Well I am here. I am in Hungary. and will be for the next 10 months. It is crazy that all the preparation, anticipation, and training has passed and that I am finally here. Sometimes, when I am just sitting in my flat, I almost forget that I am here. I forget that I don't speak the language and that when I walk out my door I am able to communicate with few words. I forget that I am a few time zones away from loved ones, and familiarity. I forget that I not here for just a few weeks or even a semester. I forget that yes, I have graduated from college and I am, in fact, in the real world now. But amidst all this "forgetfulness" I remember. I remember that God has called me here. I remember why I am here. I remember that I have been called to serve. I remember that I want an uncomfortable life; a life where God is pushing me and challenging me daily. I remember that I have, since I was little, have wanted to live and teach abroad - and here I am doing just that. I remember that no matter how alone or desperate I will feel this year, He is my shelter, comfort, and support.
And this, this kind of HOPE will be what gets me through this next year.
I am sorry it has taken me so long to update here. It has been a whirlwind of events since I have been home last, so here's me catching you up. : ) My last week in Michigan was crazy with saying good byes to dear friends and favorite spots to packing up for a year and making sure I had everything I needed to having some of my favorite meals (ones that I would surely miss while gone) Then my family and I went on a vacation with our cousins from NJ to the Outer Banks, NC. It was a much needed time spent with my family and I am so glad I was able to spend my last week before leaving for a year with them. especially on the beach. Life doesn't get much better than that does it? : )
Then I flew across the country to Pasadena, CA for a month of training. And what an intense month it was. We had a pretty rigorous schedule. We would have breakfast at 7am and wouldn't be done till we were done debriefing about the day with our team, which usually ended around 9:30/10pm. Our mornings were filled with devotions, questions and discussion on tough issues (in small groups), TEFL training (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and culture and language lessons. We always looked forward to lunch, besides the fact we were hungry, we also were quite drained at that point (especially the first few weeks). The afternoons varied from week to week, but they included more team building things, different skits and scenarios, and more culture and language lessons. Then we would have about an hour and a half to prepare for practicum which was at 7pm. This time always seemed much too short, but it was just one of the ways ESI helped prepare us for being overseas. Practicum was a great practice for us to teach conversational English to non-native speakers. ESI is affiliated with a couple different churches and organizations in order to give them a 3 week class of conversational English. At first this time of teaching was quite nerve-racking, but we soon got the hang of it and it soon became so natural. (I must say teaching English is MUCH harder than any other teaching I have done before. But it's good. and exciting.)
Training was not only great preparation for what teaching and living overseas would be like, but it was also such an amazing opportunity to meet some incredible people. It was really hard to leave Grand Rapids and St. Joe and the family and friends I have in these places, but God certainly knew what I needed (as He does always) and He made the transition so much smoother than I could have ever hoped for. I am so blessed.
But then it was time to leave, again. But for real this time. It was hard because I had met so many incredible people, but we were all going to our separate countries. (ESI sends teachers to Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Vietnam.) And I knew that leaving them would mean that this is for real. It wasn't something we were just talking about doing or just training to do, we were actually going out into the world to teach. and serve. and love. We said our goodbyes, but they were more like "see you next year".
And now I am here. in Sarospatak Hungary.
The first two days were pretty rough. The Hungary team (there are 8 of us new teachers here) didn't arrive into Budapest until 11:45pm Thursday August 19, and we still had a 3.5 hour drive out to Sarospatak. So we didn't get in until 3:45. Peggy (my teammate/roommate) and I tried to sleep but it was a pretty restless night. We were able to sleep in, until 2pm the next day, which was much needed. Peggy and I headed out for the afternoon for the essentials: money and food. It was good to be out in the town and see where we were going to be living for the next year.
Since then we have learned so much more about our town, whether that has happened through different conversations or exploring different shops and oh yeah...the town's Castle. That's right, I live about a 10 minute walk from a Castle. : )
Pegs and I have also visited our friends, Annie and Maria, in Miskolc. They are with ESI and are teaching there. This city is the 3rd largest city in Hungary, which we could tell because in comparison to Patak it is much bigger. Also Miskolc is about an hour and a half train ride from Patak, so that is nice, because we could go there for a day trip or for the weekend. We visited them last weekend for a long weekend. It worked out ever so nicely because we had to get our Residency Cards and Miskolc is the closet city for us to do that, so we figured we may as well just stay with them and see where they are living. We had a chance to meet some of their newfound friends, explore their city, go for a hike, and have some much needed girl time. : )
And now we are back to Patak and gearing up for school to start on Wednesday. I am excited for this year to begin and meet my students!
Thank you again, for all your love and support. It is much needed and appreciated.
Continued prayer for adjustment and understanding of Hungarian (it surely is a tricky language!). Also, for my eyes and ears and heart to be opened to what he has to teach me through this year.
much love from Hungary.
