Coming to America: The Bittersweet Return.

So, I'm back in the USA... and after two weeks, I'm still having a difficult time adjusting to the lifestyle of stateside being. Of course, life here now isn't much different from life here before... it's just a world of contrast from my recent life in Europe! I had been warned about this reverse culture shock phenomenon... but it seemed kind of weird that I might actually feel more uncomfortable here, in the country where I've spent almost my entire life, than in Hungary, a place I've never even visited. Sure enough, it's real.

One year ago, when I left the States, I was so eager to get to Europe... to start my residence, to meet the people, to pick up on culture, language, cuisine... I just wanted to embrace anything and everything new. I wasn't nervous or scared... not a bit... just excited. However, coming back to the States... I realized that I wasn't really that excited to return. Even though I love my life in the States and there are plenty of amazing things to regain with the American return, I simply didn't have my fill of the European experience.

I spent my last month in Europe on a solo backpacking expedition through Spain and Portugal (ambling briefly into Morocco and Andorra)... and it (literally) changed my life. It's going to take a lot of time and extensive reflection to get it out in words... and even then, only pieces will emerge. Flying into Barcelona with an over-sized backpack and a skateboard, with no place to go and a month to explore, was just the freedom I'd been seeking... Being able to finally visit the places I've always dreamed of, on my own time and my own dime, was thoroughly liberating. Planes, trains, automobiles, buses, ferries, hitchhiking, skateboarding... whatever fit the time, place, and mood.

I've been wrangling with my notes and ideas from the backpacking trip, and just can't seem to put it in blog speak... so, maybe stories will emerge sometime (here on WAW), but maybe that piece of the year will have to be the kind of thing that only emerges in person, over a latte or glass of wine. For now, I'll focus a few words on the return to the States...

So, when I landed in Rochester, NY (via Frankfurt and Newark), I had the ultimate homecoming acceptance... I was greeted by Sarah, Bryan, and at last: LUNA! My beautiful Hungarian Vizsla was there at the terminal with a bright green sign around her neck "Welcome Home Daddy"... and showered me with a million kisses.

I spent a few days in Rochester, catching up with great friends, familiar stomping grounds, and my best pal Luna. We took a trip to the Public Market, several runs to Wegman's, some hiking, some paddling, some Abbott's custard eating, and some game playing.

Then, I was off to Cape Cod for the week... time to catch up with my family and get in some lasting beach time before I landlocked myself up for a while... I caught three CCBL games... and, of course, rooted for blue (my pops, the umpire) every game. I don't know if I absolutely love Cape Cod, but I definitely love the Cape Cod Baseball League (the premier wooden bat league in the USA) and think that it is the essence of the Cape! I was just stoked to hang with my cousins, whom I rarely see.



























We beached, antiqued, and played baseball by day... and the whole family united to eat (same as it ever was) and play games by night... I even cooked a big Hungarian meal for everyone (paprikás csirke, complete with pálinka, of course) with the help of my awesome Aunt Mar.

When I finally returned to the great state of sun and mountains and all things beautiful (Colorado, naturally...), I was once again blown away by the artistry and attraction of the Rockies and gorgeous sunset on the first night. However, when I got back to my house... I came home to clogged drains, an overgrown and weeded dried-out dirt lawn, a half-centimeter grease layer covering my stove-top, multiple unpaid bills, and a nasty note nailed to the middle of my wall. Unfortunately, my Hungarian mate didn't stand up to her end of the bargain... More than anything, it just makes me sad to think of all the incredible people I met in Hungary and the rest of Europe that would've really made the most of an exchange opportunity like this... a chance to live and breathe American life for a year... just as I valued everyday I spent abroad, imbibing each opportunity I met. It's sad. I will leave it at that.

On Monday (my first night home), my sister Krissie came to cook me a wonderful salmon dinner and chase away the evil spirits with sage... On Tuesday, I walked down to Coors Field and sat twelve rows behind the plate for the Rocks and Phils with Patrick. On Wednesday, I hiked the hill behind Red Rocks with Joey and Luna for Primus and the Flaming Lips covering Dark Side of the Moon. On Thursday, I returned to Red Rocks and joined a slew of Denver Family for a hot My Morning Jacket show. On Friday, I had a wonderful dinner with the Musser's and then skated down to the First Friday Art Walk on Santa Fe (always an entertaining evening; the union of hipsters and homeless celebrating the arts and hilariousness) with Shawn. On Saturday, I stopped by the Denver Art Museum for the resident-free First Saturday viewing. On Sunday, I went back down to Coors Field with my little homeboys Haakon, Cohen, and Cavin. And, then, on Tuesday morning, I was off to Lake Tahoe! I spent three days on the ever gorgeous Lake Tahoe on the California / Nevada state line... catching up with some friends from the Bay area, hustling some original prints, and catching a pair of rippin' Phish shows! I got back Friday and... Saturday was the Vans Sample Sale Event at Shawn's and then last night I went to see Pretty Lights at Red Rocks... not a bad first couple weeks.

Things I miss: stress-free life, low-fare airlines, not waking up to an alarm clock, no-pressure hanging out at cafés and restaurants, eating out without guilt or gouging my wallet.

Things I don't miss: dealing with my exchange partner and her unreasonable requests / demands / complaints, paying for public restrooms, paying for water in restaurants, maladroitly hunting for healthy food.

The Offbeat: Set Three.

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.

Infinite Italy: Milan > Bologna > Florence > Pisa.

From the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Piazza Del Scala, the Duomo, the Palazzo Realle (Royal Palace), the Navigli District, Museo del Novecento, Cadorna, Parco Sempione, the canals, apertivos, and luxurious fashion of Milan... to Protello, the San Francesco Cathedral late-night stooping, gramigna at Fantoni Trattoria, Amaro Del Capo at DeMarchi's, Italian lessons with Leone, Via Rizzoli, San Petronio Basilica, the 'twin' towers, Manifattura Delle Arti, MAMBO: Contemporary Art Museum, the Cineteca, Gamesh Music Club, Tamburini, CouchSurfing parties, and university life (home of the oldest university in the world) of Bologna... to the Galleria Degli Uffizi, Pino's Salumeria Verdi, bi-daily gelato, secret bakeries, outdoor concerts, all-nighters, the Duomo, Galleria d'Arte Contemporanea, Galleria Dell'Academia, Michelangelo's 'David,' Ponte Vecchio, the River Arno, Piazza della Signoria, Santa Croce, and the Medicci Chapels of Florence... to the leaning tower of Pisa...
my fourth tour of Italy was just as incredible as the past visits!

And, as fulfilling as it is to go to Italy, I am already looking forward to my return... Perhaps I won't be totally satisfied until I have a chance to live there for a while... to endure and melt into the lifestyle!

These are (some of the) photos from my recent motherland roundabout...






Milano.






















































Bologna.




































































Firenze.

































































Pisa.