Rotary Adventures In Budapest

Spring In Budapest!!

2010-03-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! It's me again. Last time I posted the weather was cold, snowy, and blistering. Now it's March and...the weather is still cold, snowy, and blistering. Hah! Hopefully things will get better as the month goes on.

It has been a busy few months me for me here in Budapest. I have been continuing my studies and volunteer work as well as scheduling my final few presentations for the year before I finally head home!

Perhaps one of the most positive developments of my life here in the past couple months is the regular volunteer work I have been doing with a local library here in Budapest. The library is run by some American missionaries living here and provides free English and Hungarian language books to the community. My volunteer work has involved planning and participating in the children's hour held every Saturday in which we read books, sing, and do art projects with local children. Since I'm no expert with crafts unfortunately, much of my work has been coordinating songs and music for the hour. This has given me a great opportunity to really give back to the Budapest community regularly and meet some interesting ex-pat and Hungarian families.

I have also been attending regular meetings of the Budapest City-Rotaract and participating in their preparation for the District Rotaract convention here in April. We will be hosting a charity party for that weekend themed around the popular television show "How I Met Your Mother." Proceeds from the event will go to the kindergarten playground fund which was the focus of our art auction last year. Also, we will be visiting local Budapest hospitals again this year, this time as Easter bunnies delivering goodies to sick children in the hospitals. Our Santa Claus visit last year was really fun, so I'm looking forward to this one as well.

I have also been continuing my studies at Central European University, focusing on Central and Eastern European history. I am currently working on a visual anthropology project incorporating interview, photo, and text to investigate urban space in Budapest and evolving definitions and perceptions of nationalism across generations. This project has given me the opportunity to interview native Budapest residents and learn fascinating things about the city, Hungarian history, and culture.

I will also be making my solo vocal debut this month as the soprano soloist in Faure's Requiem, being performed by the Gabrieli Choir in Budapest. I have been working hard with my voice teacher and conductor and am so excited to make my debut.

Well, that's all for now! I've attached a few different photos for your viewing pleasure!

Susan

The building where the library is located, in Szent Gellert ter on the Buda side.

An example of a photo for my project: a statue of a Hungarian historical figure in Moricz Zsigmond korter juxtaposed with a modern billboard nearby.

A few of my friends and I on a hike in the Buda hills during the winter!

Ringing in the New Year in Budapest!

2010-01-18T05:37:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!
I know it's been quite a while since I last posted, but I promise that in the meantime I've been very busy with school, music, and Rotary activities!

I have to say, although I prefer the warmth of autumn and summer, the winter in Central Europe has been beautiful. The impossible stillness that hangs over the city when the snow falls in Budapest never ceases to amaze me. The usual bustling noise of the city...the rushing tires...the constant hum of voices...it all just disappears into the muffling layer of white insulation that coats everything, from the soaring balconies of Gresham Palace to the front facade of the little flower shop under my flat.

The Christmas season saw the culmination of many of the projects I'd been working with local Rotaract clubs on over the course of the semester.

One particularly enjoyable project was a St. Nicholas Day (Mikulas) project in which Rotaract members and myself went to a local childrens' hospital on December 6th to sing Hungarian St. Nicholas Day carols to children at the hospital. One of us dressed up as Santa and the rest as Santa's helpers and sung many different Hungarian carols with the kids. We also passed out the traditional Mikulas Day gifts: nectarines and chocolate!

Another important project that found its culmination near Christmas time was a Christmas Charity Auction, which was organized by the Budapest-City Rotaract. Over sixty pieces of art were put up for auction with the proceeds benefiting a local kindergarten. During the project planning, I assisted with public relations work as well as miscellaneous other tasks. I also had a special role at the event itself, as the musical entertainment for the afternoon. I played piano lounge music throughout the event, mostly sticking to Christmas and jazz classics.

Below are some photos from the event:

The artwork on display!

Me playing the piano!

Team meeting before the big event!

The auction room at the Merlin Theater.

Amongst these activities, I also volunteered to sell mulled wine with another local Rotaract club in the main Christmas market of Budapest, at Vorosmarty Square, to help raise money for the same local kindergarten which our auction benefitted.

So, all together, it has been an excellent and busy few months, and I look forward to continuing my volunteer work and studies into the new year!

Viszlat!

Susan

September in Budapest!

2009-09-25T02:33:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I am just beginning to get settled here in Budapest finally! It's been three weeks, and I now have an apartment, a working bank account, and a phone (all the necessities!). I have also started attending Rotary meetings of the Margitsziget club (Margaret Island in Hungarian). The meetings are held in the evenings at the John Bull Pub, an English style pub, on the Buda side of the river.

I enjoyed a classic British meal and listened to a former professor at a local university give a talk on energy sources in the 21st century (all in Hungarian, of course) so my host counselor translated a bit for me. I look forward to giving my own presentation in a couple weeks!

I have also started volunteering with the Human Rights Student Initiative at Central European University, a group that does awareness raising, education, and volunteer work int the community. Our next event is United Nations Day, so I will be doing awareness-raising in the weeks leading up to the day.

I have also joined a local chorus in the area that gives free concerts to the community. We rehearse in St. Stephen's Basilica, very close to my university. Below is a view of the cathedral.

Here is another view of the cathedral juxtaposed with a Soviet era building in the square nearby. I think it is quite a jarring comparison.

Well, before I end this post, I must include a few photos of my new flat! It is located in District 5, less than 5 minutes walk from the Danube and next to Vaci utca, one of the main thoroughfares in Pest.

Below is a picture of the entry way of the flat..

We have a pretty large living/dining room and our bedrooms are in the background...

My bedroom is on the left, my flatmate Kate's, is on the right. She is another American student at CEU doing her masters in International Relations and European studies.

And above is a bizarre, upside-down view of the courtyard in our complex. I basically just stuck my camera upside-down out of our large front window to capture this one.

Well, that's all for now! I look forward to keeping you updated on more of my adventures here in Budapest later this month!

Susan

First Week In Budapest!

2009-09-10T02:23:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!
I'm really excited to begin this blog which will keep me in touch with all of you back home! You'll also be able to hear about my various activities throughout my stay in Budapest!

It has been a stressful but exciting week as I've settled in to the city a bit. I'm currently living in a hostel in the very downtown, hip Oktogan area of Pest. It has actually been a very nice place to stay while I've been scrambling to find an apartment, get a phone, and open a bank account. My host rotarian Gabor Szendrey has been extremely helpful in getting some of these things accomplished!

I also just started Orientation week at my study institution, Central European University, located in District 5 (one of the swankier districts) very close to the Chain Bridge, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and a few other places. Below is a picture of the street the school is on (it's on the left with the brown door). You can see a bit of St. Stephen's at the end of the street.

The school is a very exciting place, filled with students from all over the world. I look forward to getting to know many people and involving myself in some of the volunteer programs they offer here.

This is a distant view of the Chain Bridge from the river side. Across the river is Buda. I also thought I'd include some photos of interesting buildings in the area. The architecture is amazing here. So many Austro-Hungarian gems, of course, as well as Neo-Classical works and modern too.

Tonight I attend my first Rotary club meeting at a local pub. I hope its fun!

Greetings from Budapest!
Susan