A is for...Artichoke?

The second grade was doing another spelling test this week. They had to write down 3 words that began with a, 3 for b, etc. While I was correcting them, I noticed some very interesting words that the kids had put down. One had written dividi, for DVD. The oddest one that I saw must have been artichoke. Zsofia had spelled it correctly. It really took me by surprise because we have never mentioned artichoke in class.

When I asked Zsofi where she found the word, she said it was in a book she had. I was really impressed by this. Many kids who speak English as their first language would not be able to spell artichoke when they are 8, yet Zsofia could do it. I keep thinking about it, and I am looking forward to see what she can come up with next.

The holidays

It has been a long time since I posted anything. I am not really sure why.

The holidays can be summed up in 2 words for me

delays
food

My way to Denmark took much longer than expected. Europe isn't really used to getting much snow from what I have seen and the train and plane rides were no exception. My first train was more than 2 hours late going from Nyiregyhaza to Budapest. I can promise you it was so much "fun", something you never want to happen.

I arrived, drank and went to sleep after 2, needing to leave at 8 to head to the airport. I made it, but my plane was still an hour late. More fun times. In an crowded airport just waiting. My next train, from Copenhagen to Aarhus was also late, this time almost an hour. But, I finally made it.

The second part. Food. I honestly didn't know what to expect. My sister had been warning me that they eat a lot around Christmas so I should be ready to eat.

It started with a rice dish on Dec. 23. It was really good, much better than rice pudding, even though I was told I wasn't eating it correctly.

Dec 24, two big meals. Too much food, with a break for church in the middle. On the bright side, I have now been to a Lutheran church.

Dec 25th, when things really got serious. I was told that the meal was going to be smaller that year. It was only 9 courses, yes 9. That was smaller. The year before it was 11 or 13, depending on who you asked. It had been 18 courses at one point. I am not sure how you could eat that much food, though it is interspersed with breaks. It is just so much food.

New years eve was not as many courses, though there was still plenty of food.

It was nice being outside at midnight watching everyone, literally everyone setting of their own fireworks along the streets. We watched for nearly 30 mins before heading back inside. The fireworks continues the rest of that night and into the next couple days.

There were no major delays in getting back home, I was very thankful for that, leaving at 1am to catch the train back to Copenhagen. I was just happy by the time I made it to my own bed so I could pretty much just pass out until morning.

It was good to be with my sister for Christmas and really experience a Danish Christmas.

So that, in a nutshell, was my vacation.

I am now looking forward to my school ball and Farsang. I have been told the tetative dates, and they are both supposed to fall when my sister and her fiance are here. Should be an interesting experience for them.