TeachOverseas End-of-Year Retreat

Each year the TeachOverseas teachers in Hungary and Slovakia get together to discuss the year's expectations, disappointments, accomplishments, and surprises. We spent the weekend crossing back and forth between Hungary and Slovakia--four times. Our three main meals were at a pub in Esztergom (HU), as well as our worship/conference meetings. We also had free time on Saturday afternoon at a beautiful water park in this city along the Danube. Our lodging and breakfasts were in Sturovo (SK), just across the bridge. Our pension had a very nice sweet shop below, where two-scoop ice cream cones cost only $1. Plus, the clerks were very entertaining, tossing and catching ice cream balls. We always enjoyed the twenty minute walk across the bridge and took many pictures from that vantage point (see below).

It is always so good to worship together, and we had three opportunities for this. Singing times were a wonderful blessing for us all. On Saturday night we celebrated communion together, a great reminder of God's love for us and a call to serve Him faithfully, wherever we are.

One of the more important topics discussed was Going "Home"--Reverse Culture Shock. We are quite aware that our experience overseas has changed us in many ways, and we may not fit into our home culture as well as we did before. It's possible that our family, friends, and church have changed too. Plus, many of our attitudes have adjusted with our cultural adjustment. We were alerted to the possibility that friends back home may not totally understand our experience. Another shock is over-stimulation, something we both experienced when were were home at Christmas: being able to understand every conversation, every advertisement, and having too many choices.

We eagerly anticipate having our feet on US soil in four weeks. Our hearts are eager for the re-connections with all of you. Our arms are ready for hugging. (Beware, we are also habitual cheek kissers!) PLEASE pray for our last four weeks in Budapest for this year, and also for our re-entry back into American culture.


This is the sunset over Sturovo, just before our walk across the bridge.

The Esztergom Basilica really stands out in the night sky!
The some of the Slovak girls across the border in Slovakia, while we stand in Hungary.
Border kissing!
Saturday morning view of the basilica.
The water park during our Saturday afternoon free time.