First Week

I have now been in Budapest for one week. Part of me feels like I just got here yesterday and part of me feels as if I have been here for a long time now. For the most part, everything has gone well, I haven't gotten lost and everyone I have met has been very friendly. I have met a lot of local IAESTE members and they have been taking turns helping me get what I need and where I need to go. I have started to explore a little on my own, but only within walking distance.

I started working today. Bence, a local IAESTE member, went with me to help me find the office. After taking a bus, the tram and the metro we finally arrived to an area he had never been to. It took us a while to even figure out how to cross the street because we came out of the wrong side. Then we decided to walk instead of taking another bus and had to figure out how to cross another street but this time without a light (a much harder task than one might think, drivers here are crazy and pedestrians definitely do not have the right-of-way). We found the right street and started walking. Little did we know we were going the wrong direction. After wondering around for a while I finally made him stop and ask for directions. We eventually found the place and I was slightly confused because there was a concrete mixing plant where I would have expected a parking lot.

I met the owner of the company and he started explaining to me what his company works on and what I will be working on. I honestly didn't understand exactly what he was saying and I think he thinks I am an idiot. I don't really know what I will be doing except that I will be working at the construction site for the fourth metro line they are putting in. He told me I will need boots and a doctors approval before I can start working. They then took me over to the site where I will be working, gave me a hard hat, a safety vest and got me some boots. Bence left and another intern, Andrew, helped me order my lunch for the week (they are providing lunch for me, which is one less thing I have to worry about). However, Andrew had to leave shortly after and there wasn't really anyone else around who spoke English and they had nothing for me to do so they put me on the bus and sent me home.

To be honest, at this point I am not really sure how I feel about my job. I figure I need to give it a little time before I decide, but I really wasn't expecting to work on a construction project and be in the field. I felt absolutely rediculous showing up today in a nice dress and flats. I was told multiple times to wear jeans and close toed shoes in the future. I think I might have to get a some kind of jumpsuit for when I have to work down in the tunnel (what I will be doing in there, I have no idea).

I will do my best to post pictures later, but for now I do not have access to a computer.

I'm Here!

I arrived in Budapest yesterday afternoon. It was a long trip, but I had no major issues. I think my main issue was that I started out very tired. I thought that my packing skills had improved, but turns out they haven't. I packed, unpacked and re-packed six times! I was being stubborn and didn't wantto give up any of my stuff but, it was too much to fit into my backpack but when I put it in my suitcase it weighed too much because my suitcase is really heavy. I finally got it down to the right weight a got a few hours of sleep. My flights went well and I mostly slept and watched movies to pass the time.

I was very excited to see two guys waiting outside the airport holding a sign with my name on it. As some of you know, I had tried to get in contact with IAESTE Hungary about my reception and housing info and never heard back from them. I am living with three Hungarian students on the Buda side of the river. They all seem really nice and I think we will get along well. Two of them are some of the main student leaders of IAESTE here, which is also an advantage. They both speak English very well and the third is too shy/embarrased to talk to me and I do not speak Hungarian so I can't really talk to her. They are still taking final exams for the next week or two so we probably won't be hanging out a lot until then. The apartment is very cute and cozy. I share a room with the two girls, Christina and Niki. Lazi has his own room. We all share one bathroom. I definitely think this will be a challenge for me, as you all know I really like having my own space and not being surrounded by people all of the time, but it will be good.

Sorry there is nothing too exciting to talk about right now. Everything has gone well and I haven't done a lot yet. I start working next week and will probably have more stories then. Also, I will most likely be writing shorter posts because I did not bring my laptop (the final casualty of the unpacking/re-packing process). I do have wireless at my apartment so I am able to use my phone.

Pre-departure madness (or lack there of)

I am currently in the process of preparing for my trip to Budapest. Over the years, as most of you know, I have done a decent amount of traveling. I have been looking back on past trips and I laugh at some of the things I did when preparing/packing for those trips. The first time I ever left the country was to travel to South Africa with FVS for ten days. Before we left, we had several meetings to prepare for the trip and at one of those meetings they told us that it was a common misconception that South Africa was always hot but we should know that it does snow there. When I started packing I thought of this and thought to myself, "I better take some warm clothes if it is going to be cold." Well, what I didn't think to do was check the weather for the time I was going. I showed up with a bunch of long-sleeved shirts and jeans and only a couple of T-shirts. Well, it was hot! I had an un-necessarily large amount of clothes and barely any that I could actually wear.

The first time I traveled to Costa Rica, also with FVS, I brought a ton of clothes and other things I really didn't need and/or use. I think my bag was by far the biggest of the group, the guys could barely lift it to the top of the van (I could barely lift it at all).

I have improved since then, and now strictly follow the rule that you should only bring what you can carry. However, right now I am in the process of going through the huge pile of clothes I have sitting in the middle of my room to try and cut out items I don't need. Part of the problem I am having is that I have no idea what is acceptable work attire in Hungary. I have read that it is hot and humid there, which provides a challenge in itself considering Colorado is not really either of those.

Anyway, I fly out on May 23 and will be in Budapest by the evening of the 24th (time changes and long flights make for a long travel day!) I am still waiting to hear about my housing and other details, but I am sure it will all work out...or provide for a little adventure in itself.