Not so emo

I just want to mention that I'm doing ok. I'm enjoying my last few days in Budapest. I spent yesterday in the park playing games with Balint, and then last night I went out with some great friends and danced and talked until the wee hours of the morning. I'm laughing a lot, giving and getting lots of hugs, and savoring last tastes of my favorite foods.

Last night I had "fusion" tacos, which were essentially my favorite Hungarian food, sztrapacska (potato noodles with sheep cheese and bacon), in a corn shell, grilled crispy and golden. They were transcendent. I can't believe I didn't know that such a thing existed.

So I'm not depressed, and I'm not super sad, even if I do randomly start crying from time to time. I wouldn't have it the other way, though. I'm glad that I'm leaving Budapest while I still love it. I'm glad that Budapest will always be here, with the things that I love and the things that I hate. I'm glad to have known these people and places. Just sometimes you get home at 430 in the morning and write emo blog posts. Those are valid, too.

It's bittersweet to go, but much more sweet to have been here.

How?

How do you say goodbye to the place that has been your home for five years? How? Because I certainly don't know how.

Lasts

I keep having "lasts" here in BP. Last night in my flat. Last time petting Mefi kitten. Last bike ride on Tiff. Last bodypump class. Last time eating at Magdalena Merlo. So on and so on.

I'm trying very hard to remember that I won't be able to have all of the firsts I'm about to have without having first had all of these lasts.

5 Photos for Oradea, Romania

After my Dad arrived on Saturday and we walked up to the Citadel, we spent Sunday riding bikes and eating fried fish at the Romai part. On Monday we headed to Romania. The first part of the trip was easy-going, and we even made it quickly across the border. We had some trouble finding the hostel, and when we finally did, it turned out that they'd gotten our order wrong and put us in a single room. So we left and went to the nearby Ramada, and I stayed in a proper hotel for the first time in... years? I think since 2010! There were so many towels! The shower had 2 different heads, one of which was the fancy overhead rain-type ones! The bed was so fluffy! There was a TV! Obviously, I spend far too much of my time in hostels and couchsurfing.

After a bit of rest we headed out to see the town. We walked around and saw the main sights, though Dad was more distracted by the cheesy bread than anything else. We also visited the depressing old synagogue, totally abandoned and mostly destroyed. We grabbed a beer and then some pizza and then an over-priced Magnum bar. It was all delicious. I watched music videos until the wee hours of the morning, giddy with my multiple pillows and music television channels.

The Raven, art nouveau style.

Dad photographs, looks badass.

pretty little town

texting like a teenager

me and the river

Thank goodness!

I sold my bed! Hooray!

Now all I need to do is close my phone and bank accounts, and get a haircut, and I'm good to go! What a relief.

Beautiful Budapest from atop Gellerthegy

Krudy 2013 Closing Ceremony

At the end of every school year Hungarian schools have a ceremony to close the year and graduate the 8th graders. There are performances and speeches, the names of the 8th graders are called, and the outstanding students from each grade are recognized. Teachers get awards for longevity and excellence. Then we set balloons loose and head out for the summer.

cute dancing girls

the whole school ready for the closing ceremony

the 8th graders all fancy

After the ceremony, us English speakers headed to the Hid for some pizza and drinks, plus chatting and hugging, before we all headed our separate ways for the summer or for forever.

David, me, Barbara

Jen, me, Kenzie

my pretty hair

Kerepesi National Cemetery

Kerepesi is the national cemetery here in Budapest. Buried here are tons of individuals with names and squares named after them. It's a beautiful, tranquil place full of trees and shafts of light. The monuments are huge and detailed. There are several large ones of more than one story. There is an area dedicated to Communist party members, and another one dedicated to 1956 revolutionaries. If you ever come to Budapest, I certainly recommend a visit.

Goodbye Party

At the end of June we had a going-away party. It was fun: meeting at Grandio to talk all night, then off to Cactus Juice for dancing. Silliness ensued.

the going-away girls

whoo!

Clearly we should have stopped taking photos at this point.

And this is why I can't have nice things...

Stuff

Sometime's it's very hard to remember that the items we own are just, well... stuff. I'm going through my possessions and cutting down on what I own in an attempt to be ready to move.

My beautiful bicycle, Tiffani, has been sold. I still have a few more days with her, as the buyers won't be picking her up until the end of the month, but I am sad nevertheless. She and I have been through so much together: four years of commutes, adventures, falls, and sunshine. I'm honestly and legitimately very sad to let her go.

My hiking backpack, which has taken many trips with me. My weekend bag, which has taken me through five full years of whirl-wind trips, but which is falling apart a little bit. A picture frame given to me by a friend. My little jewelry box, too small now for my rather embarrassing jewelry collection.

Stuff is stuff, and it's time to let a lot of my stuff go. Some things, though, I'll hold on to. Mo, my stuffed tiger friend. A shoe box full of knick knacks, small memories of places I have been and people I have known. Some art, that will be staying with my dad while I go on my next adventure. My tiny stuffed Meowth that has gone on every overnight trip I've taken since high school.

Plus, I can always get more stuff in Korea!