the name of English. Still, there are a few girls who come around sometimes like Orshi, Barbie and Kata. Usually though it's Chris and me hanging with the guys. Today it was me and Blake with the boys. It makes me nervous and it makes me laugh.

Next Saturday we'll have an end of the year party at my flat and then walk over to Hero's Square park to play "American Football" since that's what everyone likes to do. Sitting around sipping on a coffee and "chatting" just doesn't cut it for these boys, if you know what I mean. I understand....really I do. Oh well. I like football too.

I'm not an Opera girl, but this thing is growing on me

So last night I was going to watch Chris and Renea's little girl, Samantha, so they could celebrate their 5th year anniversary at the Opera house watching Beauty and the Beast. Chris got really sick (vomiting and diarrhea) and Renea didn't want to go to the Opera alone. So, instead of babysitting, I saw Beauty and the Beast with Renea. Although it was in Hungarian, there were English subtitles overhead. Now I can say I've been to the Opera three times in my life -- all here in Hungary. What a production! I kept thinking last night that I would have LOVED to take my nieces to this production. And Renea kept saying she couldn't wait for her little girl to get bigger so she could take her to something like this. It was amazing! I think it was my favorite so far.It could have been as good as anything Disney put out.

Although this would not be my first choice for entertainment, I have to admit it's growing on me. You get all dressed up, sit in these plush red velvet seats and you feel like royalty for a minute.

The first time we saw Gone with the Wind (I think? Can't remember) with a team from Texas who wanted the Opera experience. Then last week it was Italian Opera with my brother's girlfriend Tanya who wanted to go - We saw "Don Carlos". But last night's Beauty and the Beast beat them all! It was outstanding. Incredible costumes, voices, the Orchestra playing, and relatively inexpensive. Well, last night was completely a treat because Renea just gave me Chris' ticket free.

Tanya leaves in the morning

I am really tired tonight. Today Tanya and I took a boat ride to Visegrad Castle. But it was false advertising. It was more like Visegrad Castle "ruins". Interesting, but still a beautiful city. I'll post pictures sometime soon.

Tonight we also had plans for Tanya to get a small taste of night life in an Irish pub but fortunately (for my sake...I'm exhausted ;D) plans were cancelled. Apparently, no music is playing tonight and the university girls we were going to meet up with cancelled because they have to study. I was glad because I have no energy. Tanya and I didn't mind a bit as we settled for Magnum "Double Chocolate" bars and now I'm about to go to sleep.

This was a big weekend. Nori and Peter looked absolutely amazing and were so excited when they left in their white limo from the reception. We had a lot of fun. I'll have to write more later. It's been go, go, go with Tanya here and the Tatrai wedding.

It's almost 10 pm and I have to get up at 4 am to get Tanya to the airport as she flies back tomorrow. Now that Peter and Nori are married and Tanya is "hasta la vista", I expect that things will start to go back to normal....well, almost. I leave for Lake Balaton on Wednesday for an English camp and we finish up our high school clubs this week too.

At least I won't have to be a tour guide in my free time now. I didn't mind it though. I actually had a great time getting to see some places I've wanted to visit in the past but never had someone who also wanted to go at the times I could go. It worked out great to have Tanya here! And many good wishes to the awesome couple!