study, study, study!
Here are random facts about Hungarian you didn't even know you were dying to know until right this very moment:
1.) They don't have a verb for "to have." It just literally doesn't exist. In the words of my companion, "Oh, that's cool. Instead of just being irregular like all the other languages they just decided not to deal with it at all." So, instead of using to have, you, in a weird, round-about way, describe how something is in existence with the implication that because it exists, you possess it. Which is cool.
2.) The words for tomato and paradise in Hungarian are the same word. I would highly recommend spicing up your life by using those two words interchangeably in English so that you know how it feels to be a real Hungarian.
3.) Tök jó. That's the Hungarian equivalent for "awesome." Literally translated it means: "good squash." It's a little less weird if you think about the English terms "cool as a cucumber" or "cool beans," but nonetheless, my district has still taken to saying (in English), "well, that's good squash right there" instead of awesome.
4.) Hungarian is really great. It is. When another missionary asked me in the cafeteria line what the language is like the description came to me that Hungarian is really like taking a bunch of words, tossing them in a paper bag, shaking them around really well, arranging them in a completely random order and then trying to figure out the rules as to why they're in that order. My favorite thing is when we're in class and I ask my teacher why they write things a certain way or speak a certain way and he replies, "csak magyarul" (just Hungarian). Haha but really, I LOVE THIS LANGUAGE. Once you get it down it starts to sound like gently raking marbles or softly falling rain. It's beautiful.
I realized I didn't really say much about my district last week. They're pretty awesome. We have four elderek (Elders) and two nővérek (Sisters) in our class and the other district has five elderek and two nővérek in their class, making for a total of thirteen crazy Hungarians.
It's been two weeks and the days are already starting to blend together. Class, class, class, more class, crazy studying with Wilson Nővér, and gym time! The food has already started to taste the same haha.
BY THE WAY, let me just get up on my pedestal and address the issue of MTC food here and now. For those of you who say the MTC food is bad, I say unto you: REPENT. Do you know how long the Israelites wandered in the wilderness? FORTY YEARS. Do you know what God gave them to eat? SWEET BREAD. FOR FORTY YEARS. The least we can do is eat our Subway-style wraps, limitless french fries, and all-you-can-drink BYU chocolate milk with grace the couple of weeks we're here, okay? We don't even have to gather the food for Sunday on Saturday haha. JUST KIDDING.
All jokes aside, I really enjoy the Spirit in the MTC. I mean, I've been learning this language for a stunning total of fourteen and a half days and I have learned SO MUCH. Occasionally, I get frustrated trying to absorb things line upon line, precept upon precept, I'm not going to lie. But that's kind of how life is. This is all in good practice. I mean, I can literally teach a rudimentary lesson on the Law of Chastity in Hungarian. Legit. I CAN'T EVEN DO THAT IN ENGLISH.
I'm learning so much more than Hungarian, though. If there is one thing the MTC is teaching me, it's to look outside of yourself. Coming from college, one of the most fundamentally selfish places on the face of the planet, it has been so eye-opening to be surrounded by thousands of these 18, 19, and 20 year old kids who are ALL looking outside of themselves. The coolest thing you can do is the moment you want to turn in--the moment you want to be selfish or focus on yourself, and even if you are justified in doing so--if you turn out instead, that will bring you happiness. I've been in this game for two weeks and I've already begun to know it's true. Because that is a true attribute of Christ. And that will in the long-term, make you happy. I challenge everyone who reads this to to do that at some point this week. Because it will make you nagyon boldog! I promise.
Thanks for the outpouring of love, every time I get a dearelder or package I die of blissful happiness for a few minutes. For real. No exaggeration.
Tudom hogy a Mormon könyve igaz!
Szeretet mindig,
Carle Nővér
P.S. Seriously, write me, emberek! I miss you all.