Some cheese with that weekend plans?

Oh yikes, plans and more plans. I’ve just spent the last hour, literally, trying to plan out this weekend. My final conclusion: IT SUCKS BEING BROKE!! Wow, and the first thing I thought after writing that sentence was, “hm, interesting grammatical structure.” What have I become?
So everyone is getting together in Nyíregyháza this weekend. It’s going to be great. I will be here. Broke and sad.
Okay, it’s not as terrible as I make it sound. Ros is coming to Szolnok, and we’ll hang out, probably with Ági, and go shopping and have a girly good time. And I know it’ll be fun. And I know that in the long run, I’ll get to see Jenna & Yerik later. And that I will be glad that I saved my money for something else (like Transylvania. Or that pesky $1500 I still owe Hajni). But my inner teenage girl hates that there’s a party going on, and I won’t be there.
I also feel awful because when Jenna called, (as Ros and I were IM-ing, trying to plan) she was so sincere and inviting that I got caught up and said I would come, before crashing back down after looking at prices. So I had to call Yerik back and tell him I couldn’t go. Oh, painful. I feel like I let them down. Also like now, I have no right to invite people here next weekend. I want them to come, but I don’t feel like I have the right to ask, when I’ve been so wishy-washy and petty about my plans to visit others.

enter the Illés family

I had my first private lesson yesterday with the Illés family. Actually, it was only with the son, Ádám (11th grade), because the father and the daughter (8th) were both busy. So the two of us just sat and talked for an hour, and they gave me 2000 Ft. And that’s how it’s going to go, I think. I did meet the other two briefly. The daughter seemed less than enthusiastic, but the dad was nice. Knock on wood, I think it’s going to be a great time.

weekend in Pest

Well, apparently that mood is persistent, because I still don’t really feel like writing. But I know, from previous experience, that if I fall too far behind, I’m doomed. So for now maybe I’ll just do a quick catch-up; I want to go to bed soon. That’s event numero uno: I’ve been sick. Friday especially was not fun. Between, before and after work, I just wandered around the flat, moaning, “I’m dying” to no one in particular. I decided that being sick is even worse than being hungover. One, because there’s no end in sight. Two, because for me at least, when I’m hungover, mind and body are both muddy; when I’m sick, body is rebellious but my mind still works - and complains, and sulks.
Right, but quick review. Thursday, random guy called me at the school and asked for lessons. We met at Road Cafe to work out times and dates. Okay. That evening, we had Geri and Ági over here and made them dinner. Awesome. But a late night. Friday, classes and whining and moaning. The children were not sympathetic to my plight.
Saturday, Chad and I and G&Á went to Budapest to watch a football game. Met up with Rosalind. We ended up at some house party for a friend of Geri’s second cousin, which was okay but late and cold, and Ros and I agreed that both of us were sick enough and not drunk enough to really enjoy the party. Spent the night at her place. Very nice. I have to say I’m jealous. Today, Chad came back to Szolnok early and, of all things, by himself. He had to come back by noon to have lunch with a student and his family. Ros and I had coffee at Gerbeaud and then visited the new H&M (Hungary’s first), which was great, if small. And more expensive than Germany or the States. I spent too much this weekend. This is ridiculous. I just need to exercise some will power.
That’s going to be my goal this week. And, more importantly, this weekend. Money, money, money, money....money!
At Gerbeaud today, I wasn’t able to convince the waitress I was Hungarian (those women are amazing in their cultural perceptive abilities) but I did fool her (somehow) into thinking I was German. Oh, small triumphs.

short and not sweet

Well, I don’t feel so bad about not knowing the gym teacher’s name, because she kept calling me Evelin. Which, the way they pronounce it, does sound a lot like the way they pronounce Emily. I guess I should have corrected her at some point. Actually, it barely crossed my mind. Anyway, I was wrong about going to visit the family; we went instead to the hairdressers’ to meet her, and set up a time (I suggested Tuesday, they will get back to me, via gym teacher, tomorrow?) Whatever. Uk, I don’t feel like writing.

Internet adventure #2

Wow, I can’t believe how fast September is going. Someone, I think it was Gaines, pointed out that last weekend (the one two days ago) was actually our fifth weekend in Hungary. It seems like forever, both good and bad.
Well, speaking of weekends, I’m still not sure about that last one. The sheer amount that I’ve slept on Sunday and since has made the whole weekend seem a bit dream-like, and certainly some distance away. Distance hasn’t given any clarity, though. I keep remembering bits and pieces, both from the drunken evening and the afternoon and morning, and I can’t seem to assemble them into any sort of meaningful chronology. So maybe it’s best left alone.
Last night we went out with Geri & Ági to the Panorama and hung out there for a while. Being with them always cheers me up. Although maybe it’s because I always drink with them... no, but that’s not true. So it must be them. I think this is really high-schooly of me, but I feel like, oh geez I can barely type it, I feel like I’ve bonded with them. Oh, gag. Isn’t there a more adult way of saying that? I suppose I could pull out my Hunglish and say, I am having a close connection with them. Ha!
Today, I think, András and I (and my laptop?) are going back to the internet store, I believe to fill out paperwork and pay. And then sometime this week, maybe before the weekend, the man will come to my flat to install it or turn it on or whatever. There was a bit of a situation yesterday when I had to confess to Kati that I am flat broke (having idiotically used my emergency money on the trip), but now that both she and András know that, I think they will lend me money. They will take care of me. Which makes me feel both secure, but also a bit like I’m five years old. Which I deserve, because what the hell was I thinking not saving some cash for internet. Damn, Emily. From now on, emergency means emergency. Not party money.
I am really looking forward to getting internet. Maybe you can’t tell that from the fact that I think I write about it every single entry. Maybe today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe soon? No, but yesterday was the first time András or Kati had actually mentioned a day when I might, maybe, hopefully have it. So I’m all excited again. You know, in orientation, Mary said the key to getting through the hard parts was always having something to look forward to. So even if I never get internet, I can always keep myself optimistic by hoping for it.

continued at 5 pm - First, the Great Internet Saga continues, which is to say that, knock wood, all seems to be in order: we went to the store. They took down my info, and will be sending someone (who apparently maybe possibly speaks English) to install the necessary cables on Friday. The money was no problem, as I don’t have to pay until November. To me, that seems so contrary to what would be expected in the US (immediate down-payment, possibly a couple months in advance) but I’m sure as hell not going to complain.
So my other bits of news. The first (actually the last) was that after I trudged home through the mist, in front of the flat’s entrance a little boy (not so little, I’d guess 6th grade) was waiting for someone and said csókolom to me. For some reason, this just made me unreasonably happy.
Also, I got my first mail today, at both the school and the flat! My health insurance card (I think) was waiting on my desk when I came into school this morning; right after the csókolom, I checked my mail box, and something came from “my” bank, OTP. Again, unreasonably happy.
The final thing (which, chronologically, was more like the middle thing) was that the gym teacher today approached me and, through Edit, told me that she had someone who wants private conversation lessons. If I understood right, it is her hairdresser’s husband and children (but not the hairdresser herself?) who lived in Canada for a year, and want to keep up their English. So, cool. Tomorrow after classes the gym teacher (whose name is lamentably escaping me) is taking me to visit them.

Kiskunhalas & Kalocsa

Aaaaahhhhh. I think that’s the only way to start. Just, ugh.
All right. So the weekend was, indeed, “interesting.” In most ways. Since it gets progressively more and more dramatic, I think the only way to go is chronologically. Gaines met me at the bus station and we left here Friday afternoon. Chad almost didn’t make the bus because he stopped to talk to some of his students, or something. As an aside, I have to give myself a tiny pat on the back for successfully navigating the Hungarian bus system, not only for myself but two other people as well. With one spectacularly horrible exception, all bus travel went well. The exception falls into what I’m going to term this weekend: the Calm (Friday), the Storm (Saturday), and the Aftermath (today).
So, Friday we made it down to Janos in Kiskunhalas. He was sick, which made me and Gaines both feel even worse about just crashing on him, but he seemed genuinely not to mind. We walked around a bit in town (it was 8 when we got there) and found a restaurant that was still open. After eating, we strolled back and hung out at Janos’s talking. His place is amazing. He has three rooms plus kitchen and bath, and 5 beds. Right now, some German girl (some hot German girl, according to Jeremy, who has never seen her but is always hopeful) is living with Janos, but I think she’s going back to Germany soon. Janos did buy a motorcycle, but it’s more like a motor bike, I think, and he can’t take it on highways. I don’t know what counts as a highway in Hungary.
Saturday morning, we got up at 7 in order to catch the bus at 8 to Kalocsa. Janos said he felt better but still declined to come along. We made it there, and met up with not only Harpswell, but also Jeremy, Laura, Liz, Kat, and Rosalind. We spent the day wandering around Kalocsa. We did eventually end up at the Paprika festival, which was remarkably similar to the gulyas festival. In fact, they were having some sort of gulyas competition, where you bought a bowl and a ticket, and then could pick which stall you wanted to get from. Liz, Jeremy, Kat and I all chose different ones to sample. Mine was good, Jeremy’s was meaty, Kat’s was thick (but cabbage-y) and Liz ordered cow intestine. I kid not, that’s what it was, although we had to ask Hajni to find out. We all tried tiny pieces. It wasn’t too bad. Not much taste, but kind of a rubbery texture that would take some getting used to.
...continued at 6 o’clock. I had to walk to the Plus and buy some bread and yogurt. This weekend fall arrived, and although it’s cloudy, it’s crisp and a bit cold and the wind is whipping the trees around. It was nice to walk to the store, and nice to be inside now. I wish I had some hot cider. Anyway, reason two for the store run was the fact that I know I have to get to Saturday evening (the Storm) eventually, but I don’t even know where to begin. Well, that’s not true - at the beginning, of course.
We went out to dinner with Hajni, Mary and her husband, and a cousin of Hajni’s with his wife and son. Actually, I remember the place from when I was in Kalocsa before, Hajni had taken us there. The proprietor is also the waiter and cook, and he’s this hilarious, frenetic little man. So the night began here with 5 bottles of wine (which, when split among us, cost each a couple dollars each). Although that’s not completely true, because there had been some palinka being passed around, and that was certainly before noon even. Oh, my head hurts to think about it. So there was wine. Then we went out to a bar. Beer. Some of us, like Kat, Laura, and self, were adamant about wanting to do to a club and go dancing, so Harpsi (that’s her new Hungarian nickname, ha) tried to accommodate us, to no avail. We went to a second bar, which is where we stayed for the remainder of the evening. Laura and I rediscovered rum & cokes. There was drunkenness, followed by more drunkenness. And some were drunker than others. This led to various adventures, not all of which I will chronicle, because, god forbid, my family might read this. Anyway, this led to today, The Aftermath, which was a superbly hungover 4-hour bus ride home. Ouch, not fun. I think I might go to bed at 8 tonight.



The picture is us at the restaurant; from left - Liz, Gaines, Jeremy, Laura, myself, Harpswell, Ros, Chad, Kat

nothing important

I had all good intentions of writing last night, although there wasn’t and isn’t so much to tell, but instead I met up with Geri and Ági and came home drunk, despite not having any money. Anyway, my small story from yesterday was that I went to a little stationary store in a lane behind the school and managed to carry on passable shop-talk with the proprietress, including asking which toilet paper was the cheapest, and answering her that yes, I am a teacher. And I got a bunch of those neat little notebooks everyone here has, which cost dirt. I love this country. Today I started making them into grade books for my classes. But since I don’t actually have final class lists yet... it’s a tad frustrating.
Just now I realized for the first time how horribly difficult this must be for some people. I at least have the benefit of knowing some simple phrases and words in Hungarian; some of the other Ami teachers have nothing. And in Szolnok I think a lot of the younger people speak some English, a tiny bit at least, where in the villages, there might not be very many people at all.
I don’t have much to say about today. Taught, napped, watched TV. Cooked dinner, the last of my peppers and onions with pasta, and Chad stopped by just at the right time to eat half of it. Then he went to get a gyro. Let me descend into high-school body envy for a scond and say: How is it fair for him to eat so much and be so fit? Okay, I’m done.
So I’ll be traveling this weekend, using my “emergency money.” Not good, Emily. After much planning and re-planning, the final plan (which was also the original plan) is thus: Gaines will come here by train, and meet Chad and I at the bus station. We will all take the bus to Janos, and spend the night there before venturing on to Harpswell. How? Yet to be planned. Hopefully Janos will help us. Although, ahem, he doesn’t exactly know that we are coming yet, because neither Gaines nor I feel comfortable enough to invite ourselves over, and Chad needs to buy a new phone card. I think it will be an interesting weekend, in every meaning of the word.

Internet adventure #1

Quite an adventure-filled day I’ve had. I finally got around to cleaning this morning, and halfway through, as the flat was in various stages of destruction and self was in various stages of dress, two people from the school stopped by to read the gas. I tried to explain, but I know they’re going to think I’m a slob. Classes were classes, what can I say. The 6a was good, like last week, the 7ab was bad, like last week. After classes, András and I went to the computer store, which was an interesting experience. I thought he didn’t speak any English at all, but it turns out he’s not so bad. But in any case, he spent half an hour talking to the lady at the store while I tried my best to pick up words and phrases that I know. As far as I could tell, he kept telling her things, she kept telling him they were problematic, couldn’t be done, or were wrong, then he kept telling her why they weren’t or how they could be fixed. I tried to look intelligent. Did I write earlier about my “mac terror” vision? I had this vision of bringing my computer out of it’s case, and having them all shy away from it like vampires from a cross when they realized it was an Apple; this wasn’t too far-fetched. András actually stopped walking and drew a face when I told him, and the store lady hissed in her breath. But I think it turned out that everything is okay, will be okay, or will be made okay. And if I understood correctly, we will be going again on Friday.
While I was in the process of rinsing my clothes by hand, after my washing machine semi-blew up, Chad called and we met up at the Jazzclub to meet with some people (Anita, Juli, and Tamas) who are teachers at the Oxford language school here, and want us to teach some lessons. We both agreed; both the people, the school, and the extra pay are very nice. So that’ll start in October sometime.
And, to complete the day, on my walk home Laura called and I talked to her until her minutes ran out. She’s so funny - talking with her always cheers my up.

I have actual Hungarian friends!!

So yesterday I had this great experience that completely mollified me in terms of anything I’ve been complaining about, teaching-wise. Did I write about how on Monday, Dan visited the school? No, I don’t think so. But what happened then was this: while he was in the teachers room, this crowd of former students was clustered outside the door, looking for all the world like red-carpet watchers waiting for a star to appear, actually crying out, “Daniel, Daniel,” to make him appear. At the time, I though, wow, if I could ever get them to love me half as much, that would be a victory. Well, after my 4th grade class on Wednesday, I was leaving the school to go have lunch. I heard my name, looked over, and two or three students of that class were literally smooshed against the window, waving and crying, “Eh-mee-lee! Eh-mee-lee!” It was definitely a bit of an ego-boost.
In the afternoon/evening, Chad and I went to meet Geri to watch (and for Chad, participate in) practice of Geri’s American football team. Afterward, Geri brought us back to his apartment, which was nearby the practice field in the Széchenyi-Városrész neighborhood, and Ági fed us dinner. Then we all went to Jazzklub for a little going-away party for Dan & Jess. Oh, I wish they would stay longer. But I’m so glad that they were here at all (some of the other teachers never met or even talked to their predecessors) and that they were so helpful, and most of all that they introduced us to Geri & Ági.
Plans for the weekend are slowly shaping up. I think for me, I will be staying here the whole time and not going to Tizsaujvaros. I want to be here for the gulyas festival, which several of my students have told me is the only real thing that ever happens in Szolnok.

Day 2: survived

Second day of classes: survived! And wow, what a difference a day (or a weekend) makes. I had three classes today, a fourth, fifth, and eighth, in that order. The fourth class was huge, well, hold on; I just counted their papers and there were only 23. Hm, well for some reason it seemed like it was much bigger than that class on Friday. But this class was very well-behaved. At blond Edit’s suggestion, I had them draw pictures of themselves and then we labeled clothing and body parts. They were so adorable how earnestly and painstakingly they drew. I did a similar activity with the fifth graders, except I had them label as many parts as they could before I collected their papers, and then we went over them as a group. There are a couple of troublemakers in that class, I think. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, because I can’t tell when they are being willfully disobedient, or if they just don’t understand. Anyway, I collected their papers to “grade”. I guess I really don’t understand how me grading them works. But for now, I’m just going to keep my own record book for each class.
And despite Edit-with-glasses’ dire predictions, the eighth grade class was like a room full of angels. It was a much smaller class, though, only 10 students. I actually did the “first day activity” with them, although they seemed less enthusiastic than the big class last Friday. Then I had them write about their summer vacations, which Kati said is what they’re doing in the main class, and read their ‘compositions’ aloud. Some only wrote one or two sentences, and I collected them to grade. I’m not sure how much of the grammar I should correct, especially because on a couple of them, it would be simpler just to rewrite everything.
I asked Kati if I could observe one of her classes, and she said okay. When she asked me which I would like to observe, my mind screamed, “all of them!” but I think maybe I’ll get to sit in on a 7th or 8th. Although I don’t know when. Apparently, next week the 8th graders are going on a class trip to Germany. Yay, less work for me.

Sunday: a complete waste of a day

It’s hard to think I’ve only been here a week. It feels like forever - mostly in a positive way, but when I’m already melancholy, it just feels like I’ve been trapped here, same apartment, same routines, same three English TV stations, same people, same worries, same doubts, same thoughts over and over. I had a bad time yesterday afternoon: I called Hajni, and she was with Laura, driving her to Kalocsa to see Harpswell (Hajni was going there to see her dad). I have never thought of myself as a jealous person, particularly that petty, high-school brand of being jealous of other people’s friendships. But I have to say, the idea that people were meeting up, having fun without me, got me down. Then later, I was trying to get hold of Chad, unsuccessfully, so I ended up just walking around town, pissed at him, pissed in general.
All’s well that ends well, though: I ended up with Dan, Jess, Chad of course, and Agi and Geri, friends of Dan & Jess’s, at the Toilet Pub (it’s the same place we had our beer last night). Oh, I’m still so tired, it’s taken me almost half an hour to write these, what, two paragraphs. And I think I’m getting more and more incomprehensible. Wow, I can’t believe I spelled that right.
Okay, to continue after lunch and some Fanta. I have this horrible feeling like everything I drank the past week has left it’s traces in my bloodstream, like silt collecting until my blood and my body are sluggish and drunken. Oh, hell, I’m going to give up trying to write anything intelligent (or worth reading).
Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve given up watching Euronews, which repeats the same thing every half-hour, and am down to MTV and VH1. Both of which are rotting my brain. The hours when they just play music aren’t so bad, but the “shows,” and I use the word loosely, are so stupid and inane. And the commercials are all in strange languages, not Hungarian. Some are Hebrew, and some are Turkish, which makes me wonder where the station is based. Ohp, no, that line of thought is still too much for my little brain to handle. I wonder if Sudoko will fry all of my circuits. Probably.

Out and about in Szolnok

Last night Chad and I finally went out “on the town,” so to speak. We had dinner pretty late; I bet it was 8 by the time we ate. And neither ate much, but we did drink a bottle and some of that vodka-liquer stuff I bought yesterday. Ugh, it’s like syrup of peaches. Rach would love it. Anyway, we lazed around here until 10:30, maybe, which I think was good “thinking” on our part. Wandered down to the Tiszapart; followed the big searchlight to this little place across the river, which I think Dan and Jess said was owned by the Hungarian Mafia - or, maybe that was a different place.
When we got there the first time, Chad started chatting with some girls outside, asking them if it was a good club or not. They said, sort of, but the only place in Szolnok. So we went back to little pub at the foot of the bridge (the civilization side) and had a beer there to kill some time, then back to the club. We sat for a while, drinking, then met up with the girls from before, who danced with us and talked a little. They said they wanted us to give them Hungarian lessons. I think really they just wanted Chad to buy them drinks (which he said he got suckered into doing). In any case, it was a fun night.
This morning, at what felt like about 5am but was actualy closer to 10, Daniel and Jessica messaged me to ask if I wanted to go see water polo. Hell, yes. So I managed to get up, presentable, and to the pool in half an hour, even considering that I didn’t know where the pool was. It was great - Daniel explained the game to me, and Jess pointed out the cutest of the players. What a great way to spend a morning - I could really get into that sport. Watching, I mean, of course.

First day teaching - YIKES!

There was no ER. Anyway, it’s better that I went to bed, because today was quite a day. A lovely premier to teaching, but not typical, I hope to God.
It started when Kati called me this morning and informed that that I should come an hour early, because the classes that they thought would start in a few weeks actually started now. Of all the times for them to get the paperwork together quickly... So I went in; the 4th-grade teacher told me that I didn’t have to teach that class today, because we’ll start next week. So in any case, I was back to two classes today. The next question, where would I be teaching them? The question of which classroom for which class seems to be largely determined by which room you can find the students in. My first class, a 6th grade optional conversation class, had only three students, so the “first day activity” was certainly not going to work. So I improvised, somewhat lamely, by showing them some pictures I had brought with and asking them about what there is to do in Szolnok. Mostly everything I said, they repeated to each other in Hungarian, with lots of other comments.
In any case, now I know what to prepare for next week. My second class was a completely different story. There were about 10 times as many kids, it felt like. I think, I tried to count in my head, there were actually 24. Kati came with and introduced me, and after she left the room, I bet there wasn’t a complete minute of quiet. They whispered and fidgeted and talked over me, and I was almost hoarse from trying to yell over them. They did love the activity, though, and caught on pretty quickly. Kati said the class will be split in two. Some of the students seemed really happy to be there, really excited. And some spoke relatively well. I think fewer would be better, but even so, I need some way of disciplining them more. The thing is, I just don’t know if that sort of talking is normal in Hungarian classrooms or not.
I would also feel better if I had had more activities planned. Daniel (or maybe it was Jessica) said that it’s always better to plan too much than too little. I agree.
After class I checked my email, and there was a long, long essay from Yerik about his first day, and how stressful and arduous it was for him, which I found surprising because he always seemed like such a laid-back person. He also “confided” (it was an open email to the group, hence the “”s) that he has never taught before, another thing I would never have guessed. It made me feel a little better that I’m not the only one having problems. Several of the other teachers write back, openly, and I sent him an SMS. No one is having a great time. For some, teaching is problematic, for others, the living conditions. But on the other hand, I think mostly everyone has something that they are, how can I say, happy with, or at least satisfied with. During orientation, Mary said that the key to getting through the hard parts was always having something to look forward to. I agree; my thing is the Internet that supposedly I might maybe be getting on Monday, if all goes well, if the phone line works, and if I can discover the number of the phone line, which in itself depends on if Angelika (the former tenant) stops by the flat to collect her mail. I was afraid that she might come over the weekend when I am out, so I actually composed a note to leave her. I’m recording it here in hopes that I might look back on it and laugh, “Oh Emily, how horrible your Hungarian used to be...”

mi van a telefonszama it a lakásban? Nekem már van egy mobiltelefon, de kell tudni a szama azért hogy Internet lenni.

So, I know the grammar sucks and not all the words are what I want, but I think she might be able to understand it.
A good thing about school is that I never have a full day of it; on my busiest day I think I only have about 5 hours to work. I was done and home by 2 today, and I ended up walking over the the market, which was lovely to wander through but I didn’t buy anything; I also went to the Plus next door where I did buy food (and drink) for the weekend. Maybe every time I feel down, I should go a little shopping. For about $10, I got two bags full of food and drink, including oranges, carrots, wine, some sort of vodka-liqueur, rice, and off-brand nutella. And some drink that I thought might be off-brand lemon Fanta, but I think it’s just pure lemon juice. Oooeeee, maybe it’s not for drinking.

untitled

So I went into school today at 11, got my schedule, and this nice younger woman named Gabi, who I think is a secretary maybe, took me to the medical insurance place and the tax place and we got that all straightened out, or at least got the ball rolling. We had to walk and it was hot, so I came home and took a couple of naps (one in the chair, and one on the couch. Chad was right, it is super comfortable). At three, Daniel and Jessica, the couple who had mine and Chad’s positions last year, respectively, were visiting so we met up with them. They rescued a bunch of things from their former apartment, which is the other half of Chad’s “duplex,” so now I have even more teaching materials and some more kitchen stuff. After a drink with them and a brief tour where they pointed out some of Szolnok’s good points, we came here for a while, then they went to dinner with old friends, and we went to Chad’s for dinner. Grilled cheese (burnt) and tomato soup (too liquidy) have never tasted so good. We did finish a whole bottle of wine, so so much for temperance.
Kyle called me while I was on my way to Chad’s the first time; I also SMS-ed extensively with Rosalind, and I just got off the phone with Gaines. They seem to be at various levels of contentment. Gaines just finished her first teaching day and is feeling good from that; Kyle is having problems with her dormitory, which apparently has some loud neighbors; Ros and I speculated as to how many of the other teachers are getting drunk. Agreed: everyone.
Well, tomorrow I actually have two classes, a fourth grade and a fifth. I really don’t have much of a plan yet. Daniel seemed to think that the 5thers could do this “first day activity” game that Mária taught us, because they did it with him last year. And the 4thers, I guess... I don’t know. I just want the first week to be over so’s I can go visiting.
Oh, and I have to say how much I’m loving TV. This afternoon, I watched something about the Salem witch trials, some made-for-TV movie with Kirstie Allie, but dubbed into Hungarian, of course. Right now: CSI Miami in Hungarian. And next, I think maybe ER? Wow, I love it.

continued boredom and intoxication

Uuggghh, I am so tired. I guess I haven’t been sleeping so well. That, plus the fact that Chad and I are having our own little descent into drunkenness each and every night since we’ve been here... yeah, I think I need to stop.
Wait, so I didn’t write at all yesterday? Oh, I don’t know what there is to say; one day is the same, and the evenings have a similar ring too. Yesterday, I did much of nothing all day. Watched soaps on TV. Got bored and SMS-ed people. Janos called me back and we talked for a while. He’s teaching the same grrades as I am, I think. I walked down to the Lidl. At 5, the school had it’s opening ceremony, which was mercifully short (a half hour only). I say mercifully because it was sunny and hot, we were standing, and I had to wear heels. The good part of the whole thing was that I got to use the internet a bit and, even better, Kati talked to András, the school’s computer teacher, and I think maybe next week I’ll be getting internet here. It’ll be about 7000 - 8000Ft a month, but Mum said she would pay for half. So that’ll be good. I hate being out of touch with people, with the world.
I made dinner here and Chad came over; and somehow one bottle of wine and two beers later, we ended up draped over the living room, semi-passed-out. It was ungraceful, to say the least. After coffees (several each) and a little walk, we both agreed that maybe we should limit ourselves to just a single glass a night, which will be better both financially and otherwise.