Its 4:41pm, but its pitch black outside my window. No electric light where I am. The long rolling fields of Slovakia are outside. I am writing this on the train returning me to Budapest. There 6 of us in this room of the carriage, a grandmother, mother and daughter, and another mother and daughter. Once again I am the black sheep of the group. I had a great trip to Bratislava and Skalica. I got the chance to meet some great Slovakians. Went to some nice bars and restaurants in both cities. Braitislava is a growing metropolis, like many others in the region. Skalica was somewhat unique, its old communist cement high rises somehow reminded me of Lloydminster, Alberta. It also had the new capitalist-era area, that purposely blended nicely with the pre-communist buildings which bare a resemblance to Whistler, BC. The difference in areas are of the city were striking to me, but I am sure so was the transition to democracy. Stano’s parents were wonderful hosts, near the entrance of their apartment was a souvenir plate from New York city, Stano told me that they never took it down during the Communist era. Now their son is a Human Rights activist - the times are certainly-a-changing.

When I was very young, in one of my families earliest homes, there was a photograph that always facinated me and yet scared me at the same time. It was of a street sign, at the end of a road, at night, with a field behind it. The street sign was yellow with arrows pointing left and right, indicating a fork in the road. The picture almost scared me; this sign - in the dark, in the middle of no where. However it also facisnated me at the same time - where was this sign? Who took this photograph? Under the photograph was a poem I have since memorized, it is my favorite poem to this day, and it has become my personal motto and one I think is relevant to my current adventure. Isnt it interesting how something from so long ago, that effected me in that way, can come full circle and be so relevant to me today.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost

- You have to ask for each grocery bag you want, pay for the bags (10 Forints - about 50 cents Can/each), and then bag the groceries yourself, a couple times I’ve forgotten to ask for the bags, and ended having to stuff everything in my pockets!

I’ve been told the grocery bag fee is an environmental measure, a good idea we should do in Canada!

- It’s obvious to me the difference in immigration between Hungary and Canada. Its 95% or so Caucasian here, compared to 50% Caucasian in Canada (at best, in my opinion). Not a bad thing, either way, but I do notice the difference.

- The weather changes day by day, one day it will snow, the next its blue skies and sunny (but still cold). From what I’m told, the weather here in Budapest has been better on average then Vancouver.

- Fast Food is big business here, there are fast food places on most corners, and there are many mega-restaurants, the size of a gymnasium, scattered throughout the city.

- McDonalds seems to control the retail coffee business here for the most part, they are called McCafe’s, a separate coffee bar, most of the time inside a McDonalds restaurant and off to the side, but sometimes on their own.

- I get my hot water for my showers from a hot water tank elevated beside my shower, it needs 10-15 minutes to warm up. I get my hot water for dish washing from a mini version hanging in front of the sink.

To be continued…

When I first arrived in Budapest, I had immediate culture shock, home sickness, whatever you want to call it. As time goes on, however, I’m starting to feel more comfortable and be more at peace. I still don’t have an apartment. I have left the Hotel, and I’m staying in the flat of some co-workers and fellow interns. Only 139 days to go.

Check out my first pictures from Budapest, many more to come I’m sure:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21641&l=53dde&id=502567867

I’ve made it to Budapest. Today was my first day at my new job at the European Roma Rights Centre. Coming here I wasn’t sure what I would be doing but, from they’ve told me I’m ready and able to help with them with what they would like me to do. I went for my first trip to today to look at a flat to live in longer term. Although I don’t think I will be taking the flat I did meet a nice couple also looking at the place who have offered me their old flat. I have another flat I’m looking at tomorrow morning, we shall see how it goes.

Although my visit to London was comparatively quick, only a few hours, I still consider it a success and a really amazing visit. I was able to visit almost everything I wanted to see, Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the list goes on. I was walking non-stop for several hours which was incredibly tiring especially after such a long flight with no sleep. But I got through it and took more then 100 photos and I’m happy I did it. Check out my photos:

Part 1 - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21079&l=0a096&id=502567867
Part 2 - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21082&l=704cb&id=502567867

I am a couple hours outside Montreal at Chalet Baumonte. There are more then 30 young people here from all across Canada. Most are going to Africa, I am the only one in this group that is going to Europe, but I know that there are other NetCorps interns in Europe that were sent after earlier training sessions. I will be here until Sunday then I immediately jump on plane for Budapest with a short stop over in London on the way there.

Check out the photos from my week there:

Part 1 - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20592&l=37737&id=502567867
Part 2 - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20857&l=9f6d6&id=502567867

After what seemed like an hour sitting on the tarmac, waiting for my bags, and waiting for a taxi, I finally made it out of the airport. The taxi took me along the Rideau Cannal, seeing the Parliament buildings was more spectacular then I imagined. Tomorrow is Montreal!

It was extremely foggy on my last night in Surrey. The later it got the more the city seem to disappear. I had to say good bye to my two best friends tonight. We are splitting up, but I think we are all doing what we need to do. One day, maybe, we shall reunite. Tomorrow is Ottawa. Here I go. No time to look back.