Party!

Yesterday I was invited to a party with all the other high and primary school teachers. My main translator, Feri picked me up from my flat and we walked together to a house, which was just off the end of my street.

I arrived there and chatted with some of my colleagues, when I was offered pálinka. It is a fruit brandy, which was invented in the Middle Ages and it is only mashed, distilled, matured and bottled in Hungary. It is normally made from any grown fruits, however the most popular ones are plum, apricot, apple, pear and cherry. I was offered some apricot one and then a plum one. However,  I made the mistake for not drinking it in one shot and it spilled down my chin! Pálinka is really strong though, so I wouldn't recommend having more that one!

The dish that was served was goulash, which is a Hungarian specialty. It is a stew, which has beef and all different types of vegetables in it. The headmaster of the school had been cooking it and through my translator Feri I found out the recipe, lots of meat, vegetables including a huge cabbage! It was amusing to see a whole cabbage floating in amongst the stew, it helps to give it it's flavour I think.

The night was absolutely fantastic, I talked with my colleagues about Scotland and they talked to me about Hungary, it was truly an amazing time. The people are incredible and I'm so blessed to be working alongside them. By the end of the night, there were about ten of us talking and singing Hungarian folk songs. They asked me if I could sing them some Scottish songs, so I sang to them 'Auld Lang Syne' and 'Loch Lomond'.

I thanked my colleagues for an incredible night and went back home, happy, a little tipsy (probably from the pálinka and the wine) and any worries or fears that I had completely disappeared. It's great to experience another culture and it's one that I will embrace and cherish for many years to come.