Thanksgiving Hungarian Style

Being so wrapped up in school and Student Council and everything I nearly forgot it was Thanksgiving back home this week, since of course here in Hungary people do not celebrate this American holiday. On Thursday in between classes and meetings anotherAmbassadorial Scholar and I met for a quick bite, as she had asked to interview me about a paper she is writing about gender and job interviews. We happened to order turkey cutlets stuffed with some sort of cheese and what could have been either sun-dried tomatos, dried cherries, dried prunes or something similar. At that point we were not even thinking that it was Thanksgiving and that we should be eating turkey. In the middle of the meal Monika turned to me, realizing it was actually Thanksgiving day, and said, "oh! Happy Thanksgiving!" It was probably the only time in my life I'll get away with eating french fries as part of my Thanksgiving dinner!

I think "missing" Thanksgiving this year by being overseas (and not being upset that I missed it) helped me confirm that I never really liked the holiday to begin with- too much food! On a more serious note, however, despite missing Thanksgiving I did take the time to think about whatI am grateful for, and my thanks once again go out to Rotary for thiswonderful opportunity I've been given.

With three weeks to go in the semester things here are extremely busy and stressful. I have 4 papers, 4 tests and a presentation to get through before I am free until January 8. I talked to my brother last night about our trip (leaving from Paris on December 27 and arriving in Budapest before January 6, with stops in Italy and Germany and who knows where else in between). It will be such a nice break!

On Tuesday night I went to an amazing Bryan Adams concert. Did you know he is 47 and Canadian? He has something like 14 albums and is absolutely amazing. I don't know any other way to explain it. He is an acoustic set that brought people to tears. He is also very active in aid and charity work. Oh and he's short and not married!

The past two weeks I was very active with Rotary, as the other scholars and I went to two Rotary club meetings and a Rotaract meeting at what has to be the very coolest tea house in all of the world. The clubs were very happy to have us as guests and encouraged us to get involved in different upcoming projects, such as selling hot wine at Christmas time and teaching English to disadvantaged high school students in the spring. This tea house reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. You took off your shoes when you entered and then went through this maze which included narrow stairways lined with mirrors and tiny doors that required you crouch to enter through. After the mirrored stairs and tiny doors you reached the treehouse, an indoor treehouse with pillows all around. Reminded me of a sleepover! Inside the treehouse there was a little window they passed the tea through when it was ready. Very cool. I will definitely be going back there.