Undoubtedly, I am far too far behind on my blog entries... but I haven't stopped journaling, and I still intend to backlog my online posts... little by little. So, here is another installment of The Offbeat, outlining some simple differences I experience between the Hungarian way-of-life and my Stateside norms...
So, it seems like most people I've met (outside the States) just don't 'get' baseball. Of course, being a player, a coach, and a fan since before I could walk, I feel like their missing out on the greatest game in the world. But, to their defense, they don't 'get' it because they don't know it. They've never really been exposed to the sport and don't realize the complexity and strategies involved. I can see how it would seem boring without knowing the sophistication of the sport. So... I thought I'd introduce my students to the American Pastime.
To my surprise, they were incredibly interested... they were excited to learn the rules, the slang, and the style of baseball! It was also a great way to familiarize English-language learners with many everyday idioms we use that derive from baseball... like out of left field, off-base, and three strikes and you're out. 
After spending a few lessons (in class) explaining the ins and outs, we took it to the field and played (likely) the first game of baseball ever in Kaposvár. They came primed with eye-black (well, black eye-liner and oil pastels), ball caps, and post-game beers. We had a blast, but as you can see from the photos, they still have a lot to learn... ha, they're still not the most disciplined hitters.
Next... the Hungarian version of high school graduation is a ceremony called balagás. While it's still a commencement celebration, the traditions are quite different than I am used to. First of all, the ceremony is held in the school... and it consists of all of the school-leaving (graduating) classes promenading through the classrooms singing songs and offering their final farewells. The classrooms are decorated by each of the other (non-graduating) classes and are welcomed by the students of the respective classes... all dressed in the formal uniform, etc.
I reckon they call the ceremony the balagás because it consists of plenty of bawling... parents, teachers, and the students alike; everyone's crying. It's definitely a bit more somber and serious than the cap and gown party I'm used to... but it's dignified atmosphere gave me a great perspective on how the Hungarians celebrate graduation.
And, certainly unique to Hungarian convention... is the post-balagás tradition of szerenád... a national custom in which the school-leaving classes visit the homes of (some of) their teachers, singing songs at their doorstep and then being invited in the homes to tell stories and drink. I mean, talk about something that would never fly in the States... this little tradition is totally acceptable and carried on by even the most respected veteran teachers at the school. Anyway, I felt honoured that 13E came to serenade me, and had a great night of dancing, laughing, and even playing some typical American games.Things I miss: Luna, living across the street from a big beautiful park, mountains, Kombucha, Larabars, smoke-free bars, recycling, and baseball.
Things I don't miss: feeling guilty about eating dessert with every meal, paying $100 monthly for my cell phone bill, and living twenty hours (drive) from the ocean.
