Adventure is out There: Hungary Day 14

Today, we traveled back to Budapest and went shopping with Boro.
She's the greatest.  We all love her.  

This afternoon, we dropped off Bethany at the airport.
GOODBYE!!! 

We went out to eat at Menza's.
It was a great last night in Hungary.

FIREWORK FLOWER.

We even got to ride on the Metro One last time.

VIDEO OF THE DAY:

Well, we have to wake up at 3:30am.  So this will be short and sweet.

I love Hungary.  This was such an amazing experience.  I have grown so close to four of the most amazing people.  They are wonderful and I'm lucky to know them.  We have seen and learned so much.  Hungary is a beautiful country.  I cannot wait to come back someday.

But for now, I'm excited to go home and see Brett.  

(...and eat a peanut butter sandwich.) 

Attack of the Muffled Tone Bar: Hungary Day 13

It was our last day of OBSERVATION!  Wow.  

I cannot believe how fast it has gone but it had been wonderful.

We have seen amazing choirs, observed superb classes, and met many outstanding people.

Hungary was a fantastic opportunity and I can't wait to come back again someday. 

Here are a few last memories of Debrecen:

AWKWARD advertisement for ice cream we found in one of the bathrooms at the University.

The main University building.

Our great musicians for the night.

I couldn't stop laughing... especially when they starting singing about the bomb.

P.S. THREE MONTHS!!  <3

I Vish You 'Andsome Mahn: Hungary Day 12

Typical Hungarian Breakfast.

We got stickers from Denes Szabo, a teacher and conductor at the Kodaly Zoltan Primary School in  Nyíregyháza .
He was a great teacher, funny, and inspirational.  He even threw the music at his choir. It was awesome.
"FRANZ LIST!!"
"Very difficult, very difficult."
"JOY! EVERYBODY JOY!"
That's about all of the English he knew.

RAIN!

Cute town.
Sweet picture.
Dr. Jaccard really liked this horse umbrella.

Today was a day of laughter.   To begin our day, we COMPLETELY got lost going from Debrecen to Nyíregyháza.  We may have been 1 hour and 1/2 late to our appointment this morning. Hence, the video of the day.  We didn't take one of being lost in Hungary, but this is a promo for LOST in Hungarian. That's similar, right?

Funny story number two.  There's no way to really explain it but this afternoon we walked over to the after-school music conservatory to observe a theory class and piano lesson.  The teacher of this piano lesson couldn't speak to us in English.  Instead, she spoke to us in German AND Hungarian.  She  was switching languages mid sentence!  Dr. Jaccard had a multi-language meltdown.  We were just enjoying watching the interactions.  To help this picture, she was probably 65 years old with big hair, lots of make-up, and a "fashion-forward" outfit.  As we were saying goodbye (the first time) she told us all in a German accent, "I vish you 'andsome mahn."  Something about wishing that all of us pretty girls will be married soon. At first we thought she somehow knew I was getting married but it was just her German/Hungarian confusing us all.

There was also the 17 year old boy who's piano lesson we observed.  He had the Kodaly hair-do going on with awesome crazy muscian/composer hair.  He was a sweet kid translating the best he could from Hungarian/German to English.
Some quality quotes:
"I'm homeless... NO!  I mean hopeless.  hehehe I'm not homeless."
(Completely seriously, he says while talking about what Mormons drink we say Milk) "*GASP!* But that comes from ... the cow!!"

We laughed so hard about our interesting afternoon at the conservatory.  It was wonderful.  None of us can quite put our finger on what it was, but just everything combined was so hilarious to.  We got a fantastic ab workout today!

Even the birds sing in Kecskemét: Hungary Day 11

Remember yesterday when I said I love how no one speaks English in Kecskemét?  Well, this morning the lady preparing our breakfast at the hotel came up and carried out a 5 minute conversation with Karissa and I.  We can't speak Hungarian and she couldn't speak English. It was mostly a lot of pantomiming, pointing, and laughing.  I even sort of know what was said!  Nevertheless, I really liked that lady.  She was extremely happy and kind. She even brought me a tissue when my nose started running.

 We also took a short shopping trip to the most adorable home-made folk gift shop that I wanted to spend all of my money at.  I didn't.  Luckily they have a website.  Go check it out!  www.forrasgallery.hu    This morning we went to another awesome class at the Kodaly University.  Not going to lie, I would love to come back and get my masters here.  The class was so enjoyable and we got to/we capable of participating.  

We also went to the mall that our hotel was connected to.  I BOUGHT GYPSY PANTS.  They look a little like that, but cuter.  Before you judge me too harshly, let me just tell you: everyone wears them here.  Sometimes they look a little crazy.  Other times, they look extremely cute paired with some cute sandals and a nice blouse.  I'm going to rock them this summer.  The other plus: they're super cool... as in temperature.  Thoughts? Opinions?  I'm excited whatever you think.

Follow the yellow brick road?!
I FOUND IT!

As we were walking through the square, the birds were singing complex little tunes and Dr. Jaccard said,
"Even the birds sing in Kecskemét"
They even were matching the pitch of some kids playing and screaming.   

Isn't Kecskemét beautiful?
I wish we could have spent more time there.

This afternoon, we traveled 3 1/2 hours to Debrecen! 

I love these keys to our room.

So before we even set foot in Europe, we discussed how we need to consciously be quieter in Hungary.

1. Because we don't want people on the streets labeling us as foreigners and targets.

2. Because Americans are just LOUD in general, and there are a few of us (Bethany and I) in the group who are LOUD Americans and we don't want to be rude.

We set a code word to say for when one of us is getting too loud. The word of choice?  "Simmer Down" Tonight at dinner, Karissa said in a way that was just so funny to us for some reason.  To give us all some credit, we had just been squished three to the backseat of a car for a long trip and were very hungry and loopy.  By this point in the evening, everything was funny. "Simmer, simmer, simmer."

VIDEO OF THE DAY:

It was a wonderfully funny night.  I came back and hopped in the shower.  Here, there are no shower curtains.  The tub was clean so I thought, well why not take a bath/shower so I don't get water everywhere? I may have been STUPID and put the plug in upside down.  We (mostly Beth) then spent a good amount of time trying different tools to get it out, bailing all of the water OUT of the tub, and finally getting it out by using a suction. Funny funny times.   We have it mostly on video.  Funny.   

Now, as I write this, there is a squeaking noise coming from the corner coming from directly across  where I'd lay my head on the bed.  We think it's coming from a mouse who is living in the crack in the wall.  EEKS. It may be difficult to sleep tonight.

Kecskemét: Hungary Day 10

Today we said goodbye to our Hotel in Budapest and traveled to Kecskemét.  We observed a 5th, 7th, and university level solfa classes at the Kodaly Institute.   The town here is beautiful. Unfortunately it is cold and rainy today so we didn't take many pictures of this quaint town. Our hotel is great. I love it here.  I've said at least 3 different times how, "When Brett and I come back here in 500 years when we're rich...."  we'll have to do this or that. We had a fantastic dinner and had dessert at a delicious pastry shop.  After we did a little shopping and are hoping to get some more done tomorrow before we travel to Debrecen.  The best part about Kecskemét?  Hardly anyone speaks English... so we get to really practice our Hungarian OR really our pantomime. But it's fun nonetheless.  Tonight I learned how to say "Plus 300" or should I say "plusz háromszáz."  I needed to tell our waiter how much of a tip to add to my bill.  What a day!

p.s. I may not have internet for the next three nights.  :( Sad times.  But I will continue to make a word blog at least so I can easily catch everyone up when I get internet again Friday night.

Hungarian Concept of Cool? Funny.

A yellow Gerber Daisy was our centerpiece.
I loved it.

Pastries and Gelato.  

Video of the Day:

Karissa and I can't stop singing this song.  

HONK: Hungary Day 9

It was a very restful Sunday.  We went to Stake Conference here in Hungary.  It was great!   We ate a small lunch and then rested/napped for a few hours. Then we went to dinner and got some delicious food at Huszar again.  On our way, I may have almost been run over by a car who honked VERY loudly and long at me for not noticing that I was getting run over by his fast driving.  GEEZ.  They honk a lot here.  Tonight we went and listened to the Hungarian Radio Children's Choir.  They were AMAZING. Hear for yourself in the video of the day.  They were definitely the best children's choir I have ever heard and will ever hear. WOW.    

At Huszar, he chose our meal for us and brought a family platter.
It was finom.

Here is our favorite waiter: "Thanks indeed."

Hungarian Radio Children's Choir

VIDEO OF THE DAY:

Beautiful Hungarian Sunset.

Day Trip to Vienna: Hungary Day 8

Today, we left Budapest and took a Day Trip to Vienna.

Leaving Hungary, we drove past some pretty, yellow, canola fields. 

AUSTRIA!!!

Willkommen in Wien!

St. Stephen's

WHAT?! No couples allowed?!

St. Peter's

Creepy cherub end piece on the pews.

Do we look like her?

When I turned the corner, I thought it was a statue of someone playing baseball.
Thanks for that Brett.  :)
Michael slaying the dragon, is now a baseball player.

Justice and Mercy

Pretending to be royalty.

"There's Moroni with wings!" -Dr. J

The Royal Library.
They say its like the one from Beauty and the Beast, but BIGGER.
Someday, I want a library this big as well.
"Do you think they'll have libraries in Heaven?" -Me
"YES!"-Bethany

Being Modern Art

"I'm awkward!"

Pilates in the middle of the street?  Why not!?

Treble Clef in the grass

Mozart

Favorite picture of the day: Dr. J and the pants table.

We gave a few forint to these street performers. 

Maybe they can hip-hop over to Hungary for some Goulash.

"That's the BYU team right there!"  -Dr. J

Sometimes, Bethany and I ALWAYS unintentionally order the same thing.

Gelato in Vienna.
Does it get much better?

The incinerating trash cans.
I may have been REALLY excited.

On our way to Schönbrunn.

"I LOVE NATURE!"

We may have gotten a little lost nevertheless,
WE FOUND IT!

HUGE and GORGEOUS and AMAZING!
This is just one side of it.

Pride and Prejudice anyone?

We couldn't miss our chance to do a little solfa singing on some steps in Austria: Sound of Music Style.

Wacky?

GORGEOUS.

Could you imagine this being your backyard?

It would be kind of ridiculous.

Oh just on a stroll through the gardens.

What a gorgeous place to get married.
We saw at least 3 different wedding parties today.

"The hills are alive with the sound of music." -Maria von Trapp
(I couldn't pass up this shot.)


It was a beautiful, fantastic, historical, tasty, enlightening, rainy, wonderful day.