Ketchup.

Cousins ♥

I feel like I should catch you up on some of my life the past month.

My first week home from Hungary was full of family, friends, and fun. And really: do you need anything else besides that?

I couldn't have asked for a better welcome home week. My parent's picked me up from the airport and we went straight home. My dad made delicious Cuban food and tasty Margarita's. His teacher friends came over and we just spent the night laughing and talking. It was perfect.

That week I did lots of stuff. I got a "real" license. I finally got a haircut. I spent time with my beautiful cousins. I got to see the Jessicas. I went down to the River and saw most of my professors and the adorable little girls I babysat in the fall semester. Then my two wonderful cousins, Matthew and Joseph, hosted a "Welcome Home Party Extravaganza" the Friday I got back. It started out as a family BBQ and then friends of ours came over that night.



Earlier in the day, my dad took me to DuClaw and we had beer and talked about life. It was wonderful. When we got back I had my dad try some Unicum. Hilarious. I think he wanted to throw up. So at the BBQ he wanted everyone to try this "delicious" Hungarian liquor.

Before (note: the happiness)

After (note: the disgust)

It was awesome. Almost everyone thought it was disgusting. The night was fun and I really appreciated Matthew and Joseph hosting it for me. I went to bed pretty early because of jetlag but I think everyone had a fun time. There was a keg of Yuengling (courtesy of Matthew, Joseph, and my dad), and friends and family that I hadn't seen in almost 5 months (plus some math hugs that I had been dying for).




The day after my party and the day before I had to leave for New York, I was blessed to not only go to my friend Katie's wedding, but to have the wonderful Ranjan Rohatgi as my date. We didn't take any pictures at the wedding (I know, sorry), but we took a couple when we got back. It was wonderful seeing him (sorry these pictures took so long, Ranjan).





My mom and I made the trek to upstate New York on Sunday, after Moe's mass. It was about a 9 hour trip. I'm incredibly thankful that she made the trip with me. We got to talk and just sit together: something that I missed a lot while I was in Budapest.

New York thus far has been interesting. The math has been great. My only real complaint though is that I wish my group had a little bit more determination, or rather: better work ethic. Hopefully I can make some moves to make our work ethic better. But I think that there is only so much I can do. As for the people, they're pretty cool. We play soccer almost every day and have gone on a few fun trips (which I will be sure to tell you about soon). We're still getting to know each other and I think that there are definitely some people who are closer than others. But it feels like something is missing. It's not the same as BSM, but I expected that.

Some new math friends in Ottawa, Canada

What I didn't except was to be so homesick for Budapest. I think about it everyday: wondering what the weather is like and what I wouldn't do for a gyros. I miss my friends and I miss my home. I guess all I can do is give it time. Time heals all wounds, right? But how will I ever stop missing this:



Right now, I don't think it's possible.