I'm half way through week five of my adventure in Budapest, and I really can't believe how quickly it is going! Culturally I have learnt lots of little things about Hungary this week. As it is Mother's day on Sunday I tried to send a card to my mum, however I couldn't find any as the Hungarians celebrate this day in May. I also discovered that they do not have a Father's day, although they do celebrate 'childrens day!'
On Monday a friend from my flat came into my room and asked if I realised that it was, 'women's day', I said no and then he gave me a flower in celebration of the day! My pink flower certainly made me smile!
Another celebration that I discovered this week is that the Hungarians celebrate their, 'name day.' Every Hungarian name is written on different days on their calender and you celebrate your name day on the day that it is written... some popular Hungarian names such as, Ferenc, Zoltan and Gergely have two or three name days! On Sunday a friend from my flat invited me to the kitchen to eat some chocolate cake with her as it was her name day and her mum had baked her a cake. Unfortunately the name Alison does not get a names day!!

The past week has been extremely busy, but the more I go out with Hungarian friends the more I learn about their lifestyle and I am finding this really interesting. Kirsty, Kathryn and I took some boys from our flat bowling on Wednesday, and they were so excited as they had never been! (Even though the building is very close to where we live.) It is at times like this that I realise how much we take the little things for granted at home.
I was very proud of myself on Monday as I was told that there was a swimming pool near to where I live and so I went on a tram to attempt to find it! I am very bad with directions and so I was very excited when I found it in the middle of nowhere! No one spoke English so it was a little difficult trying to get a ticket, locker key and find the changing room but I got there eventually!!

We have been teaching full lessons everyday for the past week and thus are slowly getting into the way of Hungarian teaching. It is very different from back home as we are teaching English as a foreign language, and within these lessons the teacher recommends the use of word games to teach the vocabulary. With the small children 'Simon says' is very popular!
I have also been finding it challenging teaching for 45 minutes on the same lesson, (this is how long each class lasts), but the 15 minute break inbetween each class certainly helps!

I was very disappointed on Sunday when I woke up to discover that the weather had changed from around 13 degress to being around minus 2 and snowing! I had been told that the weather can change rather suddenly here and now I have witnessed it for myself! Although I am hopeful that Spring is coming soon!! So hopefully in my next blog I will be telling you about the warm weather we are recieving!!