School Visits

During our weeks here in Hungary we've been able to visit a number of the public schools.  Via blog some of you have come along with us to the village school in Monostoropati.  But we've also had visits to a couple of larger schools here in Tapolca too. 

In late October we visited Magdolna's school where the focus is mainly on preparing older students for the workplace.  Thus when we chatted with students in Magda's English class, all were boys with the exception of one girl training to be a shopkeeper's assistant.  It seemed that most of the boys present that day were hoping to be chefs.  Now this week we return to this same secondary/adult education school to do a Canada Day feature on Wednesday afternoon.

Looking back, we'd both agree that one of our most enjoyable school experiences ever, took place about ten days ago with a visit to the local, public fine arts school.  This unique school is located here in the heart of Tapolca and we had walked past the busy playground many times during our days here.  But on Wednesday, the 14th of November we were invited into the school to talk about Canada.  Thus we taught a group of 40 grade 8 students followed by another large group of grade 7 students.  Though quite shy and rather hesitant to speak English, most of the kids seemed genuinely interested in us and Canada.  Each class had a few boys bold enough to ask and answer questions.  Now when we see some of these same students out and about in town they are quick to acknowledge us and call us by name!

 

 

English teacher Erika has become a good friend. 

 

 

 

 

 

Such a happy learning place!

 

 

 

 

 

The afternoon following our teaching time, I returned to the city school while Ron carried on with duties out at the Monostoropati school.  What a treat to get in on some of their Fine Arts Heritage Day activities....music, folk dancing; weaving and spinning were just some of the options available to the children and teens that afternoon.  For sure I was impressed not only by the students, but also by the dedicated staff at this school.  The students there seemed happy and fully involved in their learning experience....very heart-warming to watch and observe!!

To Veszprem and back again by bus....

Yes, last Friday found us again off on a short one-day adventure. And again it was one of our students who suggested this trip to Veszprem, her home area. So Reka met us there at the bus depot about 9:40a.m. It was a happy little reunion with one of our most advanced English students.  Immediately we were off to discover some of the sights, sounds and tastes of this historic city and county center.

Our first stop was the huge farmer's market located right there beside the bus depot. There we found so many tempting little booths and bargains; so many interesting people and their various items for sale. We did end up buying a handwoven basket from a cute little old lady who wished we would purchase many more!

　

Then what fun to walk the streets with Reka as she took us through the center of town and up castle hill to visit several monuments and sites of interest there. It was a grey day but the vistas were still lovely as we looked out over this ancient city with the oldest chapel in all of Hungary.

Could this really be Hungary's oldest chapel?

Amazing architecture at every turn....

Two old couples on castle hill...

And sunshine once again!!

After a couple of hours of sight-seeing outdoors we decided to browse through a few quaint shops as we hunted for little gifts for loved ones at home. We even found an antique shop with a "free basket" filled with give-away items!! So now I have a Hungarian handwork project to work on as we fly home in just ten more days.  Anything to make that long 9-hour flight seem just a bit shorter!

Dear Reka was very oganized and had not only spent hours working on English notes telling about each site we visited, but also had selected a popular lunch place for us. Then it was off to visit a thrift shop (we told her we love these places to find treasures); to a chocolate shop and a craft store! Finally it was nearly 2:00p.m. and time to board the bus and head home to Tapolca once more. I had a 3:45p.m. appointment with another student and friend, and so we must bid farewell to Reka and move on.....

November 22nd...Happy American Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving for all of our American family and friends.  And here  in Hungary we continue to find much to be grateful for each day. During our ten weeks here I've had two real "wipe outs"...one on our wet and slippery bathroom floor the third day we were here. Then this past Saturday I wiped out again when I missed a small step in the entryway of the Keszthely castle while away on a field trip with a group of our students. In both cases I went right down, but didn't suffer any serious injuries. Even the camera survived my fall in the castle on Saturday! So for safety, strength and stamina we remain thankful and trust we will finish our final days here in good health.

So what have we been up to these past few days?   Well, this week I did begin some serious Christmas baking on Monday morning. This meant making my first batch of Russian Tea Cakes and a large Bishop's Loaf too...traditional Christmas recipes in our home when I was growing up.     As I mixed together the cookie dough I thought how my very English mother probably never dreamed that one day her daughter would be making these traditional treats to serve at a Christmas Tea in Hungary!

Russian Tea Cakes Underway

Besides baking and chili making, we've hosted another ladies' Bible study here and another Teen English Club. We were a little group of women who gathered on Monday afternoon but were surprised when eleven teens  appeared around our kitchen table on Tuesday. 

 

 

Full house for teens club this week......

 

Following the Teen Club there was just time to clear the decks and tidy up a bit before it was time for the adult Bible study around our kitchen table...and after this Charlie stayed on to help Ron core and cut apples for the  dessert that Reka and I were putting together for our later evening meal. Yes, we are gradually getting used to the idea that dining at 8:30 at night is sometimes okay!  Meet Tomas and Reka at our table eating dessert about 9:30 Tuesday evening.



Three Wonderful Women

Yes, while Ron has been reading a book about three interesting kings, I've been thinking much about three wonderful women who we've met here during the past few months.   Each is named Andrea and all have beautiful daughters too! Each of them also has a touching story to share, but for the present we shall let these few pictures suffice. Thus I introduce to you Andrea, 5 year-old Sara and husband Attila...what a very loving little family unit.

Then there is also Andrea and her teen-age daughter Helga who come to us twice a week for help with
English and a  Bible study time.
 

  They are eager listeners with hearts hungry to learn more English and to know God too.

Finally meet single mother Andrea and her lovely daughter, Adele. They are two of our beginner students but joined us on our field trip to Keszthely this past Saturday. Now we feel like we know them so much better.  We had so much fun touring the wild animal museum and riding the train together too.  By the end of the day all were tuckered out! 

A Dinner Date to Remember

While we have enjoyed having a number of our students to our home for tea times or meals, it has not been all one-sided. We have also had the privilege of visiting several of their homes too! One memorable evening was dinner out at the home of Attila Bruckner. This 40-year old environmental designer and avid birdwatcher has been one of the regulars to our English classes and to the Bible study times too. He is a well educated man with an extensive library, and early on began loaning Ron books about birds from around the world and books about Hungarian history too. Of course these were books written in English!

Then several weeks ago he came to class with a written invitation asking us to come to their home for dinner. Of course we were happy to accept and were so delighted with the evening that unfolded for us. Though we had never met Attila's wife or any of his three children, we had heard about them and were eager to get to know more about this unique Hungarian family.

When we arrived at the gate of Attila's 85 year-old house, he met us and ushered us into the dining room where all three children were lined up to meet and greet us. Their English was limited, but the smiles and gestures quickly spoke a very warm welcome from Mate (14), Anna (13) and Lilla (9). Attila's wife , Szusa (an art and math teacher) was there to greet us and to beckon us to the table, all ready and carefully prepared for us with white tablecloth, pink place cards with our names (made by Lilla) and a delicious meal laid out for us! The girls had helped their mother with the salad and it was a work of art; also there was crispy baked chicken and a creamy broccoli/cauliflower side dish. For dessert we had my Apple Crisp and several Hungarian sweets also. All was very tastey, and the wine too!

Speaking of wine, they had inquired ahead if we would have some wine and if so, what kind would we prefer?  Thus the dinner began with toasts all around and then a grace said by the entire family in Hungarian followed by Ron's prayer in English. In every way they included us and made us feel so at home with them.

After supper the girls were eager to take us out and show us their two pet rabbits; then Mate gave us a complete house tour showing us each room of their humble home with its high, 10 ft. ceilings. Following the house tour we sat with Attila and the rest and watched a video of Mate's school choral group. He had some solo parts in this choir and obviously is a young man with an amazing voice. We could tell his family was proud of him and justly so!

Before we left we thanked them for a delightful evening and then followed up with an e-mail note and photos taken while with them. We mentioned that we'd like to have them come our way sometime before we leave so already have Saturday, December first reserved for a dinner date here at our house with Attila, Szusa and children. So keep posted and there will be more to come. For now we'll share a few photos from that heart-warming evening visit at their home just a week ago.

 

Sunday in Veszprem

Meeting new friends at the church in Veszprem

 A view from the church in Veszprem

 

Liz and Caleb from Vancouver, WA

 

 

 

Most of our Sundays here have been somewhat different from Sundays at home in Canada where we regularly attend church and enjoy a message and music in our heart language.  Here this has happened only once in ten weeks, and that was when we attended an international church while in Budapest two weeks ago.  But we are thankful that several Sundays we have been able to travel with the Carlaws to fellowship with others of like faith in the city of Veszprem.   This city of approximately 70,000 people lies about 45 minutes East of Tapolca.  The trip takes us along scenic country roads that meander through a number of tiny towns and quaint villages.  When we finally reach Veszprem our place of worship is not your usual church building, but instead we gather in a large, second-floor room in one of the city's hotels.  It is not a fancy place but the little congregation there are warm and welcoming --- and all much younger than us!!  Actually we like this and enjoy our times of fellowship here even if the sermon and music are all in Hungarian.  Always there is someone who offers to translate for us and always there is the joy and blessing of being with others who belong to the family of God.  For sure it is a time to be refreshed in our spirits and find food for the soul.

 And after church it is off to find food for the body too,,,

Shopping at Spar is always an adventure as we discover new foods with new and interesting labels!

Saturday afternoon craft class

Last Saturday afternoon found me seated at our kitchen table with three other women enjoying a time of crafts and conversation about  many things.  I think these few photos will share with you some of the joy my Hungarian friends found in recycling used greeting cards and old calendars into tiny boxes and pretty gift bags.  For some of the boxes we also used origami paper which was a gift to me from Japanese friends while we still lived in Canada.  And thus the cycle of blessing carries on....

Three crafty ladies around our kitchen table