Gratitude 32

Yesterday, I received my first "Hungarian" hug. (This may sound absurd, but Hungarians don't really seem to be much for hugs.) When I went to my piano lesson, Orsolya was ecstatic, having just completed a very successful presentation for the conclusion of her doctoral studies, and she embraced me as I walked in the room.

*****

Today, the United States...and the world...sees the first African-American President. Today is a huge day in the young history of our nation. I admit I am not the most "pro-American" U.S. citizen, but it is my homeland and what happens affects my life, too, whether I am abroad or at home.

No, I did not stay up all night just to see the election. (I might be crazy, but I'm not insane!) The final polls closed as morning came on this side of the world, but those over here are happy to see the change that can be made. Until living over here, we...I...never realized just how much power and pull the United States has on the world. Our decisions affect the entire planet. The consequences of our actions as a nation reverberate through every nation. Yet, we don't see this, or if we do, we ignore it. May the coming days, months, years bring positive change and brighter days to this world.

*****

This week back to classes has been a jump right back into work. Thankfully, Monday was a light day, so it gave a little more recuperation from travels and return to neglected work. I was (still am) quite behind on Solfege. However, class yesterday was not too awful. Klára was quite understanding because of our travels, but in my eyes, that is no excuse for not completing our work. There really is no excuse. I feel awful when I am not prepared as I should be. You can only look forward and change how something to come will turn out. What's done is done. The past cannot be changed.

János was not here yesterday, so I did not have my lesson. Although I desperately need lessons, it was probably for the best. It also relaxed me a bit from trying to get everything done Monday evening and gave me more time to do the things I could more properly.

Orsolya was very strict in my piano lesson, but it is only for the best. She's helping me tremendously in my piano skills, which will only better my musicianship and vocal music, too. I must learn to relax. I just get so tense when I play for fear of clanking wrong notes, and in turn, I end up hitting more wrong notes. (The same goes for voice with János!)

Because my piano lesson began fifteen minutes late, it ended fifteen minutes late, which meant I was nearly twenty minutes late for conducting! Oops! Zoltán didn't say anything and by the end of the lesson, had forgotten. I think for one of the first times, he didn't have to pull out his patience card with me. (Probably because I didn't have to conduct...which would have been a disaster as I shamefully had only looked at the piece two hours earlier...for about twenty minutes.)

After classes, I still had lots of homework and practice to be done, but I decided to relax a bit first. Normally, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I just have a bowl of quick-make soup and bread rather than actually cooking. I was going to do just that, but then decided that I had to have zucchini (which I rarely eat at home...even though there's always an overabundance), which meant that I had to go to the supermarket to get it. So I went. (It gets dark at 4:30pm now. Ugh!) And of course, I walked in for only zucchini and walked out having spent $10. How does that always happen? Then, I had to cook it, so what was going to be a quick but leisurely dinner turned into a two-hour escapade. Brilliant! I am so ridiculous! However, I amazingly still accomplished quite a bit last night.

This morning I didn't wake till after 10am, and it is now nearly noon...I really need to start getting some work done today! I shall leave you with this adorable photo of my nephew sent to me the other day. How precious! :)