I have had so many memories made in between my departure from Vienna and my arrival to California. Since I don't want to overwhelm myself, but still want some sort of visual reminder of these weeks (no time even to journal!) I'm going to condense and add pictures.
Our couple hours flew far too fast (as time has had a way of doing lately). We got our call from Levi, telling us he was all packed and ready to go to Debrecen. A stroll and a 'szia' later, I was on my way with Levi to my Hungarian hometown.
As many of you know, my exchange program places students with 3 families during the year. I adore all 3 of my families, and I was even lucky enough to pick up a 4th honorary host family. Levi and his twin sister were also students at Tóth Árpád Gimnázium. I quickly became good friends with Levi, and on every visit I've made to Hungary, his family has insisted I spend at least a couple days with them. They even included me on a family vacation during my October visit!
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| The whole family, minus Levi |
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| With Levi |
Before we knew it, it was time to head towards another dear family. It was with huge smiles that I was greeted by Anya (Mom in Hungarian), Apa (Dad), Csenge, and Flóri at my old house. They surprised me by taking me out to dinner near the Békás Tó (Frog Lake) at the Régi Vigadó, a nice restaurant next to the university. We enjoyed goooood, good food--and maybe some pálinka--on the terrace with some more live music. After we finished, Anya decided we should dance. So we got up and did. Apa was a party pooper, but we were laughing and enjoying ourselves anyway. Again, it very well could have been the pálinka...
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| Me, Flóri, Csenge |
The next day, while Anya and Apa were at work, Csenge, Flóri and I spent some time in the city center, just soaking in Debrecen.
We didn't stay for too long, though, because we wanted to visit Ica Mama and Laci Bacsi, my host godparents, before heading home to prepare BBQ food for our company that evening. Ica Mama made us palacsinta (Hungarian crepes) and we chatted around the kitchen table.
Family friends joined us that evening for a visit and delicous BBQ.
And then it was time already for another 'see you later.'
A visit to Debrecen isn't complete without a trip to the farm. My second family lives in a little village called Nagycsere, just outside of Debrecen. It's a giant, beautiful property with chickens and dogs and corn and flowers and everything wonderful. Ádám, my host brother, had left for the States the week before, so it was just Laci, Klári, and me (and of course the dogs, Parduc and Muki).
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| Aren't they sweet? |
After lunch, dessert, and time on the porch together, my first host family came to pick me up. They were en route to my host cousin's graduation party. That was in a village even further down the road from Debrecen, on a much bigger farm. The party had been going on for a while already--the people were jolly, the food was plentiful, and the sun was beating down hard.
We talked and talked and ate and talked. We wandered around the farm, saw deer, pigs, chickens, and this beautiful view:
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| How's that for a little piece of Heaven on Earth? |
I had another day spent with my wonderful first family, and then an eeeearly morning to get to the airport in Budapest in time for my flight to Boston.
More to come later, when I can carve out some time for more storytelling!
Grace and peace,
Hilary
