And I've been here for a month and a half. And I've traveled to Prague and Vienna. And I haven't blogged. But my dear friend Edward has been fantastically blogging, so I'll be lazy and put his link here: http://www.edwardinhungary.blogspot.com/. I feature prominently there, which makes me feel warm and fuzzy.So. Hungary. Yes.
For the first two and a half weeks here, we had an 80 hour intensive language course that met 6-7 hours each day. On day one, we learned to say "Yen vagyok. Amerikai vagyok. Nagyon oroluk." (I am Yen. I am American. I am very pleased [to meet you].) Now I can chat 
with my neighbor, saying things like "Kerek internetadik. Internet van? Vasarol internet OK? Szeretek internet." (I would like to use internet. Is there internet? Buying the internet OK? I like internet"). Shira and I spent those weeks studying, buying pots and pans etc. for our apartment, and going on this crazy internet quest. We learned how to pay rent, where the grocery store is, and what 'Sziget' means.
with my neighbor, saying things like "Kerek internetadik. Internet van? Vasarol internet OK? Szeretek internet." (I would like to use internet. Is there internet? Buying the internet OK? I like internet"). Shira and I spent those weeks studying, buying pots and pans etc. for our apartment, and going on this crazy internet quest. We learned how to pay rent, where the grocery store is, and what 'Sziget' means. Sziget: "island" in Hungarian, or a week-long crazy Eastern European rock festival that featured the Killers this year. For 8000 ft (about $40), we spent 8 hours walking around Margit Sziget, checking out bands on three stages, munching on langos (Hungarian fried dough with sour cream, cheese, and garlic) and other foodstuff, and doing jigsaw puzzles in an alternate world populated with punk rockers from all over Europe. It was the best introduction to Hungary ever.
Vienna: Our first trip, we took a three day weekend and ditched Hungarian class. Friday through Monday, nine people, several museums, a Mozart concert, a pirate bar, schnitzel fast food, and dancing Hungarian children. I bought a cigarette case to use as a small wallet, a Swiss army knife, and "Exorcism of the Dead: Return of the Austro-Pop Zombies" for a euro at the gigantic flea market.
Prague: I just went with Dinah to another picture-perfect city, and we hit up the Jewish quarter, had the best meal of my entire life, and went to an amazing Dali exhibit as well as cleared a dance floor on Sunday night with a high school student who had class the next day. Delicious.Classes: I'm in far too many courses. Six, to be exact. It's about 18 hours of class a week. Quick rundown:
Intermediate Hungarian and Hungarian Art & Culture: These two classes together count as about half a class in terms of effort, but they each meet for three hours a week. I thought I'd take some humanities to save my sanity, plus Yale makes us take Hungarian. I am learning nothing, but having a lot of fun with it. I'm translating song lyrics for my class.
Graph Theory: We are in a desert, trying to find a city. Our professor is our guide, on a camel. He sees the city and leads us there. But first we must go to oases in order to rest in between. This all makes sense so far. Then he blindfolds us for several hours and leads us to a tree. He points at some sand, but we are still blindfolded. He takes off our blindfolds and we are dazzled by the light and heat of the desert. Edward asks for water and our professor replies no. Suddenly we are at the back entrance to the city. This happens every day in class.
Combinatorics: Let's count things! Let's count super complicated things!
Mathematical Physics: a.k.a. Quantum Logic. Our professor looks exactly like our friend Nick, who is in the class. I love this class so much. It is delicious like rice pudding, but complex like a millefeuille. It makes me feel smart and stupid at the same time.
Advanced Abstract Algebra: Devil course! This takes up all my time, energy, stress, and love. Infinitely difficult and infinitely rewarding.
Hungary is amazing and confusing. There are 61 students in our program, which means I am with many more Americans than I have been over the past year. Budapest is a normal city, not picture-perfect like Prague, Vienna, or Paris, nor developing at light speed like HCMC or Hanoi. I spend my free time doing math, buying groceries, and writing for http://www.lalunchbox.com/. We are all getting math-burnt out, but loving it at the same time. This is math camp, on crack.Pictures: A beautiful church in the Prague castle, Shira and I on top of a castle north of Budapest overlooking the Danube, the Wombats playing at Sziget, the Butterfly House in Vienna, a Hummer parade in picturesque Prague, costumed Hungarians on August 20th a.k.a. Saint Istvan's Day, langos.
