On infrequent posts and Obama's tax issues

Hello my few faithful readers,

I apologize for not updating as regularly. Part of the reason is that things have become a bit more mundane since my arrival but also I have become lazy. So I will not be as frequent in my posting. I would say I will try to post at least once a week.

In any case, the current Obama debacle really points to a certain level of hipocricy within the Obama inner circle. The standards should be high for everyone except his closest allies. Maureen Dowd writes well about it. Hopefully things will get better.

Rome thoughts, return to ceu and obama

So, Rome, thinking back was not so well planned. Next trip a bit of planning and research would go long way. By admiting this I am conceding to my travel buddy who suggested planning and i brushed it off. I was wrong. In any case, it was still spectacular. It definately has inspired me to be more of traveller...an adventurer...I am not sure why but I am much more willing to do things that I would rarely do in the States.

In any case, i made the dreadful return to CEU and begun my German class. Not fun...learning new languages is not my thing at all. O well, one must do what one must...

Change...we have seen change...but has obama done anything thus far that Hillary or any other democrat would not have done...is he just another bill? Your thoughts and comments would be appreciated...

Roma-Florence Update

So I wanted to chronicle two moments before I loose them. These two have been the top moments of the weekend so far and we have another day (well few hours) to go...

the first happened when we were walking around on some side streets in Rome. It had been raining on and off all day. as me and my two awesome travel buddies were walking, we came across the most amazing rainbow. first of all i havent seen a rainbow like that in a long time and seeing that really raised my spirits. it helped me realize that even though it was raining and it would rain some more later in the night, that beauty knows no bounds.

the second happened a few hours ago before i left florence. my friend studying abroad in florence for the semester took me on a day long tour ending at the piazza de michaelangelo. the piazza is on a hill overlooking the city so the walk up there after all day of walking was not easy or fun. but when we got up there and i looked at the most amazing view it was all instantly worth it. i was able to see this beautiful city with its history, its river, its castles, bridges, houses and so much more. that view will hopefully remain with me for a long time...

i will try to provide a more detailed overview of the experience when i get back...until then ciao from Roma...

Roma

so i realize that i have not posted for a bit. for those keeping score at home i am currently in rome. it is raining but thus far i am having an amazing time. i am headed to florence tom. with a buddy from iipp. a full summary of the trip and pictures will come in a few days when i return home. but thus far i have visited...

the vatican and sistine chapel
spanish steps
colleseum
pantheon
various bascillicas

more later...

Healthcare, Inaguration and sickness

Interesting article from the New Yorker. Healthcare will be one of Obama's greatest challenges. With Obama's need for bipartisan approval, I just don't see how Republicans will go along with this.

Speaking of Healthcare, I think I am finally getting over my illness (knock on wood). Thank goodness as it has come just in time for my trip to Rome.

On other inauguration news, I will be celebrating the coming of the new president at our university. The address will commence at 6:00 PM Hungarian time. Exciting stuff!

Love? and other notes of life

I wonder if after meeting someone, one could decide 'I think I can fall in love with this person' or is it rather more of a gradual process. A process of finding out the little things you love...the way her hair sits around her face or the smile that brightens your day. Or is it that when you meet someone, you decide 'I can never see myself with that person'. I am sure the latter has happened to pretty much everyone. All of us judge. Decide something about a person. Still, I can't help but think about all the times I have been thoroughly impressed by a girl and found out something about her that I could not stand. At the same time, we all have heard stories from couples who when they met could not stand each other. So then, my question still remains, can you meet someone and decide that you 'could' fall in love with that person...feel free to chime in

I apologize for being a bit corny, but I was thinking about it as I am deeply engrossed in Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth. She is the author of my other favs, Namesake and Interpreter of the Maladies.

Other than that, I am headed to Rome with a couple of friends in less than a week. I cannot wait. Although I have screwed up my ticket, I think I should be ok (fingers crossed)

I will also likely invest in a cheap camera so I can share pictures. But I have to go...I am headed to the National Museum of Budapest with a few friends and then to the Indian restaurant down the street...

The Great Bascillica

Located near our school...picture is the courtsey of a friend in the program. The walk today was quite slippery.

I have decided that The Great Bascillica will not be one of those monuments (The Archives in DC amongst others) that I see all the time but never actually visit and understand.

So I urge you all to please remind me the next time to talk to me to visit the bascillica

Story 2 - Food

i am currently consuming Coco House's Coco mix. It is a chocolate candy with what seems to be coconut mix in the middle. Its quite horrible acutally. I don't know why I have eaten as much as I have but I doubt I will have anymore. I actually went to the basement cafe at CEU and bought it instead of Bounty (which is seemingly more expensive because it is imported).

Food was a bit of a worry for me coming to Hungary. Thus far it has been generally positive experience with a couple of exceptions. First, there is a love fest with pork in this country. I am not sure why...as many of you probably know I cannot eat pork so the amount of Hungarian food I can consume is severly limited.

On the other hand, given the cosmopolitanism of the city, there is a variety of options from Indian to Chinese to Mexican, Italian, American and so on. There is even a TGI Friday. Who woulda thought...

Also, I think I might begin using this blogs to post some reaction of interesting stuff going on in the world. Here is something interesting now

Story 1 - Arrival

So I have arrived. Its been little over a week. I have begun this blog for two reasons: 1. allow my friends and fam back home to keep up and 2. Look back and keep memories. 

I know everyone wants pictures but I did not bring my very expensive, very bulky camera...I will try to post pictures from my friends' facebook pages and google. For example, I have been to the following places thus far I have visited Hero Square (pictured above) and other famous sites like Chain Bridge. I have still yet to explore the entire city, but hopefully that will happen in the near future. 

Since this blog is stories of Budapest, I will try to post stories about things that happen here with me or the people I know. 

So, today, as I was sitting in the cafe eating my Turkey Sandwich, I heard someone talking in Hindi. Though common in the U.S., almost to a point where I no longer even care to notice (especially in NJ), I immediately jerked my head and found myself in a conversation with these two Indian girls who recently arrived from the mother country. 

I realized a few things: 

1. Indians are everywhere

2. I sort of understand how new immigrants to the U.S.  felt in the 1960s. When there are only a few of you...you tend to band together and keep each other afloat in a new culture. This sense of kinship in the most foreign land is amazing. 

I shall write more soon. Especially once I get a hold of a camera, I will take pictures of my apt. the view etc.