A Year in Hungary

UPDATE: Well, it's been awhile but too bad. My parents came to visit, and outside of my mom getting sick and having her luggage stolen, I'd say it was great trip! Look for the Patton visit blog sometime in 2014.

We have started our extra classes with a few of Melissa's students after school once a week...and then we have 3 adult students that we meet in the evening. The students are trying to prepare for their end of year (leaver) exams. If they score well, then they get money for college, if they don't, well, then not so much. The students really need to do well in high school and on these final exams (English just being a part of them) in order to afford college. Loans are available but the interest rate is ungodly and pretty much a non-starter for most, if not all. If they miss out on college, a lot of students will go to a language school and try to get a job in the tourism industry and move abroad. So, if you ever run into a waiter or hostess type person with a strange accent, it's a possibility. 

Our adult group consists of a border patrol guard, a mani/pedi lady, and an architectural designer. They just want to better their English in general so those classes are pretty fun. One of them, Balazs, is one of the brothers from the pig killing last winter and he is paying us in sausage. I suppose Meliss may get a mani/pedi for cheap as well, and perhaps we will get to cross into Romania with little to no trouble if we wanted. Who knows?!

Also, just Skyped into Thanksgiving last week and it was great to see everybody -- but could have done without seeing all the pies. We cooked a pork roast (turns out you have to order a turkey well in advance...and we are quite certain a whole turkey wouldn't have fit in our oven {or fridge} anyway) and mashed potatoes. It was good enough.

Ok, on to the blog!

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So, a bunch of people have asked about what the schools are like. To be honest, that was the easiest part of all of this. Walking around trying to figure out how to buy train/bus tickets and groceries was difficult (still is, sometimes) but being in the classroom was pretty natural for both of us. That being said, there was an adjustment period.

My first day, Sylvia and I gave a placement test to the incoming 9th graders. 40 grammar questions, if they scored 20+ they were in the advanced English group -- 19 or below they were in the beginner group. Turns out, I would be meeting with each group 6 times a week and then one more with all of them together. Luckily, there were only 23 kids so it wasn't too overwhelming. 

The next day I met with the beginners for the first time and started class by introducing myself and then asking, "Raise your hand if you understand what I am saying." No one moved. So, I said, "Raise...your...hand...if...you...understand...what...I...am...saying." Finally, after what felt like 10 minutes, one kid in the back stood up - close enough I guess. We did a lot of coloring after that.

For Melissa, she was thrown in with other teachers for each of her classes so she had to get used to each teacher as much as she did the students. She felt like she was still aiding at EAWR! Plus, for the first two weeks the schedule was...um...undefined shall we say. Also, if you remember the packed bus pictures from a much earlier blog then you can understand that the first couple of weeks were anxious, frustrating, nerve-wracking, and not so fun. And, if you don't, then ask my parents -- they were lucky enough to take that bus trip as well!

In either case, we definitely were most comfortable when we were in our schools. All of our teachers have been very nice and helpful and the students, while lacking in classroom discipline from time to time, have been great.

Oh, the other big difference...they cuss all the time. I bet we don't go through a day without hearing the f-bomb dropped a time or two, amongst other curses (sh*t is a favorite of theirs). But, we've grown accustomed to it (even in Melissa's Catholic school) and are not that shocked anymore.

Opening ceremony for the first day of real classes at my school in Sarkad...

All the students and many from the community gather to hear traditional Hungarian poems and songs performed by the students.

Also, they play the Hungarian National Anthem (not pictured). But, the Hungarian National Anthem has been voted as one of the most depressing anthems in the world. I finally asked my students to translate some of it and one line goes something like, "you were born in Hungary and you will die in Hungary*." So, yeah.
*I have no idea if that's true but that's what my kids said.

Melissa's school also had a beginning of the year ceremony. It was in the evening after the first day of school. We went to Gyula that day but then A)went to the wrong school (our fault) and B) found out (later) that the ceremony was happening in a church somewhere nearby (not our fault). That's why there are no pictures of hers. Communication has been (and continues to be) a bit of an issue with our teachers.

We did, however, get to meet a bunch of her teachers that day because once we missed the ceremony we just sat on the walking street and had a beer. About halfway through that beer, Melissa's school came walking right past us. We took that to mean that at least we were close! Anyway, several folks sat down and joined us and, except for almost missing our bus back to Sarkad, we had a great time!

About a month later, we went to a Saturday soccer game featuring a lot of Melissa's students. It was at a nice-sized complex away from the school. Andras, one of Melissa's teachers, gave us a tour of the place which included an indoor soccer arena decorated with a huge picture of Hungary's best soccer player. He was a goalie in the 50's? which is also the last time Hungary was good at soccer.  

The best part is that the giant picture adorning this wall was of him diving for a ball as it crossed the goal line during a World Cup match. After explaining all of this to us, Andras just shook his head and said, "I don't know why they choose that picture. Welcome to Hungary!"

Melissa's school is not affiliated with this soccer program per se...but a lot of the players are recruited by the school, live in the dorm, and then play for the local team. The school needs the numbers and the team needs the players.

Melissa's school in black -- known as the Panthers!

And enjoy the following...

We've been around enough screaming soccer parents that we didn't have to understand Hungarian to know what they were saying.

In November, my school has it's Ady Week. My school was named after a famous Hungarian writer (Ady) and a physicist (Endre). I don't know why there is no Endre week. Anyway, Ady week is most similar to Homecoming week in America. The students in the graduating classes (there were 3 groups of separate classes graduating) compete to win Ady week. The rest of the school votes. The winners get to decide what fun activities will happen each evening. So, all of the classes dress up in a theme of some kind and hand out food and treats and have stuff going on in between classes in order to curry favor with the students.

Hallway at beginning of Ady Week (we understand 3 words on that banner -- Hello and something to do with Halloween). That's my Director underneath.

During Ady week, all the classes put on a skit or show of some kind. Here are some examples...

Did you notice that this song has cuss words in it? Yeah, nobody cares.

Aha! American folk dancing!

Later that month, Melissa and I planned a Halloween party for my 9th graders. Halloween in Hungary is non-existent in the form that we know it in the US. Instead, families go to the grave sites of relatives and place flowers during a candlelight vigil sort of ceremony. We thought that would have been really cool to see but 1) it seemed to be a bit exploitative to go and take pictures and B) scary.

My students knew about Halloween in the US and so I had my class make Halloween masks for our party and then practice trick or treating. 

My 9th graders for Halloween -- lots of Spongebob.
Spongebob in Hungarian is Spongie-Boob and then whatever is Hungarian for Square and Pants.

We made spaghetti brains and grape eyeballs for them. It was a bit childish but they seemed to enjoy it. 

After that, we had a mummy race in which two teams raced to mummify a student with toilet paper.

Didn't really matter who won cause all the teams got candy at that point. 

Then, we had apple bobbing which was really fun. 

This is by far my favorite class. I spent 13 hours a week with them last year and, while I taught them a little English, they tried their best to teach me a little Hungarian!

Meanwhile, back in Gyula...

Melissa's school had her "Leavers Ceremony." It's kind of like a graduation except it's in November. All the graduating students get a pin and then the classes do a bunch of skits and stuff. We asked what happens if a student gets pinned and then doesn't graduate but were told that doesn't happen very often.


This all takes place in an auditorium that the Hungarians hate because it was built during the Communist era. We have to agree because the building sticks out as pretty ugly compared to the other architecture around here...it's nice inside though.

Here's some clips of the student bands and skits...we were happy that some of the program was in English at least!

Zoltán, Melissa's director.
This is who we sat with on Melissa's first day -- he scared us to death.
Turns out, he's very nice!

Our next big adventure was going to see a foci (soccer) match in Bekescsaba between Bekescaba (the local professional team) and Ferenc Varos (Budapest). We went with some teachers from Melissa's school who were all rooting for the Budapest team.

Tix for the match -- pretty secure about all of this til the police stopped our car just to check things out. This is a pretty heated rivalry.

Meliss and I began quietly rooting for some hooligans to set something on fire. Not for the violence or anything, just cause we were freezing.

The game tied at 0-0. But everyone seemed to have a good time anyway.

Next, Andy and Rita had invited us to a Thanksgiving dinner at their house. While we were grateful to have any type of dinner/gathering, we thought on the way over, "Oh, we'll probably have like frozen turkey breast and some other stuff." Um, no...

Cappucino to start

Palinka with assorted cheeses and breads.

More....

Bacon wrapped turkey, mashed potatoes, salad...Oh my God, Salad!
Rita was upest that Meliss was taking pics because everything was not perfect -- are you kidding?!

Corn on the cob!

Roasted pumpkin

And traditional Hungarian cake for dessert

And assorted Hungarian cookies

From left to right -- Andy, Zoey, Tammy, and Rita

Meliss and the girls

Most importantly, our leftovers!!!
Seriously, this was such a huge night for us because we both love Thanksgiving and to have someone invite us over and treat us like this...wow.

It may come as no surprise then that we have spent a ton of time with this family, especially since we moved to Gyula last January. Rita makes us try some new Hungarian delicacy every time we go over it seems.

Here's a home-made plate of pig's blood suatéd with onions and garlic...

And, here's me trying it...

Melissa also tried it but that video is not safe for work...or really any English speaking countries.

This is Hurka. It's a special type of Hungarian sausage. We don't really fully understand what it's made out of -- which  I guarantee is a good thing. It's not blood sausage, but not regular sausage either. We think this is made mainly from the heart, liver, lungs, etc parts of the pig.
Who knows? It tastes like meatloaf, though.

About a week after Thanksgiving, my school hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for all the English classes and teachers. 

The students researched the origins of Thanksgiving and then read their report for the group. 

Then, the classes all competed in a few different events before dinner. There was a short Thanksgiving trivia quiz and pilgrim and native hat decorations. Meliss and I were the judges.

Hmmmm, which one is most authentic?

Betti and Misa serving us dinner

Meliss and I laughed because this is kind of what we we're expecting at Rita's! No matter, this was good too.

This is Joci (yoat-see). He is the son of one of the teachers at my school
and I meet with him once a week for some basic English lessons. 

In December, my 9th graders hosted a Christmas party for Melissa and I. They cooked some homemade goodies and brought us each a bag of candy from Santa. In Hungary, Santa arrives on December 6th to deliver sweets to the good boys and girls. If you've been naughty then you get the wheat chaff.

Naughty...what a shocker.

They sang a traditional Christmas song in Hungarian...can you guess it?

If not, then here it is in English.

Merry Christmas from 9c (now 10c)

About a week after that, Meliss escorted a group of kids to Szeged for an English Speaking Competition. It was the first time at one of these competitions for these kids...and Melissa. The groups learn a little skit and then perform it in front of judges who are listening for pronunciation, grammar, and the like. Meliss said the kids performed well for a first time group.

Melissa's students -- pre competition

And, during their skit...

Moving on, Meliss and I thought we found out that everything was closed the 24th, 25th, and 26th of December....and I mean everything, everywhere. Our teachers and students told us as much. Ok, that's partially true because everything, everywhere was closed...in Sarkad. Unfortunately, Meliss and I took that to mean that all of Europe shuts down for Christmas...because we are not very smart.

So, we decided against traveling over Christmas because 1) we were moving all our stuff to Gyula and cleaning the new flat 2) we were going to Budapest for New Year's Eve and 3) we thought Europe was closed. 

However, as we sat in our flat for 3 days with nothing to do, Meliss started seeing all kinds of facebook posts from other CETP folks traveling around Europe on the break. I guess Europe wasn't closed afterall! As always, we are idiots.

It may not seem like a long time but 3 days with very little to do can get a bit dull. We decided to take a walk around Sarkad and see some Christmas lights.

Our fountain and the Nativity at the primary school across the street

We never hear anyone saying this -- but it means Happy Holidays.

Streets of Sarkad

Later in the week, we went to Bekescsaba to check out the Christmas Market. Of course, it closed about 3 days before we got there -- but it seems like it would've been nice.

Walking street in Bekescsaba.
Imagine this street lined with huts selling hot wine, sweets, and probably sausage

And...streets of Gyula
We were all set to move here officially when we returned from NYE in Budapest
In fact, we stayed the night in our new, spider-infested flat
the night before leaving for Budapest...but that's for the next blog

Speaking of, that's about it for this one. Here are some winter views from our balcony in Sarkad just before we left for Gyula.

Next blog -- New Year's Eve in Budapest!