Szia... [smile]

Perhaps our greatest gift to one another is to be our best and fullest self. In those moments we reflect God’s light and grace within us. Peace is born of such things as this, the sharing of time and self from the heart with one another.

To live months in a country and culture other than my own, to give the best of my heart and hands, to represent my own country in the context of faith/hope/peace/love is both privilege and blessing.

I did not choose Hungary. It chose me. I came full with love, knowledge, faith and time to give. I return full with love, knowledge, faith and family.

To see the world in this way is to SEE the world, and myself. I am deeply grateful.

Thank you for sharing the journey. Be well [smile]

Love,

Sheila

Re volunteerism and Habitat:

We all share a universal gift that can be given anywhere regardless of circumstance, the gift of time. While funding, organization, administration and other factors are a part of the mix, the truly life changing donation is to spend time... an hour, a day, a weekend, a week, a month, or longer. Contributing in this way is where volunteering comes together. A Habitat build site is a level playing field where we simply become people working together, there because we choose to be, laughing, learning and loving a future home into existence one day at a time, building family and community in those same shared moments. Habitat is about people versus poverty, about working together to open the doorway to dreams... and as we connect, there is that deep knowing that regardless of culture, background, belief or circumstance, we are one family in the world. As we invest in each other, we invest in ourselves.

Budapest and "home"...

18dec07
Up at “0-dark-thirty” for the ride to the airport, and officially on my way mid-morning. A smooth trip home with minimal delays, met at the Seattle airport by close friends some 20 hours later (they brought a Haas avocado and a spoon with them [laughing]

It’s hard to believe I’m “home”… feeling as though I’ve left home to come home… and find that it is truly a place within the heart.

17dec07
Snow was gone by morning of this last full day in Hungary. A morning meeting with the HFH Hu national office staff was a chance to share experiences and offer observations… well received with much learned by all, myself included.

Andras from the national office was my escort for the afternoon and evening, with a last visit to the Castle District (a favorite), and visits to the library and other architectural treasures before sharing dinner and a final ride along the river by tram.

16dec07
Snow continues today as Gabi and husband Anti drive me to Budapest. We spent the day in Buda’s castle district, walking the streets, window shopping, exploring one of the museums, sharing mulled wine and the magic that seems to settle over all in this season of first snows.

A tearful farewell with Gabi and a “changing of the guard” as Gyuri (HFH Hu national office director) picked me at the hotel and we explored Budapest into the late afternoon and evening. The city is beautiful at night, enchanting and elegantly dressed in lights for the holiday season, with the “clean” look of snow as a bonus. One-on-one time to talk of HFH and many other things while taking in Hero’s Square, the ice rink, downtown areas with outdoor bazaars, the lights of Danube by night and points in between, these are samplings of the time spent… very cool (literally and otherwise!),

There are no words...

15dec07
A day alone with Szarvas… discovered a couple of inches of snow on the ground upon rising, and continuing through the day… spent time walking and packing while Gabi, Levi and their families prepared for an evening event with their daughters.

I joined them there to watch the girls performed with their aerobic class… again the feeling of continuity and oneness with family life past and present.

HFH family members Zsolt and Zoltan surprised me there with a gift, a very simple and beautiful nativity scene so I would not be “alone” at Christmas. There are no words.

14dec07
The original intent was to work the morning and meet for lunch in the early afternoon with Gabi… it was very cold that Levi and I made an executive decision to wander instead, and spent the morning shopping, beginning a the farmers market and wandering the town a bit… a perfect blend of shared time, humor to begin to bring the time together to an end.

Emotional lunch with Gabi and Levi… the words of my heart spoken in their language to the best of my ability… I feel I will always have a home here.

Dinner with Bea, Tamas and Tomi at their current home… vegetarian… a very special moment in time with this woman and her family just being together outside the worksite.

13dec07
Working in the mud with Levi… finishing one unit’s electrics, beginning another, laughing and joking our way through the day

10-12dec07
Office time with Gabi, including a family selection committee meeting that evolved into a surprise time of fellowship and farewells.

Archery Hungarian-style...

Sun9dec07
A day with Gabi and family at an archery competition in Bekeszcsaba. Anti (Gabi’s husband) has pursued this hobby for a year or more, and watching brought memories of trying my own hand at it in high school years, and how the sport is “played”.

In Hungary, local clubs often gather on weekends to compete, outdoors in warmer months, in school gyms and other larger facilities, as the weather turns cold and rainy. Many wear traditional dress, ranging for leather soldier costumes to tunics and leather belts ala our western perception of Robin Hood. Leather boots with turned up toes, fur hats with long hair topknots, elegant “robes” of silk, velvet, and/or suede… these are but a sampling of the myriad of visual representations of Hungary’s history, lineage and people in this format. Very cool.

The event itself is conducted in two rounds, participants competing by age group. Twelve stations make up each round, each with a unique two or three-dimensional target, some basic, some requiring finer vision and expertise, ranging from standard bulls-eye formats to animals and more. Each archer launches three arrows per target, with scoring done by the participants at each target as they recover their arrows and rotate in sequence to the next station. The beginning of each round is “announced” by the blowing of a horn… very interesting to watch… the activity draws you in, especially when you know one of the competitors [smile]

Over the border and eclectic adventures...

Sat 8dec07
One on one with Bea on site today; a rare treat… two single moms working together and sharing thoughts, and bringing her home just a little closer to completion. What fun to be hosted for the midday meal in her new home-to-be… perched on an OSB bench between two ladders sharing stories and munching our bag lunches. She promised out next lunch there will be accompanied by heat and electricity (near freezing temps today!)


Thu6dec07
Window/holiday shopping with Gabi while Levi and the other construction managers host 2-3 corporate teams in Hajdu. I remain in Szarvas to work with our families for a least a portion of this weekend, likely a last opportunity to do so before leaving at the end of next week.

Wed5dec07
A day trip to Budapest with Levi, he to attend a national office meeting, me to wander and window shop before joining the staff there for a late lunch before returning to Szarvas.

The meeting was for all three Hungarian construction managers and ancillary national office staff to examine an alternate building technology using metal framing. With ever increasing building costs, this may provide a viable alternative in the future; it will be interesting to see how it evolves relative to volunteer participation, and on the face of it, sounds promising.

The drive there and back a lively opportunity to swap stories with Levi… there is no one I know quite like him [laughing]

Tue4dec07
Office work intended, instead blessed with good conversation with Gabi re Habitat and things personal… much treasured as possibilities to spend time together grow ever shorter. I will miss she and Levi more than I have words…

Sun-Mon2-3dec07
Border crossing time as nearly another 90 days have passed since I went to Vienna. This trip was practical and quick versus sightseeing, as Levi graciously offered to drive me across the border and back before collecting his in-laws on the return trip to Szarvas.

We left late Sunday evening to cross on the 2nd, and napped in the car for an hour or so on the Romanian side (to the accompaniment of Romanian folk tunes from a nearby establishment!) before returning to Hungary on the 3rd “a day (or in this case a date) later”. We arrived at his in-laws’ home shortly before 1 a.m. and spent the remainder of the night there. After a simple but bountiful shared breakfast and completing a few tasks the next morning (again feeling so much like home in growing years that it was uncanny), all rode back together to Szarvas… home again by 2 p.m. Monday, all missions accomplished!

"Extended family"

Sat1dec07
Lunch with Gabi’s extended family, with fresh venison stew and a variety of salads (salata “sha-la-ta) for this visiting vegan. Being there was like being at home with my own family in growing years… Gabi’s mom working to make sure there was enough and everyone is comfortable, her father puttering in his workshop and keeping an eye on Gabi’s husband as he cooked the stew over an outdoor fire, conversation about anything and everything… only the languages were different. There is something inherently wondrous and familiar in experiencing yet again that as people we are so much more alike than different… the differences enriching all through the exchange of culture, history, family traditions and more.

Lunch is the main meal in Hungary, often preceded by a shot of liquor or liqueur to your health, in this case home brewed palinka and cherry cordial. Both definitely warm the innards on a cold day, the former easiest as a shot, the latter delightful sipped slowly.

The afternoon and early evening were spent conversing (often with Gabi as translator) with Gabi and family, her parents, and her brother and his wife and family of four children. Simply put, yet another relaxing “feel good” day, and lovely to part of their family for those shared moments. Funny, gracious, warm, generous, giving, practical… all of these describe these and the multitude of other persons I have met while here.

Quiet days

Wed-Fri28-30nov07
Quiet office days punctuated by visits from Levi, prospective family candidates, postal deliveries, conversation and working. Nice.

Tue27nov07
Awoke to a scattering of snow in the early hours of the day, an impromptu skating surface upon which to glide to the farmers market today. While a fair amount of produce still makes its way there through the larger vendors, the market is progressively “quieter” on Tuesdays as the weather and seasons change, with fewer vendors and choices. Friday and Sunday markets are still larger.

Mon26nov
“Just another Monday”... a quiet office day

It's been interesting living/working in this very non-vegan country... greens are rarely on a table... staples are potatoes, onions, root veggies, pork and chicken, followed closely by beef and turkey, sausage and things like that. In the now, I'd have to say (ala Kermit) it's not easy being green, and definitely looking forward to accessibility of things like parsley, cilantro, avos, and more once back in the states.

The Hungarian staples shift progressively more and more towards root veggies and smoked meats and sausages in the winter months (as I understand it). Traditionally, pigs are slaughtered and dressed now in preparation for the winter. This tends to be a family affair, in past times over a weekend, now a process generally completed in full on a Saturday or Sunday. All family members pitch in to dress the meat and make hand made sausages and the like, with little going to waste.

Sat-Sun 24-25nov07 Family time

Another weekend off, this time with invitations to lunch with Gabi and family on one day, Levi and family the next. Relaxing, enjoyable, tasty [smile], and even played board games with Levi’s daughter for a bit… no language barriers with Chinese Checkers and Mancala! These moments are so like life at home in growing years... very special, very cool!

Weather is shifting, generally cold to colder [laughing], with a fair amount of wind and drizzle… a bit like the Pacific Northwest! On site work has been nominal for the past 4-5 days with the exception of the folks installing doors and windows… 100% complete, so the row house is now effectively dried in, Hungarian style, opening the door [so to speak] for winter work out of the immediate wind and weather. YAY!

A change of plan…

I am excited to be returning home a month earlier than anticipated, with the opportunity to celebrate time together with family and friends through the holidays, or “holy” days as a good friend refers to them… liking that [smile]

At the same time, I will very much miss sharing the season here with those who have become both friends and family as well [sigh]… and suddenly time is moving veeeeeeeeery quickly!

Employment in the southern states will commence immediately following the holidays, (hence the early return) and has evinced a shift in sustainable building class work as well, from active participant to audit status. With the text and multiple associated learning tools in hand, I can still build a foundation and knowledge base in this area, and will look to re-enroll for the “full Monty” at some future point. All good, albeit vastly different than I had anticipated… and so it goes [smile]

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hungary has two national holidays within a week of one another in late October early November, so we've had official days off recently... though nothing quite like our Thanksgiving that I'm aware of... and I am apparently acclimated enough that I totally "lost" the day until e-mails began peeking through with salutations this past weekend. [laughing]

In the past couple of years at "home" I have feasted with Habitat friends for a part of the day, and taken in the quiet beauty of Dye's Inlet for the remainder. Very cool. Here I ended a quiet workday with a wee bit of e-mail… and reflected once again on “giving thanks”. I am grateful for so many things they would fill a page or more at least.... most importantly the love of friends and family, good health, and continued opportunities to keep playing "outside the box" in one way or another [smile].