Buzz

Bit of a break in writing! Many agreements have been made, my spring is filling with delightful visitors and even my partner might pop in for a spell.

My relationship with Margit Sziget is deepening; I decided I'll have running goals to achieve, so I get to improve the performance of my paper-bag lungs and see how the summer transforms the landscape. The running track has white markings for each kilometer; so far I've got it covered in forty minutes - there is definitely room to improve.

Sun, be my best friend.

Today I overcame my greatest obstacle in cooking: laziness. That moment shone upon me when my eye attached itself to a section in the isle where vegetarian options were sold (THEY HAVE THAT?!), and, furthermore, to a package of paprika-infused tofu. Once my roomie told me how to operate the rice, I grilled the tofu with spices and veggies and became a very happy cook indeed. Resulting dish was delicious. And after last week's pizza Sunday, I'm confident I'll knead my way through a good pizza base. I learned you can pre-bake the base with the sauce and mozzarella slices which is pretty damn tasty.

Pre-grilled cubes. I used to hate tofu for years, strange it's okay now.

I went to the Great Market Hall today, which is a real experience in itself. Finally I was concentrated enough to bring home a kilo of strawberries. Next time I'll try the fried dough!

Song of the Day: J. Karjalainen - On kaikki niin kuin ennenkin

Third week slams the Monday

I've tasted Vietnamese food before, since one of my flatmates and I go some way back, and once upon a time she allowed me to slice the squeaking  mushrooms fated for veggie spring rolls. Last Friday we took the claustrophobic's nightmare (public transport; tram) to the restaurant that was able to deal me a huge meal I was unable to finish; does not happen often. I never leave food.

Chicken + veggies = great!

This brings me to the painful realization I might never go back to vegetarianism, especially while I'm here - regardless of the saddening facts and customs behind the production of meat, dairy and eggs. It's almost as if I'm on a leave from a certain mindset I set to myself years ago; determined to jump where the hedge is at it's lowest. So far I'm able to live with it and enjoy the paprika salami.

Other highlights at the still rather chaotic situation with the courses (got stuff from welding to sociology, huh?) have been playing cards with a small group of other students and getting a new, accidental haircut. I get to know the Pest side a little better every day; pieces of history and street names and pronunciation. I've just finished reading Magda Szabó's book The Door, and hair at the back of my neck still stands on end.

Song of the day: The Faint - Southern Belles in London Sing

With sugar on side

Rain came back to this city yesterday, when some of us had to commute to a campus further away at the Buda side. I was the only one with rubber boots, but the fact kept me no longer comfortable once the relentless droplets permeated my jacket. Wet-dog feeling all day; Chinese buffet we had visited once before delivered delicious food again - with a slice of steel hidden in the attitude. Around the evening, I still managed a quick trip to play billiard at Amigo, which felt both friendly and familiar from the moment I set a shoe inside, before I had to scurry back home. There seems to be a technique to opening our gate after 10 o'clock, but since I failed once before I'm not taking any risks until I master the secret art.

Today consisted of commuting and courses postponed without our knowledge; at least the decent coffee and lunch (pita-gyros, I recall) set a few happy notes to the ever-present tune of looming failure. On our way home from the class that wasn't there, we failed to even exit the building gracefully. But lo and behold! The last class of the day was actually held and I felt happy about the nature of problem-solving that seems to be involved with the database planning.

Song of the day: Ratatat - Montanita

Sometimes high school comes back to me

Whew. Last few days have been bit of a hectic run; for me the school started today and the idea is to try out the courses and figure what to keep in the schedule. Sociology is definitely a subject I last had when I was a teenager, but it felt interesting to delve into humane subjects for a change. Two days back I spent some quality time with self discovering radio channel 103.9 and Margit Sziget. I'm off to run there as soon as the weather warms a bit; the concept of an island packed a running track with scenery and a water park and a rose garden and some historical ruins... Sold.

Ruins.

I love you, tree.

I got flashbacks yesterday from Ressun Aikuislukio when I needed to line up among strangers to shed some light on the mysterious circumstances obscuring my course choices. Kafkaesque, I'd say - time just kept stretching over me in a suffocating fashion and I racked my brain in vain to start conversations. Every time I go abroad thinking that I'm one fabulous lion in spirit, naturally talkative, just to be reminded I'm all sheep and no bark. Still, with perseverance everything can be turned around - my goals lie within socializing at least to the extent I see other people daily. Other goals, such as seeing and doing a lot of stuff, I'm sure I'll reach eventually.

I need to stop offering crumpled documents

Today's ordeal was a sightseeing trip to Buda Castle area, where we pretty quickly lost all the other fledglings and walked slowly in circles in search of relief. I'm putting it down on my books as a good trip.

I'll never get over the fact that we, people of the Dark North, will never have this depth in history; such layers upon layers and stories and countless of shingles. But - on the other front of my sightseeing goals are local curiosities. One of my classmates at the homeland hinted that this place is worth visiting - my inner immature teenager is giggling.

Here comes, I'm finally uploading some proper (ish) picture material into this blog! 

Panorama mode in my Samsung Galaxy S III is the only one that really makes me think pics turn out just fine.

Monument horsie facing the Danube bank (photographer facing the building).

Songs of the day: the whole Peltisydän album (I'm still partial to Maj Karma after all these years).

Settling of the dust

Day five; after one chaotic trip to the apparent Chinatown quarter of the city and Welcome day later, I'm richer in knowledge and determined to look out the directions myself. As always, it was nerve-wrecking to meet new people and survive the icebreaker game (oh, shudder) but it was relatively quickly over and we took the adventure of finding a Vietnamese shop with another Erasmus exchangee.

It was a great gathering yesterday that took place, and I started to feel a bit more comfortable after the second beer. I did enjoy the venue; ruin pubs are definitely something Finnish officials would frown upon and slam the places down with a sheer weight of bureaucratic measurements - glad to have more to experiences here in Budapest. I did exchange pieces of conversation with many people that night, after a frantic run for nearest tobacco shop to indulge in vices.

Two days back I wandered about in this old, great cemetery - I could spend days in wonder in any of the roads that stretched over the quiet landscape. I did not take any pictures that time, but I'll be visiting the place again in the near future.

Slowly waking up. The view helps.

That ecstatic blur of buildings you've never seen before

 Like she promised, mother turned up on time (3 am) and I had all the time I needed to perform check-in and baggage drop. Due to my recurring nightmares of missing transport vehicles in places vaguely known to me, I have a great need for being in time (and if by any means possible, greatly ahead of time).

I had sufferable substitute of sleep on plane through Helsinki-Vantaa to Copenhagen and from there to Budapest; but even my zombie state of no sleep and crooked neck could not keep me from feeling that warm welcome of never being in that exact spot before. Through the effective and extensive public transport to our new apartment, and from the new apartment to closest McDonald's (hey, nagging hunger asks no questions) I walked, in awe. I insisted we take the stairs once we left the apartment, and the whole visible concrete on walls spiced with myriad of plants in the window sills running next to stairs and plethora of different types of doors on the way out... ahh. All the way through ten store building.

Today I plan to pick up few essentials such as a reading lamp and hangers for my clothes. I've been out to balcony twice: the height still gets to me but I must say it adds to my delight of being abroad. It's 9.22 in the morning here, and since I'm yet to accustom to the local tap water I boiled sparkling water for my instant coffee. Works.