New Language…New Friends…
Csókolom!!! (*the literal translation is “I kiss your hand,” it’s typically used with someone you respect or admire…. what a beautiful way to greet someone…!)
I think this blog-writing thing is going to be more difficult than I thought…. It’s difficult to try and describe what I’ve seen/felt/experienced over the past week and a half in a few paragraphs. I guess I can start by saying this language is awful. And I say that in the most loving way. When our language teacher senses our frustration she often notes, “this is another part of our beautiful language….” When I say it’s awful, it means it’s awful for ME to learn. Learning this language hurts my brain like math does… and if you know me, you know how painful math is for me ;) I have been VERY humbled this past week in remembering that I am an incapable little ant in this world. I honestly feel bad for my classmates when I get called on. They all look over at me with sympathy and tryyyyy to mouth me the answer, but know deep down it’s going to take awhile for me to produce any sort of audible response that can be slightly understood or considered correct. God it meant when he said, “Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other,” (Genesis 11:7).
Some great things have come out of this my language training, 5 things actually…. My5 classmates. I’m the only American in a group of 6 trying to learn Hungarian. They are from: France, Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Venezuela. One of my classmates in particular I have become quite fond of. Her name is Marie. She is from Paris and is learning Hungarian because her fiancé is from Hungary. She lived here for two years a while back, so she knows the city very well. She is in language school here learning Hungarian, and he is in Paris learning French!!! She is literally an answer to prayer in the flesh! I was praying for a friend like her to become part of my life. With her, I understand what I’ve read about ‘hot climate’ cultures… where relationships are more important than time. Thursday we had lunch and were there for 3 hours… Friday lunch and coffee turned into 5. it was wonderful. She’s an actuary but has great interest in psychology, so she knows a lot about theory and has a true appreciation for what I hope to do someday.
My other new friends are wonderful as well. Daniel took me around on the 3rd day of class and showed me the Parliament (http://www.budapest-parliament.com/building.php) and the Szent Istvan Bazilika… (http://www.basilica.hu/index.php) which was by far, the most beautiful church I’ve ever been to… but I’d have to compare pictures with my Grandma Hellmer to see if it matches up to Rome! I also saw the famous relic of St. Stephen’s right hand. (my first ever relic…. morbid but interesting), (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sztjobb.jpg)
Daniel and Ichiro introduced to me to the traditional Hungarian food…. Lángosh (http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/fast-food-hungarian-style-langos.html) which I LOVED but it has to be one of the worst things possible for me!!! As well as turorudi, (http://www.chew.hu/turo_rudi.html) a popular desert.
I went to church this morning at the same Hungarian church I went to last week. It’s adorable! I don’t understand a word of what is being said….but luckily I have Tundá to translate for me. After church we had a “pot luck” but it is not the same concept as in USA… only 1 person brings everything for the meal, and then everyone else brings a dessert. We had a hot dog meal…. We even had ketchup!!! They eat it differently, but it tastes the same : )
Prayer Requests:
- that I absorb this language. I thank God every night before I go to bed that I know more Hungarian than I did when I woke up…. But I desire to know more so I can better communicate with the people I am serving.
- that I can be a good friend to Marie and my other new friends…. (john 13:34,35: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013:34-35;&version=31; )
- safe travels for Ego (my other new friend!!!! he’s the bus driver…. From Åland, a group of islands between Sweden and Finland. He is great fun!! He’ll probably be in LOTS of my future stories and pictures… stay tuned!). He is taking the bus to Slovakia on Monday for a 2 week outreach. I can’t go because I’m in the middle of language school. Please pray that the team stays safe and that they are able to love like Jesus loves… in all their circumstances.
***For some pictures of my adventures and new friends, please click the link below!
