So for the past two weeks I haven't done anything big. I said goodbye to one of my good friends as he moved to Malta, finished my junior year of high school, and had to say my goodbyes to some of the best people in my life.
A week ago from today I said my first goodbye and all I could think was how much I HATE goodbyes. I cry more then i should when I say them and then its just an emotional wreck from my side. And I feel truly bad for people who have to witness it but at the same time they should feel good that they made an impact in my life. So its a win win situation? Maybe not. Idk.
But then I got to thinking about how I said goodbyes to my friends in America knowing in ten months I will see them all again. The thing is though, in Hungary, I don't know when I'll see them again. Saying goodbye here isn't like saying goodbye to a stranger you've known for two weeks. It's saying goodbye to my best friends, to my Hungarian family, to people who helped changed my life in a way few people will ever get to experience. The thing is though when I say goodbye to these people, my Hungarian friends, my American friends, and all the other exchange students and foreigners its a thing where I don't know if I will ever see them again...
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
that should be me...
So! What have I been up to? Well these past two weekends have been long weekends. Last weekend I went to a cave called Aggteleki cseppkő barlang. It starts in Hungary and when you leave the cave you are in Slovakia. It was really cool. There were bats though.. And all I could think about was when we went to the Ohio Caverns and a bat landed on Mark Butler's head. ewww.
After the cave we went and saw the worlds largest book! That was pretty cool.
the smaller version
The next day we went to the local castle. It was a lot of fun. I got to see how things here in Miskolc use to be. Then this past weekend we got to celebrate Alyssa's birthday. Abby and I threw her a surprise party. We cooked sloppy joe's and invited all of her favorite people. Overall it was one of the best weekends here.
Now the feelings part:
As everyone knows its the beginning in May. Of my junior year. Therefore that means all my friends are at prom. And no matter how hard I try to ignore it its still one of those things i miss missing out on. I know, I'm in europe and blah blah blah. but i am still a teenager missing her junior prom. Well other then that everything is good. Have a good week :)Sunday, April 22, 2012
itt vagyok.
So this past weekend has been busy busy busy. But of course very fun!
Not sure if I ever told you guys about these two girls I met in the winter. Abby and Alyssa. They are actually Americans teaching conversational English this year in Hungary. Well they basically saved me here but that is another story...
So on Friday us three had a girls night. We went shopping. Bought two skirts and a blazer. Then when we got back to their flat Abby realized she left her phone in one of the pockets of a coat she tried on so me and her went back to the store to see if it was still there. Luckily it was! Then we went to the orphanage.
[Quick update: I actually ended up joining Abby and Alyssa at volunteering at the orphanage. It is so amazing and those kids really have made my time here in Hungary. But on Tuesdays we go and have a bible study with them.] Since it was a Friday evening we did English club with them. This past weeks topic was rooms of a house. So like basement, living room, dining room, bedroom, floor, window, etc. So they learned those then did a relay race type thing with it. After that we went to the cinema and watched The Lucky One. (in English with Hungarian subtitles) The movie was good!
Saturday: Mostly for the day I didn't do anything. But at night I went to this Irish Jig.
First: When you hear this do you think anywhere in your head dress as fancy as possible? No? Me either. I wore jeans, hoody, no make-up, and my hair in a bun. Everyone else you ask? SUPER FANCY CLOTHES! so obviously I stuck out like a sore thumb. But overall the dance was very interesting and really cool. It made me want to go to a ballet sometime.
Sunday: aka today. Well at the orphanage we had a program planned. A university from the states came and visited. Word for Life in New York. So about 50 students from there came to help play sports with the kids. We did European football, basketball, and then a scavenger hunt. There was also a testimony at the end of the program. It was so cool to see the same kids who impacted my life, impact these other Americans. That catches you up on my weekend. Hope yours were just as well.
xoxo,
Madison
Not sure if I ever told you guys about these two girls I met in the winter. Abby and Alyssa. They are actually Americans teaching conversational English this year in Hungary. Well they basically saved me here but that is another story...
So on Friday us three had a girls night. We went shopping. Bought two skirts and a blazer. Then when we got back to their flat Abby realized she left her phone in one of the pockets of a coat she tried on so me and her went back to the store to see if it was still there. Luckily it was! Then we went to the orphanage.
[Quick update: I actually ended up joining Abby and Alyssa at volunteering at the orphanage. It is so amazing and those kids really have made my time here in Hungary. But on Tuesdays we go and have a bible study with them.] Since it was a Friday evening we did English club with them. This past weeks topic was rooms of a house. So like basement, living room, dining room, bedroom, floor, window, etc. So they learned those then did a relay race type thing with it. After that we went to the cinema and watched The Lucky One. (in English with Hungarian subtitles) The movie was good!
Saturday: Mostly for the day I didn't do anything. But at night I went to this Irish Jig.
First: When you hear this do you think anywhere in your head dress as fancy as possible? No? Me either. I wore jeans, hoody, no make-up, and my hair in a bun. Everyone else you ask? SUPER FANCY CLOTHES! so obviously I stuck out like a sore thumb. But overall the dance was very interesting and really cool. It made me want to go to a ballet sometime.
Sunday: aka today. Well at the orphanage we had a program planned. A university from the states came and visited. Word for Life in New York. So about 50 students from there came to help play sports with the kids. We did European football, basketball, and then a scavenger hunt. There was also a testimony at the end of the program. It was so cool to see the same kids who impacted my life, impact these other Americans. That catches you up on my weekend. Hope yours were just as well.
xoxo,
Madison
Monday, April 16, 2012
why hello there POLAND
This past weekend I had a holiday to Krakow, Poland. The Rotary took us to Krakow where we got to visit the Salt Mine and Auschwitz.
On Friday when we arrived Jill, Jahrielle, Tawny, Gabby, and I went and explored the center square and had dinner. I got a cheesecake and it wasn't good. No one really liked the food so we knew for sure the next night it had to be better.
On Saturday morning when we got up it was time to visit Auschwitz. I knew the site would be strong but I had no idea it would be this strong..
We started off at Birkenau. Just driving up to the sight, with no one telling you we had arrived, you knew exactly what it was. The bus just fell silent. This place is also known as Auschwitz II. It was just depressing. You could feel it in the air. You walk the same path that these innocent people did. That the Nazi's did. That even Adolf Hitler did. When you walk in through the gate you follow the train tracks the brought the people in. You see the cow cart that sits on the tracks and you see exactly where the Nazi's separated wives from husbands, mother from children and where people stood to be taken to the gas chambers not even getting the chance to fight for life. We were then led to the gas chambers. Neither one here are still standing due to people burning them down. Even though you just see the remains the weight of what happened there still affects you. We then went to the sleeping chambers. Seeing where everyone had to lay, such a small space and so many people crammed into one spot, breaks your heart.
http://www.cracow-life.com/poland/auschwitz-birkenau-deathcamp
http://www.cracow-life.com/poland/auschwitz-death-camp
I couldn't bring myself to take many pictures. It was just too sad/ disturbing.
After the tour of Auschwitz we went to a salt mine. We weren't allowed to take photos in it, so our head adviser did for us. It was interesting. They turned into a museum/underground city about salt mining. The walls are truly salty though! :) http://www.krakow-info.com/wielicz.htm
After the salt mine we got to go around Krakow again. We, Jill Tawny Gabby Jahrielle Maddy and me. We had a Polish dinner. They are very big on dumplings. So I had sweet cottage cheese filled. Super delicious. (Nagyon Finnom) then we took a carriage ride around the town. It was so worth it because it was raining outside. So basically we saw the whole main part of the city without walking. Perfect combination. Plus we made some new friends as we passed along. Afterwards we shopped a little. As they were in the shop I was holding umbrellas outside under a cover way. While standing out there a guy came up to me and started talking to me in Polish. And when I responded saying I didn't speak Polish he then asked if I was Russian. That was definitely a first for me. As we started on our way back to the hostel my umbrella decided to flip out the other way. Plus it was dark and since I wore TOMS my feet were pretty much drenched. I looked like Mary Poppins running through town.
Overall I really love Poland and I can't wait to go back someday!
On Friday when we arrived Jill, Jahrielle, Tawny, Gabby, and I went and explored the center square and had dinner. I got a cheesecake and it wasn't good. No one really liked the food so we knew for sure the next night it had to be better.
On Saturday morning when we got up it was time to visit Auschwitz. I knew the site would be strong but I had no idea it would be this strong..
We started off at Birkenau. Just driving up to the sight, with no one telling you we had arrived, you knew exactly what it was. The bus just fell silent. This place is also known as Auschwitz II. It was just depressing. You could feel it in the air. You walk the same path that these innocent people did. That the Nazi's did. That even Adolf Hitler did. When you walk in through the gate you follow the train tracks the brought the people in. You see the cow cart that sits on the tracks and you see exactly where the Nazi's separated wives from husbands, mother from children and where people stood to be taken to the gas chambers not even getting the chance to fight for life. We were then led to the gas chambers. Neither one here are still standing due to people burning them down. Even though you just see the remains the weight of what happened there still affects you. We then went to the sleeping chambers. Seeing where everyone had to lay, such a small space and so many people crammed into one spot, breaks your heart.
http://www.cracow-life.com/poland/auschwitz-birkenau-deathcamp
the womens sleeping chamber
the outside looking in
sleeping chambers
where the train came in
guard stand
cattle car in which the people arrived in
gas chamber
memorial of the gas chamber
the ditch where the people's ashes would lie until they needed to be cleaned out
gas chamber
in memories of all those who suffered here (in hungarian)
women's sleeping chamber
the guards slept here
where the train came into the camp
cattle car
toilets
After visiting Birkenau we went to Auschwitz I. Auschwitz I has a museum to go with it. For me this is when it all hit me truly. With the museum you saw the realities, the hair, the glasses, the suitcases, the legs, etc. We saw where people would go for their punishment. Where guards would hang people to show an example. And walked inside the buildings people were forced to build.http://www.cracow-life.com/poland/auschwitz-death-camp
the famous sign over Auschwitz
each building had a block number
the buildings they were forced to build
shoes..
punishment rooms
the shooting area. a story we were told:
When they would kill a family the children were first to go,
One mother had to hold her baby while it was shot, then watch
her two kids get shot. After them she proceeded to be shot
followed by her husband.
This story broke my heart, watching your kids die is something I could never do.
in between the electric wires
I couldn't bring myself to take many pictures. It was just too sad/ disturbing.
After the tour of Auschwitz we went to a salt mine. We weren't allowed to take photos in it, so our head adviser did for us. It was interesting. They turned into a museum/underground city about salt mining. The walls are truly salty though! :) http://www.krakow-info.com/wielicz.htm
After the salt mine we got to go around Krakow again. We, Jill Tawny Gabby Jahrielle Maddy and me. We had a Polish dinner. They are very big on dumplings. So I had sweet cottage cheese filled. Super delicious. (Nagyon Finnom) then we took a carriage ride around the town. It was so worth it because it was raining outside. So basically we saw the whole main part of the city without walking. Perfect combination. Plus we made some new friends as we passed along. Afterwards we shopped a little. As they were in the shop I was holding umbrellas outside under a cover way. While standing out there a guy came up to me and started talking to me in Polish. And when I responded saying I didn't speak Polish he then asked if I was Russian. That was definitely a first for me. As we started on our way back to the hostel my umbrella decided to flip out the other way. Plus it was dark and since I wore TOMS my feet were pretty much drenched. I looked like Mary Poppins running through town.
Overall I really love Poland and I can't wait to go back someday!
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