You knew this post was coming...

...the post about food!

I have tried a couple of different Hungarian dishes as well as Hungarain versions of familiar food this past six weeks.

After church one week we went out for an ice cream cone. Hungarian ice cream is creamier and softer than in America (more like frozen yogurt) and is sweeter than in the U.S.

The ice cream shop...

Hungarian ice cream...

Landon eating some ice cream...

We also went to a Hungarian's house (a friend of the Ridgeway's) and she fed us some Hungarian food. We had some yummy appetizers (nothing like some goose fat on bread with a little paprika sprinkled on top) and a stew that consisted of potatoes and sausage. 

Kotchious Kolosh, a Hungarian pastry, is also super yummy! It's bread with Cinnamon, chocolate, nuts, or just sugar on it. 

Making Kolosh...

 The final product...

I've also experienced some European coffee. By that I mean that the size of the coffee is way smaller than in the states. A medium was maybe two ounces of coffee (vs. 16oz in the states). It's great coffee, by the way, just smaller. 

Jo Reggelt ("Good morning" in Hungarian) is a brand of breakfast food that is quite popular. Basically, you're eating cookies for breakfast -- what's not to like?

Also, lots and lots of Nutella! I know you can get that in the states but it's widely available here. What is less available, however, is penut butter. And the PB in Hungary is much more organic than in the states (less sugar, more peanuts). 

Overall, I have enjoyed the food here. Sure, there are some thing in the U.S. that I would hate to live without (icing, granola bars, chocolate chips, pop tarts, etc.)  but trying some Hungarian food this past six weeks has been lots of fun.

Mary Kate



Hungarian Lesson #2

I hope you've been using "Szia!" (from Lesson #1) as a greeting to some of your friends. I've been using it quite often here in Hungary. I also hope you are ready to learn another Hungarian phrase...

The next time you want to say "Thank you!" to someone, try saying it in Hungarian. Köszönöm is the Hungarian word for "Thank you". To learn the proper pronunciation, go to this site http://www.forvo.com/word/k%C3%B6sz%C3%B6n%C3%B6m/ and click on one of the play buttons.

All of the encouragement I have received these past five weeks has reminded me to thank God for all of the amazing people He has put in my life. I deeply appreciate all of the support that my family and friends have given me during this trip -- you guys are wonderful.

Köszönöm!

Mary Kate

Librarian by day, a little lost by night

Since my last post I have gone to work at the library two or three times. So far my jobs have consisted mostly of cataloging books and dusting shelves. As much as I love hanging out with the Ridgeway family, I also love being at the library and in the city.

To get to the library, I take a bus and a tram. On Tuesday, Rusty went with me to the library but left around lunch (I was going to stay until closing time). He told me the numbers of the tram and bus I needed to take to get back to the Ridgeway's house and I wrote them down. That evening I was going to take public transportation by myself for the first time. Somehow, I ended up writing down the wrong number and therefore got onto the wrong tram! About halfway through the route I had a hunch that I had taken the wrong tram. I went ahead and stayed on, though, hoping and praying that it was, indeed, the correct tram. At the end of the route, I couldn't recognize the place at all... I was lost. By myself. In a foreign country. I went up to the driver and as he got out of his little box I asked him for directions. I hoped the driver could somehow tell me where to go since my Hungarian is limited to about ten phrases. As it turns out, he spoke English, told me which bus to go onto next, and I made it home an hour and a half after leaving the library (almost twice as long as it should take me). But, I made it. While lost I just kept praying. I never panicked, just prayed. I will admit I got nervous, maybe even a bit scared, but I made it. And, my confidence was regained on Wednesday and Friday when I took public transportation by myself again and made it without any mistakes or delays. I thank God that I am safe -- He is in control!

On a happier note, I visited the Budapest Great Synagogue and St. Stephen's Basilica on Wednesday. Both were beautiful!

Inside St. Stephen's...

The top of St. Stephen's has an amazing view of the city...

Mary Kate

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." 

-Isaiah 41:10