culture shock

the other day people stopped to let us cross the street. like, we were still on the curb when the cars both ways came to complete stops to let us cross. we really didn't know what to do. in budapest, drivers pay no attention whatsoever to pedestrians until the latter are actually IN the street; then they floor it just to watch you run.

we walked about 3 miles today, without stepping in a single doggy-surprise. either all the dogs around here are constipated, or people are actually picking up after their pets.

we can communicate with the people around us. we can buy bus tickets without difficulty. i keep thinking to myself, "wow, his accent was perfect!" then remembering where we are, and that their accent is perfect because ENGLISH IS HIS FIRST LANGUAGE.

i understood more than 3 words at mass tonight.

the money doesn't have 2 extra zeros at the end (i.e. coffees don't cost 400, just 4).

there are trees and green stuff, even in cities!

people park next to the curb, not up on the sidewalk.

i can keep my money and cards in my back pocket, rather than in a secret pouch in my pants.

veggies, veggies, and more veggies!