New Years, Budapest, Ball, Slovakian Spa, Update (Long Blog)

NEW YEARS

 Katie (Cali), Me, Katharina (Germany)

Carleigh (Florida), Me, Collin (Alaska), Katie (Cali)

LeAnne (South Africa), Carleigh (Florida), Me, Collin (Alaska)

Everyone trying to do the "Makayla smile"

LeAnne (South African)

Sam

American, Canadian, American, American

Us Girls (:

For this one and only New Years in Hungary, I went to this city called Debrecen. Its located on the other side of the country, about 6 hours away. I went there with another exchange student from my city and we went and met with the other exchange students. It was a very fun, and exiting weekend. Unfortunately we didnt get to see much of the city, but this next week I will be going there again, and I will take pictures.

This year Hungary got 4 people from South Africa, but they are only on the "Summer" program, so they were only here for about 6 weeks. 

On New Years, we had one South African with us, and we had to say goodbye to her. It was one of the saddest, hardest things that I have done. And I only knew her for a short time. 

We also had two Australians, and we also had to say goodbye to them. Lots of tears were shed that night.
I cant even imagine saying goodbye to all the others knowing them for a year.

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A few weeks ago, my host Dad took my best friend and I (Karen) to Budapest to go sight seeing. Fortunately, we got to see many amazing places. These pictures here, are just a few of the amazing things that we got to see. Its really hard to catch the beauty in a photo, than it is to see it in real thing.

(For the picture of me in front of  the castle, and the picture above)

The original castle is in Transylvania, and the Hungarians liked it so much that they decided to make one of there own in Budapest. It is an exact replica.   

(description below)

This is the sealing of the building of the Thermal Baths

Totally awesome Castle! Selena Gomez was here!

(view from castle above)

(isle way in the castle)

Rotary Ball! 

Fernando and I (Brazilian) 

Karen(Mexico), Myself, Fernando(Brasil), Katharina(Germany)

Waiting for an artist to draw me!

The very scary, and nervous moments before I met my second host Mom! I move soon!

My best friends all swimming in the pool in Slovakia! 

 Fernando and I in the Steam Sauna 

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I know I havent updated in a while, but there really has been nothing going on till recently. Just small things. And now I have a full blog of information for you. 
Like you know, I met my second host Mom. I will be moving in two weeks to their family. I must say that I am excited to meet this family, but I am also sad leaving this one too. This family has been really great to me, and has done lots for me. I couldnt be more appreciative for them.


I am now taking online classes for my school, so now I can hopefully graduate with my class instead of staying behind!


My Hungarian is getting lots better, though I must say that I still have LOTS to learn. Learning a language is a really hard, and long process. And I am not really fond of it. It takes a lot of encouragement and time to be able to learn a language really well. 


In the next few weeks, I have lots of things going on, so you wont be getting a blog to soon. 


-Trip to Debrecen/Budapest
-Presentations for the Rotary
-Etno Horror (Killing the Pig)
-Moving homes
-1st host parents Birthday
-Fernandos Birthday (most of the exchange students will be here)
-5 months is on SUNDAY -Where has the time gone, thats what I really wanna know.

Én szeretem Magyarországot (:

Cserediákok Győrben (Exchange Students in Győr)

Győr, Concert, Hostel, Vienna, Party, Hostel, Budapest

Most of us :D

This is in Vienna, during the Christmas Market 

Katie and I at the concert. The Rotary made the concert, and there was about 8 performers there. All were very good. We also got welcomed by the Ambassador of England. 

Fernando and I at the concert

In Vienna, I thought this was perfect. They were holding hands a few seconds before this, thats the picture that I wanted to get, but this was still nice.

Starting from the left: American, American, Brazilian, American, Brazilian

Dinner before the party :D

For most Brazilians this year on exchange was their first time seeing snow. Its fun to be with them, they act like little kids!

Lucas, Brazilian 

Japan!

Frici, Collin, and Myself at the concert. FRICI IS THE BEST! :D

Caio Brazilian

Alberto, Mexican

Friday: I go to school and leave early to go meet with the Exchange Students. We meet and eat dinner with my Rotary Club and then drive to the concert about 10 minutes away. We were there and watch about 8 performers. The Ambassador of England was there to welcome all the Exchange Students. We got to meet him, but not pictures. My school, has a students hostel in the school, so after the concert all the exchange students were staying there. 

We get home around 12 and most of us to straight to sleep.

(We now have South Africans with us on Exchange! Unfortunately, they are only here for the summer program so they will soon be leaving)

Saturday: We leave around 7, go to McDonalds eat all the food we want, and then drive about 2 hours to Vienna from Győr and hang out there for the day. We got here around 11 and got to walk around with groups all day till 5:30. Vienna was probably the coldest place I have ever been. But it was so beautiful, you didnt think of the cold so much. Okay, maybe you did. We leave around 6 from Vienna, then get back to the Students hostel and change our clothes for the party! We go and eat dinner with my Rotary again, then we go to this night club called Bridge. Our Rotary throws this party every year, it was so much fun! Even the Rotarians danced with the Exchange Students! It was so much fun! 

Sunday: The Exchange Students leave at around 9, and that was the weekend. It was so great!

Update: These past few weeks my Hungarian has improved very much. My family, people at school, and my Hungarian teacher have really been telling me this last week that my Hungarian is really getting better! It makes me happy because I was really getting frustrated that my Hungarian was going nowhere. Now I know that it is getting better, just slowly. It gives me hope that I can do it, thank gosh. 

People really encourage me at school to keep learning Hungarian, so it helps a lot when you have people to support you when you have to do something really hard. My friends, and family are really patient with me, and I couldnt be more thankful for that.

My three months have come and gone, now I have almost been here for four months. This is the FASTEST time of my life. I am not sure if I should be thankful for that or not. I love it here. Hungary has really grown on me, and I cant imagine myself having to go home and continue my life back in Washington. Of course I want to, I miss home. I just cant think that far a head in time to think that I will be going home soon-ish. (6.5 months)

The way I think of it is, its almost January. And from January to June, its going to go by way faster than from August to December. I have programs every month from now to June, so keeping myself busy will make it go even faster. 

There are two Australians here with us, and they leave in the second week of January. Both of them have been telling all the rest of us that they couldnt be more emotional going back home. That they cry just thinking that they will be leaving this place. Its odd for me to think about because I remember getting worried about coming here because I couldnt leave my friends and family at home, and now I am here and I will be getting upset about leaving these friends and this family. 

I am mind boggled. 

Upcoming Events: Later this month, for Christmas, we have a week break. In this break all the exchange students are getting together for a few days to celebrate Christmas, and New Years together. It should be a blast!