Coffee and Ice

One of our favorite things to do when we're bored is go to one of the local coffee shops here in Debrecen and relax. We are particularly fond of one coffee drink called the "mocha chi chi." It is a blend of vanilla, chocolate, coffee and just a dash of some unknown addictive substance that keeps us coming back for more. After warming up with a little dessert and coffee we like to go exploring through the many trails that the city has to offer. Our apartment is located near the University, which is near many ponds and parks. We love seeing the snow, but we also look forward to the Spring time when everything is in bloom. While walking around the park we found a few frozen ponds to step onto. Don't worry I'm sure they're safe and if not....well we always have our Hungarian health insurance. :)

Ben enjoying a traditional Hungarian chimney cake.
They sell many desserts like this in the Christmas market.

Inside our favorite coffee shop.

It is also a bookstore, but they only sell Hungarian books.

We are addicted to their mocha chi chi.
It's pretty much hot chocolate with a dash of coffee.

Outside the coffee shop.

Many ponds have frozen over and
you can now walk on them!

Happy not to have fallen through the ice. :)

People ice skating on the pond.

This pond is typically used for paddle boating in the warmer months.

Channelling my inner ice skater.

Look mom no cracks!

Ben's students

I have been asked by family and friends what my students are like. So, I took the camera with me for the week to show what my work places look like. So here they are:

This is part of my 10 minute walk to school at 7:00 a.m.

This is one of my 9th grade groups that I have on
 Tuesday and Thursday. Axe'Em Jacks!  

This is the entrance to my school,
Dienes Secondary Grammar.

Here are a couple of my 9th graders throwing
snowballs at the rest of the class during one of the breaks.

This is another of my three 9th groups.
I also have them on Tues. and Thurs.

This is my first 10th grade group on Tues.
These kids are pretty advanced in English.

This is my second 10th grade group on Tues.
They are always begging me to let them play "Mafia".

This is a better view of Dienes from across the street.

This is one of the hallways. It is nice to have so many windows.
My old school, Dunbar, was a little lacking in natural light.

This is my final group of 9th graders I have on Tues. and Thurs.
They are very creative when asked to be.

This is my 13th graders on Thurs.
They are limited in English but a great group and a lot of fun.
We finished with a few minutes to spare so they are playing "hangman".

The rest of the small 13th grade class.

The teachers conference room. We never use it.
I use the computer in here to print stuff but that's it. :)

My 9th graders working on putting random words
 together into a story.
This is our tiny room we get to use on Thursdays.

These are all my 11th graders together.
Normally they are in 2 separate groups that I have on Thursday.
However, they were preparing for a presentation
this coming week. That is why one of their teachers is sitting in the front.

The rest of the 11th graders.
These two classes are easily my most advanced and just a great group of kids.

This is the back of the school.
There is a giant black top in there but it is obviously covered  by snow

This is my 2nd group of 13th graders on Thursday.
This is one of my most fun groups.

This is the teachers area.
During passing periods the teachers all sit in here.
The students go to there classrooms and wait for the teachers
 after the tardy bell has rung.
 The teachers don't leave to attend the classes
until after the tardy bell has rung.
It is very different than what I am used to
 and it will be hard to switch back when I return to the states. :)

I also teach adults at a couple of businesses around Debrecen.

This is T-com.
It is the same as T-mobile in the states.  I taught here every Friday.

These are the crazy elevators in the building.
They don't stop, they just constantly move and you hop on for a ride. 

This is the part of the building a teach in.
The paint is peeling really bad.
When I was waiting on the groups to come unlock the door
 I would kill time by peeling of parts of it. :)

This is the conference room where I taught my 3 groups. 

This is the other business I taught at.
E-on is an electric company. I taught 2 groups on Wed and Thurs.

I did not take pictures of the adults I worked with for a couple of reasons. For starters I did not realize that I had completed my last lessons at E-on until the day after I saw them for the last time. So I didn't really get a chance to say goodbye or to bring my camera to take a picture inside or of my groups. At T-com I didn't take a picture of my groups because only a couple of the people were there my last day. They were really nice and gave me a Hungarian flag as a thank you gift. It was thoughtful because we had discussed flags and I had asked where I could get a Hungarian one with the Coat of Arms on it. They just said they would figure it out and tell me later, they were obviously nice enough to get me one.

I know a few of my adult students read this blog. Therefore, I want to tell them that I had a wonderful time working with them. I will never forget all the great cultural conversations we had. I loved learning about the history of Hungary. I also enjoyed discussing American viewpoints with you as well. I am also sad that I did not get to say goodbye to all of you. So for those I missed, goodbye and I promise you I will not forget the time I got to spend with you. I wish all of you a great future and thank you for everything.

Let it snow...or not.

"When you live in Texas, every single time you see snow it’s magical." ~Pamela Ribon

Last weekend it started snowing a lot. Well, at least for my Texas sensibilities. The next couple months will be filled with blog posts about us in the snow. If we have to deal with snow then so will you (at least you get to be inside). 

We enjoyed playing in the snow the first couple of days, but now it's been two weeks of constant snow...and we're a little played out. We like the cold, but we wouldn't mind a 40 degree day here and there. :) It's weird to be referring to 40 degrees as warm, but when you wake up and it's 10 degrees you learn to adjust your perspective a bit. 

Ben about to throw a snowball.

Me with a snowball.

Take that lake!

Ben with our snowman.

Ducks on the move. They can't decide if they should walk or swim.

Did Jesus throw snowballs?

The University Center.

A winter wonderland of snow.

It looks like it will be a white Christmas!