Praise Song For the YMCA

I have just returned to Hungary from my fourth semester at APU in Thailand. Since we will be graduating in the summer we had a short ceremony at a banquet before we left. One of my classmates wrote this poem... You might not get some of the inside jokes... but you also might still enjoy it! (Warning: heavy layer of sarcasm is present in some sections...)



Praise song for the YMCA.

Each day we go about our studies, sitting next to each other, comprehending the meaning or not, raising our hand only to forget what we were going to say. All about us is theory. All about us is theory and structures, concepts and practice, up to our runny noses in citations. Someone is drinking a pot of coffee, staring blankly at an LCD, analyzing the same word for five hours, correcting a comma splice in need of correcting. Someone somewhere is bawling, and then checks on the baby in the other room.

Someone is trying to conduct action research somewhere with a ticket stub, two Magenta-colored crayons, used bubble gum, a coat hanger, a rotary phone, a Gumbee action figure, epoxy, an empty Dayquil bottle, elaborate hand gestures, Tolstoy’s War and Peace, a broken tape recorder, all without electricity.

A mother cares for her young olive tree in her husband’s welcome shade. A Thai dentist gives a man bionic teeth.

A couple is expecting their first in Chiang Mai. Teachers from Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, and South Korea are asked how long they’ve been with ELIC.

We confuse each other with words, words slow and simple, loud and clear, words accented and standard, and then Dr. Wong asks John to repeat himself again.

We cross streets with red trucks at crosswalks on busy roads, saying “I need to cross to the other side of the road,” and the cars stop; we cross the road without sustaining serious bodily injury.

We need to eat food that is safe; we stagger towards a bathroom which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, Mary is Wong if not also Rich. Remember the final due date, typing your e-mail tactfully, seasoning your words with MSG, citing your progress with enumerated lists, asking for mercy and forgiveness.

Praise song for memory lapses, praise song for the YMCA. Praise song for indecipherable writing, the notes we took during the afternoon yesterday.

Some live by the APA.

Others use it differently, or not at all, but consistently.

What if the mightiest word is copy, copy the source material, copyright, copy-it-right. Copy that widening pool of TESOL Quarterlys. Copy with no need to read them again.

In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be copied, any sentence paraphrased.

On the brink of plagiarism, on the cusp of academic suspension—praise song for extensions.

Student Interview: Fiona

What is your name?
My name is Fiona Vécsey.

Where are you from?
I live in Hungary, but I'm from Serbia. =]

What are your favorite things to do?
I love reading, playing basketball and hanging out with my friends and for the first time, I love going to school.

What is your favorite kind of music/band?
I love rock . My favorite band is Nirvana, but I like Three Doors Down, The Script, Alicia Keys...etc

What is it like going to school in Hungary? At Kossuth Lajos?
When I was in primary school, my teacher told me to try Kossuth, because it's a very good school.. And now I know, that it couldn't be better. I realy like it.. I love the teachers, I love my class... I love everything about Kossuth.. I don't want to change anything... =D

If you could change one thing about Hungary what would it be?
Well... I think I would change some things. But if I have to choose one, than I would change the "fun" part.. I think it's a bit boring place.. I live in a little city near Budapest, and I realy don't have what to do.. Maybe Budapest isn't as boring as Szigetszentmiklós is, I don't know.. That's the one thing I would change.

Why should people come visit Hungary?
I think Budapest is a very nice city.. and there are more places you can visit, and I'm sure everyone would like it. Budapest is beautiful city..:D
and you can also meet Miss Petty and Miss Reynolds.=D

How do you feel about your American teachers? ;)
I think everybody knows that they are the best =) I like the way they teach, it's not boring, it's very fun.. They are very kind, we have a lot of fun.. I like the program's at the bázis... :D

I think that's it. =)

Vidampark 2008

You can see some pictures of when I went to the Fun Fair with my students on Facebook.

Now I am leaving to go to Italy for the week to visit Tracey.

Breath of Fresh Air

Some of you may have heard of Mars Hill Church in Seattle.

All I have to say is that I really appreciate that you can watch and/or listen to their sermons online. Amazing. So far I really like Mark Driscoll and what he has to say.

:)

Quote from a Student

"After you learned me that..."

A typical sounding quote... until you hear that this was said by none other than RJ... an American and native English speaker.

We died laughing... he can not speak English any more...

Student Interview: Kristof

This is completely unedited, just the way he replied to my questions in writing.

What is your name?
- My name is Kristof Toth.

How old are you?
- I'm 14 but my birthday is on the 29 Oct. So I'm almost 15.

What are your favorite things to do?
- I like swimming,cooking,reading Harry Potter books,listening to music, watching movies,especially comedies,surfing on the Internet and playing volleyball. I like hanging out with my friends too.

What is your favorite food to cook?
- My favorite food to cook are Gyros and dishes containing tuna. I like tuna very much.

What is it like going to school in Hungary? At Kossuth Lajos?
- Going school in Hungary takes too much time of my life. It's a fact. But it's pretty cool 'cause I can meet my friends every day. Kossuth Lajos is the best school! I love learning English 20 lessons a week. It's hard but I... don't know. I love it. Am I a mutant?!

What is your favorite thing about Hungary/Budapest?
- My favorite thing in Hungary is the Capital Fun Fair. I know it isn't as big as an American Amusement Park, but Hungary is a small Country so we have a small Fun Fair.

Why should people come visit Hungary?
Hungary is a very interesting place so come and visit.In Hungary we speak "Magyar" , it's a cool language.I don't know how it sounds for a foreigner but is funny, that's for sure.We have lots of cool places here.Not just in Budapest but in the country side too.We have lots of
Wellness Hotels and Aqua Parks. Our folklore is very interesting.If you are in Budapest you have to see the "Budai Vár" The Building of the Parliament and the Westend City Center. But we have no Starbucks in Hungary. It's a pity.

*How do you feel about your American teachers? ;)
- I love my American teachers!!♥ They are awesome!!!They just like "adult-kid" people.They almost never give us homework.Woow-Woow
Thy taught us first, Love the USA especially Montana, Ohio, Maryland and Virginia.They are cool.

Is there anything else you would like to say to Miss Petty's American friends?
- Please, Send Starbucks Café to Hungary!!! Please, we need it.
Oh, and Barack means Peach in Hungarian. So what's up with Barack Obama?

* Comment: I give HW like four times a week... Emily? What have you been doing? (Okay... so maybe I have hit a HW giving slump in the past week or so... but I have also been in ill...)

Venice anyone?

Does anyone know anyone else in Venice? or anywhere near Venice? or anywhere between Venice and Florence?

I am broke. I need a couch to sleep on for two nights, October 26-28.

Let me know if you have any helpful information.

The Shack by William P. Young

The first time someone mentioned The Shack to me was over the summer. I had no idea what it was about, but they acted like it was sort of a big deal. I proceeded to forget what they had said and moved on with my life.

About two weeks ago it seemed like every day someone brought up The Shack, asked if I had read it, asked someone else if they could borrow it, everyone had a waiting list, etc. So I figured it was time I read it. I asked at the Christian Library when I went for Wednesday night Bible study there. Carol said that they actually do not have a copy yet, but she has a personal copy that I may borrow. Yes!

At first I was a bit horrified... I mean... the beginning of the book is very sad. Missy is kidnapped and no one knows what happened to her for sure.

And there there was a lot of doubt... is this story real? Would God really send someone a note in the mail?

Next there was conviction... I need God... Papa... Jesus... Holy Spirit... I need to be in relationship with him/them all the time. I want to talk to Papa as if I were sitting on a park bench with my best friend... not all awkward, feeling like my words spin around the room and no one hears them. I know God hears my prayers... but I still doubt.
I also feel very convicted that I am not very good at building relationships. I am selfish. Very selfish. I only want to build relationships with people who will benefit me... instead of seeing how God has put them in my life for me to serve them, to impact them. It is not about me... it's about Jesus and what He did on the the cross for EVERY person I meet... not just the ones I like!

So... basically... what I am saying is... read the book. You can buy it online or borrow it from Carol at the Christian Library in Budapest (I also think the Ballantynes and Joanna have a copy).
Also... just remember that The Shack is a book that will convict you... and then you need to turn to prayer and the word of God to act upon the conviction.

Happy reading...


PS: Mary said this and I think it is important: Conviction is from God... Guilt is from the Evil One. The Shack will convict you... in your heart.

Thanks Joanna!

Like the new look?

Thank Joanna for giving me the link to a cool site that has lots of templates....

You can get a sweet blog makeover too!

Busy Procrastinator...

It has been over a month since I last wrote. A lot has happened in that time...

Team Mates
Everyone arrived to Hungary safely on August 20th. Since then I have really enjoyed getting to know Mary and Emily better, as well as the rest of the Hungary team. Our team here at the Bazis is getting along very well and I feel so blessed. I do miss Tracey and Lauren a lot, but I am also so grateful that God has sent such wonderful replacements.

School
School started September 1st. This year I teach 21 lessons plus "Open Bazis" which the school decided to count as an hour of teaching for us. I teach seven groups of students, only one of which I know from last year. So far I have really enjoyed the fact that students are new to school, therefore they are scared and behave very well. Of course there are exceptions, and I have had the chance to take away several ellenorzo's in the past week (that is the little blue book that students must carry with them at all time, it has their grades and behavior marks in it.) I feel the difference between being a second year teacher and not a first year teacher A LOT! And I love the second year feeling. It just helps so much to know some colleagues already, know who the Class Master is for a certain class, see familiar faces in the hallway, etc. Also... with expericne comes more responsibility. This year I have already gotten signed up to help with multiple school events: the teacher's dance at Salagavato, the Bilingual Education Anniversary Celebration, and I forsee being involved in the Christmas Talent Show also... So I am pretty busy, but enjoying it all the same.

Open Bazis
We have only had two weeks of Open Bazis so far... but it has been good. So far we have just had students from 10A come, but that is fine. Starting in October Open Bazis will be open for all of the 9th graders too. It has been so good to have the 10A's over after school, because I do not teach them at all this year. It was strange to go from spending 15 hours a week with them to zero. We have had our regulary students attend: Attila, Bence, Ony, and a few others. Hopefully as the year goes on we can build the numbers.

Livia in Budapest
Another highlight of my year: Livia is living in Pomaz, just outside of Budapest. So far we have been able to hang out at least once a week. She likes to come and hang out with my friends at Coffee House, or just chill at my house. It is cool to be able to see her so much... we have not lived this close to each other in five years. I love getting to spend time together talking. She has grown up so much in the past five years and it is so nice to build our relationship as sisters and as friends. She isn't the little tag along anymore, she's nearly a grown up. Hopefully she will learn Hungarian while she is here... but that takes time. :)

So that is the general update on life. I am going to work on a newsletter soon...

Please keep the following things in your prayers:
- Health and Energy - Teaching just sucks everything out of me at this point... I am not quite back into the groove
- Reltaionships with Students - I am really looking forward to building solid relationships with my new students and maintaining and deepening relationships with students from last year.
- Relationships with Colleagues - I have been enjoying getting to know Eva, Eva and Gabi more this year. It is so nice to talk to them now that I have known them for a whole year. I pray that God will open doors and soften their hearts towards him.
- Friends - There are just a lot of relationships with friends who are not Chrisitans, friends who are, Hungarians, Americans, etc, that I feel like God has placed in my life for a purpose. Please pray that He guide me in all of these relationships.

Grace and peace