Babble from a Foreigner: April 2012

"As we grow in wisdom, we pardon more freely." -Madame de Stael

"May you come home rejoicing/at the wonders you have seen/may you come home rejoicing/once again to our doors." -For my Atlas community...

Hello my dear friends near and far,

Spring is upon us in Siauliai Lithuania! This is probably not news for you, whether you be in Colorado or in other parts of Europe, I think Lithuania is the last place to realize that is time to turn green. But the days are so long now (it stays light until 9:30 at least here!!) and it is getting warmer, almost too warm for a jacket. Lots of rain and plenty of beautiful flowers to look at as well. I hope wherever you are it is just as beautiful!

My Hungarian friend, Dora, and I returned from our epic H.A.N.G trip across Europe about two weeks ago...I wanted to blog about it earlier, but I had to jump right back into classes. This is the last month of school, so the projects are piled high! But words cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the trip (so I included pictures below, haha); it was once in a lifetime experience. It really warms every part of my heart to think that I got the chance to meet the families of some of my closest friends, see the places they lived and hug them one more time. I am truly thankful for every minute I had with Franci, Dora and Melanie. It was one of those times where I really understood how deep and unique my friends make our lives and experiences together. I am so absolutely grateful that I have friends loving enough to show me their lives and people they knew before I met them in Erasmus. And I am lucky enough to say that I got to spend time with locals, seeing real parts of countries that I truly love. It was absolutely indescribable. And to my friends Franci, Melanie and Dora...I cannot thank you girls enough for the kindness you show me. Whether it be this semester or last semester, you all have impacted me beyond any words I can write. Thank you for being open-hearts to me and thank you for being my friend. I am so blessed to know friends like each one of you. Thank you from every part of my heart...you make life so beautiful. I hope this trip will not be the last time I get to see each of you. And please, I look forward to the day that I get to return the favor to each one of you (meaning...get your butts on a plane and come visit me!!!)

So there are lots of pictures from the trip and lots of stories to each one. I feel bad because I would really love to tell you each and every story to the pictures, but I have decided to not tell you everything, just show you the places. I am sorry because I feel like I am not doing some favor to the grandeur and awesomeness of some of the places I got to see, but we all would be here for hours. So I hope you excuse me for a momentary laps into laziness... I just can't even begin to write every story down.

Now I am safely back home in Siauliai. It is crazy to think that the semester will end in about a month or so. I am working on a lot of final projects already! I hope to squeeze in a trip to Riga this month (I still am ashamed I haven't officially gone yet) and spending some time with my Erasmus buddies! Planning lots of traveling with my roommate Carolin for June and planning on traveling with Melanie in July. Very excited for what is to come next!

And a funny story I would like to mention...just when you think that you are adjusted to living life in another culture...they throw an Anthropology conference in your direction. Man, this was a culture shock, and I would like to say that it happens to a person even after 8 months. One of my teachers asked our anthropology class to help out in a conference to be held at the end of this month, and of course I eagerly agree (I need to learn to say the word NO). I meet with the women in charge and we agree on the presentation I would make. It had to be about education and my experiences, and though I thought it was a little off topic for me, I had no idea what was coming.

I struggle through coming up with something to present, education has never been my specialty. What I didn't prepare for was presenting in a Lithuanian high school, to all teachers who barely speak English, with no translator, and having to be toted around the school for half the day by a pudgy (but sweet) woman with a hair-do bigger than the state of Vermont (who also doesn't speak English). And my mother would have been delighted to know that every single woman in that building asked me if I cold that day because I was wearing a light summery dress. No, Lithuania, I am not cold. I promise. It ended up with a teacher forcefully draping her scarf on my shoulders and shaking her head saying: labai shalta (very cold) and walking away before I could give it back. I will wear a coat until the day I leave now because I was so embarrassed. But somehow we survived, somehow I found a way to communicate with my baby-sitter (and I think she really likes me), even though no one understood my presentation.

Oh it's still an adventure to this day!

I love you all and thank you for taking the time to read. Sending you my warm thoughts and I hope you enjoy the photos. Until next time (which I hope will be soon!)

The first stop: Leipzig, Germany! Here Dora is with our dear friend Franci in front of a very cool second hand store!

On this street is the coolest University I have ever seen in my life, Franci, you are a lucky girl.

Franci and Boris's beautiful flat is the balcony all the way at the top!

Here is Boris with his childhood friends, these guys know how to throw a great party!

My team actually won this game, just to let you know :)

Told you it was a good party!

Next, Dresden!

Love these two to death!

Then we visited Magdeburg to see Franci's family...

Here is the house that Franci grew up in!

And this gentleman was so kind to give us a tour of USSR vehicles in the Marienborn Museum. This was incredible because he just did it for us! It was amazing!

Next stop: Kecskemet, Hungary! With a big surprise to Dora's family!

Here Dora is with all of her family!

And then my turn!

Pictures from Budapest...

And this was the coolest museum ever! I really enjoyed how well done, thorough and thoughtful the House of Terror was...by far one of the best museums I have gone to!