La luz de mi semestre

As awful as it is, all good things inevitably come to an end. I blinked and found myself back on the metro heading to Ferihegy, wondering how the minutes had slipped by so quickly. In the unsmiling and rather unfriendly Hungarian culture, Andy's happiness and humor was the sunshine on my cloudy day. Against all odds, he still managed over the course of the week to crack the most fleeting, nano-sized smiles in a handful of Hungarians, attempts which were, of course, accompanied by my rolling of the eyes and stoic disapproval (usually followed by a smile that just couldn't seem to hide itself for any longer).

In the company of Andy I saw Budapest in a whole different light; no longer was it the poor and dilapidated city that I had come to regard it as, but rather a playground of cafes and cozy restaurants, parks and promenades, beautiful views, and benches perfect for sitting close and watching the world go by. On Sunday, we took a leisurely stroll along one of the poshest boulevards in Budapest- Andrassy Utca. I took great pleasure in watching the wind stir up the yellow leaves that had blanketed the sidewalk, and we would often pause to admire the window wares along the way. For lunch we sought out Fatal Restaurant, known for it's great food and large portions, and of which I had read about online. Indeed, both Andy and I were briefly thrown into shock when our wooden plates, filled with enough food to feed China for a week, were put before us. Both of our lunches were scrumptious, and we nearly had to roll ourselves out of the restaurant.

In an attempt to burn off the first spoonfuls of lunch, we walked around Margit Island for a few hours. I really can't say it enough, but the turning of the trees was simply sublime. For those wondering, the island is about a mile and a half long. We didn't walk all the way to the end and back, but we did get to see the petting zoo (deer, bunnies and ducks) and the ruins of the Nunnery that housed St. Margit, for which the island is named. I like the place a lot, but I liked it better walking along it while holding hands with Andy.

The next day I met up with Andy at the school after my class, grabbed a virslis, and headed over to the old cemetery. It might sound a bit morbid, but the grounds are quite nice and very peaceful. It's about 150 years old and spans something along the lines of 56 hectares. I don't think I would have had the gumption to go by myself, but in the reassuring presence of Andy, I felt like I could appreciate the beauty of the tombs and grave markers without losing myself in the dismal atmosphere of walking amongst the dead.

Tuesday was wonderful until I realized I needed to pack up the duffel that I would be sending home with him. To be honest, I just didn't want to face the music that he would be leaving tomorrow when it felt like he'd only just arrived! I wanted time to crystallize, not run away like rain drops.

I'm not sure what I would have done without his help; I managed to send him back with a more than 30 lbs worth of stuff! I am so very thankful for the opportunity. Not only was I able to send him back with souvenirs galore, but all of the clothes that I would not need, nor want to carry along on my trip through Spain. Thank you so much Andy!

It is safe to say that I miss him tremendously already. It was so wonderful to see him and show him this city that I've learned to claim as my own. His visit has also rekindled my feelings of simply looking forward to going home. With only four weeks of school left, I am very much excited for my upcoming vacation and returning to my cocoon of comfort in good ol' Glenelg, MD.