There are a few times in your life that forgetting your camera is one of the utmost tragedies, only salvaged by the fact that you are having the best time of your life, and have to imprint every image into your brain rather than onto film (or digital megabytes or whatever we use these days). Believe it or not, last night I had a full taste of Hungarian culture, one not easily described, and unfortunately, as I said, not easily photographed. My school had an International dinner last night. Apparantly there was a conference for teachers (I don't know what the conference was for), but there were teachers and a few of their students from Estonia, Polond, Slovakia, Germany, and Spain. The music school nearby lent us some of their students to provide us with musical entertainment all evening, mostly fast Hungarian folk music, and some of the students danced in traditional garb as well. The girls sang a beautiful song that is indescribable, while the guys leaped in the air and slapped their feet and theighs in rhythm. After the Hungarian performances, a few of the girls from Spain showed us flamingo dancing, while one of their teachers sang and clapped for them to keep the beat. It was all very beautiful. We ate goulash and pastries and drank and laughed (for once, everything was in English, it being the common language between us all), and I could feel like myself talking and laughing with all the guests and other English teachers. They dragged us all out on the dance floor by the end, running in circles holding hands and jumping and trying to keep up with the girls in the middle, one of which lost the heel of her shoe from stamping her feet so hard.
I got home late last night, and this morning I'm more than tired (and out of instant coffee!!!!) but I can still hear the music and see the girls dancing and it makes me smile. My only sadness is I have no pictures to share, so imagine and smile with me.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Szerda
It's colder than it's ever been. I wear long underwear every day and wool socks and thick scarves under my coat, and yet through all my woolly underwear everything still goes numb, and my ears prick because a hat gives you hat hair. Not that I should mind, since I woke up 5 times this morning to wash my hair and kept pressing the snooze button, and so it needs to be covered, but I have stopped caring how clean I am since no one else here does. I got here to discover again there is no class 1st period, but I am supposed to substitute 2nd period instead. My students tell me this, but they beg me to stay and play Mafia for the 1st period anyway. If you don't know Mafia, my students love this game, although it involves killing people and trying to discover the murderer. My class this morning decided that wasn't gruesome enough, so they made up a Vampire/Werwolf game, with all the same rules, just changed the Mafia to these undead creatures who come out at night for blood. Why did I let them? Because they were funny, and they did it all in English, which is pretty impressive. Now I have to go back to the class and maybe actually teach this time, but we may continue the game. I get lazy sometimes, and just like them to have some fun, as long as we talk in English. Is that bad? I don't know, but I do it, because it is relaxing to me as well, and I need to relax sometimes too. Well, I'm off. Stay warm America.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
FUBU
I'm already at school, and I was just told that I don't have to teach my first class. Normally a joyous occasion to be repreived of my duties, but today is Thursday. I have one class, then a 3 hour break until my next class. If I had known yesterday I didn't have to teach my first class, I could have slept till 11:00. But now I am awake, at school, and have nothing to do. I'm sad. On an up note, I saw a teenage kid wearing a FUBU jacket. For those of you who may not know, this is a clothing brand made by black people, and FUBU stand for: For Us By Us. It's intended for black people, and back in Baltimore, white people weren't forbidden to wear it or anything, but just ridiculed till they were ashamed to be seen in public with it. I wonder if the FUBU makers know that their product is now being worn by white Hungarian teenagers in Europe. Was that their intention? Does FUBU stand for something else now? And those are my strange thoughts this morning.
Recruiting
To all my friends and supporters~
I sent out an email, but I'm going to use my blog for the same purpose, to attempt to recruit some of you (my supporters, my friends, or even supporters' friends and friends of friends) to consider and apply to teach overseas! I feel very strongly about this, that it is an opportunity not to be missed, to spend some time in a place and a culture that can be extremely uncomfortable (different and change are always uncomfortable), to stretch yourself and place yourself in God's hands to be used in ways you can't always see or understand, but you know just your presence in this place evokes questions and feelings in those around you that makes your life purposeful. To sacrifice so much to serve the Lord (and I now know the true meaning of Sacrifice) allows you to experience blessings you never imagined, because you are putting yourself completely in the trust of the Lord to provide for your needs. Before this I thought I had all I needed, but now I've seen just how much is really needed, and just how much God can provide when we give it up to Him. The paradox of giving till it hurts to gain more than you had before, to own nothing and everything, fills me with joy and surprise every day. It is an experience unlike any other, where God can use you, stretch you, and bless you in unimaginable ways.
Educational Services International (teachoverseas.org, the group I am here with) sends teachers to China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Vietnam. As you can see, none of these countries speak languages that are commonly taught in American schools. The reason for this is that ESI seeks to reach the unreached, to spread light into dark countries where the gospel isn't preached or isn't accessible (China is still under Communism, Morocco is mainly Muslim), or war torn countries. Half of these places were formly under the Soviet Union or were recently freed from Communism in the last 10-15 years. They are still trying to find their identity as people, and are more open to a message then they were before. These countries aren't all the nicest of places, but they are on the fringe, overlooked, and in need.
Hungarian has been rumored to be one of the hardest languages in the world, third only to Chinese and Japanese. It's true that just on my own, trying to pick up the language feels nearly impossible, but with the help of some Hungarian friends I have learned enough to get by. My feeling is that to further my ministry, learning more than enough to get by would be wonderful, so I started taking a class in Budapest, and thus far I have really enjoyed it! It isn't as hard as it sounds, learning any new language is difficult, but I actually find it fun. Conquering a new language is rewarding at best, and don't let the language be a barrier between you and Hungary, or any country where you are called to serve!
There is an American missionary couple here in Vác where I live that planted a church and have been here for 7 years. They originally wanted to go to a Spanish speaking country, but God pointed and opened all the doors for them to move to Budapest, and so they did. The church they've planted here is the one I attend, and without them I wouldn't have met such great Christian fellowship in this country!
Wherever you are called, you are needed, and I will be praying for all of you to listen and follow His leading, and I am excited for you and your futures and desire to serve! Let me know if you have any questions, or if you just want prayer for your future. I can do that!
Blessings to all of you,
Jo
**********************************************
Greetings in Christ,
Have you considered serving God by teaching overseas? TeachOverseas needs to find between 18 – 22 more dedicated Christians to teach in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia for the 2006-07 school year. The deadline to apply and be accepted into> the program for most positions is March 10th. This is an awesome opportunity: You’ll go trained, you’ll go with a team, and God will transform your life and the lives of your students. One teacher wrote: “I never knew that giving up everything I had to be here would be so valuable.” If you would like to discuss this opportunity, please contact me SOON at (800) 895-7955 or cblazo@esimail.org You’ll learn more about the options and how to apply and get prepared to GO!
In Joyful Service,
Carice Blazo
Central Europe Regional Director
TeachOverseas.org (ESI)
Tel: 626.294.9400
Fax: 626.821.2022
800.895.7955
I sent out an email, but I'm going to use my blog for the same purpose, to attempt to recruit some of you (my supporters, my friends, or even supporters' friends and friends of friends) to consider and apply to teach overseas! I feel very strongly about this, that it is an opportunity not to be missed, to spend some time in a place and a culture that can be extremely uncomfortable (different and change are always uncomfortable), to stretch yourself and place yourself in God's hands to be used in ways you can't always see or understand, but you know just your presence in this place evokes questions and feelings in those around you that makes your life purposeful. To sacrifice so much to serve the Lord (and I now know the true meaning of Sacrifice) allows you to experience blessings you never imagined, because you are putting yourself completely in the trust of the Lord to provide for your needs. Before this I thought I had all I needed, but now I've seen just how much is really needed, and just how much God can provide when we give it up to Him. The paradox of giving till it hurts to gain more than you had before, to own nothing and everything, fills me with joy and surprise every day. It is an experience unlike any other, where God can use you, stretch you, and bless you in unimaginable ways.
Educational Services International (teachoverseas.org, the group I am here with) sends teachers to China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Vietnam. As you can see, none of these countries speak languages that are commonly taught in American schools. The reason for this is that ESI seeks to reach the unreached, to spread light into dark countries where the gospel isn't preached or isn't accessible (China is still under Communism, Morocco is mainly Muslim), or war torn countries. Half of these places were formly under the Soviet Union or were recently freed from Communism in the last 10-15 years. They are still trying to find their identity as people, and are more open to a message then they were before. These countries aren't all the nicest of places, but they are on the fringe, overlooked, and in need.
Hungarian has been rumored to be one of the hardest languages in the world, third only to Chinese and Japanese. It's true that just on my own, trying to pick up the language feels nearly impossible, but with the help of some Hungarian friends I have learned enough to get by. My feeling is that to further my ministry, learning more than enough to get by would be wonderful, so I started taking a class in Budapest, and thus far I have really enjoyed it! It isn't as hard as it sounds, learning any new language is difficult, but I actually find it fun. Conquering a new language is rewarding at best, and don't let the language be a barrier between you and Hungary, or any country where you are called to serve!
There is an American missionary couple here in Vác where I live that planted a church and have been here for 7 years. They originally wanted to go to a Spanish speaking country, but God pointed and opened all the doors for them to move to Budapest, and so they did. The church they've planted here is the one I attend, and without them I wouldn't have met such great Christian fellowship in this country!
Wherever you are called, you are needed, and I will be praying for all of you to listen and follow His leading, and I am excited for you and your futures and desire to serve! Let me know if you have any questions, or if you just want prayer for your future. I can do that!
Blessings to all of you,
Jo
**********************************************
Greetings in Christ,
Have you considered serving God by teaching overseas? TeachOverseas needs to find between 18 – 22 more dedicated Christians to teach in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia for the 2006-07 school year. The deadline to apply and be accepted into> the program for most positions is March 10th. This is an awesome opportunity: You’ll go trained, you’ll go with a team, and God will transform your life and the lives of your students. One teacher wrote: “I never knew that giving up everything I had to be here would be so valuable.” If you would like to discuss this opportunity, please contact me SOON at (800) 895-7955 or cblazo@esimail.org You’ll learn more about the options and how to apply and get prepared to GO!
In Joyful Service,
Carice Blazo
Central Europe Regional Director
TeachOverseas.org (ESI)
Tel: 626.294.9400
Fax: 626.821.2022
800.895.7955
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Blogging
I'm sorry about never having enough time to write new entries on here. Every time I get online to write a blog, I end up reading everyone else's blogs, and that takes up a lot of time. So, sorry? But I'm reading your blog, if you have one. This lovely girl to my left is Barb. Do you remember Barb? She's an American exchange student this year. She started out as my student, but she had to switch schools. She started out in a city about 10 minutes from Vác, but in some strange divine providence, she now lives in Vác with a new host family, 2 minutes away from me on the north side of town, or Deakvár. So I've gotten to spend more time with her, and I don't know if she reads my blog, but if she does, I want her and everyone to know I'm real proud of her. We went to see Narnia last weekend (Super Cool Movie), we found it in Budapest in English after a lot of searching, and we talked about the battle going on this world, about the Lord, and about the battle going on within Barb. She has some choices to make, that she knows, but I'm proud of her for her desires to change, to be a better person, to get to know this person who made her and become what she was made to be. Pray for her and for me the rest of this semester as we continue to talk, as she starts coming to church with me, and as we discuss the Bible I gave her to read. I'm really excited for her, and so thankful for the friend she's been to me.
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