FREE HUGS!!!

OK, I'm too addicted to YouTube.com! But check out this video...

Merry Christmas...grab a hankie

You'll need one when you watch this!

It's a video of little Heather Martin singing a song that her mother wrote about her brother serving in Iraq.

Below are the lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVFF98kNg8Q



Lyrics

You were almost sixteen when I came into the world.
Mom and Dad had you first then 3 more boys I'm the baby girl.
I sure have a lot to look up to in you, you're really smart and funny with a big heart too.
After one year of college you knew what you had to do.
It's just like you wanting to help with the war.
So you joined the army when I was only 4.
This time of year we talk of big plans but you're over seas in some distant land.
You can't be here for Christmas, I don't understand.
Chorus:
When are you coming home, Shaun?
When are you coming home?!
We lit up the house like we always do but it doesn't seem bright 'cause we can't have you.
In my prayers I ask God to keep you safe.
And I'm trying to be really brave.
Tell me that the fighting's through.
Come home!
I really miss you.

It's hard to enjoy the holidays without you.
But we're so proud of you and all the red white and blue.
Remember that Jesus is your best friend,
And someday our families will be together again.
Wow! You know we'll have a great big party then.

Chorus

I want to show you how tall I've grown and introduce you to my new friends at school.
Maybe we could go and get some ice cream together but I really don't care what we do.

Chorus

I'm gonna have to try this....

Living in a foreign country can get frustrating...this might bring some laughs into MY life...

Happy Thanksgiving

Here's the picture from the 2006 Teachoverseas.org Central Europe Thanksgiving Retreat.

We were a grand total of 57 persons! We had a great weekend of food, talent, and of course...TEFL.

Another quote

Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?"/ Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."
- Charles M. Schulz

Snow...sort of

Heather knocked on my door this morning and told me "It's snowing!" That got me out of bed really quick! You can't really see it in the pictures, but you can on the leaf of the plant outside our window.

YEA! SNOW!!! Not sure it will stick though.

Giving Directions

Something happened tonight that happens often to me in Budapest. I feel like I've gotten to a place in learning the language where I can be pretty confident in using it in public. Tonight I think was a little too confident and some poor guy was sent on a wild goose chase because if it.

My teammate, Heather and I were leaving church tonight, heading for the metro. A man approached us and was asking directions to Ferenc Korut. I said that I knew where it was and promptly sent him to the 74 bus several blocks away. It wasn't until after he walked away that I sent him to the wrong "Korut." In fact, in the opposite direction of where he should have gone on the 4/6 tram. I felt so bad! I said a quick prayer and hoped that he was able to get proper directions before he got too far off course.

HHmmm...could there be a spiritual message here? Who are you asking directions from? Are you sure they know the way?

Meet my Teammate...

Here is me and my teammate,

Heather

. She arrived almost a week ago. We've spent the past several days just getting to know each other. Heather's also been getting acquainted with Budapest and life in Hungary.

We will teach at separate schools, but we share a two-bedroom flat.

Heather is from LA and is already FREEZING!

Well, that's all for now!
Erin

Quote

In three words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life- it goes on. -Robert Frost

Erin Barrett <bound4thenations@yahoo.com>
http://bound4thenations.blogspot.com

\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/
Az Úr, a te Istened közötted van; erõs õ, megtart; örül te rajtadörömmel, hallgat az õ szerelmében, énekléssel örvendez néked.
SOFÓNIÁS 3:17 (Zeph. 3:17 in Hungarian)
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

It's Official! :-)

The University of Blogging Presents to bound4thenations An Honorary Bachelor of Boredom Majoring in Gossip Signed Dr. GoQuiz.com ®

Username:

Blogging Degree
From Go-Quiz.com

Where, oh, where has the summer gone?

I'm just about done with my summer vacation.  On Monday, I'm going to the beach for 5 days with my mom, dad, grandma, and two nieces.  Then I'm back to Seattle for a week, then back to Hungary.

It's been good being back and getting some rest.  I'll admit I haven't done much, but I've gotten caught up on some TV watching. :-)

I'll arrive back in Hungary at August 19th, just before Szt. Istvan Day (Saint Stephen's Day).  

I'm looking forward to seeing my students and colleagues again.  

Hope to hear from some of you soon...if you read my blog, please let me know!

Blessings,

Erin

"All nations will come and worship before You!" Rev. 15:4

\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/

Erin Barrett

http://bound4thenations.blogspot.com

bound4thenations@yahoo.com

Update from Erin (a-f)

Hello all!

 

**Well, it's been a crazy spring.  There hasn't been an update in a while because my computer crashed in March, and I lost ALL my addresses.  Fortunately, I had several backed up on Yahoo! but not all of them.  So please talk to people that you know know me and ask if they got this.  If not, please forward it to them and have them write to me, so I can update my address book.**

 

Below you will find a link to my latest newsletter.  You can choose to download a 5MB color version, or a smaller black and white.  Just click one of the links marked Spring 2006.

 

My itinerary for the summer is included at the bottom of the newsletter.

 

 

http://homepage.mac.com/hbarrett/Erin/FileSharing49.html

 

Have a blessed day!

 

Erin

Erin Barrett <bound4thenations@yahoo.com>
http://bound4thenations.blogspot.com

\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/
Az Úr, a te Istened közötted van; erõs õ, megtart; örül te rajtadörömmel, hallgat az õ szerelmében, énekléssel örvendez néked.
SOFÓNIÁS 3:17 (Zeph. 3:17 in Hungarian)
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Carnival!!!

I went to a Carnival party tonight. I was fun! Here are some
pictures of me as a clown!

A Day in Dubrovnik

Hello all!

What a day we've had and we have just only finished lunch! We started our day with a walk around the old wall. It only took us 2 hours (2 kilometers!) It was so beautiful! What amazes me is that people actually still live in the old city. After a while we just got used to seeing people's laundry hanging out their windows and across the narrow streets.

There's an interesting feeling being here. About 68% of the old city was bombed and destroyed during the war of 1991. They've done an amazing job rebuilding. But it's interesting to see the 32% that survived the war and the new parts. One guide book says that they had a hard time matching the new roof tiles with the old ones.

As soon as I send this, we're going on a walking tour of the old town. So I'll probably have a lot more to tell about Dubrovnik. I'll be done walking after this!

I hope to be able to post some pictures tomorrow, as our accomodation says they have internet access...we'll see.

Check out this page for more info on Dubrovnik!
http://www.dubrovnik.hr/
Blessings to you!

Erin (Karen & Tracey, too)

P.S. Mom and Dad, when you come this summer, be ready to do a lot of walking!!! And STAIRS if you walk the wall.

Erin Barrett http://www.bound4thenations.org \o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/ Az Úr, a te Istened közötted van; erõs õ, megtart; örül te rajtadörömmel, hallgat az õ szerelmében, énekléssel örvendez néked. SOFÓNIÁS 3:17 (Zeph. 3:17 in Hungarian) <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>

Random Rambles

I've been looking at some random blogs and realized that I don't put enough on mine. So here's some random thoughts from my life:

Yesterday, I was taking the bus to choir practice when an elderly woman got on the bus a few stops after me. She had a hard time getting on but eventually found her seat..facing me. She got off a stop or two before me. Here's the fun part...when she got up she didn't say anything to me, but used my knee to help herself up. I was a little shocked at first, then just found it funny. It was no big deal, just kind of unusual. I'd never had that happen before. Made me laugh.

Salagavato (hope I spelled that right)

Last night my school had their "ribbon giving" ceremony. It's when the graduating students are given the ribbon that identifies them as just about to finish school. So part of the Salagavato is that the students prepare dances to perform for family and friends. Each class selects a style and local choreographers donate their services. The teachers even prepared a dance (I was part of this.) It was fun. Then, at the end the students dress in white dresses (girls) and tuxes (guys) and do a traditional waltz. That was beautiful!

I need a haircut. I got one just before leaving the USA and it wasn't even a good one. So I have an appointment on Wednesday to get it cut. It's grown out enough I think that it will be good.

I've discovered the ease and joy of "just add water" food here in Hugnary. Knorr is one of my favorite brands of spaghetti sauce and soup mixes. The best part of Knorr is that the instructions are in English! Not sure how good that is for me, but it'll do with my schedule.

I hate sweating! Seems no matter what time of year, or the weather, I can't NOT sweat! I walk into class sometimes and my forehead is just dripping. My students must think I'm nervous about something, but I'm not...just sweating! One good think is that I don't seem to have a BO problem..not that I can tell anyway. :-)

Well, enough rambling for now.

December Already?!?!?!

Hard to believe! I know it's been a while since I've posted...but I'm not sure who reads this blog...oh well.

Here's a link to my latest newsletter.

Enjoy!

Erin

Technology is a Wonderful Thing

Now, I'm not just talking about how it makes life easier, but how it
can enrich one's life.

I'm sitting in my flat in Budapest, Hungary. I spent the day at the
thermal baths and I'm exhausted, ready to go to bed. I also just got
off Skype (www.skype.com) with my family in Washington. My niece
played a soccer game to day (her team won!) and they are getting
ready to go to a party at my aunt's house. It amazes and satisfies
me to know all this stuff going on in their lives.

I even talk on Skype with my 80 year-old grandmother! The only cost
to me is the internet connection which is $20/month (I split the
total with my roommate.) I'd spend a lot more on that for a phone
call, and a lot more time writing letters (and maybe getting a
response.)

This type of technology has made it easier for me to live overseas.
I talk to my parents almost every day. We know what's going on in
each others' lives...with a continent AND and an ocean between us!

Amazing!

What happened in September?

Read my newsletter...Click Here!

Clean Cat-couldn't resist

AP Photo/ A cat in Louisiana being cleaned after being rescued.

Erin's quote "Now, do you really think this cat is grateful for this? Some rescue!"

Culture shock...finally!

Since I've lived in Budapest before I didn't think I would experience culture shock quite as hard as before. ("Before was 10 days in a Hungarian hospital!) Well today was probably the closest I've come! I was on time for work. Just two metro stops away when something (in Hungarian) was announced over the speakers and everyone got off the train. I just sat there thinking "this is a popular stop." Well the controller came on the car and said "Vég allomás" which means "last stop." I was like, "what?" Something was wrong on the track. Long story short...I eventually found the "alternate transportation" after trying to call Janna several times, only to have my phone's battery die, and got to school one hour and 20 minutes after leaving home...it usually only takes 40 minutes max!

Needless to say, I didn't even make it to my first class. Zsuzsi, that class' form teacher was super and stepped in and gave them a task. I'll find out tomorrow what that task was. From what it sounded like, that kind of thing happens and Hungarians are just used to it. Several of the students were late today for the same reason. Kati, another English teacher was actually on the train that broke down to cause the back up. She had a great story to tell of walking from the train over the tracks to get back to the station.

So, I made it through the rest of the day with no excitement (12e class is a story for another time!)...punks! But I still love them. :-)