DANCE, FOOTBALL, JOGGING

MONDAY DANCE, TUESDAY FOOTBALL, THURSDAY JOGGING

To my surprise, 5 month has already passed here in Budapest.
Once I went back to Japan at the end of August, some kind of mannerism clinched me and urged to step forward into unknown field. At that time, at the end of summer time, having hanging around with friends, I was trying to find the way to improve my life here on the other hand. Simply speaking, I was tired a bit of everyday’s drinking. Here comes my life style used to be….

Monday: Work, Free time
Tuesday: Work, Free time
Wednesday: Work, Free time
Thursday: Work, Free time
Friday: Work, Free time
Weekend: Party, Travel, Nap, Reading, Shopping, Cleaning

Then something happened. 1 month ago, a Hungarian friend of mine introduced me a great Hungarian dance lessons, moreover one of my flat mate brought me to a football game. Below is my life style how I enjoyed Budapest October.

Monday: Work, Hungarian Dance,
Tuesday: Work, Football
Wednesday: Work, Free time (cooking or reading)
Thursday: Work, Running
Friday: Work, Party
Weekend: Party, Travel, Nap, Reading, Shopping, Cleaning

-Hungarian Dance
Dance class is held in a Corvinus university, AIESECly speaking, this is the biggest local committee in this city and members who takes care of me are from this university. Compared with other dance classes, this lesson is a kind of serious, tiring and challenging. Around 30 students are trying to keep up with instructors in order to pass the exam which will be held next June. They are mostly freshmen and I am the only one who cannot comprehend Hungarian. Of course I have no experience of dancing even in Japan, excludes Bon-odori, currently there are 2 obstacles (language and steps).

Fortunately, since I am working at travel agency, sometimes I am allowed to take a gorgeous dinner with seeing Hungarian folklore dance. I have seen more than 15 times of them; most of them are traditional itself but sometimes dancers are from elementary school, some times they add original arrange and make the way more commercial. All these, however, looked so easy to do. But of course it turned out it is not. My will to keep attending this lesson is, still stable though. Once I have watched one Japanese man (Suzuki san) was leading Hungarian dance team and amazed thousands of audience in one of the most sophisticated opera hall, therefore I guess probably that keep motivating me all the time.

Hungarian Dance Movie


-Football
One day, Musty, a flat mate of mine, suddenly appeared in a sport costume. That was the beginning of Tuesday’s football. He brought me to a beautiful grass futsal coat and introduced his colleagues, other AIESEC trainees, or other Budapestian workers, mainly from TATA. I still do not know the exact members but approximately there are 2 Italians, 2 Colombians, 1 Brazilian, 1 German, and 2 Belgium, 2 Turkish, 4 Hungarians or something like that.
In a game, everyone includes me gradually get to stop using English but start to speak their own language. Spanish, Italian, French, Hungarian, Turkish, German, Dutch…. Funny thing is I can roughly understand what others are saying even though I am the only Japanese speaker. Plus, I guess others also seem to understand what I am saying. If I said “そこ!!”ウラ!!“　”もういっちょ!!“, sometimes great pass comes. At least, judging from their body movements, I can say I am sure that they try to communicate to me. Maybe one of the most enjoyable moment in weekdays.


-Running
The first reason to start running was just for relaxing, but after realized what I think while running gives me some hints, or after starting to take Hungarian dance lesson, its purpose is multiplied. Margit Island, a sand bank between Buda and Pest, has a beautiful running course. One circle equals to 5.5 km. Also, runners can check their own time with a big digital clock on the starting spot. Always someone is running and they cheer me up and sometimes guide me the way even though it is completely dark. Stretching the body, lying and gazing stars on the grass next to big fountain, and looking amazingly lighten-up view of Budapest while waiting a tram on Margit Bridge…. These luxuries are privileged only for Margit runners.

BUDAPEST CALLING

THE RIGHT TIME TO VISIT DANUBE'S PEARL HAS COME !!



Do not miss this chance, Budapest is calling you !!　Here's more information（JPN, ENG）
Also, check our company's website to find your suitable activities (only in JPN).

Do not want to pay even nickel for accomodation ?
Bring a sleeping bag, Buy me a beer, then you'll be authorized to sleep over my tiny room :P

Short notice from Krakow

On Wednesday, we took a night train from BP, and we were supposed to change trains at a station. We asked several station officers which station should we get off, but they did not say anything. Having no clue about that, we just got on a train and heard an another station officer in Czech explained something in Czech language. We did not understand it completely but he seemed to try to show us the station we arrived at 2AM is the one which we were supposed to transfer. So we did it, just followed his order. But it turned out that we had to wait for 4 hours for the next one. That means we were forced to sleep with homeless ppl in a station until the next morning. From that time, our travel had changed to be unusual and unpredictable one.

We have just returned from Auschwitz-Birkenau. There, we saw, smelt, listened, felt, touched the prison. Well, I do not think I can describe how I was feeling but one thing I can say is that the history is real. The real history is there. That is it.

Krakow is beautiful. Guys at this hostel are really nice, friendly and useful :) Tomorrow, we are heading for the capital, hoping more fun and surprise will come up.

Can Japanese fish dodge this splash ?

Magyar Suzuki launched to reimport brandnew model from Hungary to Japan.

Actually, this summer, one of our competiters cordinated a investigation tour here in Hugary for 280 Japanese Suzuki officers. Test drive and factory visit were held with 8 buses, 8 Japanese speaking guides, 8 Japanese tour leaders, and 1 guy from insurarance company.

As long as I concerned, I bet Suzuki predectied this huge financial splash since last year. If our company forsaw the sign, if we would took place the tour, that would be a big fish. Dammit !!

Heading for Poland

I wanna write down No coffee shop in Budapest vol 2, but, cannot, cuz,,, My Dear Toshiba Dynabook is broken!! Esen, my Kyrgyzs friend is trying his best to fix it. I cannot appreciate anymore. well, im writing this from my office, in a relax time after explaining small report.


These days....

15 new book and 15 Mangas are arrived from Japan,
Joined Hungarian Dance Lesson,
Joined new Football club,
Visited 15 cities in Hungary,
Visited Vienna,
Finally Succeeded of buying fair trade Hot Chocolate,
Welcomed TOHO univ graduation trip,
Became the oldest man in our flat,
Found no hope in my Hungarian,
Eventually started cocking (twice in a month),
Survived 2 and half month without any fastfood :)




Then, i will move my ass to....

Poland !!


Krakow, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Warsaw. 4 days trip with 3 Spanish guys.


In this afternoon, suddenly i posed and stopped using fork when my boss said,
"2 of my grandparents were killed in Auschwitz"
then, her husband sitting just next to her said,
"3 of my grandparents were killed as well"

well, the journey has already started.

No Coffee Shops in Budapest

Some randam pictures at first.....

@Last night with my lovely German flatmate Sarah and precious Polish friend Marta.



vine @ Holloku village, one of the world heritage in Hungary. Only 350 ppl are here. I have been there for 3 times, and everytime I feel like I wanna stay.



Wine 2008. Sparkling, cheap, fresh, good.



Chain Bridge and Buda Castle.




I'm shocked, so disappointed with these days wheather. No blue sky, raining all days long. Chilly, headache, cannot wake up early, sad, cannot enjoy cold beer...

Since it suddenly got extremely cold, naturary searching good coffee shops added in my to-do list. I was surfing around internet.

I found that running my life without STARBUCKS COFFEE is so undearable. When I was in Nagoya, I used to visit there 3 or 4 times in a week, enjoyed coffee beans frequently changes. In Budapest, unfortunately I cannot find any big coffee chains like Starbucks.

This city panched me down. i cannot find any confortable coffee shops. FOR FARE-TRADED AND ORGANIC COFFEE FANS, Budapest is not right place.

Speaking of Budapestian cafes, besides indivisual tiny stores, there are a few chain stores i.e. Coffee Shop Company (very clean, comfortable and modern designed furnitures), Califolnia Coffee Company (always full, bagle is awsome and its atmosphere is rather friends' house than just a coffee shop), Gloria Jean's COFFEE (gorgeours, student discount is available, i have a members card of it) and so on. But the problem is all these companies are searving unfair-traded coffee. That's why now I am wondering to keep going there or not....

Where should I go ? I know I do not need to think about. Let's just ask internet. I thought Internet can solve my problem, yes it could. Again, Budapest turned to be my city, there is a fare trade coffee shop. Eventually (to be continued).

さいきん読んだ本11

庄司克宏　『欧州連合―統治の論理とゆくえ』

EU論ではなくてEUを知るための教科書のような本。


鈴木　董　『オスマン帝国―イスラム世界の「柔らかい専制」』

息の長い大国の統治システムを探る本。


菊池良生　『神聖ローマ帝国』

神聖ローマ帝国というすごく曖昧にされている歴史をわかりやすく解説した本。


江村　洋　『ハプスブルク家』

歴代皇帝やその側近の人間くさい部分を描写しているので、ハプスブルク家の歴史がぐっと身近に、たのしく読むことができる。


マルタ・シャート（著）　西川賢一（訳）　『皇妃エリザベートの生涯 』

エリザベートの伝記。


小林朋道　『先生、巨大コウモリが廊下を飛んでいます！　[鳥取環境大学]の森の人間動物行動学』

動物の習性をとことん書いた本。知ってるようで知らなかった動物の習性がたくさん出てきます。小林先生の異常な動物熱がツボでした。


中村俊輔　『察知力』

サッカーの本ではなくて、彼の生き方とか、考え方が綴られている。ワールドカップや移籍の裏話もおもしろい。


井田徹治　『ウナギ―地球環境を語る魚』

「ウナギは絶滅するかもしれない」と言われたら、たいていの日本人は驚くのではないかとおもう。じっさい、ウナギの漁獲高は激減している。日本では最盛期の6分の1、ヨーロッパでは実に最盛期の5%にまで落ち込んでいる。2004年にアメリカウナギは絶滅危惧種指定の審査を受けている。

世界の70％のウナギを食べている日本人は、このことにあまり関心がないようだ。しかも漁獲量に反比例して、その消費量は年々ふえている。

本書を読むと、謎に満ちたウナギの生態、ウナギをめぐる世界の動向、そしてウナギと日本人の関わりにいたるまで、じっくりと追っていくことができる。とても面白かった一冊。


伊東信宏　『バルトーク―民謡を「発見」した辺境の作曲家』

ハンガリーを代表する音楽家は3人いる。ピアノの魔術師ことリスト・フェレンツ、その音楽教育メソッドが世界的に有名なコダーイ・ゾルターン、そして民謡を現代音楽に昇華させたバルトーク・ベーラ。

バルトークの活躍した19世紀末から20世紀中ごろにかけて、ハンガリーは何においてもそのアイデンティティを模索していた。オーストリア・ハンガリー二重帝国の崩壊、共産主義の勃興のなかで、バルトークはハンガリー人のナショナリティーを音楽で表現するため、田舎の民謡に見つけようとした。

地方にいっては農作業中の年寄りをつかまえ、土地の歌を歌わせた。当時の録音機は3,4回再生すれば壊れるような代物だったが、バルトークは歌を聞いただけで音符に落とすことができという。

こうして何年もかけて、民謡を題材とした名曲をいくつもつくっていった。

ハンガリー人の多くは、どちらかというと複雑なバルトークよりも聴きやすいコダーイを好むと言われる。でも、その複雑怪奇な旋律のなかに、彼のハンガリーへの情熱が盛り込まれているからこそ、いまも多くの人に聞かれるのだろう。




伊藤章治　『ジャガイモの世界史　－歴史を動かした貧者のパン』



角山　栄　『茶の世界史　緑茶の文化と紅茶の社会』



菊池良生　『ハプスブルグ帝国の情報メディア革命―近代郵便制度の誕生』

これはおもしろかった。
いかにして飛脚が郵便へ、そして新聞の発達に繋がったかということが、ローマからハプスブルグ帝国の歴史のなかで描かれている。



鶴見良行　『バナナと日本人』

ゼミの先生の先生、鶴見先生の書。

うちのゼミでは古典のように扱われいて、たぶんゼミ生すべてが読んでいると思うけれど、自分が休学している時期に課題文献となったので、たまたま読んでなかった。でも、今回読むことができた。

この本は「フィリピン農園のバナナ生産者はどのような暮らしをしているのか」や、「スーパーで払った198円は、だれにどれくらい配分されるのか」ということを書いている。国内消費の90％をフィリピンから輸入している日本だが、消費者の自分たちがあまり想像しないことをテーマとしている。

本当に目の付け所が鋭いと思う。バナナという身近なモノだけに、農園の惨状を知ると、当事者意識を掻き立てられる。丹念な文献の調査や経済構図を解き明かす構造まで、その取材力には圧巻。新書というのが信じられないくらい肉厚。

「消費者は生産者におもいをはせよ」ということが、筆者のメッセージ。
コンセプトとしては、もちろん今でいう「フェア・トレード」なんだけども、全く同じ主張を「フェア・トレード」という言葉を一回も使わず（というかフェア・トレードという言葉はなかったからなんだけど）描写しているところに、筆者の熱意を感じる。非常に感動した一冊。