August 31, 2007
August 30, 2007
Open
I sat huddled on the tram yesterday amid the dripping umbrellas and soggy commuters. I used the back of my bag to clear a bit of the steam off the window and stared out. I saw a little coffee shop that might provide creamy lattes that will make the cold seem more bearable. I saw a supermarket that had fat roast chickens in the window. There was a shop that sold glass and pottery twinkling in the grey lights of the rainy skies. I suddenly saw that there was so much to be seen, so many places to find.
My brain is tired after this first week of work, but as my first month draws to a close I find that I feel Ok about what is going on around me. I miss my family, I miss Yorkshire, but these are all a part of the adjustment that goes on in these first few weeks. I still feel nervous, but not like I did before. The city is cold today, and there is rain. All that means is that the feeling is cool and calm, where before it was hot and sticky.
My brain is tired after this first week of work, but as my first month draws to a close I find that I feel Ok about what is going on around me. I miss my family, I miss Yorkshire, but these are all a part of the adjustment that goes on in these first few weeks. I still feel nervous, but not like I did before. The city is cold today, and there is rain. All that means is that the feeling is cool and calm, where before it was hot and sticky.
August 29, 2007
Middle of the week
Well, I made it to Wednesday. This week I have been on a treasure hunt, played rounders, learnt first aid and been sunburnt. The people at my new work seem really nice and the school has a great atmosphere, but like at the start of every school year, I wonder where to start on getting done what I need.
Now that the routine of work has started, life in Budapest feels very different. The weather is cooler today and I will spend most of the day in meetings. A picture is forming in my mind of the next few months as the darkness sets in and I am able to pull my knee boots and long cardigan out of the wardrobe. I slept underneath my quilt for the first time since I arrived in hot Budapest and am already anticipating autumn Budapest when the leaves will all fall from the may trees that line my walk to the tram or Metro.
Another two and half days of new faces, new names and things to do before the weekend. My head is so full that I think that only then will I be able to process the next few days. It must be said that the feeling that Budapest did not feel like home disappeared the first time I got on a tram to commute to work.
Now that the routine of work has started, life in Budapest feels very different. The weather is cooler today and I will spend most of the day in meetings. A picture is forming in my mind of the next few months as the darkness sets in and I am able to pull my knee boots and long cardigan out of the wardrobe. I slept underneath my quilt for the first time since I arrived in hot Budapest and am already anticipating autumn Budapest when the leaves will all fall from the may trees that line my walk to the tram or Metro.
Another two and half days of new faces, new names and things to do before the weekend. My head is so full that I think that only then will I be able to process the next few days. It must be said that the feeling that Budapest did not feel like home disappeared the first time I got on a tram to commute to work.
August 27, 2007
Butterflies
Butterflies in my stomach and not the good kind. Yesterday I was so calm and happy. I went to the Baths and laid in the hot thermal water and relaxed. My face was turned towards the sun and that perfect moment seemed to tell me that it was all going to be OK. Today my eyes pinged open with the thought that I had no idea where I was going and I jumped out of bed to get my map again to check my route to school.
I am scrubbed, brushed and dressed and all ready to go, but the nerves are getting worse. This is the third time that I have been the new girl, the third time that I have to smile and try and make friends. After a while in a new place when you have mates that you can call upon these first few days seem like they never happened. Yet here I am in the middle of the newness and I allowed myself to forget how hard starting work can be.
I know it will be fine, I know that I am good at my job, I am aware that these days will slip past quickly. Would some-one please tell that to the butterflies?
I am scrubbed, brushed and dressed and all ready to go, but the nerves are getting worse. This is the third time that I have been the new girl, the third time that I have to smile and try and make friends. After a while in a new place when you have mates that you can call upon these first few days seem like they never happened. Yet here I am in the middle of the newness and I allowed myself to forget how hard starting work can be.
I know it will be fine, I know that I am good at my job, I am aware that these days will slip past quickly. Would some-one please tell that to the butterflies?
August 26, 2007
Exploring
Yesterday I went exploring. After having a look on the internet I found that there is a Chinese supermarket near me, and not wanting to pine for the scents of Saturday night at home, I had to go check it out. It is on Rakoczi Ter, and there is another one somewhere else in the city. The place was brilliant, with all the things that I know clutter up our fridge at home. I bought noodles, chopsticks, and different dim sum, which were fabulous.
After that I went onto Szent Istavn Korut to go to a homewares place to see if there was anything that I could do with in the apartment. It was here that I discovered that shops in Budapest close early on a Saturday and mostly do not open at all on a Sunday. The streets were quiet and I wondered where everyone was. What do Budapestis do on a weekend? Leisure activities? Time with the family? The idea that shops were not open on a Saturday seemed bizarre, but I am aware that this is a very English point of view.
I start the new job tomorrow, which has come round very quickly I must say. I spent this last week pretty much alone, apart from the odd day here and there. I have enjoyed getting out and about and finding things that make Budapest feel more like home every day.
After that I went onto Szent Istavn Korut to go to a homewares place to see if there was anything that I could do with in the apartment. It was here that I discovered that shops in Budapest close early on a Saturday and mostly do not open at all on a Sunday. The streets were quiet and I wondered where everyone was. What do Budapestis do on a weekend? Leisure activities? Time with the family? The idea that shops were not open on a Saturday seemed bizarre, but I am aware that this is a very English point of view.
I start the new job tomorrow, which has come round very quickly I must say. I spent this last week pretty much alone, apart from the odd day here and there. I have enjoyed getting out and about and finding things that make Budapest feel more like home every day.
August 24, 2007
Connected
I have the internet connected! I am part of the world again! Below are just three of the pictures I have taken while out and about, there are lots more to come. I am feeling nervous as I have dinner with some of my new colleagues this evening. Budapest is hot and sticky today so off to my new favourite Baths tomorrow, lets see if I am brave enough to get any shots there...
This is the side of the Budapest Opera House, just a couple of blocks away from my apartment. I have tons of photos of this place, but thought just one at a time would do.
This is one of the entrances to a Market Hall on Hunyadi Ter.
This Hososk Tere (The Heroes Square) as seen from the top of a tourist bus
This is the side of the Budapest Opera House, just a couple of blocks away from my apartment. I have tons of photos of this place, but thought just one at a time would do.
This is one of the entrances to a Market Hall on Hunyadi Ter.
This Hososk Tere (The Heroes Square) as seen from the top of a tourist bus
August 22, 2007
Reaching out
I arrived back to Budapest on Monday just in time to hear my neighbours having a mad party. Lucky for me, there is still no work for a few days so I am not worried. I have to say that it is nice to be back. I cried when I left K and N and the baby Godson, still love Poland, but getting on the plane was Ok and walking through the door of the flat felt nice. I have had a couple of days alone and I met M again today and her two kids, S and W. I enjoyed my coffee with them before, but I like the family even more the second time around.
Budapest is still scorching hot and I am off to cool down in the baths again tomorrow before setting myself a little mission to go and find an international food shop in my district. I went with M today to Arpad, a shopping centre at the end of the red line, which was pretty good. I had already had a wander with J and M to the mall near Nyugati station, so I feel like I am getting a feel for the place.
There are 5 days until work starts, but I feel alright about it really. As long as the heat does not stay long into September, I think that Budapest and I are going to get on like a house on fire.
Budapest is still scorching hot and I am off to cool down in the baths again tomorrow before setting myself a little mission to go and find an international food shop in my district. I went with M today to Arpad, a shopping centre at the end of the red line, which was pretty good. I had already had a wander with J and M to the mall near Nyugati station, so I feel like I am getting a feel for the place.
There are 5 days until work starts, but I feel alright about it really. As long as the heat does not stay long into September, I think that Budapest and I are going to get on like a house on fire.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
