Feels like Fall

It's finally beginning to feel like Fall around here! Hooray!!
The cool weather has brought a welcome relief from the heat. I'm enjoying wearing fleece-lined leggings and cozy socks again!

The days are getting shorter and I'm noticing that the sun is setting much earlier than it has been. That aspect of Fall I am not as ready for. I don't particularly enjoy the fact that sunshine is decreasing, and the days will be shorter and grayer. It takes a lot of extra strength to bring your own sunshine into each day - but thankfully God graciously provides the strength to do that when necessary!



I've been able to go into the city and experience more things this year than I was able to do last year! I'm so thankful for that!

Budapest truly is a marvelous city! There's always so much to see and do!

 

Like have a surprise birthday picnic near the Margit Island fountains - right before a MASSIVE DELUGE!!! We got caught in the middle of it with no shelter - and it was quite the memory! We were drenched and shivering, but laughing through it all! Love these friends and the fun we have together!

 

And going to Rez to listen to some of our ICSB students sing and play. Such talent, y'all!!

Making new friends in the school year is also a blessing. God has been so gracious to send Anna to work at ICSB as a speech therapist! She's also lots of fun to be around and I'm so thankful for her friendship!







Being able to climb up to magnificent views is another bonus in this beautiful city! The view of the Danube River and the Parliament building from the Buda Castle is fabulous!!!

 God continues to provide reminders of His Majesty and Glory throughout the day. This was taken from one of the upper floors of the school out over Diosd.

 

I also had the opportunity to watch the National Gallop - an event hosted in Heroes Square where all the Hungarian equestrian talent is shown off! It was magnificent!

 

 The Famous Hussars [Hungarian Cavalry]

Another shout-out to their ancestry - the Huns and the Magyars mounted archers (and stunts...we caught a glimpse of it)! Amazing!

 

These were the ones that did stunts, but due to my stupid mistake of not setting my good camera on "active" mode, I have nothing but blurred active shots. Oh well...can't change what's in the past.

We got to be very close. Sweet!

 

We watched the National Gallop finalist parade around the ring and then the race started. On the second lap, you can see that the rider closest to me was legitimately about to fall off. Sadly, she fell off about a meter beyond us. We never heard an update on how she was, but her family was in the stands just across from us and they were in shock. Aside from that, I don't think there were any injuries (that we witnessed at least).
The whole race was completely exhilarating!!

 

 Hungarian national anthem sung and then confetti shot into the sky that was the national colors. All around, a pretty fantastic day!

On dogs and children...

One thing that has shocked me about living here has been the dogs.

I was on a walk tonight, enjoying the solitude and the crisp evening air. It helps me unwind after I've had a long day. My thoughts flow freely and go nowhere in particular. My brain is able to rest and not fire a million times a second; answering questions, comforting dauntless woes, watching for accidents, cleaning up messes, and repeating instructions (to name a few). Walking or running after school is, oddly enough, relaxing for me. It's my "therapy", if you will.

While I was walking, I passed many dogs and their masters. Just like times before, I was struck with the self-control and obedience of these dogs. Out of the fifteen or so I passed, two were on a leash. It seems as if it's "required" for dogs to be well-trained. Obedience classes are held very frequently, and ever green space in our little Diosd usually has a handful of dogs in it. But, strangely enough, I've never seen a "wild" or "out of control" dog. And most of the time the dogs are off leash. I watched as dogs were commanded gently to "heel" (however you say that in Hungarian), and I watched them instantly obey. Many times they remain frozen until I pass them. Sometimes they return instantly to their owner's side. I've never had a dog chase after me, or wander over to sniff me. There is just this understood agreement that they shouldn't interact with strangers unless they are told to. And then they go on their merry way; sniffing, exploring, and prancing through the grass and small roads.

Yet another interesting thing is "old wives tales" and superstitions.

It is very common here to go on walks with your babies or young children. As I look out my window during dinner, I see countless couples walking with babies in strollers, toddlers wobbling beside them, and children walking or riding tiny bikes. This is an Eastern European belief: that all babies must have fresh air in order to grow - regardless of the temperature. They will be out walking when it's warm. They will also be bundled up out walking when it's snowy. It is a must in Baby 101. Sometimes it's grandmas walking them. Sometimes it's mom. But a lot of times it's mom and dad. That's my favorite. I love watching these parents, sometimes with a brand new baby, stroll around. They are bonding with each other with just that simple act. I don't know what they're talking about. I don't know what their relationship is like. But I love watching them be intentional with their time and invest in that walk with their child and each other.

Then I think about my own culture.

I can count on one hand the number of well-trained, obedient dogs I've met in my life.

Don't get me wrong. I love dogs. I also love watching dogs run wild and free in the country. I love watching dogs play chase and fetch. I have wonderful memories of playing tag with my loving black lab as a kid. But most of the dogs I grew up with did not have the best self-control or obedience.

And I started wondering why tonight. Why? Why do most dogs I encounter in America run wild and free? Why isn't it more common to have well-trained dogs? Why don't we invest in obedience school? Why don't we require obedience when we are giving commands? Why does correction seem to come late and tend to be harsh and ineffective?

Unfortunately, the same can be said for many kids I see in my own culture.

Children get to be in charge and define boundaries. Children get to run wild and unchecked. Children get to decide what they do or they don't do. Children aren't getting lots of time with their parents because they are all busy. Children are not running around or playing in the fresh air. Spending time with each other isn't as valued as it used to be.

I am pointing no fingers...I'm just musing.
And I can't say that I would be any better, as a dog-owner or a parent.

It just leaves me wondering...why is the Hungarian culture so starkly different in these two areas compared to the American culture?