Homework Homework Homework

I'm writing this from the lounge at the school- ESSCA. There is actually internet here! So far this week has been pretty intense, what with attempting to do classes and visit different places in Budapest. Luckily, Monday is a holiday in Budapest (and also my birthday!). After next week, we get a break from school to travel through Austria and Germany. I am seriously looking forward to a break. The classes are much faster than they would be in a normal semester, because we need to learn a semester's worth of coursework in four weeks of classes. The Economics isn't too bad, because it's a lot of recap from what I've already learned in high school. The french on the other hand..... I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. The pace is SO much faster than anything I experienced when learning Spanish... I wish there was another pure beginner in my class so I wouldn't feel so incompetent.

What is strangest for me isn't being in a foriegn country, it's learning subjects that I'm not used to. Neither of these subjects is even close to my real major, Visual Communications Design. I feel like when I go from one class to the other I switch areas of my brain, and neither area is one that I exercise regularly. What I really miss right now is my own major- things I understand, and in a language I understand. I've had a tendency all trip to examine the typography on signs. Here in Budapest, as well as in the airports, I absolutely love to look at the differences in the design of symbols- the walk symbol, the exit sign, etc. It's just too bad that Dayton doesn't offer any VCD study abroad courses. I suppose getting a piece finished overnight isn't as easy as filling out a worksheet overnight, but still, I think there is totally room for Art History or History of VCD over here in Europe.

I finally pulled out my sketchbook yesterday and did a quick sketch from the balcony of my apartment, and it was extremely relaxing, just to return to the area in which I've been training for two years now. I have yet to break out my nice new camera, but hopefully I'll have time to get around to it. I just don't want to find myself taking snapshots with it.

Budapest is lovely, though. We went out to eat last night and had absolutely wonderful chicken paprikash as well as a very strange apricot and honey drink. There was also an amazing violinist playing in the restaurant- the Hungarians are amazing at stringed instruments! In this leg of the trip I'm continuously reminded of my visit to Hungary after Freshman year of High School on the band trip. I remember being amazed at the violinists then to, at that horse ranch with wonderful homemade goulash. I also keep seeing souvenirs at the stand that I remember buying five years ago... and how I never used them. I'll probably buy souvenirs eventually, but I won't be tempted by the wooden animal on a spring or the lace bowl-thing I bought in high school.

Well, I have a decent bit of homework homework homework to do. Sigh. Luckily, the weather in Budapest is still pretty gross- so I don't feel bad that I'm not out and about right now. Of course, I do hope it clears up soon!