Home!

The image is a photo of the gift each of us received from Habitat for Humanity Beius to thank us for our time, effort and hard work

I arrived back in Toronto on Sunday at noon.  The last two days have been a bit of a blur trying to readjust to the timezone, to Toronto, to work and to life in general. Coming "home" is always a mixed emotion for me and this time was no different.  That sense of leaving the adventure and exploration that a trip provides is hard for me. Saying farewell to friends who are suddenly farther away now is never easy. Of course that is met with the joy of seeing family and friends again who are close to home....and sleeping in your own bed!

Home is something I've thought about quite a lot on this trip.

Habitat for Humanity encourages home ownership to provide families a sense of pride and responsibility not to mention the comfort and safety that a roof, walls and rooms can provide.  A sense of community is created among the Habitat homeowners as well with the Habitat staff.  A home is security; peace of mind; sense of place.

I traveled to Romania in part to help Habitat for Humanity  but also to discover if there was any sense of home for me there.  I grew up hearing stories of Transylvania and had a strong desire to see it first hand.  Of course I grew up with the idea that it was Hungary.  And of course while it once was, it is no longer.  And yet there was an undeniable familiarity and comfort for me while in Oradea and Beius.  Not sure if it was just coincidence or because there is an unspoken and intangible connection to a place where your ancestors are from even if politics and borders have changed.

I was able to help Kim make her house feel more like her home while in Brunssum. The house itself is beautiful so this was not about making it pretty; it was about making it familiar and hers. We all go through that when we move and even to some extent when you travel.  Those little things that somehow transform a seemingly random space into something warm and familiar; making it somehow yours even if only briefly.

Not sure if home is a thing, a place or a concept.  Perhaps it is all of these.  Of course "home is where the heart is" is a tired expression.  And somewhat confusing if your heart is spread around the world with friends and family who are all over.

It is nice to be back and in my home. At least for now.....

Brunssum to Brussels in the red car with Ontario plates

On Wednesday we had yet another productive day getting Kim settled in her house. Kim took me to the US AG Schinnen (the American military base) to visit the PX and grab some hard-to-find North American essentials. I got to surrender my passport to the Americans this time!

Wednesday afternoon found us in the quaint town of Sittard. Great pedestrian streets with loads of shops...and a glorious square with many pub options for a pint and toasties.

The early evening included finding homes for all of Kim's prints, wall-hangings and other collections. Each one had a story and while I've known Kim for a few years, I've never had the chance to learn about all these histories. Incredible how a few cherished possessions with rich stories can truly make a house feel like a home.

Needing a walk, we wandered into the heart of Brunssum to take in the night life...and the local ice cream parlor And yes...another ice creamy success!

On Thursday I said a bittersweet farewell to Kim's lovely little Brunssum home and we hit the road! Since Tuesday we have been booting around in Kim's red golf...with Ontario plates! Her local plates are on order and the folks at the NATO base said we'd be fine. Wow do you get a lot of funny looks with Ontario plates in Europe.

Thanks to our Aussie gent-GPS (who says "roundabout" with a brilliant accent), we got ourselves to the heart of Brussels and the flat I rented in the Grand Place. Ridiculous amount of stairs to get to the flat but well worth the views.



Spent the afternoon wandering the streets and shops, staring wide-eyed at the Grand Place and indulging in the smells of waffles, chocolate shops and patisseries. Stopped for pints and frites.



Visited the Opera House and found a charming little Italian restaurant for dinner and to celebrate and remember Kim's Dad.

Kim and her little red golf with Ontario plates head back to Brunssum tomorrow. I look forward to our next visit when I can see the car with its local plates...and all the changes she's made to her little home.

And me...well, I may have to have a few more pints and a waffle or two before heading home.

Please surrender your passport!

After much needed sleep and a minimal diet of rice cakes, black tea and Rusk breads I woke up feeling much more like myself.  Aliens seem to have vacated my body!!

Kim moved in to her house in Brunssum, Netherlands one day before she then left to meet the Habitat team in Budapest.  She starts her new job next week.  My hope was that by being here I could help her get a bit more settled and help her do some last minute things.

Yesterday we managed to get the internet and the cable hooked up and functional!  Yes we can build houses for Habitat but sometimes setting up internet and cable can be challenging!  We however got her done!!  (And I was partially in a coma all day so really, I'm surprised we got anything done!)

After breakfast and after organizing closets, we went for a walk.  Kim's house is in a lovely neighbourhood surrounded by park lands and trails.  We happened about a lake and found some new neighbours.

At long last Kim's car was delivered.  A very exciting moment...wheels!

The car also meant we needed to head to the NATO base to investigate when Kim could get her local plates and where we were able to drive the car.  The hope was that we could drive to Brussels on Thursday. So it was off to the NATO base!  Ahh yes, images of men in uniform flashed through my mind!  But it all got rather serious when they asked me to surrender my passport to obtain a visitor badge and get access onto the base.  But not to worry, passport returned upon exit!

Sadly I'm not stuck here indefinitely.

Got the thumbs up to drive where we needed (and to Brussels should we decide to do that!)  so we headed out to shop for some home stuff.  Driving is an adventure.  It is the town of round-a-bouts  and one-way streets but Kim did a great job.  A couple of furniture stores and then...Ikea!  Ikea really is fascinating!  Once you step through the doors, you could be in any Ikea in any city.  Except that from what I could tell, the Ikea resto offers much better food than at home.  AND there is an Ikea cafe with fresh baked cakes and made to order coffees. Very civilized!! No sign of cinnamon buns though.

Stop at the grocery store to get some essentials and ingredients for dinner. Of course I feel at home in a kitchen. Her's is great.

I had told Kim I would bake for her this week but not sure we will get that in.  Instead I made her dinner and promised to make homemade Aubergine dip tomorrow for her.

A productive day and I think I was helpful as well. Enjoying the down time that being at home allows...even  when it's not your own home. Not sure what tomorrow will bring but no doubt it will be a good day.  

Some more shots of Kim's great house: 

The entrance and front hall-way. Love the spiral staircase!

Living room...and the great couch where I spent most of Monday afternoon and evening

Dining room

Brunssum bound with aliens

Waiting to board my flight from Budapest to Brussels. Will take a shuttle from Brussels.

Feeling a bit knackered as a result of some alien that has taken over my insides. I suspect food poisoning.

Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come this week!


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Location:Ferihegy II. Terminál Indulás,Budapest,Hungary

A Sunday with no itinerary? Priceless!

I can not remember the last Sunday I had that did not have a schedule, list of things to do, alarm that needed to be set. Normally my Sundays involve an early morning start to get my run in.  Had a good proper sleep-in and then a lovely late breakfast/brunch with all my market purchases (which were delicious by the way!)

The deli wrapping from the cheese we bought at the Market.  I'm pretty sure the pig and cow are chattin' up the chicken!  

We headed out to wander the city and shop!  I'm spending the bulk of this next week with my friend Kim.  Kim was my team leader for this Habitat build.

Kim and I at our last dinner in Oradea before heading to Beius

I met Kim in 2008 when she led my Habitat build in Szarvas, Hungary.  We were room-mates and instant friends.  In 2008 we had a bit of time in Budapest together but wanted the chance to explore the city together this time around.  Kim knows the city very well having been here many times with Habitat...and we both love the place.  Plus we both are happy to simply wander and explore by accident and not with any real purpose.  She a great friend, an excellent team leader! I'm lucky to have this time with her.

I should also note that we both love afternoon coffee and treat breaks!  In 2008 it was the quest for the perfect Dobos torta.

My Great Aunt made the best Dobos and I have tried not only to buy a slice that matches but even try to re-create hers.  Inspired to give it a try again once I am home. 

But with the heat these last few days it seems to be the perfect ice cream I am in search for.  I love ice cream so I'm in a good place. Sadly they are all so good here, it's hard to pick a winner!

After spending the last 2 weeks as a group of twelve all the time, there is a strange loneliness now that everyone is gone save Kim.  Woke up missing the Beav, Sarah and Pete.  Travelling in a group is a fascinating experience which I should write more about once I have time to reflect a bit.  Definitely a learning experience every time I do it.

One last dinner in Budapest and then off to Holland tomorrow via Brussels!  Kim is starting a new life in Brunssum, Holland working at an international school.  Will be helping her get settled in her new house and checkin' out her new hood!

I suspect cheese, beer and chocolate are in my future!

Hungarian Kate goes to the Market and gets her Magyar on!

In Budapest for a couple of days and happy to have warm, sunny weather rather than the weather that greeted me upon arrival (and seemed to reappear in Oradea and Beius). Truly a summer day!

While working with Habitat, there was a Kathryn on our team and we anticipated that the local staff would struggle with differentiating our names.  By the end of the trip, Emil (the Habitat for Humanity, Beius Volunteer Coordinator) started calling me Hungarian Kate to be able to quickly get the correct person. Kinda liked that!

Have felt over the last two weeks that my Hungarian is quite good. Somewhat ironic since very few people in Oradea or Beius spoke Hungarian while I was there.  And in Budapest you can get by quite easily speaking english.

So decided to test the waters and get out there today in Budapest and speak. In 2008 I missed the chance to go to the Market...Budapest Central Market aka Nagy Vasarcsarnok.....think St. Lawrence Market in Toronto but in an even more beautiful building with more delicious food and beautiful crafts. And lots of Hungarian speakers. I did see the outside of it with my Dad in 2008 but it is closed on Sundays and we were unable to explore it. It was now or never.

Happy to say I successfully bought peaches, blueberries, cheese, bread and of course some kolbass (sweet not hot!)...all in Hungarian!  Breakfast and possibly lunch is covered for the next few days! 

Concrete,rebar, stairs and a foundation plus a new roof and an amazing HFH Affiliate in Beius

The 2011 Global Village team of Canadians(and 1 American)  to Romania has officially come to its close. I am not entirely sure where the two weeks has gone but when I reflect back on the memories and all that we did, it is not surprising that I am exhausted and elated!

We started work on the site in Beius on Monday morning and returned to the very familiar rock shoveling, wheel-barrowing and concrete mixing to complete the foundation for a second house. We also worked on building re-bar framing for the foundation. This work continued into Tuesday as well and in addition to finishing the foundation, we built frames for two other homes for their entrance stairways. (which you can see in the first photo)

On Wednesday we went to the site of some of the very first Habitat homes to help a homeowner who wanted to switch his concrete tiles that originally made up his roof to ceramic tiles.  I had the great pleasure
of spending most of the two days on the roof in the thick of the building action.

To accomplish this we needed to remove the old tiles.  Habitat for Humanity collects them and stores them in their warehouse for re-use.

We then had to reinforce the roof structure with more 2x4s, cover the frame with plastic barrier, build and install the strapping and then install close to 1500 tiles.

This took Wednesday and Thursday but we got it entirely complete.  Truly rewarding. The homeowner's family treated us to elderberry drinks, homemade donuts and even beer on the last day.

On Thursday night we celebrated with the Habitat staff with a traditional night of folk dancing, another amazing meal and ridiculous amounts of palinka -- a homemade moonshine made from plums.

Working with Emil, Mihai, Marcel and Nelu  all week and a very welcome surprise return for our last night by Ionuts was a treat!  Habitat in Beius is a impressively strong community and organization.  The people make the place...and the experience. The people working here and the people on my team made the work, the learning and the giving an unforgettable experience. For this I am truly fortunate and grateful.

La revedere Romania!

After a night of fond farewells and way too much palinka, we're heading to our last breakfast in Beius and making our way back to Budapest for one more night as a team!

Where does the time go? So many stories, new friends, old friends even better friends...great work, great people!

Running with The Beav, finally some sun and more rocks!

My friend and colleague Bev is part of this build.  On our second night in Oradea, a waitress was delivering our dinner orders at a restaurant and attempted to call us by our names.  Instead of "Bev" she said "beav"...and thus The Beav was born! And now that The Beav has shared my blog with friends and family she's probably cursing me...sorry Beav!!

 I have managed to get up and run or cross train 5 days so far during this build.  It means getting up before 6am and trying get a few KMs in and get ready for the work site before 7:40am. The Beav has joined me each time.  Let me point out that she is an active and fit woman...but doesn't run much.  And today she set a new personal best and pushed herself! So proud of her! And can't thank her enough for getting up with me.

The sun has returned to Beius and we have had a busy few days.   The site in Beius has a number of Habitat houses on it and we are working on two more. We were hard at work hard at work again mixing concrete, hauling stones and other fun stuff. I even did an interview for Romanian television.

Today we helped another Habitat owner replace his roof tiles.  I was very fortunate to be on the roof nailing down support planks and strapping.  Great views and hard work. The two grandmothers of the family made us fresh donuts to eat at the end of the day to thank us.  We will return tomorrow to finish the job and the roof.

Shockingly, Thursday is our last day building. Not sure where the time goes.