The End of the First Week and Beginning of the First Weekend

So I finally got adjusted to the time difference, because I woke up to my alarm at 7:30 am. I got ready to go to class/work and headed out. Some people stopped at places to get breakfast, but a couple of us that did not went on our way and ended up getting to the building right on time (so everyone else was late), and it was only the second day…We just felt like it took us a lot longer than it had the day before.

We listened to a lecture on managing in an international environment and how to deal with different cultures and personalities. The professor reminded Laura and I of our cluster-marketing professor, but the Hungarian version. We took another MBTI test and of course I got the same thing as always, ENTP (Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perception) and took a quiz on Hungarian culture while the Hungarian students took a quiz on the American culture. I learned a few things that I have been doing are considered really awkward to Hungarians. I found out that sitting on the floor (which I always do) would draw skeptical looks because “only gypsies sit on the floor”). I also found out why every time I say I want ‘one’ of something by holding up my index finger, I always get two. They count with their thumbs first, so by holding up your index finger, you are saying you want two (your thumb + your index finger). We also found out that men are never supposed to let women enter pubs first (because they used to be dangerous and men would always go in to protect them), that shopkeepers are by nature mean and rude, that chewing gum in public is considered extremely rude, that the number 56 in Hungarian culture is avoided because of the Revolution, and that you are never supposed to call anyone by their first names or have them call you by your fist name in professional environments.

After the lecture, my group members and I met up to discuss the final details on the presentation for later that day on our mini case. After just meeting really quickly, I leave to walk back to the apartment to get in a quick nap (about ten minutes), then wake back up to get lunch. After running into everyone else coming back from meeting with their groups, we all head out to lunch at the deli by our apartments, Aranycipo, where I get just a simple sandwich. Then we head out to the Cultural Gardens where our presentations would take place. Our advisor really likes us to have meetings outside the classroom, in the city, because it helps us get to see more of the city that many students (even some of the Hungarian students) have never realized the place was there.

The cultural gardens are at the top of a hill on the northern wall to the city. There are multiple levels with many tables and umbrellas and artwork everywhere from iron sculptures to a globe of plastic bottles. They had the World Cup playing, which everyone wanted to watch, but instead all sat in a different section to give our presentations. Some groups recommended 13 Kiraly be turned into a hotel, hostel, spa/roman bathhouse (Laura’s group, since I know her parents are reading this), department store, or restaurant/café. Our presentation was simple and straightforward; I talked about the upstairs portion being turned into the event space. 
All the groups did well and it was a good project to break the ice for everyone and see how we can all work together. The Americans were definitely the most pushy, but I tried to make sure that our Hungarian teammate had the most say, especially since she knew the most about the building, area, market, etc. I felt we did well because of it and did not have to work as hard on the project.

After the presentations, some people headed out to the main square to watch the Americans play in the World Cup, some headed to a Hungarian student’s place to watch it, and some headed back to the apartments. Laura and I decide to go on a run to not only get some good exercise in, but we figured that would also be the best way to explore the city.

That run has got to be the most amazing, gorgeous, interesting way to see the city, as we run up the hills surrounding the wall to the city, then through the city center and the many different alleyways. I will explain everything we typically see on our run in a separate post, because there is just too much and too many pictures. Our runs just usually consist of jogging for 2 minutes, then stopping to look at the view, checking out a building, looking at statues and artwork, looking at shops and houses, or exploring historical sites. It is hardly considered exercise; it is more of a jog from place to place to place with meandering thrown in ever few steps. It then turns into a 2-3 hour adventure; so by the time we get back and take showers, it is time for dinner.

Since some of the group ate McDonald’s at 4 after class, Laura and I head to the bakery right by our place, then to the Elephant Café by the main square and are on our own the first time we try to eat at a restaurant. We did not know whether we should sit ourselves or wait to be seated, so we wait but see no one around. We decide to sit ourselves at a table overlooking the square, and a waiter comes out and begins the usual Hungarian babble. We order drinks, then explore the menu and decide to order pizzas. I was craving a Margherita pizza which was huge and fantastic. I thought since we were so close to Italy, the pizza would be perfect…and it was. We then fall into the usual trap most foreigners find themselves in when in Hungary. We want the bill, but the waiter is never bringing it to us and I forgot how to ask for it. We wait for a little bit, then I finally get his attention to ask. We then cannot figure out if he picks up the money for us, or if we have to go inside to pay for it. Again, we wait for him to come out, pay, and then leave to go back to the apartments.

Laura and I then Skype with Emily and her kitty to find out how everything is going back home and get ready for a night out in Pecs. We had a few Hungarian students over (and other American students visiting Hungary) and then head out to some dance clubs. We went to Soho Dance Club, Edge Café, and Cyrano, where we met some really nice Canadians. Everywhere was fun but got too packed as the night went on, so we came back, helped a friend find a taxi, and fell asleep at 4/4:30.

Every day just keeps getting better and better. I wish I wrote this on the day of so I could show my excitement even more from that day, but it just gets outdone by the next day every time…I just cannot believe how perfect this city is. Every time you turn a corner or walk a few more steps, something new reveals itself, a view changes slightly, a new sign of the brightness and beauty of the world reveals itself, and you open your eyes just a little more each time. I just can’t help but pause at times and just breathe in knowing this has got to be the best time ever, which is usually trumped by the next hour. Rain could only fall and make everything glisten, noise could only help you hear new things going on, and confusion simply helps you learn more about life. Nothing has been disheartening (yet), but I would find it hard to be the focus of for long, because new wonders of this city appear with only the slight tilt of the head.