Days have become weeks, weeks have become months…and these months have become my life… CULTURE One Saturday the 28th, I took the privilege of presenting my country to the Rotary club district 1910 in Budapest. The moment was one in its own, causing me much pride and admiration to display such a realm, my home. On that day, my appreciation for the Bahamas grew to such a possessing extent it was irrepressible. I watched in awe as people listened intently to what I had to say, looking amazed as to how someone can live in such a paradise…a place only real for those who seek to imagine. I was ecstatic… I was elated… I danced and I sang, and without effort, rhythm flowed from every point of my body…dominating me. I felt composed there… A slight chanting sound came from the basses of their chairs, tapping the tips of their toes in unison to the addictive beat of island music. We were integrated through culture, brought together by its elements. They roared with enthusiasm. “Sun, sand and sea are merely the perimeters of the islands of the Bahamas. At the core, you will find a way of living life that is both timeless and new. It is our heritage. It is your departure from everyday life. Welcome.” MUSIC-PULSATION-TEMPO… A few weeks ago, I started going to violin lessons with a friend from school by the name of Gloria. So far, it’s going astonishingly and I am having the time of my life “trying” to learn it. I have a violin of my own now and consider it to be very valuable. My new host brother Tamás (Thomas) plays the acoustic guitar and is currently attempting to teach me a few things. I admit that the violin and guitar are quite different, but I like them both the same. It is a language all in its own…which is appealing to me. When I pick the violin up and rest in on my shoulder, I become a different person, and I love it. The Rotary club of Szombathely held a jazz concert on Friday March 5th. I was very excited to go, and I am so glad that I did. Those that we went to see were American so I got the chance to speak with them after the performance. They call themselves “Soldiers of Swing” and are military soldiers, hence the name. They are here traveling throughout Hungary, appearing in places like Pecs, Debrecen, Szeged and so on… We admired it so much, that we decided to take an excursion to Budapest to see the performance once more on March 12th. The music itself was breathtaking…and I can confidently say that it has been one of the best concerts I have been to, since I have been here. ART-FORMATION In about a week from now, I will be a model to be drawn in an art class here in Szombathely. I am quite excited about it because I will experience something completely new. REALISING… On Valentine’s Day, my friend July (Julie), her family and I went to a city called Sárvár to go to a spa that is very popular there as well as in other places in Hungary. We had a really good time and decided that we should go back sometime soon. While we were there, we took a trip to the sauna… which was a very unique experience (for me at least). The rules stated that wearing a bathing suit or clothing of any sort is not allowed and only the use of a towel is/was permitted. So during the time of sitting in the assorted rooms soaking up the steam, I saw different variations of naked old men and women…which made me a little troubled!!! It came to my understanding that a spa is a place of relaxation and of tranquility…but let me tell you…I was not feeling the relaxation, and I was definitely not feeling the tranquility side of the whole situation. Needless to say, I am looking forward to returning shortly. I was amazed as to how a group of strangers could feel so comfortable around one another (taking into consideration the conditions). It seems that at times, it is much easier to do with people that you don’t know as apposed to people that you do know. Oddly enough, I have learnt a lot from all of the experiences that I have encountered while being on exchange, even from those most EXTRAordinary… as you may have perceived, after reading my last entry “REALISTAION” I treat everyday as an educational experience, no matter how bizarre the incident… Thanks again for this wild and exciting ride…I will take it with me wherever I may go… Until next time The Bahamian one…Laura