I spent the whole day yesterday with my mouth open, heavy breathing and staring into space. Having a lovely dose of Sinusitis meant that I had the day off work and spent it in my pyjamas feeling awful and surrounded by tissues, menthol oil and tylenol. Three discs of 'Supernatural' saw me through most of the day but I had to supplement that with some episodes of the US version of 'The Office' which I have been meaning to watch for a while now to see how it compares.
I couldn't even muster the strength to sit and blog. Such was my life yesterday, it's hardly rock and roll is it?
October 10, 2007
October 07, 2007
October 05, 2007
This weeks theme...
seems to be language learning. I have my third Hungarian lesson after school today and I have to say that I am really enjoying them. Being naturally lazy, I imagined that Friday night after school would be the worst time to have a language lesson. In actual fact, I find myself really looking forward to them. The Teacher is lively and keeps a good pace through the lessons, so I feel like my attention never gets the chance to wander. And I already feel like I slip the odd word into the interactions in my Budapest world more.
I do love learning languages, but I get totally carried away. I am teaching beginners German to a student this year, and decided this morning that I was going to do a GCSE exam in German as something to aim for. You will recall that earlier this week I began learning Spanish. Do not believe that I am linguistically gifted, I just like the sounds and the words and not being one of those English people who just expect every-one in the world to speak English all the time. I will probably be having a go at Arabic or Hebrew by the end of next week...now there are a couple of languages that I would love to learn.
I do love learning languages, but I get totally carried away. I am teaching beginners German to a student this year, and decided this morning that I was going to do a GCSE exam in German as something to aim for. You will recall that earlier this week I began learning Spanish. Do not believe that I am linguistically gifted, I just like the sounds and the words and not being one of those English people who just expect every-one in the world to speak English all the time. I will probably be having a go at Arabic or Hebrew by the end of next week...now there are a couple of languages that I would love to learn.
October 03, 2007
No apagues la luz
Sometimes I start stuff and never get it finished. I am interested in so many things, that I get excited, think I will commit to something and get bored soon after. Obviously, this is not going to happen with my latest venture, which is learning some Spanish for my trip to Madrid. Let us forget for a moment that I will little more than see the inside of a conference hall, but that is very much not the point.
I love learning languages through music and on this occasion it is Enrique Igelsias who is to be my guide. So far I have the ability to explain to a Spanish suitor that I would prefer that the lights stay on, handy I am sure you agree. It has to be said that my love of Spanish lyrics has been an ongoing affair and it is only recently that I decided to charge my Ipod with a 'Learn Spanish' CD. It is by a company called Earworms and I have to say that I am sure it will give me enough Spanish to get me through my trip without hanging onto a phrase book. I don't know why I am so excited about my trip, it is only a conference after all, but no cuido, excited I will be.
"Si decides dejarme
No te voy a suplicar
Allá tú si más tarde
Aunque corras, te escondas no puedes escapar"
Escapar - Enrique Iglesias
October 02, 2007
View of the world
I love going home on the tram and seeing the view of the Parliament building as I whip past. I like that the leaves are slowly starting to turn brown. I love that you need a cardigan to walk to the bus stop, but do not need one to walk home with. I hate that it is dark when I wake up. I don't like that between now and January there will be a hundred blog posts about the darkness.
I like that this weekend will be full of exploring and sleep. I like that I will be able to go to Market Hall, which I have been looking at in my guidebook for weeks. I like that I have a free lesson this morning, which means I can go downstairs and make a cup of tea. I like autumn coming, and looking at my big bowl of fat conkers on my coffee table. I like work, but I would hide away in my apartment and like that more if I could, so work is probably a good thing.
I like that this weekend will be full of exploring and sleep. I like that I will be able to go to Market Hall, which I have been looking at in my guidebook for weeks. I like that I have a free lesson this morning, which means I can go downstairs and make a cup of tea. I like autumn coming, and looking at my big bowl of fat conkers on my coffee table. I like work, but I would hide away in my apartment and like that more if I could, so work is probably a good thing.
October 01, 2007
Hola!
L left this morning in a taxi on her way to Keleti to get a train to Vienna. She has probably already arrived and seeing the sights. Work for me, and as Mondays often are after a great weekend, you feel the bump back down to reality a little to keenly for my liking. This has been made all the better by the news that I am going to Madrid for 5 days in November for a conference. I have been to Spain before, but never Madrid, so as you can imagine, I am extremely excited.
I miss L already, the flat seems quiet without her, her energy just totally filled by little apartment and even though she only stayed for two days, it was clear that it has been far too long since we last saw each other. I have a mound of Banana muffins that will remind me of her long after she is gone though.
I miss L already, the flat seems quiet without her, her energy just totally filled by little apartment and even though she only stayed for two days, it was clear that it has been far too long since we last saw each other. I have a mound of Banana muffins that will remind me of her long after she is gone though.
September 30, 2007
Local shop for local people
L arrived on Saturday and I was there to collect her and start our weekend of exploring and catching up. She is in the kitchen right now making me banana muffins to take to school tomorrow. She cooked me aubergine and goats cheese bruschetta last night and has generally taken vey good care of me while she has been here. Lots of living alone means that when someone comes into my flat and takes care of me for a couple of days I want to kneel with gratitude. L has such energy and kindness that I love her for all the ways that she is thoughtful.
That is not to say that we have stayed at home and cooked all weekend. There was red wine and tales of the new man in her life, but we have out and about all over Budapest. Today we cycled around Margit Island, laughing when we had to veer off the path to avoid the slow walkers. I kept ramming on the breaks so that I could collect the big fat shiny conkers, they remind me of being a kid and waiting for Halloween. After that we had lunch before tripping off to the Thermal Baths, not being aware that we were in the midst of a million marathon runners soothing their muscles with the healing waters.
We talked our way through the whole weekend and some-how I felt happier with taking pictures when we could be tourists together. We even took a trip to my local supermarket for local people. L said that supermarkets give you a sense of a countries food culture in a way that restaurants never can, and I think she is right. I even took a picture of one of the stalls outside that I would never had done when I was alone. Back to the reality of work tomorrow, but we still have wine, cheese and a film to watch. It has been amazing that she has been here for a while. She is still cooking in the kitchen, so we don't have to say Vizlat just yet.
L arrived on Saturday and I was there to collect her and start our weekend of exploring and catching up.
That is not to say that we have stayed at home and cooked all weekend. There was red wine and tales of the new man in her life, but we have out and about all over Budapest. Today we cycled around Margit Island, laughing when we had to veer off the path to avoid the slow walkers. I kept ramming on the breaks so that I could collect the big fat shiny conkers, they remind me of being a kid and waiting for Halloween. After that we had lunch before tripping off to the Thermal Baths, not being aware that we were in the midst of a million marathon runners soothing their muscles with the healing waters.
We talked our way through the whole weekend and some-how I felt happier with taking pictures when we could be tourists together. We even took a trip to my local supermarket for local people. L said that supermarkets give you a sense of a countries food culture in a way that restaurants never can, and I think she is right. I even took a picture of one of the stalls outside that I would never had done when I was alone. Back to the reality of work tomorrow, but we still have wine, cheese and a film to watch. It has been amazing that she has been here for a while. She is still cooking in the kitchen, so we don't have to say Vizlat just yet.
L arrived on Saturday and I was there to collect her and start our weekend of exploring and catching up.
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