I decided months ago that I would return in December for the Szalagavato of my youngest students that I had while teaching in Hungary. Luckily my parents were interested in coming with, and Mike traveled from Tokyo to meet us as well.
These students we are visiting are the ones I had for the full year and a half I was there, several lessons a week. One might say I knew these students the best as a group since we had so much time together. Szalagavato is a sort of 'coming of age' ceremony that is very important in the lives of the 'school leavers' or the graduates. They receive their ribbons- it's pinned to their winter coat to indicate their status as a school leaver - and then do their class dances. They have themes that each graduating homeroom chooses, and as far as I can tell, this year's English group is something Godfather like. After the class dance, they do a waltz in white wedding dresses and tuxedos. It's a very special night for the graduates and their families, and I'm blessed with the opportunity to attend my third Szalagavato this year. More about that later though.
The flight over was long, but do-able, as we're basically naturals at this by now. It would have been a bit smoother, but both my mom and I had faulty television controllers. I know, first world problems, but when you're looking forward to the free movies as the highlight of the flight, this was a buzz kill. I was just told on my way to the airport by a friend from school that I should watch "The Campaign" sometime, and sure enough, it was one of the movies offered. Unfortunately, my controller's arrows would not move to the right, so I was not able to select that movie. It was super frustrating (as most technology is to anyone who is much older than I) I spent 30 minutes trying various ways of getting around the right directional arrow. Clicking up, to the left, continuing to the left, trying to go alphabetical, none of it worked. I eventually settled and watched the latest Bourne movie. While I am an ardent fan of the Bourne movies, this did not live up to my expectations as it did in fact lack Jason Bourne. I also watched "Mirror Mirror" with Julia Roberts, who - I'm certain if I were a lesbian I would lust after her. I also started Pixar's "Brave" but didn't finish.
The thing I hate most about flying on planes is my loss of control. I am a control freak (as many of you know) and it all goes down the crapper when you're flying. I can't control when I can eat and drink. Depending on my seat, I can't control when I pee. I can't control who I sit next to, and I can't control if my television controller works or not. This flight was manageable, but not without traits of my OCD and control freakiness bubbling to the surface. First, I purchased a foot long subway sandwich at the airport before we left. Never mind that I had eaten before going to the airport, and knew we would be eating on the plane. There was just something about not being able to eat something if I wanted to while on the plane and when they weren't serving food. Additionally, there seemed to be something just right about getting a sandwich - with cold cuts - for said flight. It's as if I was preparing for my arrival to Hungary. Next, I had two empty water bottles that I filled before take off, a caribou Reindeer Drink and a Diet Coke in my bag. I need to have beverages. Lots of choices of beverages. Lastly, I had an aisle seat. I've always longed for those super artsy pictures of people taking off and landing in famous cities around the world, and I've certainly done enough traveling to accumulate a great collection. But that one picture just isn't worth it to miss out on being able to freely pee when necessary. Bathroom accessibility trumps pictures almost every time. Well.... that's arguable I suppose. The last thing I hate about flying is the crapshoot that is seat assignments. You know you all look around the waiting room wondering, "will I be sitting next to him? Or him? Geeze - I hope it's not her that I sit next to..." Yeah - I do that. Every time. I ended up okay as the guy I was next to didn't speak to me. Airplane captive audience small talk is my own personal hell. This was avoided by immediate application of earphones, to be removed only for aforementioned bathroom trips. On our flight from Amsterdam to Budapest, I was in the middle (sigh) but again sat next to two equally "shy" passengers. I did note that the 30something guy next to me was reading in Russian, typing on his computer in English and speaking in Hungarian. There is something to be said for someone who can just switch like that. I aspire for such skills.
At any rate, we made it safe and sound. We are in a nice hotel near the Danube and the pedestrian shopping street, in my favorite part of town.
We will rest easy and prepare for Mike's arrival and more debauchery in Hungary.
at the airport
forralt bor (hot wine) and palacsinta (pancakes)- fresh off the plane :)
Vaci Utca - the pedestrian shopping street
I think my favorite part of this was when you said you filled up your two empty water bottles before takeoff. You can't ever have enough water ;)
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