Goodbyes

Stephanie is packing behind me. In addition to the too many clothes that we've brought, we're returning with some difficult items like archery bows, decorative eggs and wine bottles. Tomorrow we're waking up at four in the morning to catch an eleven o'clock flight with three stops before reaching Seattle twenty hours later. But overwhelming as this may be, we feel the sorrow of our goodbyes all over the skin.

Yesterday, Kata, Tibor and their girls Kata and Lili returned. They all look wonderful, and they are so happy to be here. After having spoken English with their girls, they will go back to Hungarian in the home, because they've been all too successful: Lili answers everything in English. When all the girls were playing with Zoé yesterday afternoon, Zoé needed an adult to translate Lili's words.

Once again, spending time with the Devais felt so natural and good. It's strange how little time we've spent with each other, and how much and how intimately we've shared our lives.

A few days ago, we were at Tünde's house. The night ended only because Stephanie and I were exhausted from travel preparations, because Tünde was so welcoming, and the girls, including Tündi and Matca, were in the middle of a roaring game in which they took turns calling for and evaluating poses. It was very emotional saying goodbye to them yesterday. I was surprised, but also so moved when Matca wept.

Here we are at Tünde's house, with her daughters and father, frying bacon (szalonnasütés) -- a Hungarian tradition with slabs of pig blubber I dreaded then enjoyed. Below are pictures of the szalonna in various cooked stages and a video, followed by a picture of the girls posing as some kind of animal.

We had a lovely farewell dinner with Kornél and Kata, who has been so tremendous throughout the year, starting with accompanying us from Budapest when we arrived, and ending with accompanying us to the plane tomorrow and a moment when we are certain to cry once more.

Tibor, Kata, Kata and Lili's return was an absolute joy. And how wonderful to see the Devais reunited with their good friends, the Göcseis. All the girls, Sophie, Amelia, Maisie, Kata, Lili and Zoé were soon yelling and bellyflopping in the pool the Pressings built (including tiling a new patio with Kata and Lili's names) for their granddaughters' arrival.

 

 

We met Tibor's parents yesterday too. Here are both grandmothers and grandfathers (the latter in the middle of a political debate, one grandfather representing the Jobbik point of view, the other Szocialista).

I will leave off now. I have more to say, and I anticipate the kind of cultural sensitivity when we return that leads to observations that otherwise I'd never notice to notice. In any event, several people have asked me to keep writing here on the blog. I will. 


But for now, the march to Barcs comes to a close, and we're off, to skedaddle to Seattle. Our love to you, Hungary. Ta ta for now...