Over this past weekend, I had the time and opportunity to visit a fellow YAGM at her site in Szeged, Hungary. The city is about 2 hours south of Budapest, to which I traveled via train. Though I have traveled a fair amount since being in Europe, including by train, this was my first solo trip and I was fairly anxious about the ticket buying process, getting on the right train, etc. Simple worries, but worries nonetheless. Luckily, every thing worked out fine and as expected, if not better!

Ali is the YAGM in Szeged and I was able to see the church she works at as well as some favorite places downtown. Friday was a rainy day spent wandering the city, grabbing lunch, and indulging in sweets at the “famous” A Capella Cukrászda. The city is small in comparison to Budapest but is still very pretty and fairly lively. In the evening, we were invited to join her flatmate’s friends for a small birthday celebration complete with finger foods and a jukebox playing hits from the early 2000s. The rest of our evening was spent watching movies and talking: a classic “sleepover” and was much needed for both of us.

The main event of this visit was spending 5+ hours on a Saturday morning learning to make Hungarian fish soup from a friendly local! At 10 am sharp, a large bag of fish, some vegetables, and various pots and pans arrived as well as Béla, the nice man from her congregation who did not speak any English (we managed, don’t worry). I won’t spill all the gory details, but preparing the fish for the soup was hard work! Béla was also excited to share with us history and traditions surrounding the type of fish soup we were making as well as the “rival”. After many hours of delicious smells, we ate all together: Béla, Ali, her flatmates, her mentor and his family, other members from her surrounding community, and myself. I felt, and still feel, very welcomed by this community of people willing to share a piece of their tradition and culture with me after only one meeting. I was even sent home with a jar of soup, carefully wrapped in paper towels and a plastic bag, which I was able to share with my host family at dinner later that day.

Visiting my dear friend Ali and the city of Szeged was a much needed weekend getaway. As a person well aware of her tendency to succumb to her introvertedness, I found branching out and spending time with a friend much more rejuvenating than staying in bed this weekend. Listening to our hearts, minds, and bodies to what we truly need can be so beneficial for growth and happiness. I encourage you to listen to your needs this week and make conscious decisions to take care of yourself. For me, reconnecting with a close friend was something I needed. Thank you Ali for welcoming me into your space and new “home”!