This quote is a reference from my favourite film of all
time: The Wizard of Oz. I used it as
my title here, because just as Dorothy landed in Oz on a tornado, I landed in
Hungary on an airplane (which wasn't nearly as bumpy a ride).
This country is breathtakingly beautiful, but I have only
seen three parts of the country: Lake Balaton, the Borsod Abaúj Zemplén and of
course the capital city: Budapest. Which I suppose is a lot more than most
people have seen.
I constantly reminded myself that I was in another country. The
familiar Doric tongue which I heard almost every day was replaced by a language
which is one of the most perplexing, but beautiful languages in the world.
Sárospatak, the town which I have been living in has been around since the 11th
century and the scenery is breathtaking. The town is surrounded by mountains and just an hour outside the town is an old quarry which is now a
stunning Hungarian heritage park. I appreciate that I can just walk outside my
door into a park which is surrounded by tall trees, which are covered with
leaves now that it is spring. I have appreciated nature a lot more since being
here, being quiet and still with God.
There have been times where it’s been really difficult. I’ve felt
lonely and isolated, often because of the language barrier. There have been
days where I’ve had a difficult day with students, feeling like I wasn’t
getting anywhere and I wanted to go home. I missed my family and I missed
talking to familiar people. I really wanted a pair of red shiny shoes, tap my
heels together and say “There’s no place like home.” If only that worked in
real life.
Now just after nine months since arriving, I am getting ready to fly
home. There is a huge part of me that doesn’t want to leave this country and
its beautiful scenery. Then I realise I can always come back. Hungary isn’t
going anywhere.
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