I sent this the other day to Melanie and maybe to a few other people(i just dont remember). At the end I decided that I would simply cut and paste it into a post and leave it at that.
Oh, I solved the computer problem by flipping a switch in the back of the computer and getting new cords. Works great and no converter needed.
Melanie,
I need to update things more often. Things are going pretty good. We moved into our house, but haven't gotten most of our furniture from the states yet and won't until the end of October or the beginning of November. It's kind of like camping. We have beds for everyone, but not much else. I haven't gotten the right converter yet so I can hook up our desktop computers which has made it impossible to put pictures on Facebook or my blog. I haven't figured out how to do it from my iPad. This weekend I'm going back to Budapest to look for the right kind of converter (I need one that can stay plugged in all the time without heating up).
We spent the first two weeks in a hotel in the northern part of Hungary. Very nice, very luxurious spa hotel. I took the kids and the dog hiking in the hills each morning and swimming each afternoon. I managed to loose weight (judging by my pants) while eating three buffet meals a day...go figure.
The third week we moved to a much less nice panzio in the town we are living in. The kids started school. Abby is at a bilingual day care/preschool as they don't have kindergarten here like they do in the states. Jake is at a catholic school that is only Hungarian although they have English classes three times a week. We are doing a lot of homeschool type stuff in the afternoons because they only have school from 8 to 1230. Kids can stay longer, but that is all the actual classes that they have. We briefly considered pulling Jakob out and just homeschooling him, but HE said he'd rather stay in the school. He's home sick today (bronchitis), but otherwise is doing great.
I'm getting into the swing of things. I haven't got a car here yet as I can't buy or register one legally until I get my residence permit, so I walk A LOT. We have a driver that helps get the kids to and from school, but the rest of the day I walk. At a fast walk it takes 10-15 minutes to get to the shopping area from our house, so it's maybe a mile...one way. Anything that I can't carry that far I either pay a delivery fee or get in the evening with Rachel's company car.
We've been to Budapest and Eger and to a few other places sight seeing in Hungary. Things are okay. I miss everyone and was honestly a bit disappointed at the timing of this move, but I'm okay. I hope to be able to start working out again next week. There is a gym about four blocks from the house that I've been meaning to check out, but haven't been able to because I've been busy with the kids and getting some things for the house etc.
I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to copy and paste this to my blog and maybe folks can check it out there. If not feel free to pass it around.
Miss y'all,
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Returning to Hungary.
Things have changed so much since the last time we were in this country. We've got two kids now that we didn't haves the last time we came here. We've been married a lot longer. It seems to be more of a move toward something than away from something.
That last is probably the most surprising part. The last time we came to Hungary in many ways we were running from the U.S., from our families, from our small town lives. Now we are running toward something. We are moving toward a future with more possibilities, toward a higher position in the company for Rachel, toward new experiences for our kids, toward a restarted career for me. These are all positive things, but also in many ways more scary. I think sometimes it's easier to run away from bad things than to chase down good things.
I don't just think it is easier to run away from bad than to run toward good, I know it. I think we all see people every day doing just that: People that can't accept themselves and be comfortable in their own skin use all kinds of devices to run away. It takes a good deal more courage to run towards the unknown than to run away from anything. I think in many ways it is even easier to stand still than to run towards the unknown, and if success is unfamiliar it's hard to move towards it even when it is knocking on your door.
I have been disappointed in many ways by the hit or miss nature of support from Rachel's company and the Cartus team that is supposed to be helping us adjust to living as expats again, but in some ways it's good. It's good to stand on your own skills and trust your own judgment and make mistakes and have success, but really own both. We aren't done with this journey yet. Really it's only just begun, but I think ultimately we are going to be okay.
That last is probably the most surprising part. The last time we came to Hungary in many ways we were running from the U.S., from our families, from our small town lives. Now we are running toward something. We are moving toward a future with more possibilities, toward a higher position in the company for Rachel, toward new experiences for our kids, toward a restarted career for me. These are all positive things, but also in many ways more scary. I think sometimes it's easier to run away from bad things than to chase down good things.
I don't just think it is easier to run away from bad than to run toward good, I know it. I think we all see people every day doing just that: People that can't accept themselves and be comfortable in their own skin use all kinds of devices to run away. It takes a good deal more courage to run towards the unknown than to run away from anything. I think in many ways it is even easier to stand still than to run towards the unknown, and if success is unfamiliar it's hard to move towards it even when it is knocking on your door.
I have been disappointed in many ways by the hit or miss nature of support from Rachel's company and the Cartus team that is supposed to be helping us adjust to living as expats again, but in some ways it's good. It's good to stand on your own skills and trust your own judgment and make mistakes and have success, but really own both. We aren't done with this journey yet. Really it's only just begun, but I think ultimately we are going to be okay.
Pool and spa at Hotel Ozon
Sorry for the out of order adding. This wasn't quite done when I really felt the need to get my thoughts about the kids starting school down. On with the discription of the absolutely fabulous (I loved that show) hotel.
Below the lobby level (nothing is really below ground as the hotel is built into the hill) is the pool area. Coming down either the elevator or a graceful flight of stairs you are greeted by the staff of the spa area. As with most of the staff they speak English and/or German as well as Hungarian. At the spa reception you can arrange massages, manicures, pedicures, hair cuts, or simply ask for a towel and pass into the pool area over a wooden bridged still reflecting pool. Also to the right of the spa desk is a well equipped small gym area with two treadmills, an ellipse machine, a stair step machine, a rowing machine, an assortment of dumb bells with a bench and a universal weight machine.
The pool area is gorgeous. You come in on the lower level of the pool area. There is a large pool with several smaller areas. There is a donut shaped area that has jets that push the water in a circle. There is an area where you can recline over a a jet of bubbles and another that has large bore (think fire hose) faucets that pummel you.
On the same level of the pool area is the children's pool which is quite warm and has toys for the kids to play with. It goes from about ankle deep to about knee deep so it's perfect for kids to play in. I saw kids less than a year old happily splashing in the water, and my kids loved it as a chance to warm up from the cooler water of the big pool. Also on the first level of the pool area is a door to the outside. They have another pool, a bar (closed during the cooler weather), and a panoramic Swedish sauna with a view of the valley and the hills across the valley which were forested in a spectacular blanket of gold, green, red, a brown with the coming of fall.
Between the two indoor pools is a stair case leading up to the second level of the pool area. The pool area is entirely open with large windows showcasing the aforementioned valley with it's multicolored carpet of trees. The second level has a bar next to a hot tub big enough for about 15-20 people to sit and look out over the valley while enjoying their drinks. Also on the second level of the pool area are the saunas and steam rooms. They have a variety of saunas and a steam room ranging from 35 degrees C to 90 degrees C, and the required cold plunge and showers. A door leads out onto the roof of the lower level to an area set up for patrons to sun themselves.
I took advantage of the pool every day with the kids. We loved it. They keep the entire area very clean so that inspite of two weeks of swimming everyday no one ended up with any athletes foot issues or any other weird fungi. I watched the workers once a week scrub the stairs with bleach (you could smell it) and they we're constantly cleaning the floors.
I also availed myself of the massage services and got Jakob a hair cut. Neither the masseur nor the hair stylist spoke English, but the staff that made the appointment were able to help with what needed to be said. The 60 minute massage was about 30 US dollars/6000 HUF. The hair cut for Jakob was about 12 US dollars/2400 HUF. Both were very nice.
All around it was probably about the best two weeks I think we've ever spent in Hungary. If you are thinking of a trip that's a bit off the beaten track I highly recommend the Hotel Ozon. (I am not a paid representative of the hotel and did not identify myself as a blogger or writer to the staff. I have not been compensated by the hotel Ozon or anyone else for this recommendation.)
Below the lobby level (nothing is really below ground as the hotel is built into the hill) is the pool area. Coming down either the elevator or a graceful flight of stairs you are greeted by the staff of the spa area. As with most of the staff they speak English and/or German as well as Hungarian. At the spa reception you can arrange massages, manicures, pedicures, hair cuts, or simply ask for a towel and pass into the pool area over a wooden bridged still reflecting pool. Also to the right of the spa desk is a well equipped small gym area with two treadmills, an ellipse machine, a stair step machine, a rowing machine, an assortment of dumb bells with a bench and a universal weight machine.
The pool area is gorgeous. You come in on the lower level of the pool area. There is a large pool with several smaller areas. There is a donut shaped area that has jets that push the water in a circle. There is an area where you can recline over a a jet of bubbles and another that has large bore (think fire hose) faucets that pummel you.
On the same level of the pool area is the children's pool which is quite warm and has toys for the kids to play with. It goes from about ankle deep to about knee deep so it's perfect for kids to play in. I saw kids less than a year old happily splashing in the water, and my kids loved it as a chance to warm up from the cooler water of the big pool. Also on the first level of the pool area is a door to the outside. They have another pool, a bar (closed during the cooler weather), and a panoramic Swedish sauna with a view of the valley and the hills across the valley which were forested in a spectacular blanket of gold, green, red, a brown with the coming of fall.
Between the two indoor pools is a stair case leading up to the second level of the pool area. The pool area is entirely open with large windows showcasing the aforementioned valley with it's multicolored carpet of trees. The second level has a bar next to a hot tub big enough for about 15-20 people to sit and look out over the valley while enjoying their drinks. Also on the second level of the pool area are the saunas and steam rooms. They have a variety of saunas and a steam room ranging from 35 degrees C to 90 degrees C, and the required cold plunge and showers. A door leads out onto the roof of the lower level to an area set up for patrons to sun themselves.
I took advantage of the pool every day with the kids. We loved it. They keep the entire area very clean so that inspite of two weeks of swimming everyday no one ended up with any athletes foot issues or any other weird fungi. I watched the workers once a week scrub the stairs with bleach (you could smell it) and they we're constantly cleaning the floors.
I also availed myself of the massage services and got Jakob a hair cut. Neither the masseur nor the hair stylist spoke English, but the staff that made the appointment were able to help with what needed to be said. The 60 minute massage was about 30 US dollars/6000 HUF. The hair cut for Jakob was about 12 US dollars/2400 HUF. Both were very nice.
All around it was probably about the best two weeks I think we've ever spent in Hungary. If you are thinking of a trip that's a bit off the beaten track I highly recommend the Hotel Ozon. (I am not a paid representative of the hotel and did not identify myself as a blogger or writer to the staff. I have not been compensated by the hotel Ozon or anyone else for this recommendation.)
Monday, October 10, 2011
The kids started school today. Rough morning. Abby had an accident in bed and had to be cleaned up this morning. Jakob was still tired and sounding like he's got a cold. And it was the first day of school in Hungary.
Originally we had planned on having nearly a month of Hungarian lessons for the kids and I before starting them in school. Now that wouldn't have made them fluent, but it would certainly have made them more ready to be with Hungarians speaking Hungarian and having a base level awareness of what is going on. Again, as I'm coming to expect, Rachel's company dropped the ball. Really it's the Cartus and ARC people that flubbed this as they are in charge of the relocation.
Regardless of who's at fault, we managed to get through the first two weeks in Hungary at a luxury spa/hotel in the Matra hills with only the daily pimsleur Hungarian lessons that I had on my iPad and practicing on the staff at the hotel. The staff seemed to like it and were very helpful, but having your 7 and 5 year old (nearly 8 and 6) being able to order beer and wine is not as helpful as having them able to ask where the bathroom is. Live and learn. Rachel keeps reminding me that she is the only American in Europe for her company so that must be a good thing right?
When we took Jakob to his classroom, he was approached by the other kids. They seemed very friendly to him. They showed him where to put his jacket and his book bag. His teacher showed up a few minutes after we got there and immediately sat with him and began trying to reassure him. Honestly, he looked ok. I wish someone would have been reassuring me.
When Jakob started preschool in Memphis, I had a really hard time letting him go. He didn't have any problem at all. He walked in the room and headed over to the train to get it out and start playing with it.
That evening I was talking to Rachel about it. I complained about how bad it felt when he didn't even turn around. I opined about how it was going to be worse when Abby went to school. Jakob crawled up in my lap and said, "Don't worry Daddy, we'll get you a babysitter. She'll keep you company.". At the time I thought this might be a good idea as the kids' sitter was a twenty year old gymnast/cheerleader with a big smile and blond hair.
Abby started out thinking I should hang around longer, but decided that I could go when Candy, the English speaking teacher, showed up. Somehow I was less worried about Abby. She seems pretty excited about the whole thing and her school is taught in English as well as Hungarian. She'll probably know what's going on better than some of the Hungarian kids as this will be her third school in such a short period of time.
We'll see what the kids look like at pick up time. Wish me luck.
Originally we had planned on having nearly a month of Hungarian lessons for the kids and I before starting them in school. Now that wouldn't have made them fluent, but it would certainly have made them more ready to be with Hungarians speaking Hungarian and having a base level awareness of what is going on. Again, as I'm coming to expect, Rachel's company dropped the ball. Really it's the Cartus and ARC people that flubbed this as they are in charge of the relocation.
Regardless of who's at fault, we managed to get through the first two weeks in Hungary at a luxury spa/hotel in the Matra hills with only the daily pimsleur Hungarian lessons that I had on my iPad and practicing on the staff at the hotel. The staff seemed to like it and were very helpful, but having your 7 and 5 year old (nearly 8 and 6) being able to order beer and wine is not as helpful as having them able to ask where the bathroom is. Live and learn. Rachel keeps reminding me that she is the only American in Europe for her company so that must be a good thing right?
When we took Jakob to his classroom, he was approached by the other kids. They seemed very friendly to him. They showed him where to put his jacket and his book bag. His teacher showed up a few minutes after we got there and immediately sat with him and began trying to reassure him. Honestly, he looked ok. I wish someone would have been reassuring me.
When Jakob started preschool in Memphis, I had a really hard time letting him go. He didn't have any problem at all. He walked in the room and headed over to the train to get it out and start playing with it.
That evening I was talking to Rachel about it. I complained about how bad it felt when he didn't even turn around. I opined about how it was going to be worse when Abby went to school. Jakob crawled up in my lap and said, "Don't worry Daddy, we'll get you a babysitter. She'll keep you company.". At the time I thought this might be a good idea as the kids' sitter was a twenty year old gymnast/cheerleader with a big smile and blond hair.
Abby started out thinking I should hang around longer, but decided that I could go when Candy, the English speaking teacher, showed up. Somehow I was less worried about Abby. She seems pretty excited about the whole thing and her school is taught in English as well as Hungarian. She'll probably know what's going on better than some of the Hungarian kids as this will be her third school in such a short period of time.
We'll see what the kids look like at pick up time. Wish me luck.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)