FIRST DAYS

Our first days in Budapest, we haphazardly hopped trams across the city, partly searching for supermarkets, wireless cafes, and famous landmarks, but mostly just trying to get a feel for the city we’d be living in for four months. Hungarians describe Budapest as two separate cities joined by bridges across the Danube; Buda is older and more residential while Pest is modern and industrial. We found out that our dorms were located in the Buda side…so Saturday night we took Tram 18 to Pest.


Our first up-close view of the Danube stole our hearts for Budapest and wiped away our worries about the semester. With a chorus of snapping and Velcro, we whipped out our cameras and got tourist-happy with the river and the oft-photographed chain bridge. We wanted to take big gulps of everything we saw…I had to remind myself to just soak up the experience of being in Budapest—the flurry of wheels on tracks, pungent smells wafting from every corner, the babble of languages in the throngs walking across the lit chain bridge. I think I took about fifteen pictures of the bridge with the river, ritzy cruise boats, Parliament, and other stately buildings lining the Danube. Every now and then we’d turn to each other, exchange a dazzled smile, or just shake our heads in wonder….then someone would say: “You guys. We are in Budapest.” And we’d all skip a little bit, laughing and clapping our hands, giggling like a bunch of school kids on a brand new playground.


Pest lured us across the chain bridge; a strong wind swept upward off the Danube, blowing our hair around as we sauntered in awe toward lit up Parliament. We wandered around Parliament, then down a cobblestone street at the end of which we were delighted to discover the spectacularly sculpted St. Stephen’s Basilica! (gasp!) More furious photographing.


Finally, after a very ominous rumble of thunder, we wandered into a small wine and coffee house. After a leisurely hour or so of enjoying new friends and the sound of the rain on the cobblestone street, we wandered out into the newly wet world, heavy sprinkles hitting our temples but not dampening our wide grins. We basked in the joy of our first night out, splashing in the reflection of the city lights in the puddly streets as we ambled back toward the bridge. That night we went to bed exhausted and exhilarated, with fresh dreams for the semester on our minds.

AN INVITATION

Dear family and friends,

This fall I am spending the semester in Budapest, Hungary. I invite you to join me in this adventure; read journal entries, browse through pictures, leave comments and questions, send your love. I’m sure the entries will be vibrant and varied as the city is a wide spectrum of languages, living conditions, eras, and movements. Modern cafes and glass office buildings line the same streets as ancient castles and basilicas; graffitied tunnels slither underneath modern trams and posh office buildings; homeless Hungarians sift through trash in the same park as tourists slurping gelato.

There is much to discover here.

The title live deliberately is inspired by a quote from Henry David Thoreau and by a deep personal yearning to live fully, truthfully, vibrantly, thoughtfully...with purpose. For this reason, I kneel before the Father and commit this semester to “him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20) I am confident that his purpose will be fully accomplished in Budapest this semester.

I wholly and purposefully open my heart to the Hungarian people. I promise to learn all that I can. I will let the city whisper in my ear and stir up hot coals in my soul. I will let go of my social safeguards; I will challenge poisonous stereotypes. I will slip down city sidestreets and dance to folk music in the park. I will deliberately carry the Word in my heart, grace on my lips, and a camera in my pocket.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support in this adventure.

Please join me.
--leahnieboer