Back for Good?

I’m not sure if anyone has ‘popped in’ to read my blog since my last post. If you have, you have probably noticed that I’m no longer updating. It is a little sad, considering that I’ve had this blog for a few years. But I really don’t have time to write anymore. I’m in the middle of my senior year and have my eyes on the prize, to say the least! My top choice is still SOAS, London, closely followed by Lund University in Sweden. If I will make it? I’m really not sure…

Maybe I will write an occasional post here, in the future. Something important that I would like to keep documented if you see what I mean. Now there is nothing much worth recognizing. I was in Barcelona last weekend with my family; my extended essay is finished; and my university applications are moving along. Something at least!

Oh and I’ve started an initiative here at AISB where the upper elementary, middle school, and high school are each going to raise money and sponsor a Senegalese child to go to school in Warang (the same school that I helped build!). It will be linked to the french department and  ”service-learning” because the students will learn about la francophonie by exchanging pen-pal letters and picture books that will be passed on during the february break when Noa is going to Warang. I’m so excited! Next monday, the NGO founder Sophie Camara, is going to skype with my french class, and Evelyn and I are going to present to the middle school and upper elementary about Senegal, what sponsorship means, why it’s important, and so forth.

Salonta Romania, October 7th-8th

Salonta Romania, October 7th-8th

Salonta Romania, October 7th-8th

NYC: Day 4

Looking back, it seems as if we were a little all over the place on the fourth day! We started off by looking around Rockefeller Center before SAKS opened. And oh my: the department store has so many beautiful things! After some persuasion and tipping in with my own money, I got a lovely silk Tibi dress that I am going to save for a very special occasion.

 

For lunch we ate at the trendy restaurant, Café Baltazar. The funny thing was that the menu was basically identical to that of “Café Deryné” here in Budapest. Not only were the dishes familiar, but the layout of the menu and the interior of the restaurant as a whole was the same. It was quite evident where the owner of Café Dernyné got his inspiration from to create a replica in Budapest!

My dad left in the early afternoon to go back to Luxembourg; the rest of the day was basically dedicated to shopping and looking around SoHo, Lafayette Street, and Madison Avenue.

Erik trying out his new 'portrait lens'

We also visited the extremely modern and abstract art museum called “Whiney.” There were some very strange pieces of art. For example, one enormous screen taking up an entire wall of the museum showed a video of computerized bowling (like a video-game) on repeat.  There was also another room where a video was playing on the floor –facing up towards the ceiling and another room, which showed a graphic photo of a dead person in the 80’s as a result of aids. Interesting, to say the least! Unfortunately the Whitney Museum didn’t have any Andy Warhol pieces, which our guidebook had taken up 2 pages to describe! Finally we visited the world’s largest synaogue “Emanuel.” Then again, I still think the main synagogue in Budapest looks more magnificent.

Driver’s License

A couple of months ago I wrote in my blog that my goal for the near future was to get my driver’s license. To be frank, it seems quite impossible to do this- at least for me! It feels like I know the test-center inside out, and trust me, it’s not a good reason!

To make a long story short, I failed my theory test the first time. The second time, my driving school forgot to book a time at the test-center so I showed up for no reason. And now the third time, there was a bomb alert so the building had to be evacuated! Talk about frustration when I’m nearly halfway through my exam with no mistakes, and police officers suddenly barge into the room with walkie-talkies. Three police cars were outside, and I had no choice but to stop taking my exam. Right now I feel as if I’ll never be able to get this done before I graduate. It’s such a hassle, and I feel bad because my parents have spent so much money on taxi rides to take me back and forth from the test center, which is on the other side of the city. Next time will be my 4^th attempt, and hopefully nothing will get in the way then!  Not to mention that my whole day gets ruined due to the fact that I’m rushing everywhere and missing school. Keep your fingers crossed so I can eventually get my driver’s license!

First Week as a Senior

As you can probably tell by my absence for a couple of days; school has started, and I’m a senior! It’s really unbelievable that I’ll be out of high school in less than 9 months! I have a long way to go until then, but I’m ready for all the challenges. After all it’s my education, and I want to go as far as I’m able to. I can honestly imagine myself studying at SOAS, but then I don’t want to get caught up with only one idea for my future… I have to finalize my application in the next few months, and I’m still not sure what exact subjects I want to study. I definitely want to study international development and would prefer if I could combine it with another subject like Social Anthropology… or…African Studies… or even Politics. You see the problem I really have to choose, but everything sounds so interesting! For now my method is to read as much as I can about these subjects and hopefully find an area that I particularly want to find out more about.

Now the picture below really has nothing to do with the post apart from that this is what I’ve had to do for half an hour after school; jump up in the air. My brother loves photography, and he’s always trying out new techniques. This photo is my favorite!

NYC: STK

For the evening we went to the extremely trendy steakhouse, STK, in the meatpacking district. I don’t think the person who recommended the place to us knew that we were planning on having a nice quiet family dinner! Anyhow, it was a great experience and I can imagine that ‘rich new yorkers who want to be seen’ are regulars there. The atmosphere was very club-like with loud music, and the staff was probably only employed considering their looks! My brother was first not allowed to enter because he was wearing shorts, but strangely enough women could wear as short skirts as they wanted Despite those details, the food was delicious!

I think their business card says quite a bit about the restaurant!

The funniest memory, however, is from after the restaurant when we went to a bar/café place down the road. There were only chinese waitresses and waitors, and we quickly noticed that their lack of english was a bit of an obstacle!

First problem:

Erik: “Could I please have a hot chocolate?”

Waitress: … (looking puzzled)

Erik: “A hot chocolate please…”

Waitress: “…Can I see your ID?”

Erik: (very confused!)

She must have thought my brother asked for a hot shot or something like that?!? I really have no idea, but my brother gave up on the hot chocolate.

Second problem:

Dad: “An Irish Coffee please”

Waitress: “…hmm” (looking puzzled again)

Dad: “An irish coffee…”

Waitress: “uhm… I don’t understand…” (looking even more puzzled)

Dad: “okay-do you have coffee?”

Waitress: “yes” (nodding eagerly)

Dad: “whiskey?”

Waitress: “…yes!”

Dad: “sugar?”

Waitress: “yes”

Dad: “cream?”

Waitress: “yes”

Dad: “then you have an irish coffee!?!”

Waitress: “oooh okay!”

After a couple of minutes she came out with the ‘irish coffee’ and waited for my dad’s approval.

Dad: (after a sip)… this is not an irish coffee… it’s sweet- it’s baileys (grimacing slightly) But it’s fine; we just want the bill thank you!”

Waitress: …? (extremely puzzled)

I won’t even go into the fact that my mum and I asked for a café laté, and it came after we had paid…

NYC: SoHo shopping

I just absolutely love SoHo! They have so many fun shops there, and I actually got my very first pair of Dr. Martens and a Tumi bag there!

love them!

NYC: Brooklyn

On the 3rd full day in New York, we visited Brooklyn. We began by looking around Borough Park which is where the largest Hasidic Community lives in the whole world. Basically, they’re extremely conservative orthodox Jews. It was actually my mum’s suggestion to go there, and I’m so happy we did. I’ve never seen anything like it, and it was like going 100 years back in time! The men walked around in huge hats, some even fur hats [(kolpik) and it was 35+ degrees celsius!] and the women wore wigs and were dressed in black. All of them wore a little hat and walked around with their prams. At first glance, it seemed like all they do is walk around with their babies! Apparently, their children go to special schools and there are restrictions for driving… well I don’t know much more, but it was very fascinating!

the area looked very run-down

After that we went to the vintage and second-hand store in Park Slope. Everything was very cheap, but I was a little disappointed because they didn’t have as much as I had expected. Next time I’ll try the store in Williamsburg instead. To conclude our mini-Brooklyn visit, we went to Brooklyn Heights and walked on the promenade which boasted a magnificent view over the New York City skyline.

I did end up buying something though!

Iconic Brooklyn Bridge

St. Stephen’s Day: Evening

All pictures are taken by my brother, Erik

St. Stephen’s Day: AirShow

All pictures are taken by my brother, Erik.

BudaBest

Yesterday we went into the center of Budapest to celebrate St. Stephen’s day. It’s one of the most important public holidays here and celebrates the foundation of the Hungarian state. Lots of people were out on the streets and took part in the many activities that were on offer. Personally I ‘only’ saw the fireworks with my mum, but my brother was there a couple of hours before to take some great pictures of the air-show. Before the fireworks, we went out for dinner at Pomo d’Oro and talked about the summer and what we’re anticipating for the year ahead. Unfortunately my dad wasn’t with us, but I’ll see him in just a little more than a week.

Although I can’t say I feel any personal connection to Hungary, Budapest will always be one of my favorite cities. The view of the castle and chain bridge always astounds me whenever my mum or dad drive over the bridge to the Buda Side. It really is a special feeling to find a good place by the side of the Danube, along with other crowds of Hungarians around you, and proudly look at the extraordinary 30 minutes of fire-works. (It’s another story that my mum and I were joking about the Hungarian state burning up EU money haha. It really was an outstanding display, but after the 20th minute I felt like …hmmm- maybe they can use this money to step up, something along the lines of their health care for example.) Well I won’t be pessimistic. Budapest is a wonderful city and, it’s with no doubt that, once you’ve lived here for a while: you truly leave a piece of your heart here !