Treat YoSelf!

I came in to this past week thinking it was going to be like the last: getting into a routine and ironing out some wrinkles. It was everything but.

This was a good thing though! I did many things I'd never done before and really enjoyed myself. First of all, the students are impressing me every day. I teach them some English with songs (this week was "I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas") and games (Bingo!). At the same time, they teach me Hungarian words. It really is fun and they enjoy taking some ownership of the classroom. My room is never quite, that's for sure. I wonder if other teachers notice... I'm sure they do. Fortunately, when I talk to the other teachers, they agree that these kids should really have fun at school. I'm glad I can contribute to that fun, even if we don't always understand each other perfectly.

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to go with the 7th graders to Sóstó. It's a forest that is very close to Nyiregyhaza. I had heard of the beautiful running paths, the zoo, the outdoor spa, and the chance to

see deer running through the trees. This would be my first experience of where many of the locals spend their sunny weekends. The Hungarian government sets up these outdoor adventures for the students. We learn about the history of the forest and what you can find there. The guides I listen to only speak in Hungarian understandably, so the students diligently google translated information for me. It worked...sometimes. After our tour of the vegetation, the students tried their hand at archery! They thought it would be a good idea to try. I hit a picture of a deer on my third try and figured I should stop there before I embarrassed myself. We ended that day by playing a game meant to test how well you could retrace your steps after being blindfolded. There was much giggling. The day was beautiful and I couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable time. The only thing I regret is not being able to remember all of the names of those kids. I'll have the rest of the year to learn.

The end of the week brought yet more pleasant surprises. I have been given a coffee pot, which is exciting news for any coffee lover. I've spoken with several people and

have gathered that Hungarians drink espresso, only espresso. Our big cups of joe, which are called long coffees here, are non existent. So I brew myself coffee in a pot that is meant for 10 shots of espresso and with practiced hands end up with one long coffee. I finally found the correct formula to do so on the morning of Family Day. It's difficult to realize that it was just yesterday. Families gathered with their students in the Kossuth Secondary School to cook delicious food to win a prize for best looking and tasting dish. Obviously I was excited when I heard about it. Who isn't excited about food? Shortly before the morning of, I am told that I am to be a

judge for the competition. Thrilled, but also confused because I am not Hungarian and don't know the difference between good and bad Hungarian dishes, I walk around to look and taste. All I can say at this point is Hungarians are extremely polite and kind. I felt a little guilty taking plate after plate of delicousness into the flat and emerging again to be offered yet another plate or palinka. Palinka in the morning? No problem for a true Hungarian. For me? Not so much. A recipe for a truely fun weekend was present: music, family, friends, food and sunshine. Honestly, I don't know which family won best dish. I tried fish, gyros, creps, lamb, sweet biscuits, chocolate and several things I don't know the names of nor do I know what they were made of. A very important question was answered. Yes, there are many different types of delicious Hungarian goulashes. There is not one goulash recipe that everyone must more or less follow. I tasted so many different goulashes it made me think I could just throw random ingredients in a bowl and it would tu

rn into a fabulous goulash. (Of course that would never happen to me.) All in all, I was thrilled to meet so many great families and be overfed. The evening was spent outside in Sóstó by an outdoor fire with yet another lovely family who served me even more delicious Hungarian food. It was a "Treat YoSelf" kind of weekend. Now I need to find the gym.