August

Alone time
So my parents left and Anna and I were left alone. It was interesting to be away from my parents and be responsible for everything, but I got used to it after a while.

Budapest
Miklos finally arrived in Magyarorszag!! :D I went up to Budapest to see him and spend time with him. Those two days were so good! We did nothing, yet it felt so good. His apartment is very nice, not too far from the city centre

Family Reunion!
The best part of August when I get to go! I love my family! I went to this family reunion that happens every summer in the same place. It's been a tradition on my mom's mom's side of the family since like the 60s for years, but it stopped in the 70s. In '92 tradition was resurrected! Yay! So every year since than, the same weekend in August, the family gets together for about a week, staying for as long as they want to. This is the time when I get to see relatives that I normally don't and spend time with my awesome cousins! Though I am one of the younger ones, we get along so well, and I always feel so comfortable with them. We go walking around the fields, play many ping-pong battles, go down to the stream, laugh at meals, try to get away from the mandatory catch-ups our uncle makes us do, etc. It's just so great to be around my family. This summer my great aunt brought out old albums and we spent hours looking at the photos of my aancestors. It makes me so proud to be part of such a noble family! One of the nights we went on the traditional wine tasting. Mmmm such good wines!

Anna's Birthday
So Anna, and her boyfriend Zoli turned 23 this summer, the day after each other, so there was a double birthday party for them. There was a big pot of delicious gulyas leves for everyone and it was a good night in general, since Miklos came down and surprised Anna totally. My other Anna also came by after her dance practice and we sat down and talked for a while. It was a good night.

August 20th, St. Stephen's Birthday
One day I sent Csontos Anna an IM to see if she wanted to hang, and to get to the point, I ended up going to dance practice with her. At that practice they were putting together the choreography for the parade on the 20th and asked me if I wanted to join or not. How can I refuse such an offer? Of course I said yes, though I've never learned the dance before. I must say I am quite proud of myself for learning an choreography in just a few hours. On the day, we marched from the train station in Debrecen to the Nagyerdei Stadion, a 4 (?) km walk in the sun. It wasn't bad, especially because I made new friends and it turns out, that I got married the previous Saturday and no one at the wedding remembers it! (inside joke) After we got pack to their practicing place, there was a giant pot of paprikas krumpli waiting for us. We devoured it and spent the afternoon laying in the sun.

Grandparents'
I decided to be a good granddaughter and visit my grandparents for a few days. I did absolutely nothing. I think the biggest thing was cleaning their bathroom and going to church where all the elderly women could not believe it was me....

Last days
The last days I spent in Hungary this summer consisted of getting ready for Italy. I took care of some things, like shopping for personal items so I don't have to pay a ridiculous amount in Italy for them, saying my goodbyes, going to a very dull tanchaz, speding time with Anna and Zsofi (which always ends up being HOURS).

Italy
Aron, Ancsa, and myself left for Italy a little after midnight on the 27th. The ride is still ridiculously long. We spent our time by playing typical car games and sleeping. When we finally got there, we ate lunch at the same restaurant at the same table where I ate with Mom, Dad, and Anna back in July. It was nice. :) After, we went to Casa Cares. We were sent to our lodging, which was at a different place, since there was full pension and every room was taken. We stayed one night at Casa Pagni, about half km from Casa Cares. It's a fairly new place (?) and owners are super nice. They invited us for a glass of wine outside on their porch after dinner. We tasted three wines, but my favorite was this delicous Vin Santo, which tastes a lot like kesoi szuret Tokaji bor. Our hostesseven gaves us these cookies called cantucci, which you are supposed to dunk in your Vin Santo, but I personally don't like it that way; too much alcohol taste. A and A left the next morning, after breakfast and I was left alone in Italy. I went in the Colonica, our house, and kind of got settled. I moved in to my nice little, cozy room and my life in Italy began....