Nagycsarnokban (at the Great Market Hall)

Sometimes I marvel about how forgetful I can be. Remember my big success of last week? Finally getting approval for a residence permit? I went to South Buda (the middle of nowhere) to pick it up today, and when the man at the desk asked for my passport, I realized that I'd left all my documents at home. Why? I have no reason. This compounds with forgetting my backpack and then a book in Risza on Monday night, my trombone in Frici Pa's a few weeks ago, my music for a lesson last week, my hat numerous times in various places here - the one I bought here because I left my first one in the Taxi on Staten Island before flying to Budapest - on which one flight I left ALL my books on Hungarian language... the list is endless, and without joking, I am sure that I've forgotten a bunch of things from it.

I would one day walk away without my legs if they weren't so attached. I know that sounds difficult, but somehow I would do it. I'm very scared of losing my mittens, now that the string running between them through my jacket sleeves has broken. I look like I'm in kindergarten again, but it does its job very well. I know I told everybody not to worry about me and that I'd be fine here, but I'm beginning to doubt that myself.

However, I remember the prices on food items I bought last week.

Today's adventure: shopping at the Great Market Hall, and trying one of Gusztáv Hőna's Grandmother's recipes for fish soup! The Hall is located south of us, Pest side and on the river. And it is huge, needless to say. There are hundreds of stalls, ranging from fruits and veggies to pastries to wines to meats (all parts of meats) to tourist trap trinkets... It's great just going there for the sight of it all. We wanted to pick up some fresh fish, but of course bought some other things besides, like apples and a cucumber. I bought a cluster of dried hot peppers for myself. I nibbled on one today, and they have some kick. Will go great with almost any sauce or soup, I think.

We started on dinner after I got home from a few good hours practice and study at the academy, during which I had a complete conversation in Hungarian while only stumbling a little for words. Practicing from my textbook is like a hobby for me now. I carry it everywhere and whenever I have a spare time, I fill in the blanks. I get the same feeling doing a Sokoku or a crossword.

The recipe involves layering fish, potatoes and onions in the pan, barely covering it with water (salt and pepper, of course) and letting it slowly reach boiling. Then you spice it up with some sweet paprika powder and toss in more veggies and stuff. I think the reason you're supposed to layer it is because otherwise little bits of cooked fish fall off and drift around, and give the whole soup a different texture... because that's what happened BUT IT STILL TASTED GREAT! A success in Hungarian cooking (but will do better next time).

While the soup was cooking, we brought in the armchairs from my room and watched Tropic Thunder. In comfort.

We have our first international potluck dinner on Saturday. Including all the people from our Hungarian class, we should have about 12 people here, I think, and maybe 8 countries represented. Everybody is hopefully bringing food authentic to their own country. I think we might make a pork stew or something. Probably more shopping at the market. It's the only grocery store I feel comfortable in :-)

Off to pick up my residence permit. I have my passport this time, but will likely forget something else. Like my pants.