Mom and Dad visit!

So shortly after Peter left Budapest, I was graced with my parents presence! Of course right when they got here it was pouring rain and cold, oh and the airlines lost my parent's luggage... not a good start.

The second day things were looking up, they got both of their suitcases and we were off to explore Budapest together! Except  had midterm...so THEY were off to explore budapest while I studied *ugh*

I did get to show them around my city and go site seeing for a bit. We all had a great time and my mom made the best home cooked meals! My favorite part was having them at night time here, I was never alone :)

Then we were off to Paris, France! So exciting, I was really looking forward to this. And I have to say I was not disappointed! It was so cool to see everything you have seen in pictures and on TV and experience it in real life! I loved ALMOST everything, I expected November to be a bit more quiet then summer days. However, not the case...Tourists everywhere, lines for hours, and really pricey foods. But overall worth being able to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, Moulin Rouge (outside of it haha) and Versaille. I couldn't stop taking pictures.

Peter came to visit!

Last weekend Peter came to visit. I was so anxious all night and all morning heading to the airport to pick him up! It was amazing to see him, I have to admit it was so strange at first? Even though I was right next to him is didn't feel real, it was weird. But naturally things were back to what they always were except 100 times better. Every day I took him site seeing, to places even I haven't gone to yet! It made me realized how little I have explored the city I live in. I had traveled every weekend up until he came.

Anyways, I loved having someone to always be with me and walk around with me. I felt so happy and safe to have him with me at all times. I think his favorite place in Budapest was the St. Stephens Basilica. Which is a beautiful place...

We also went to Gellert Hill which is a quick hiking trip but you get to see all of the Pest side, its awesome.

We had the perfect time together out here, it was so much harder to leave him again. I can't even describe how nice it was to have someone here with me, it made my experience that much more memorable :)

Too much beer and Too much beauty!

Too much beer:

So my first, and hopefully not last, experience at Oktoberfest was pretty damn chaotic. I don't really have full sentences for this duration of time, but maybe some metaphors, quick phrases and adjectives will help. Here it goes...Loud, intrusive, overwhelming, 1-liter beer, boobs, resting revelers, UNH crew representing, cheers!, German lyrics ha, meat and bread, big-ass pretzels, too many Euros spent, Foreign friends, lots of good memories (that I remember) hehe oopsie!

Too much beauty:
My roommate and I spent two days in Vienna and I fell in love. If I could combine Vienna's lifestyle/architecture/atmosphere with Budapest's nightlife I would surely make some arrangements to stay out here. Vienna's atmosphere was indescribable to me. I may be exaggerating but I just absolutely felt amazing experiencing this culture. Landscaping is unheard of over there and the Gardens are to-die-for, 100s of acres of land to take in. I plan to go back with a few friends in December, apparently there is a lot of festivals for Christmas time and what not, it must be beautiful to see. Can't wait for another perfect excursion to Vienna, and hopefully another trip when i'm older!

This weekend I will be staying in Budapest to greet my boyfriend at the Budapest Airport! I beyond ecstatic about this. Not to mention my parents will be visiting at the end of October. Oh and not to mention my best friend Kim will be visiting mid-November! I am to blessed to have friends and family who I love coming to visit me. I can't live without them! I wish more could visit, if only I were here for longer ;) I know my cousins Mel and Jacob would be here in a heartbeat!

That's all, will probably be updating this once Peter leaves, and I have a feeling my mood is going to be QUITE different unfortunately. But still so thankful he's coming at all!

love,
jess

Happy 1 month anniversary to my arrival in Budapest!

Well it was September 18th, but still I can't believe 1/4 of my study abroad experience is over, nutso butso. I'm still enjoying classes, however now that I'm mostly in the apartment or at school getting down a solid routine, days are flying by and classes seem to be more and more interesting, except for Corporate Finance. This class makes me nauseous haha but I think I can put up with it.

This weekend is oktoberfest! yippee! I have to say I'm a bit nervous! luckily I will be going with a lot of other from my group, there's a good 15-20 of us going, it's gonna be crazy fun! I can't wait to write about it to give you all the details of the trip.

Also, since I have been home so much I am CRAVING some good food haha, nothing I make myself is satisfying :/ Can't wait for  Mamma to get out here and cook :) Sorry Mom, I know its vacation but I'm giving you a place to live haha.

I'm missing.. Zucchini Bread, mom's Chili, Nana's Chicken and Dumplings, Apple Cream Pie, Apple crisp, honey bunches of oats, peanut butter (only found at ONE store that is pretty far away from me), salad bar at UNH, American-Chinese food haha, etc...

Other than food, I miss using a car to get around, my friends to go out with at night, not having a 6hr difference between your loved ones! the list goes on.

I  do love it out here, I just wish a few things were here, i will survive though :) 

Backpack, fresh notebooks, and new kicks. Must be the 1st day of school!

So yes, Sept 13th came and I have finally started classes here at Corvinus University of Budapest. And.I.Love.Them! It is taught in English but there are students from Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Mexico, Hungary and more! My first professor's english was very easy to understand, and second professor..not so much, but you can make out most of it.

These classes get so interesting because the foreigners talk about the US in a completely different view from when UNH students are taught. Professors use us as a lot of examples and will ask the US students to elaborate on a cultural difference (e.g. greetings, we hug, whereas hugging is too intimate for Hungarians, yet they give each other two kisses on the cheek). I like hearing what others think of America, even if most of the time it is negative haha. The students are vocally active in the class to say the least, it is a little intimidating I won't lie, but I guess it will give me motivation to be a bit more vocal within a classroom. Typically, I would take the participation grade as a hit, and try to make up for it in projects, tests, or homework. I am not as confident, even after 14 years of school, as I want to/should be in class :-/

On the second day of classes, I went into Corporate Finance, basically anything with the word finance i hate haha, but it's a WSBE requirement blah blah blah, so I gotta suck it up. I also had Film and History today, which was awful, I hated it and plan to drop it. Luckily all of the dance and aerial classes I have taken at unh, I was about 12 credits ahead, so dropping this course (which does not count for any general education requirement) won't hurt a bit :)

Now that classes have started, I can just foresee this semester FLYING by. This weekend we are heading to Lake Balaton again, next is Munich for Oktober fest :D, the following weekend Allie and I are heading to Vienna, then  Peter comes to visit!!!! The end of October my parents are coming for 4 days and then we head to Paris for 4 days! Holy Moly, where are my weekends going? It's crazy to think about haha.

Anyways, another day of classes tomorrow then off to Balaton with my UNHers until Sat.

Jeanine Jolin Stephen

My beautiful baby cousin was born just a few days ago, and all I want is to be home to meet her! Family events as big as this one makes me extremely homesick. I woke up to a message from my mother speaking of her and my family's visit to see our new addition to the family. Missing home a lot right now. But best of luck to my amazing Cousins Mel and Jacob and congrats on another perfect daughter.

Can't wait to see you all in December! Seems so far away!

Wein, Bor, Vin, Vino, WINE!

10th Annual Hungarian Wine Festival

15 countries, 220 winemakers, and over 5,000 wines!

It was probably one of the more cultured events I have participated in while here. Not that Hard Cider at Szimpla and Cinnamon-Orange Tequila shots don't make me a well rounded woman... Just kidding.

But I tried some good wines and some got so good wines. I did manage to buy two bottles as gifts, hopefully they will like it! It's hard being young and inexperienced buying wine, but I think this helped expand my knowledge and I think both of the wines I chose will suffice, my wallet sure thinks so!

I tasted about 10 different types of wine ( Sweet Red Wine, Sweet White Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rose, and Eger Bikaver)

"While not considered one of the world’s more refined wines, Egri Bikavér is one of Hungary’s most famous exports.Translated as “Bull’s Blood of Eger,” (a wine growing region of Northern Hungary)"

Yea, the Bikaver wasn't my favorite, but I had to at least try a glass, its obviously a red wine that is a mixture at least 3 of the following 13 different grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Kadarka, Kekfrankos, Blauer Portugieser, Cabernet Franc, Menoire, Pinot Noir, Syran, Turan, Blauburger, Biborkadarka, and Zweigelt. 

Here are some girls enjoying a nice glass of wine :)

Overall, a quality experience. It is nice to have new and exciting things to do in Budapest. No traveling expenses involved, no planning, etc. It was a beautiful night and the walk was enjoyable. I'm glad we had a good group who went.

Tomorrow brings Corvinus University Orientation. I'm back and forth with school starting. I get really excited to actually be taking classes over here and having a routine down. But then again, it's a foreign country, and it's very different from good ole UNH. But I'll keep my head up and go into it with an open mind. I'm ready for something new and different.

My School: Corvinus University of Budapest 2011

That's all for now! Szia!