Kyle asked me the other day what I was doing here all day every day. Honestly, not a whole lot but I believe my being here is still important so I can support my Mom. It is hard to be a caretaker and my being here helps her vent and share some of the frustrations and responsibilities. It also helps my Dad refocus on things so while my days are not jam packed, I believe this intermezzo in my life serves a higher purpose.
I know that many people think that it is cool to be in Europe. It indeed is but I am not a tourist here and I do not have the means to fully take advantage of what it has to offer. I thought about taking a small vacation and going to Greece - it is relatively close and it would be quite cheap -, or just go to a wellness center for a few days to rest before plunging back into the work world. But I cannot afford it. First of all I still do not have an income. Living with my parents means my basic needs are guaranteed and I am better off than probably 75% of the Hungarian population. Yet, it does not feel right to spend their money on extra things. The so generous support I received just before I left Reno is getting smaller since just because I do not live in the US, I have bills to pay and I do not want to spend it on unnecessary things but rather save it for my move to New Mexico. Since technically I am in-between two countries now, I cannot apply for any sort of support either in the US or in Hungary.
It is not a complaint, it is just an explanation as to why I am not even driving around or getting out of the house a lot. Well, actually, I do get out of the house since I take my Dad back and forth the hospital, I accompany my Mom to her various appointments and we also go for a walk every day, and twice a week I visit my childhood friends. But that is pretty much it. While at home, I work out, read, study the Bible, watch TV shows I do not normally watch (Switched at birth, Everwoord), then there is soccer on TV twice a week, play games (I do miss my xbox! :), keep in touch with you, take care of emails to make sure this legal process is finally getting on its way - it takes more time than it sounds; Shawna can attest to that especially after yesterday when there was yet another scare of having to get into the trailer :), and just generally be available to help my parents whenever they need me. It might sound boring but it actually takes up my days. A leisurely - even though not entirely without stress - life, I admit. I cannot wait to be back at work. But I also believe that this is where I have to be now.
I think the most exciting part of this stay will be when I go to Budapest. There are a lot more things to do and Heather, I might go to the Roman Bath that we visited before. :) So that is my life in a nutshell right now. No need to complain: it is altogether quite nice. I bet when I am back in the thick of things I will reminiscence of these good old leisurely days.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Day Eighteen
I have been a slacker lately. Mostly because nothing interesting has been happening and I did not want to write about the same things over and over again. There has been no further progress regarding the job so I still have no idea when I will return. I am sorry I will be missing Joshua's birthday but it was fun to see him and Maddie (and Mommie too :) on Skype these last two weekends. Thank you, Shawna, for making it happen.
So the book club meeting is cancelled. Alex has been very quiet about reading this book. I see her posts and progress reports on Good Reads but there has been nothing about The good earth. What's up with that, Alex? :) I am done with it and I am ready to start something new if you would like to. As I said I am not sure when I will be back so if everyone is ready to start reading a new book, I can do that. I might have to read it in Hungarian but it should not be a problem. I am currently reading two books; one on the nook - because I can take that everywhere with me - and one paperback because I still love holding an actual book in my hands. Shawna got me hooked to this idea. I have never been big on reading two books at the same time but it is especially interesting this time because both are about the Persian-Greek battles but they are set in different periods. One is about Sparta and the 300 and the other is about Alexander. I am sure many of you know my addiction to Greek/Roman history.
Mom and I still go on our walks almost every day but we decided to skip the path you might see in a previous blog. We have found several ticks; most of them were in the cat but Mom also found one on her hand. Since I am an especial favorite of these bugs, we decided it was not worth the risk. Having all these bugs around is the consequence of high humidity. It has been raining every day so far and while it is not cold, it really is humid. I guess there is always a trade-off: while the trees are green and them flowers are blooming in many different colors, there are also a lot more bugs.
We had a family feud the other night - of course very amicable and on a small-scale level. Dad and I watched the Spanish soccer league game together and we were on opposing sides. These are the two most famous and best teams in the world so they have fans and divide families all around. And Kyle, no it is not sucker, it is the REAL football. My team won, and Mom said we are lucky that the neighbors are friends so they did not call the cops on us. :) Yes, I tend to get pretty loud when I support a team. I think the only time when I could stay really quiet was when I watched the Packers-Giants playoff game and Pattimom was sleeping on the couch. That was quite a test. :)
My aunt went home so it is just the three of us again. This is Dad's last week as an outpatient so next week I will go to Budapest to visit my friends and family. I might actually even see Bruce Willis. He is in Budapest on the set of Die Hard Five. Of course, the area is closed to traffic but it is close to my flat so I might be able to get close enough to catch a glimpse.
I hope you are all having a great week.
Miss you all!
So the book club meeting is cancelled. Alex has been very quiet about reading this book. I see her posts and progress reports on Good Reads but there has been nothing about The good earth. What's up with that, Alex? :) I am done with it and I am ready to start something new if you would like to. As I said I am not sure when I will be back so if everyone is ready to start reading a new book, I can do that. I might have to read it in Hungarian but it should not be a problem. I am currently reading two books; one on the nook - because I can take that everywhere with me - and one paperback because I still love holding an actual book in my hands. Shawna got me hooked to this idea. I have never been big on reading two books at the same time but it is especially interesting this time because both are about the Persian-Greek battles but they are set in different periods. One is about Sparta and the 300 and the other is about Alexander. I am sure many of you know my addiction to Greek/Roman history.
Mom and I still go on our walks almost every day but we decided to skip the path you might see in a previous blog. We have found several ticks; most of them were in the cat but Mom also found one on her hand. Since I am an especial favorite of these bugs, we decided it was not worth the risk. Having all these bugs around is the consequence of high humidity. It has been raining every day so far and while it is not cold, it really is humid. I guess there is always a trade-off: while the trees are green and them flowers are blooming in many different colors, there are also a lot more bugs.
We had a family feud the other night - of course very amicable and on a small-scale level. Dad and I watched the Spanish soccer league game together and we were on opposing sides. These are the two most famous and best teams in the world so they have fans and divide families all around. And Kyle, no it is not sucker, it is the REAL football. My team won, and Mom said we are lucky that the neighbors are friends so they did not call the cops on us. :) Yes, I tend to get pretty loud when I support a team. I think the only time when I could stay really quiet was when I watched the Packers-Giants playoff game and Pattimom was sleeping on the couch. That was quite a test. :)
My aunt went home so it is just the three of us again. This is Dad's last week as an outpatient so next week I will go to Budapest to visit my friends and family. I might actually even see Bruce Willis. He is in Budapest on the set of Die Hard Five. Of course, the area is closed to traffic but it is close to my flat so I might be able to get close enough to catch a glimpse.
I hope you are all having a great week.
Miss you all!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Day Fourteen
I think I might have messed up counting the days a bit. All I know is that I have been here for two weeks now. The weather is now a little bit better. It makes such a difference. Yesterday I was still thinking about buying a coat but it might not be necessary after all. When the sun is shining, everything looks and feels better.
As many of you already know, seems are progressing well about the job. I still do not have an exact date of arrival but I do have an official hire letter and the company has a law firm taking care of my case. It was such a relief when I learned about it. I was not necessarily worried, but as I mentioned before it is nice to have some sort of a certainty and of course communication is always good. It is also easier to plan, although everything is still very tentative. I do know that I have to go the American Embassy at some point. The attorney told me that I would need original copies of my transcripts and degrees, which my own attorney forgot to mention when I was packing. So of course, all of them are somewhere in a box in the front of the trailer in Reno. I think Shawna almost got a heart attack when I mentioned the possibility of having to retrieve them, although the actual task probably would have been left to Kyle, the master packer. It would have been a fantastic birthday gift, wouldn't it, Kyle? :) I decided to call the Embassy and see what exactly they need before jumping the gun. Well, I actually already jumped the gun just by mentioning the possibility, but luckily it turned out to be unnecessary. While technically they could be requested, it is not mandatory and highly unlikely that they will be. Sigh of relief. Never a dull moment in this process, as Patty mentioned before.
So in the last few days I was busy filling out papers and answering emails - they always come after 6pm, and most often during the time when I should be sleeping. If you noticed, I go silent some time between 2pm and 9pm PST but I tend to send my SOS messages especially to Shawna and Pattimom way after 3pm. The good thing is that I get the chance to take a nap in the morning. I still have to wake up early every day to take Dad - even earlier if I use Skype to chat with someone in the U.S. - so I need to add a couple hours of sleep here and there. It has been a leisurely but not boring time.
My Dad's sister arrived the other day to spend a few days with us. I am glad she is here because it means one more person forcing Dad to talk and pay attention. I noticed for the first time since I am here that he was in a really good mood joking and chatting. Nothing else really interesting is happening. I had a facial the other day, and it felt so good. I only do that (too) when I am at home. One of my former elementary school classmates is I think the only professional who has ever touched my face. Now you probably understand why I am sometimes called the Hungarian Princess. I get pampered each time I am here. :)
I went shopping a bit with Mom the other day and it was a saddening experience. Many shops in downtown are closing or have already closed. The economy has hit this area even harder than the rest of the country. The other sad thing to see was the increased number of liquor stores. While people do not have money for the basics, they always seem to have enough money for alcohol. It is true that Hungarians, and Europeans in general, tend to drink more hard alcohol as it is part of the culture, but this is still unusual even here. So very sad.
I hope you are all having a wonderful Friday and are looking forward to the weekend!
Love,
Edina
As many of you already know, seems are progressing well about the job. I still do not have an exact date of arrival but I do have an official hire letter and the company has a law firm taking care of my case. It was such a relief when I learned about it. I was not necessarily worried, but as I mentioned before it is nice to have some sort of a certainty and of course communication is always good. It is also easier to plan, although everything is still very tentative. I do know that I have to go the American Embassy at some point. The attorney told me that I would need original copies of my transcripts and degrees, which my own attorney forgot to mention when I was packing. So of course, all of them are somewhere in a box in the front of the trailer in Reno. I think Shawna almost got a heart attack when I mentioned the possibility of having to retrieve them, although the actual task probably would have been left to Kyle, the master packer. It would have been a fantastic birthday gift, wouldn't it, Kyle? :) I decided to call the Embassy and see what exactly they need before jumping the gun. Well, I actually already jumped the gun just by mentioning the possibility, but luckily it turned out to be unnecessary. While technically they could be requested, it is not mandatory and highly unlikely that they will be. Sigh of relief. Never a dull moment in this process, as Patty mentioned before.
So in the last few days I was busy filling out papers and answering emails - they always come after 6pm, and most often during the time when I should be sleeping. If you noticed, I go silent some time between 2pm and 9pm PST but I tend to send my SOS messages especially to Shawna and Pattimom way after 3pm. The good thing is that I get the chance to take a nap in the morning. I still have to wake up early every day to take Dad - even earlier if I use Skype to chat with someone in the U.S. - so I need to add a couple hours of sleep here and there. It has been a leisurely but not boring time.
My Dad's sister arrived the other day to spend a few days with us. I am glad she is here because it means one more person forcing Dad to talk and pay attention. I noticed for the first time since I am here that he was in a really good mood joking and chatting. Nothing else really interesting is happening. I had a facial the other day, and it felt so good. I only do that (too) when I am at home. One of my former elementary school classmates is I think the only professional who has ever touched my face. Now you probably understand why I am sometimes called the Hungarian Princess. I get pampered each time I am here. :)
I went shopping a bit with Mom the other day and it was a saddening experience. Many shops in downtown are closing or have already closed. The economy has hit this area even harder than the rest of the country. The other sad thing to see was the increased number of liquor stores. While people do not have money for the basics, they always seem to have enough money for alcohol. It is true that Hungarians, and Europeans in general, tend to drink more hard alcohol as it is part of the culture, but this is still unusual even here. So very sad.
I hope you are all having a wonderful Friday and are looking forward to the weekend!
Love,
Edina
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Day Eleven
Monday was quite uneventful. We did not do much. We had to get up early to take Dad to the hospital and then both Mom and I took a nap right after coming back home. We are midnight owls; have yet to go to bed before midnight so waking up at 5am is not an easy thing to do. I know all you mommies out there are used to being sleep-deprived but Mom is retired and I am unemployed - we are both kind of lazy. :)
I am not quite sure why we stay up so late. Most likely to watch TV. The day gets a little busier after 6pm, especially because that is when I start getting most of your messages - thank you so much! I so love playing words with games with you and chatting with you; it makes me feel missed and connected. I do get out here also but I mostly visit Bea, my childhood friend, run errands with Mom or fetch Dad. This is a small town with not much to do and most of those I grew up with have moved away.
Running errands around here is a little more time-consuming than in the U.S. Bureaucracy is crazier - if you can imagine it. We went to get my license the other day but I will not have it for another three weeks. They did give me a paper that proves it is being renewed but the actual card will not be in my hands for a while longer. I am not quite sure why. The process is almost the same as it is in the U.S.: they take my picture and my signature through the computer. They just do not actually issue it. In addition, we have about four different kinds of cards, and it is hard to follow which you need at different places. There is an identification card, a driver's license and a card that shows where we live and then there is social security. The first three could be combined into one - just like in the U.S. - and hopefully some day someone will realize how much money and time they could save with it.
Sending a parcel is also no simple feat. When I went to the post office to send Joshua's gift, I needed to take a number instead of just standing in a line. When my number was called, I went to the teller but he told me it would be better to send it as letter since it is fairly light. I agreed and was waiting for him to do it. Much to my surprise he informed me that it was not his responsibility; I need to take another number and wait for the teller who is taking care of mails. I could hardly believe it. It meant another twenty-minute wait. It was worth it, I am not complaining at all, I just wanted to show you an example of lack of efficiency around here.
Watching TV is not very easy either. There are lots of TV channels - probably about the same as in the U.S. Mom has quite a lot and she has DVR and such. However, out of all those channels only five have programs with subtitles. It really cannot be called captioning because it is coming through the teletext system. Which means that it cannot actually be recorded so the DVR is really of no use. I either watch a program when it is on TV or I will not have the subtitles. That explains why I stay up late. Most of them really would not be worth my time - especially since I have never watched a whole lot of TV anyway -, but since the selection is limited, I try to pick one to watch with Mom every night. And then of course there are the soccer games. I mostly watch Spanish soccer and since the Spaniards take a nap (siesta) during the day and have dinner late at night, their games start around 9pm. Pattimom, did Javier teach you some of their customs? :)
We did go for a walk as the weather cleared up for a bit. On the picture you can see our regular path. It is pretty. I am also attaching a picture of our house, the car and Mom. Now you can see why they asked me when I bought the Toyota Echo why I need such a big car. :) This is a regular size car here and I am really glad it is not bigger since it is easier to navigate it on these roads. It makes traveling with lots of stuff a little problematic though.
Have a wonderful day!
I am not quite sure why we stay up so late. Most likely to watch TV. The day gets a little busier after 6pm, especially because that is when I start getting most of your messages - thank you so much! I so love playing words with games with you and chatting with you; it makes me feel missed and connected. I do get out here also but I mostly visit Bea, my childhood friend, run errands with Mom or fetch Dad. This is a small town with not much to do and most of those I grew up with have moved away.
Running errands around here is a little more time-consuming than in the U.S. Bureaucracy is crazier - if you can imagine it. We went to get my license the other day but I will not have it for another three weeks. They did give me a paper that proves it is being renewed but the actual card will not be in my hands for a while longer. I am not quite sure why. The process is almost the same as it is in the U.S.: they take my picture and my signature through the computer. They just do not actually issue it. In addition, we have about four different kinds of cards, and it is hard to follow which you need at different places. There is an identification card, a driver's license and a card that shows where we live and then there is social security. The first three could be combined into one - just like in the U.S. - and hopefully some day someone will realize how much money and time they could save with it.
Sending a parcel is also no simple feat. When I went to the post office to send Joshua's gift, I needed to take a number instead of just standing in a line. When my number was called, I went to the teller but he told me it would be better to send it as letter since it is fairly light. I agreed and was waiting for him to do it. Much to my surprise he informed me that it was not his responsibility; I need to take another number and wait for the teller who is taking care of mails. I could hardly believe it. It meant another twenty-minute wait. It was worth it, I am not complaining at all, I just wanted to show you an example of lack of efficiency around here.
Watching TV is not very easy either. There are lots of TV channels - probably about the same as in the U.S. Mom has quite a lot and she has DVR and such. However, out of all those channels only five have programs with subtitles. It really cannot be called captioning because it is coming through the teletext system. Which means that it cannot actually be recorded so the DVR is really of no use. I either watch a program when it is on TV or I will not have the subtitles. That explains why I stay up late. Most of them really would not be worth my time - especially since I have never watched a whole lot of TV anyway -, but since the selection is limited, I try to pick one to watch with Mom every night. And then of course there are the soccer games. I mostly watch Spanish soccer and since the Spaniards take a nap (siesta) during the day and have dinner late at night, their games start around 9pm. Pattimom, did Javier teach you some of their customs? :)
We did go for a walk as the weather cleared up for a bit. On the picture you can see our regular path. It is pretty. I am also attaching a picture of our house, the car and Mom. Now you can see why they asked me when I bought the Toyota Echo why I need such a big car. :) This is a regular size car here and I am really glad it is not bigger since it is easier to navigate it on these roads. It makes traveling with lots of stuff a little problematic though. Have a wonderful day!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Day Ten
It is hard to believe that I have already been here for ten days. Time really flies by. I have not yet heard anything from the job yet - other than a quick inquiry whether I have access to email - so it seems like my stay in Hungary will be longer than expected. But then, of course, I always knew that this is going to continue to be a period of uncertainty. I really do wish that at least I could have some sure fire indication that this thing is going to happen.
The weather in Hungary is kind of gloomy. Kind of the usual spring. I am used to the Nevada sunshine which is quite constant despite sporadic snow or rain. Here when it rains, it is also dark and humid and quite prolonged as well. Mom and I still managed to go for our walk on Saturday and we were accompanied by our cats. She was surprised since the younger one almost never goes with them but since I am home, he decided he would grace us with his presence. We are not going very far but it is still a little shocking that they would come with us. Yesterday we could even take Dad out for a short walk. Of course, he is not able to do much but I believe it is important for him to be outside and just move around a bit.
It was nice to have him home for the whole weekend. My brother and sister-in-law came over for lunch on Sunday. This is our usual family lunch. Lunch here means soup as the first course with vegetables and meat cooked in the soup itself. Then comes the second course which this time was stuffed chicken with salad. I am teaching Mom to mix salad the American way. Generally Hungarians do not make the kind of salad we eat in the U.S. There is usually just one kind of vegetable (or does cucumber and tomato count as vegetable) in vinegar/oil or some kind of dressing. Everyone liked the mixture of lettuce, cucumber, olives, tomato and such in yogurt dressing. Mom was very proud. Then we had some cake for dessert. I wish you could eat Mom's cakes. They really are delicious but it is hard to even describe what they look like let alone explain what they taste like. I might take some pictures and attach them here.
In the evening we watched the Titanic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Mom still remembers watching it together at the movie theater ten years ago. It is kind of crazy how much attraction that ship still draws after 100 years. There is an exhibition in Budapest with things that have never been displayed anywhere in the world before. I was planning to see it but I am not sure how long it will be there.
I hope you all had a great weekend! Good luck for this week. I miss you all a lot!
The weather in Hungary is kind of gloomy. Kind of the usual spring. I am used to the Nevada sunshine which is quite constant despite sporadic snow or rain. Here when it rains, it is also dark and humid and quite prolonged as well. Mom and I still managed to go for our walk on Saturday and we were accompanied by our cats. She was surprised since the younger one almost never goes with them but since I am home, he decided he would grace us with his presence. We are not going very far but it is still a little shocking that they would come with us. Yesterday we could even take Dad out for a short walk. Of course, he is not able to do much but I believe it is important for him to be outside and just move around a bit.
It was nice to have him home for the whole weekend. My brother and sister-in-law came over for lunch on Sunday. This is our usual family lunch. Lunch here means soup as the first course with vegetables and meat cooked in the soup itself. Then comes the second course which this time was stuffed chicken with salad. I am teaching Mom to mix salad the American way. Generally Hungarians do not make the kind of salad we eat in the U.S. There is usually just one kind of vegetable (or does cucumber and tomato count as vegetable) in vinegar/oil or some kind of dressing. Everyone liked the mixture of lettuce, cucumber, olives, tomato and such in yogurt dressing. Mom was very proud. Then we had some cake for dessert. I wish you could eat Mom's cakes. They really are delicious but it is hard to even describe what they look like let alone explain what they taste like. I might take some pictures and attach them here.
In the evening we watched the Titanic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Mom still remembers watching it together at the movie theater ten years ago. It is kind of crazy how much attraction that ship still draws after 100 years. There is an exhibition in Budapest with things that have never been displayed anywhere in the world before. I was planning to see it but I am not sure how long it will be there.
I hope you all had a great weekend! Good luck for this week. I miss you all a lot!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Day Eight
Hello again!!! I did not stop writing to pout about the lack of comments. :) It was just a busy few days. Fun and relaxing busy mostly, but still busy. Thanks Alex and Kyle for the comments though. I did feel the love. And of course I talk with most of you through words with friends or email. Or as in the case of Julie and Holly, it is Facebook. It is not so much the reaction I am craving for, it is just that I would like to know what is going on with YOU as well.
I was saddened by the news as at Queen Way's but I will continue to pray for a smooth and fast healing process, and I wish Brooke and Kevin the very best. Thank you for keeping me posted about the events. It makes me feel like I am still there with you.
Many of your asked about my Dad. He has a quite serious neurological problem that started about fifteen years ago and it is irreversible. His spinal marrow has been disintegrating and it slowly causes mobility problems and can eventually affect his brain as well though it has not come to that in his case yet. It is not a life-threatening situation but the loss of mobility and independence can hit anyone hard, especially someone who was always so healthy and robust as my Dad. Those of you who met him remember him as a big guy with lots of energy - well, that is mostly gone by now. He needs a walker and he is very very slow. It was even a shock for me to see him - I have not been home for almost three years and it is very different to know about it from actually seeing it. I am glad I am here and I can help boost his morale - that is definitely the most important.
He was in the hospital about three weeks ago because of some complication due to his condition. They could stabilize him but he had to stay in bed for a week so he became really weak. This disease also weakens the muscles so while he is really limited in his movements, it is imperative for him to try to walk around as much as possible to keep his legs strong. That is why he is in rehab now for a month. He is getting various therapies (massage, water aerobic, electromagnetic therapy, etc) that will hopefully sustain him for six months although he was warned that he would most likely end up in wheelchair at the end of the road.
I am so excited because yesterday he decided that he would not stay in the hospital during the week - as was planned -, but he comes home every day. In the first two weeks he stayed and only came home for the weekend but I now convinced him to be here with us. It means I have to get up really early every day to take him in to the hospital for the therapies and then bring him home in the afternoons but I really believe this will help him. There is not much to do in the hospital. It is not a luxury place with TV and such as it is in the U.S. So all he does there is sit or lay on his bed looking at the ceiling. Beds cannot be put into recliner position so it is hard to even read. There are two other guys in his room and there are no individual lamps by their beds. So yes, this is exponentially different from any American hospital.
I was really spoiled in the last few days. I had a manicure/pedicure which I almost NEVER do in the U.S. I just do not make time for it - you know me: I am always on the run and I just consider it a total waste of time to sit there for almost two hours. But my nails now are pretty wine red. I also had my hair cut and I got another massage. I really am the princess here. :)
I also visited some of my childhood friends. It is fun to see them. While this is a relatively small town - that is why it is not on your world map, Jim! :) -, many of my old classmates stayed home, and it is nice to catch up with them. I decided to go visit my former elementary and high schools as well. Next week. I was planning to go to Budapest - the city on the world map :) - next week to see family and friends but now that Dad decided he will be an outpatient, I postponed that trip.
Other than that, Mom and I had a routine this past week. We NEVER get out of the house before 10:30am. The other day Mom called the city hall to ask for an appointment to renew my driver's license and the lady told her at 8am that we could go immediately. Mom told her that we were nowhere close to be in presentable wardrobes just yet. :) After lunch we tended to visit Dad, we went for a walk in the afternoon, then had dinner, then watched a quiz show, then played some computer games and then watched either a soccer game - the cats are not yet used to my applause, yelling and commentaries; they tend to run in thousand different directions when I watch a game :) - or some TV series. This was the first time I saw Switched at birth, which is quite popular in the U.S. I laughed so hard when I saw the girl making the same mistake at signing that many of you did while interpreting for me (there IS a difference between the signs: virgin and vegetable :).
I hope you are all having a great week. I will write again soon. Thank you for thinking about me!
I was saddened by the news as at Queen Way's but I will continue to pray for a smooth and fast healing process, and I wish Brooke and Kevin the very best. Thank you for keeping me posted about the events. It makes me feel like I am still there with you.
Many of your asked about my Dad. He has a quite serious neurological problem that started about fifteen years ago and it is irreversible. His spinal marrow has been disintegrating and it slowly causes mobility problems and can eventually affect his brain as well though it has not come to that in his case yet. It is not a life-threatening situation but the loss of mobility and independence can hit anyone hard, especially someone who was always so healthy and robust as my Dad. Those of you who met him remember him as a big guy with lots of energy - well, that is mostly gone by now. He needs a walker and he is very very slow. It was even a shock for me to see him - I have not been home for almost three years and it is very different to know about it from actually seeing it. I am glad I am here and I can help boost his morale - that is definitely the most important.
He was in the hospital about three weeks ago because of some complication due to his condition. They could stabilize him but he had to stay in bed for a week so he became really weak. This disease also weakens the muscles so while he is really limited in his movements, it is imperative for him to try to walk around as much as possible to keep his legs strong. That is why he is in rehab now for a month. He is getting various therapies (massage, water aerobic, electromagnetic therapy, etc) that will hopefully sustain him for six months although he was warned that he would most likely end up in wheelchair at the end of the road.
I am so excited because yesterday he decided that he would not stay in the hospital during the week - as was planned -, but he comes home every day. In the first two weeks he stayed and only came home for the weekend but I now convinced him to be here with us. It means I have to get up really early every day to take him in to the hospital for the therapies and then bring him home in the afternoons but I really believe this will help him. There is not much to do in the hospital. It is not a luxury place with TV and such as it is in the U.S. So all he does there is sit or lay on his bed looking at the ceiling. Beds cannot be put into recliner position so it is hard to even read. There are two other guys in his room and there are no individual lamps by their beds. So yes, this is exponentially different from any American hospital.
I was really spoiled in the last few days. I had a manicure/pedicure which I almost NEVER do in the U.S. I just do not make time for it - you know me: I am always on the run and I just consider it a total waste of time to sit there for almost two hours. But my nails now are pretty wine red. I also had my hair cut and I got another massage. I really am the princess here. :)
I also visited some of my childhood friends. It is fun to see them. While this is a relatively small town - that is why it is not on your world map, Jim! :) -, many of my old classmates stayed home, and it is nice to catch up with them. I decided to go visit my former elementary and high schools as well. Next week. I was planning to go to Budapest - the city on the world map :) - next week to see family and friends but now that Dad decided he will be an outpatient, I postponed that trip.
Other than that, Mom and I had a routine this past week. We NEVER get out of the house before 10:30am. The other day Mom called the city hall to ask for an appointment to renew my driver's license and the lady told her at 8am that we could go immediately. Mom told her that we were nowhere close to be in presentable wardrobes just yet. :) After lunch we tended to visit Dad, we went for a walk in the afternoon, then had dinner, then watched a quiz show, then played some computer games and then watched either a soccer game - the cats are not yet used to my applause, yelling and commentaries; they tend to run in thousand different directions when I watch a game :) - or some TV series. This was the first time I saw Switched at birth, which is quite popular in the U.S. I laughed so hard when I saw the girl making the same mistake at signing that many of you did while interpreting for me (there IS a difference between the signs: virgin and vegetable :).
I hope you are all having a great week. I will write again soon. Thank you for thinking about me!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Day Five
Easter Monday is a holiday in Hungary. I am not quite sure why. Christians do celebrate the resurrection on Sunday but all the folk traditions are on Monday. We did not do much as I had to take Dad back to the hospital but traditionally men visit their female acquaintances, friends and relatives and pour some cologne on them. The original tradition used water instead of cologne as it is said that women need to be watered in order to stay fresh and fertile. In some villages, people still dress up in traditional folk costumes and guys still use water. I actually prefer that version. I rather get wet than reek from cologne all day. One kind of cologne is alright but when there are several different men using different kinds, it becomes a little too much. My brother begged me to let him use a few drips on my sweater - it was actually supposed to be on my hair but there I draw the line. My shampoo and other hair stuff are way too precious and important to be wasted on things like this. :) In exchange for being watered, men get chocolate eggs and the younger ones even some money as well. Mom made eggs, ham and lamb - the traditional Easter stuff.
After I took Dad back to the hospital, I convinced Mom to go for a walk around the block. It is so interesting to see these houses and flats. Everything is a lot more crowded than in the U.S. and of course you can see those drying clothes pinned outside on balconies. I also noticed several pubs and men hanging around them practically all day. Of course it was the weekend and then a holiday but it is still another thing I am not used to any more. Refusing to drink a glass of wine with meals is however considered really rude.
It was still a bit windy but at least sunny so the walk was quite nice. Mom showed me the newest things on the block. They live in a suburb but for many years they had to go into town if they wanted to get more than the basic things. There are now a lot more shops and vendors around. They also told me that an adventure park would soon be built quite close to our house. I wish they could spend that money on the hospital: I have to tell you that Americans would scream if they had to put foot in the rehabilitation ward. It is really old and is not at all modernized or fit for people who have problems with mobility.
In the evening we watched a movie called St. Peter's umbrella. It was adapted from a very famous Hungarian book. I remember I bought it for Heidi a while back. I have never read it - oopps, it is another book I was supposed to read in high school but skipped :) -, but now that I saw the movie I am absolutely sure that she had to have a hard time reading it. It is really a folk tale with lots of references to customary things that might be strange for foreigners. It portrayed a group of villagers in the 19th century who found an umbrella and started to worship it because they connected it to some mysterious events. Superstition and the Catholic Church that supported it.
I hope all is well with you. I am wondering if you are actually reading this. Haven't seen even one comment. Send me some love if you have the chance!
After I took Dad back to the hospital, I convinced Mom to go for a walk around the block. It is so interesting to see these houses and flats. Everything is a lot more crowded than in the U.S. and of course you can see those drying clothes pinned outside on balconies. I also noticed several pubs and men hanging around them practically all day. Of course it was the weekend and then a holiday but it is still another thing I am not used to any more. Refusing to drink a glass of wine with meals is however considered really rude.
It was still a bit windy but at least sunny so the walk was quite nice. Mom showed me the newest things on the block. They live in a suburb but for many years they had to go into town if they wanted to get more than the basic things. There are now a lot more shops and vendors around. They also told me that an adventure park would soon be built quite close to our house. I wish they could spend that money on the hospital: I have to tell you that Americans would scream if they had to put foot in the rehabilitation ward. It is really old and is not at all modernized or fit for people who have problems with mobility.
In the evening we watched a movie called St. Peter's umbrella. It was adapted from a very famous Hungarian book. I remember I bought it for Heidi a while back. I have never read it - oopps, it is another book I was supposed to read in high school but skipped :) -, but now that I saw the movie I am absolutely sure that she had to have a hard time reading it. It is really a folk tale with lots of references to customary things that might be strange for foreigners. It portrayed a group of villagers in the 19th century who found an umbrella and started to worship it because they connected it to some mysterious events. Superstition and the Catholic Church that supported it.
I hope all is well with you. I am wondering if you are actually reading this. Haven't seen even one comment. Send me some love if you have the chance!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Day Four
Easter Sunday was busy with family. My sister-in-law and my brother came for lunch and they stayed for a board game called Conquistador. It is a fun game at which my brother is especially good at. The traditional Easter Sunday lunch consists of soup, ham and stuffed cabbage, and of course some dessert. Sunday is not the day when we really celebrate Easter. It will come on Monday. I am not sure why exactly that is but the folk traditions all happen that day - which is also a holiday.
It was strange not going to church but I am going to have to get used to that for the few weeks I am here. At times like this it is especially great to have the sermons on the website as well as to get Kevin's daily sparks. There are Easter masses at various congregations but of course there are no such things as interpreters or voice-recognition programs. The majority of the population is not religious or even believing but the Catholics, Lutherans and Evangelists still bring in certain groups of people.
The weather is calamitous. It was really nice for a few days when I got here but it has been chilly and windy for the weekend. We have been staying mostly inside but I just announced to my Mom that it is time for us to set up a daily walking routine. Her answer? We'll see. :)
Shawna, you have to tell Josh that it is probably better that the cats he wanted to ship off to Hungary stayed in Sparks. I don't think they would survive even in the house. Originally, I was worried about them having to be outside - my parents do not allow the cats to stay inside while they are not at home or overnight -, but now I would be concerned for them during the day as well. One of Mom's cats is really jealous! He is quite spoiled and does not even tolerate the other cat - which is actually his mom - to take any attention away from him. And they do have their claws. :)
On a more serious note, I talked with my attorney, and the form I left in the U.S. but was supposed to be dropped off when I flew out of the country, does need to be submitted. It is wonderful that I left the world's greatest personal assistant in Sparks. :) Thanks, Shawna for taking care of things for me.
I hope you will all have a wonderful week and please pray that Jim will not beat me too badly at our newly set words with friends game. :)
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Day Three
Happy Easter! I was thinking about all of you regarding the egg hunting and other festivities. It is so strange how just a couple of weeks ago I was still planning to be involved in all of those and then things changed so suddenly. I hope you all had fun.
Saturday was a quiet day here. I fetched my Dad from the hospital so he can be home for the weekend, and we mostly just chatted and read. (Yes, I am still reading The good earth :). In the evening we watched Ben Hur. It is a movie I wanted to see for so long but somehow never got around to it. It was not the old version with Charlton Heston but it was good. Since it lasted till 11:15, I had to drink some coffee around 9pm to make sure I can stay awake. I am not sure how those of you who have already visited Europe coped with jetlag. Sometimes when fatigue comes to me, my eyelids are so heavy that I cannot keep them open. So there came another cup of coffee but it came too late and it resulted in my not being able to sleep until 1am. Yet, the whole acclimation is going better than many times in the past when I often gave into long naps and of course was wide awake during nights. Keeping busy and having to do things for Dad do help although I am still not a morning person. :)
There is one weird little thing that keeps happening to me. As you might know, in Hungary if people are closer to each other, the customary greeting is giving kisses on cheeks. This is something I am again not used to any more. I keep trying to give hugs or longer hugs to express my happiness to see them which eventually always result in some awkward movement since they are trying to give me kisses instead. It is interesting how one can not necessarily forget but become unaccustomed to certain things that were part of everyday life while living in that culture.
Happy Easter, again! I hope the gospel meeting went well and you are all enjoying the weekend!
Love,
Edina
Saturday was a quiet day here. I fetched my Dad from the hospital so he can be home for the weekend, and we mostly just chatted and read. (Yes, I am still reading The good earth :). In the evening we watched Ben Hur. It is a movie I wanted to see for so long but somehow never got around to it. It was not the old version with Charlton Heston but it was good. Since it lasted till 11:15, I had to drink some coffee around 9pm to make sure I can stay awake. I am not sure how those of you who have already visited Europe coped with jetlag. Sometimes when fatigue comes to me, my eyelids are so heavy that I cannot keep them open. So there came another cup of coffee but it came too late and it resulted in my not being able to sleep until 1am. Yet, the whole acclimation is going better than many times in the past when I often gave into long naps and of course was wide awake during nights. Keeping busy and having to do things for Dad do help although I am still not a morning person. :)
There is one weird little thing that keeps happening to me. As you might know, in Hungary if people are closer to each other, the customary greeting is giving kisses on cheeks. This is something I am again not used to any more. I keep trying to give hugs or longer hugs to express my happiness to see them which eventually always result in some awkward movement since they are trying to give me kisses instead. It is interesting how one can not necessarily forget but become unaccustomed to certain things that were part of everyday life while living in that culture.
Happy Easter, again! I hope the gospel meeting went well and you are all enjoying the weekend!
Love,
Edina
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Day Two
This was my first full day at home. Well, the home I am at right now. It was quite busy. I went shopping with Mom in the morning and I quickly realized that I am not used to driving in Hungary any more. The roads are narrower, people pop up out of nowhere all around you - by foot, by bike or by car - and a quick reaction is imperative. I doubt that anyone who never tried it can fully imagine it. On top of all this, I am also not very used to using the clutch any more. We managed to get around without the car dying down at any point but it was quite the experience. Then my Mom casually mentioned that my Hungarian driver's license actually expired and if it has been invalid for over a year, I will have to take the test again. Ha, I am drawing the line at that: I refuse to take those tests again. That's right: tests. In Hungary, we need to pass four different tests (first aid, mechanical, written and practical) in order to get the license. The book needed for the written test is thicker than War and Peace which requires a little more studying than the Nevada Driver's Handbook. :)
Our first stop was at a Media Markt in the local mall. The adapter that I brought with me decided that it had its use in the last five years and did not want to function any more. The adapter is crucial; without it I cannot charge anything. When the guy at the store asked me why I needed it and I started to list: phone, nook, laptop, portable gaming system, he stopped me halfway concluding: it is needed to keep me alive. :) Pretty much. We got the last device and then we went to buy some girlie stuff: lotion, etc. Of course my parents already have many of these things at home but I am quite specific about these things. And as my Dad likes to say: expensive too. :) It is funny how in Hungarian he can say his dear daughter and mean expensive as the two words are the same. He likes to rub that in every once in a while.
Things are actually quite expensive here. I did not buy all the things I regularly do in the U.S. and pay probably 60 dollars for them. Here we paid 20,000 forints which is a third of the monthly minimum wage. I can see now why Dad would have rolled his eyes if he had known about it. I also learned that the unemployment rate is 12% and most individuals with disabilities have to take either low-paying jobs or live on social security. Not a good prospect.
We also went to the rehab facility where my Dad is treated. It seems like the IV, electronic massage and physical therapy help a lot. He does need to stay in all week and can only come home for the weekend. It was a little hard to see him. It is one thing to talk about his fragility but actually see it is quite different. He used to be so robust and energetic, and in a matter of a couple of years that is all but gone. I can see how excited he is that I am here and so I am now absolutely sure that I had to come to be with him.
In the afternoon I had a massage. It was wonderful. I had a few knots in my lower back that the lady smoothed over. It was painful but wonderful. The evening was quiet with Mom. We watched TV and played a board game. I managed to stay up until 10pm. That was my goal. I am trying to be stricter with myself this time to make sure that the jetlag does not drag forever.
It is so much fun to play words with friends and chat a bit with many of you. It is the greatest way to feel close and know what is going on with you. And I am sure it is a lot more interesting than actually working at work, right, Shawna? :)
Friday, April 6, 2012
Day One
I decided to start a blog. Shocking! :) It will be easier to keep in touch with everyone and let you know what is going on with me while I am gone. Honestly, I do not really have a clue how it works but I do want to be able to communicate with you. Maybe Alex can give me a few pointers. :)
So the flight to Hungary was quite uneventful. Shawna might not feel the same way though. She dropped me off and a minute later I texted her that there was a problem. I forgot to bring a document I needed to leave with USCIS on my way out. I can use the fact that I have a brand new passport and the document is attached to my old one as an excuse. However, this is not the first time this happens. It is normally not a big deal but since this time I want to make sure USCIS knows I am out of the country, it would have been nice to have it with me. And this after I snapped at Shawna for asking me if I had everything with me. I definitely had to eat my words this time. Sorry, Shawna!!!
The lady at the American Airline counter told me it should not be a big deal as Chicago can duplicate the document. However, when I got to Chicago they told me it was nothing to worry about. I am sure there are thousands of people forgetting about it all the time. But I will check with my attorney just to be sure.
The first flight was delayed an hour. It worked out just fine since this way I could watch my soccer game at the airport. It was fabulous and Madrid did win. I could also read all the Facebook messages that almost made my cry. Shawna, I did read your card on the plane from Chicago to London. Thank you!!!
The next stop was London. I forgot how meticulous the British can be. They checked our carry-ons and passports like five times before I could actually board. Not that they had not already been checked by the Americans. I was lucky enough to be able to charge my electronics at the airport. The charging is not an easy process. I had the converter (220V to 110V), then the adapter (British plugs are different), then the plug that allows me to charge more than one device at a time (what is it called?) and then the actual cable. People looked at me quite strangely but then what's new? :) I also had my last Starbucks run for a while.
The flights were alright. I could not sleep a lot but I liked the fact that I did not have to sit tight for more than 6 hours. I had a lot of gadgets - there was no wifi even on the transcontinental flight but I could read my nook -, I had my psp to play videogames and my laptop to play trivia games. And then of course there was my phone. Jim, by the way, it is better to email as all my emails are coming to my phone and it is free. I got your text but if I reply, I will have to pay an extra 50 cents for each. Or you could also FINALLY play words with friends with me and we could communicate through it. That is almost like texting. Pattimom, please do not despair, I also did read The good earth. I am halfway done. I had a hard time getting on with it but I actually like it now. I will be done by April 21st but I will not be back in the U.S. by then. So, we will either have to postpone the book club or we can use Skype. Because of course you cannot do it without me. :)
My Mom and my niece waited for me at the airport. My niece was a surprise. I did not expect her. For those of you who have Facebook, you can see the welcome picture she posted of us. Everyone says she looks quite like me. Then we drove to my home town where I set up the wifi. It is a good thing that my Mom is such a tech savvy lady. I need it for my gadgets. When I tried to start things up, I had to realize that Netflix does not serve any area outside of the U.S. I thought that if my device was bought in the U.S. and I pay for the account from America, then I will be able to watch movies and TV shows. It would have been nice. While there are more programs captioned in Hungary now it is still really limited. It was so odd to turn on the TV and not having captions. I am spoiled. Not that I ever watch a lot of TV but since the movie theater is also out of the picture, it would have been nice to have something.
Initially, I could not make the Words with friends work either. I thought the problem might be the same as with Netflix so I gave up on it. But when I woke up in the middle of the night - yes, the jetlag -, I gave it another try and it started up. I just needed to update. So I hope to play with you and we can chat that way too.
That was the first day. I have not yet seen my Dad as he is in rehab doing physical therapy and such. We will go to visit him tomorrow and he can come home for the weekend. I hope all is well with you. I miss you all!
Love,
Edina
So the flight to Hungary was quite uneventful. Shawna might not feel the same way though. She dropped me off and a minute later I texted her that there was a problem. I forgot to bring a document I needed to leave with USCIS on my way out. I can use the fact that I have a brand new passport and the document is attached to my old one as an excuse. However, this is not the first time this happens. It is normally not a big deal but since this time I want to make sure USCIS knows I am out of the country, it would have been nice to have it with me. And this after I snapped at Shawna for asking me if I had everything with me. I definitely had to eat my words this time. Sorry, Shawna!!!
The lady at the American Airline counter told me it should not be a big deal as Chicago can duplicate the document. However, when I got to Chicago they told me it was nothing to worry about. I am sure there are thousands of people forgetting about it all the time. But I will check with my attorney just to be sure.
The first flight was delayed an hour. It worked out just fine since this way I could watch my soccer game at the airport. It was fabulous and Madrid did win. I could also read all the Facebook messages that almost made my cry. Shawna, I did read your card on the plane from Chicago to London. Thank you!!!
The next stop was London. I forgot how meticulous the British can be. They checked our carry-ons and passports like five times before I could actually board. Not that they had not already been checked by the Americans. I was lucky enough to be able to charge my electronics at the airport. The charging is not an easy process. I had the converter (220V to 110V), then the adapter (British plugs are different), then the plug that allows me to charge more than one device at a time (what is it called?) and then the actual cable. People looked at me quite strangely but then what's new? :) I also had my last Starbucks run for a while.
The flights were alright. I could not sleep a lot but I liked the fact that I did not have to sit tight for more than 6 hours. I had a lot of gadgets - there was no wifi even on the transcontinental flight but I could read my nook -, I had my psp to play videogames and my laptop to play trivia games. And then of course there was my phone. Jim, by the way, it is better to email as all my emails are coming to my phone and it is free. I got your text but if I reply, I will have to pay an extra 50 cents for each. Or you could also FINALLY play words with friends with me and we could communicate through it. That is almost like texting. Pattimom, please do not despair, I also did read The good earth. I am halfway done. I had a hard time getting on with it but I actually like it now. I will be done by April 21st but I will not be back in the U.S. by then. So, we will either have to postpone the book club or we can use Skype. Because of course you cannot do it without me. :)
My Mom and my niece waited for me at the airport. My niece was a surprise. I did not expect her. For those of you who have Facebook, you can see the welcome picture she posted of us. Everyone says she looks quite like me. Then we drove to my home town where I set up the wifi. It is a good thing that my Mom is such a tech savvy lady. I need it for my gadgets. When I tried to start things up, I had to realize that Netflix does not serve any area outside of the U.S. I thought that if my device was bought in the U.S. and I pay for the account from America, then I will be able to watch movies and TV shows. It would have been nice. While there are more programs captioned in Hungary now it is still really limited. It was so odd to turn on the TV and not having captions. I am spoiled. Not that I ever watch a lot of TV but since the movie theater is also out of the picture, it would have been nice to have something.
Initially, I could not make the Words with friends work either. I thought the problem might be the same as with Netflix so I gave up on it. But when I woke up in the middle of the night - yes, the jetlag -, I gave it another try and it started up. I just needed to update. So I hope to play with you and we can chat that way too.
That was the first day. I have not yet seen my Dad as he is in rehab doing physical therapy and such. We will go to visit him tomorrow and he can come home for the weekend. I hope all is well with you. I miss you all!
Love,
Edina
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