Szia, Budapest!

It was during our first days in Budapest when Maria, our landlady, made her way up to our flat to explain how to use her "old, but good" washing machine. Later, heading down the stairs I heard her say in what became a familiar rhythmic fashion of goodbyes: Bye, chow, szia, goodbye. I immediately responded, Bye, See ya!

The stairs to our flat.

Maria turned around with a surprised look on her face. You know Hungarian?

At that time I didn't know Hungarian, nor did I know that there was a Hungarian word that sounds just like our English phrase, "See ya." I responded to her question explaining that what I said was short for "See you later." I further gestured, pointing to my eyes meaning "see" and then to her, meaning "you." She didn't understand my lame attempt at explaining our casual manner of an English farewell. With a shrug, a chuckle, and a wave of the hand, she dismissed me making her way down the steps.

Stepping back into our flat, I quickly referenced our Hungarian/English dictionary to find out that szia is simply an informal Hungarian word for hello or goodbye. Informal meaning it is used when speaking to children or people you know on a first-name basis.

Living in Budapest just short of three years doesn't make us experts on the Hungarian culture, but we definitely learned to know this beautiful city on a first-name basis. And, that made it difficult to say goodbye.

Special moments enveloped our final days. Josh's visit was extra special and rounded out all our kids visiting us during our Europe season. Several of the photos in this post were taken by him. He was able to capture people dear to us and familiar places that never ceased to amaze us.

Freedom Bridge. Loved having you, Josh!

This springy little lady bug hung on my pantry door.

Szia to our flat - our favorite place to live. I ask God for windows, and He gave me lots of them.

Szia to our favorite bridge - the Szabadság Hid (Freedom Bridge) where we left our mark with a engraved lock - D&G 2012. This spot holds meaning too dear to share.

Szia to the awesome public transport. Out and about in the city was easy, not to mention that a 10-minute wait was a rare maximum time to board a bus, tram, or the metro.

Szia to the night beauty of the city.

Szia to good friends, Zoli, Ella, and Krisztian.

Szia to our landlords and friends, Frank and Maria.

We were told that it's better to find good landlords over the price of the flat. I don't think there are any better landlords in this world than Frank and Maria. It didn't take long for us to grow to love them.

 Szia to my favorite Costa coffee baristas.

Laszlo at Corvin Costa, one of several baristas that I enjoyed getting to know.

 Szia to our friends at the Free Methodist church.

A familiar Sunday morning scene. Our friends, Jerry (playing bass) and Jan (keyboard), were such a huge help when we first moved to the city.

On Tuesday morning we looked down upon Budapest as our flight ascended over the Danube. The bridges, the castle, Parliament, the 11th district that we called home, were easy to spot as the plane rounded north toward Munich.

Dennis stretched his neck to see the city as I pointed out landmarks. Once Budapest was out of sight, I turned toward him, finding tears in his eyes, as they were in mine, and said, Szia Budapest. We have loved getting to know you, Budapest, on a first-name basis. Until next time, Szia!

Final Weeks in Budapest

It doesn't seem like we have enough time to say goodbye to Budapest. Our eyes have welled up and spilled over with tears as we cherish final moments with friends and acquaintances. Our last time here, our last time there. So many memories captured in this season of life. So many meaningful places where our hearts will remain long after we are gone.

In the midst of these weeks we have had treasured guests. Sandwiched on either end of our annual conference in Istanbul (Europe team joined the Turkic-Arabic team this year), we had Dave, Dina, and Emma Horne visit prior to and Paul and Marilyn Hontz visit after. Showing them around what has been our home and life, gave us time to take in what we love most about this city. So fun to share it with friends!

The Istanbul conference was a wonderful blend of worship, fellowship, learning, and relaxation. We will certainly miss our Europe team. It has been a joy to serve them. We were touched by the way they blessed and honored us at the conference. Thank you Europe team! There is no doubt in our minds that we are leaving them in good hands with Dave, Dina, and Emma, especially Emma :).

Short on time today as I am finalizing packing and organizing and cleaning. So, few words with pictures until next time. We await Josh's arrival tonight. So excited to have him spend our last three days in Budapest during Hungary's most important national holiday - St. Stephen's Day, honoring their first king who began his reign over 1,000 years ago.

Dave & Dina

 

Dave, Dina, & Emma at St. Stephen's Sq. - heading to Europe soon.

Good friends. We will miss you!

Ah, sweet Ella :)

From Fisherman's Bastion with Paul and Marilyn

Frank and Maria, our landlords, who invited us to their village home. They have been a blessing to us.

Maria is a joy!

Back to Budapest

On Friday we will make a return trip to Budapest to bring closure to a season of living in Europe. Though, we see God's hand in the path we have taken in missions, we will sorely miss living in Budapest.

Over the past couple months we have heard, "Are you glad to be back in the states?" or "Isn't it good to be back?" I pause, nod my head to the side reflectively, "It's bittersweet. We have loved living in Budapest." I know it may be hard for Americans to imagine, especially if one has never lived outside the U.S., but the world is so much bigger than u.s. We have so much to learn from our other-side-of-the-world friends.

The first month back in the states, I experienced reverse culture shock - re-entry into one's home country. Two-and-half years in Europe made its mark. I wasn't expecting re-entry to hit me like it did. Even though we returned to the states at various times in this season, it wasn't home. Budapest was home, and we were going back. Once Dennis received his new role, we had to wrap our minds around the fact that the U.S. was to become home once again.

Our first week back in the states, I remember sitting at an outdoor table parallel to the sidewalk at a Pasadena Starbucks. Hearing conversations of those walking by, or catching most of the dialogue from the couple one table down from me was foreign territory. The English language was bombarding me left and right.

Picking up a few groceries at Meijer - a mid-west supercenter - was overwhelming. We wandered around trying to locate the items we needed in a daze. The "greater selection" they offer wasn't so great. Dennis finally said to me, "Let's get what we need and get out of here. I'm going crazy." We bolted out of there as quick as we could.

The other element that hit me. . . for lack of a better word, was the churchiness I felt. I wasn't use to seeing a fish on the backside of a vehicle, or a bumper sticker announcing "My child goes to such-and-such Christian school," or watching a father praying with his daughter before a meal at Panera, or hearing family conversations about God and church in a local restaurant. It took me back, and I found my mind swirling between life as I know it in Budapest, and my current reality.

Living outside of the culture as you have always known it, gives one a different perspective. It broadens your world-view. You learn to look at things within the context of a culture. You learn that a culture isn't necessarily good, or bad or wrong, it's just different.

Some seasoned colleagues shared some good tips with me as I begin this season:

• Just as I adapted to Budapest, I must adapt back to my home culture.
• Don't judge. So easy to return with a judgmental spirit. Remember, things are just different. People are living within the context of life as they know it.
• Enter with a learning posture. Be a student of your new culture, even if it's your own. :)

Reverse culture shock is already subsiding, but part of me doesn't want it to. I want to continue to have a world-view. Some people look at me like I'm crazy when I explain that Dennis and I are looking for housing in downtown Indy versus the suburbs. But, I think it's a drawing factor for me because it will surround us with the multicultural community that will keep me ever learning, ever growing. I don't want to lose that. I know. . .  I never thought I'd hear this country-raised girl say I want to live in the city, but here I am, and it's true.