I just arrived in Jászberény two days ago but it has been two fulfilling days.
After I arrived at the house with Zoli that afternoon, we met the three mentors in Jászberény, Ildi, Eszter and Judit. The community house is the oldest building in the town and I fancy it very much. The mentors took me to meet the kids in the house that afternoon. We greeted each other. They were shy but still very nice to me. When I was about to leave the house, the “kid” from the oldest group said I could stay in the classroom. I was happy to see them so nice.
Then Zoli, Ildi and Eszter took me to the hostel I live in for this week. Before they left, they gave me the food they bought for me for my breakfast and I said goodbye to Zoli, the mentor who had looked out for me in Szeged.
Yesterday morning, I met the other kids in the house. We talked a lot. I had no difficulty in talking with the kids above 15 years old. Actually, I have to say, they are really good at English, not mention those 20-year-old “kids”. One of the girls has been to the UK for many times during vacation so when she was talking, she was like a native English speaker to me. And when I met the youngest group, I asked them to introduce themselves to me one by one. It turned out to be a funny meeting because a very cute boy said, ”I don’t speak English, I only speak German.” Then he became silent but after other kids gave him some hints, he continued, ”and I am stupid.” which made us couldn’t stop laughing.
Later, I asked each of them to name one of their favourite Hungarian food and the older kid I had met explained them to me. It really opened my appetite.
Then we went to the oldest museum in Jászberény with the youngest group. I saw an important symbol of this country–the horn. But more importantly, the 15-year-old kid, Attila has been an excellent guide, letting me really get into the history of Hungary.
That afternoon I had lesson with them, teaching them wrote Chinese characters. They were”我爱你，匈牙利”, which mean I love you, Hungary. And they also learnt how to write their Chinese names. I was glad that they enjoyed learning it.
Julie, AIESEC volunteer from China