I went down to Bp. today (that makes it the 3rd week in a row) after school. It was really exciting knowing that my parents were coming the next day.
Fri. 3/9
I woke up early today to make sure I got to the airport early. Its a long way, but I got there quicker than I thought. We went to the hotel - the Ibis Centrum (it turned out to be very nice and they all needed a rest. Eventually Mom woke up, and we walked down to Vaci ut.
Sat. 3/10
Today we climbed the Gellert Hegy (Hill). I'm really used to climbing hills, so it never seemed too bad to me. But Mom was dying in the end, and John got sick. So we headed back down.
In the evening, we went to Robi's apartment to eat. John was still sick, though, so he stayed at the hotel. The dinner was great - paprika chicken - and I translated the entire evening.
Sun. 3/11
Today was great. Everyone was healthy, and we went to all the important sites - the St. Stephen Church, the Castle district, etc. I thought we'd go to a cafe that I knew of (but had never been to) for dinner, but it was full. We tried a few other places, but they were either full or didn't look good. Then it started to rain. We ended up going to a McDonald's somewhere. Aargh.
Mon. 3/12
We left most of our bags in hotel storage and walked around Bp. for a while this morning, and then caught a train to Ujhely. My host parents met us at the train station, and we walked home. We had my personal favorite of gulyas and palacsinta (thin pancakes). Another night of translating for me.
Afterwards, we brought them to their hotel in Sarospatak.
Tues. 3/13
Brint was sick today, so Dad, John, and I were the only ones to go with my host mom to the wine cellars. Nadia came too - of course, she was instantly popular. The tour itself was really great - the guide was all dressed up in a traditional costume. After the tour was the wine tasting. Dad loved it, and even John had a few sips. Afterwards, Dad stocked up on wine and brandy from the company store.
Dinner was with the Majoros fam. tonight. We had tololt kaposzta (meat wrapped in cabbage with sour cream) - it was my family's favorite.
Wed. 3/14
Today my brothers came to school. Mom even let them take the train by themselves to get here. It was the memorial day of the Petofi revolution, so everybody was dressed up. There is also a special pin with the color of the Hungarian flag that is worn. I got pins for the boys, so they looked good at school. They were a big hit in both English classes, as well as with Nadia's friends and the other English teachers. I think they were a little overwhelmed. After school, we went to the Patak castle - they liked that a lot. We met a couple of college girls who heard me translating. They spoke English very well, and so we took them out to coffee afterward.
For dinner we took my 3rd host family, Mariann and Laci, and Nadia to dinner in Patak. It went really well.
Thurs. 3/15
We decided to stay an extra day today. We walked around the city for a while, and then went to Fuzer castle - it would have taken too long - but I was able to show it to them from the bus.
Mariann had invited the fam. to see the Greek-Catholic church in the evening, so we went. Laci brought the family back to Patak. As I was coming back with him, I realized how much this place means to me and how much I want to stay. Three more months is so short!
Fri. 3/16
This morning I caught the InterCity train to Patak, where the family jumped on. We got to Bp. and got tickets to Vienna. The lady behind the counter was very helpful, and helped us get extra features we wouldn't have known to ask for otherwise.
It took some searching to get to the hotel. The Austrians didn't seem terribly helpful when we asked them for directions, either. But we did eventually get there, and it was quite nice.
Also, the metro and streetcar systems in Vienna are incredible. They are very modern, and extremely clean and well-kept-up.
We walked around at night for a little while, and found a good restaurant to eat at. It was rather expensve, like everything in the town, but that's life, I guess. The waiter turned out to be from the States originally. He was pretty cool. We somehow ended up with a bunch of extra things to set your glass on, and amused ourselves by building cardhouse-like structures. It was a good time.
Sat. 3/17
Today we walked around the city, and saw pretty much everything. Vienna is very modern, but has a lot of beautiful, old architecture. The churches were especially gorgeous. By 3, we were all starving, and couldn't really find anything reasonably-priced to eat, so we stopped at an outdoor market and got real Austrian brats and cheese. It was really good!
After going back to the hotel and resting for a while, Dad and I wanted to go out again, but nobody else wanted to. So he and I went to find the UN building. It was neat, but we couldn't get in, it being night. We could hear music from a nearby building, though, and headed over there to investigate. We bluffed our way past the single security guy in the front, and got to the party. I thought someone would say something - we looked conspicuous in jeans at what turned out to be a tie-and-gown affair, but nobody noticed us at all. So we helped ourselves to the buffe (the party was winding down, and there were only deserts left). We ended up taking pictures with one of the chefs and a good-looking waitress, which was pretty cool.
Sun. 3/18
Today was pretty bad. I got pretty sick in the morning, but couldn't figure out what it was. So everybody got scared, and started overreacting (to some degree anyway, I thought). Though I must say I was scared, too. We caught our train back to Bp. and went back to the hotel. We called various hospitals, and even the US embassy, but nobody would help. The hotel turned out to be the most helpful institution - the called their "house doctor," who came to look at me. He didn't seem too bright to any of us, but he did schedule some appointments for tomorrow.
Mon. 3/19
I saw my family off this morning - they had a pretty early flight out. I went back to the hotel and rested for a few hours, and then went to the second doctor. He was complete idiot. He didn't so much as write down my name, ran no tests, and spent less time wit hme than the first guy did. Needless to say, I wanted another opinion.
After the exam, I went to Miki's flat. About 2 AM, Dad called, saying he'd talked to my doctor in the States, and they thought it could be "something very serious." He told me of another doctor he'd found out about, and told me to call this doctor in the morning to set up an appointment. I did this, and went to see Doctor Number Three. This time, instead of being stupid, he was like Waldo from the book series, "Where's Waldo." I got to the hospital on time, but had to wait for some hours, because he either was not in his office or was seeing other patients. Eventually he did see me, though, and I was finally happy with what he did. Ironically, though, he prescribed the exact same thing the other 2 did.
Sat. 3/24
Well, I'm back in Bp. again. I'm beginning to get a little sick of this city... This time I'm staying in the Citadella Hotel. It is a converted barracks on top of the Gellert Hegy (Gellert Hill). I've been in some pain caused by whatever I have, so the doctor changed the prescription and added painkillers. So I really feel I'm on the right things now.
However, the parents called again. They are almost sure they want to bring me home for a week to be treated. Dammit! I don't want to go to another doctor who'll just do and say the exact same things - in English, just like the doctors here - for nothing. I know I've got the right stuff now, so I neither need nor want to come home for a damn week.
Sun. 3/25
Well, I'm not going home after all! Dad talked to my doctor in the States again, and the medicines I'm on now are what he would have recommended, so everything is OK for the moment! I can't express how relieved I am - I would've been the grouchiest person I know if I'd have had to go home.