A routine is trying to emerge

One of the biggest things I’ve had to struggle with over the past few weeks is re-adjusting to a new routine. I think I naively anticipated this first month to be much easier than it has been.

I thought that because I’ve already taught in Hungary, everything would be the same. I could use the same lesson plans and accomplish the same things in the same amount of time. Boy how wrong I’ve been. New students, new schedules, new colleagues and new systems have proved my earlier assumptions wrong. When we expect something to be a certain way and that something is not what we expect, frustration results.

Budapest has so much to offer and some of my frustration stems from knowing all that’s out there and me not having enough time to do what I want. But then again, I may be off…

What I’ve been up to this week in list form:

- taught my regular lessons
- ran on Margit Sziget (God bless that island!)
- gave private lessons to a 26 year old girl who works with a dance company in the Buda castle
- went to the “Bard Room” in Buda on Tuesday night for a poetry/fiction reading accompanied with some amateur guitarists who were amazing. SIDENOTE: I’ve never been to a “poetry reading” before, but there was a guest speaker from New York. Liz knew her through some friends, so this is why we decided to go. The Bard Room was scattered with tables and chairs and walls of invitingly dusty books. We walked in and immediately were comforted at the easy-going soothing atmosphere. Liz, Harpswell, and I ordered some tea and took our seats at about 7:00 and didn’t leave until 10:45.
- Checked out a cool bar called “Sark” with Harpswell and her friend George Wednesday night. We sat on bean bags while drinking a beer in the upstairs loft.
- Packed up a bag, my new book “The Lost Continent” by Bill Bryson, some cheese, grapes, and trail mix and headed to the Sziget to read/relax underneath huge leafy trees on Friday night. I met up with Harpswell, George, and her visiting friend Sam on the island where we decided what kind of animals we were most like. Luckily, I don’t think anyone was offended.
- On Saturday, Liz, Janos, Harpswell, George, Sam, and I soaked in the Széchenyi Baths and strolled around Hero’s Square. Later that night, most everyone was tired and retired to their beds, so Liz and I headed out to enjoy the cool Saturday night and had unexpectedly philosophical conversations at a café in the Theater District.

So, I’ve been exploring and keeping myself busy, but still feel a tad off. I’m not completely used to living and working here yet.