it feels like Summer's Over

I've been here in Bp for 3 months now. My tourist visa has expired, but my student visa is in the works and should be ready by Wednesday. I'm a bit disappointed that I haven't found a job yet, but i'm hopeful once the MBA program begins i'll have an easier time finding employment. I have my orientation this Friday and Saturday at a city called Tata...about an hour or so away from Bp by car. Gabi and I were given the old family car to use, but still prefer public transportation for going out. (Bp has a zero tolerance policy regarding alcohol and driving...i.e. BAC=0.0)

...continued (9/18/08)

**Tata**
Finished the orientation. I'm excited to start school tomorrow. At the orientation we met the others that are in the program and a brief intro of the classes we'll be taking. I'm really looking forward to it because it's things I really want to learn. My colleagues range from MD's to Engineers to Ironman Triathletes to professional Basketball players...(no, you probably don't know her). I'm the only US Citizen in the program, but several have either studied or lived in the US. So the dynamics of the program should be interesting. One of the main reasons for choosing a program outside of the US was to get this diversity. Not only in Ethnicity, but careers, academic disciplines, etc. I hope to provide some valuable insight to the group and learn from them as well.

Here's some pics at Tata:

some of the colleagues

view of the lake at Tata

another view from the lake

**weather**
It's hella cold!!!! It went from 90's during the first week of Sept down to the 40's a few days ago. I'm freezing my a** off here!! And it's only September!?!? It kinda gets this cold in SD, but we're talking about Jan or Feb and i'm all bundled up with my thermal shirt, gloves, snowboard jacket, etc... and that's at night. Here, it's this cold during the day. What's worse is, it's raining too. I brought with me my Pea Coat and some other "SD-winter" clothes, but wasn't able to bring everything. I was hoping to come back to SD during the holidays and bring back the warmer clothes. My fault for not realizing the coldest SD gets in the winter is the coldest Bp gets in the Fall. WTF?!?! Anyways, I've made several trips to H&M and bought more appropriate clothing just for the Fall. I'm sure I'll need even warmer clothes come Winter time...
(keep in mind, i've only lived in warm climate...philippines, saudi arabia, so cal...there is no winter time)
Good lesson learned.

Anyways, I begin class tomorrow at 1-8pm and on Saturdays from 9-520pm. Tonight Gabi and I are going to check out the MOL Jazz Festival. They have various jazz concerts near Corvinus University. It started yesterday and it's going until Sunday. Most of the bands are from Europe, with a couple members from the US. Should be fun...jazz, scotch, cigars, cold weather...my kind of atmosphere.

Oh, I know I mentioned before I may come back to SD during Christmas time, but that may change. One, Gabi started a new job and doesn't know if she can get the time off so soon. And two, she still needs to apply for a visa to come to the US. Hungary signed a treaty with the US to allow Hungarians to come the US w/o a Visa, but it hasn't taken into effect yet. Also the airline tickets are too expensive during that time. But we'll see. Things could change. I would like my first time back to be with her. It would be her first time in the US and I like playing tour guide to "America's Finest City".

**side note: running streak is still continuing...although, i honestly don't know once winter comes...i may be running in snowboarding gear.

On that note, I'm gonna run right now. Stay warm kids...i'll try.