Merry Christmas!!

Well I am in the middle of a whirlwind trip around a few places in Europe. I arrived in Scotland a few days ago and am enjoying a few days of rest for the holidays and then more touring and seeing all there is to see around here. I am visiting with a friend who is living in Glasgow for ten months. So I am learning what life is like here for her in Scotland.

Florence, Italy was amazing. It truly is the art capital of Europe. I think I saw a fresco, statue, or painting everywhere I turned. We went into so many museums I can hardly believe it. And the food.....oh the food. I think I would return if just to eat more food. I got a couple of recipes and am anxious to see if I can possibly try to recreate the scrumptious soups and pastas we ate. I am hoping to post pictures soon when I return to Budapest.

But I wanted to at least post a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and pray that your time today is full of joy.

A Truly Hungarian Experience

This past Saturday evening I experienced a truly Hungarian event. I had the privilege to attend Bea’s (a student involved with FEK) Szalagavato. A szalagavato is a cross between graduation, prom and a dance show. It is a celebration for the graduating class at each high school. Each school’s event is a little bit different but I understand there are some similarities at each szalagavato. I will try and give you an impression of the evening but words are not quite adequate to describe all that was experienced.

The evening started with a procession of the students from each class all dressed in their class formal outfit. Each class chooses what their formal outfit will look like and then every student must wear that outfit for this portion of the evening. Once the students were lined up a speech was given in Hungarian and Spanish, (it was a bilingual school). I am told the speech was about how the students had grown up and are now moving on, etc. Then came the pinning of the szala (I believe this is what the ribbon is called) on each student as their name was read. The szala is a ribbon, it varies by school, but it has the years of graduation and the school’s name on it. So as the ribbons are being pinned on the students by the teachers’ music is playing in the background. For Bea’s class the song “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallic played.

After the pinning ceremony, comes the dance show. One aspect of the evening is the waltz that every class performs. Each girl wears a white dress similar to a wedding gown and the guys are in tuxes with tails. They then dance a very special waltz which they spend many weeks practicing. Each class also performs some kind of modern dance. Also in between each section put on by the classes there are other dance performances by other groups. At this show there was a set by what seemed to be some kind of professional Salsa dance couple and there was group of young rhythmic gymnasts. We were not able to stay for the entire evening but from what I understand the class then all goes out together after for a big party.

Once I figure out how to put video on here I will edit this post.

A Little Exercise

Well I am trying to get in some exercise while I am here in Hungary. We do walk everywhere so that has been nice but I still like to break a sweat every now and again. So since I still have not picked up the running bug, or found a soccer team to play on, I have tried a few aerobic classes. Since I don't speak much Hungarian it has been quite the experience. The good thing is that it is basically one hour of follow the leader. This wouldn't normally be a big deal but the one class that works the best with my schedule is lead by a girl I would imagine would have been a great free-spirit at Woodstock. Not that I have any idea what that would be like but that is my best description. She starts out slow and shows us each step and then with the progression of the class adds more and more flourish to her routine. By the end I am normally just jumping up and down and round and round trying to not run into the other women around me.

This past Saturday before the class started, one of the other women struck up a conversation with me. She was very excited because it was only the two of us at first and I think because I showed up the class would go on. Thankfully she spoke English. Once the class was about to begin she told the instructor I was British and then another girl said no, she is American; this was all taking place in Hungarian. I guess my accent gave me away. :) The instructor spoke little English so she just nodded to me and began the class. Well it is a sight to see the American girl lost in the front of the class, but as I was leaping over the step and trying to figure out the routine, I noticed that a couple of Hungarian girls in the back were as lost as me so I guess it wasn't the language barrier.