Amy and the Great World

Baby Expat Life Hungary Pregnancy Upcoming

Schwanger’d + A Little Life Update

0

IMG_5677

If you can’t read German or have never seen a pregnancy test, the above photo might be confusing…

but to confirm,

YES, I am pregnant!

(And for some reason, at first, here in Budapest we could only find German pregnancy tests).

I announced the news yesterday on Instagram and was overwhelmed by the love and excitement E and I received from all over the world! This is one lucky little babe already.

I am just over 16 weeks pregnant–the baby is expected to arrive at the end of November, around Thanksgiving (in America, anyways). Which means we exclusively refer to it with all the fall fruits and foods we can think of, including Lil Turkey.

Anyway, that’s why it’s been so quiet around here! I can’t believe my last post was in APRIL!!

Mostly the radio silence is because the first trimester left me nearly comatose every day. The fatigue and morning sickness (or, all-day sickness, really???) really threw me for a loop. I was so nauseous all the time, that some clothes I wore during that time make me feel ill. Our spring break trip to Macedonia–two days after we found out I was pregnant–is still hard for me to think about, even though it’s a beautiful country. I just feel sick again at the memory!

Add the “morning” sickness and fatigue to teaching every day?? I practically had to crawl home and not move again once I got there.

Tomorrow is the last day of school (so many feelings!!) and while I love my job and my students, I am so grateful for a break. I do not understand how teachers teach until right before they have the baby.

IMG_6046^^one of my first-graders drew this picture of future me…pregnant and in London. Apparently he thinks I’m British, ha! 

Although I shared not long ago that we would be staying for another year in Hungary, after our little surprise turkey news, E and I decided that going back to the States–for the time being–would be better for us.

There are a few reasons for this:

First, family! It would be nice to be a little closer to at least ONE member of our family when our little babe arrives.

Secondly, the healthcare here is decent–dare I say better than in most of America, unfortunately?–but even at the private clinic we go to, there is quite a language barrier. We always have to furiously Google both during AND after the appointments to figure out what exactly is happening. There is also a protocol in Hungary (and perhaps in the States?? I’ll find out soon!) for prenatal care, and with the language barrier, half the time I’m not even sure why they’re taking my blood or giving me another ultrasound. Since it’s my first pregnancy, I’m a bit of a hypochondriac, and I already had a small complication at the beginning of the pregnancy, I really want a doctor who can help me understand my pregnancy and baby.

Another reason we are leaving is because our visas are tied to my job here–and since I would get at least a year or so off with maternity leave, this would also impact our visas and make it harder to stay.

Another minor issue? Even if we did have the baby here, it wouldn’t have Hungarian citizenship since we are both American–a perk I did want to give my child, but doesn’t seem to be happening this time around :).

So, what’s next?

Next, my parents come to visit–they arrive TOMORROW, in fact!–and we are going to Poland! After they leave, E and I will be traveling some–Lviv in Ukraine, Amsterdam, Scotland and Iceland, to be exact!

That will take us into the middle of July, and we’ll fly back to the States then. We’ll stay with my parents for a few weeks, and then…who knows!

A big fat question mark is still in my mind about where exactly we are going to have this baby and what we’re going to do. I’m planning on teaching online for the rest of my pregnancy and then taking time off to enjoy my new baby before getting another job. E, who works for himself from home, will probably find a more full-time (but hopefully still remote!) job that will give us benefits (because healthcare, besides the English thing, is NOT A PERK OF MOVING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES).

But really, we have no idea what will come next.

And that goes for parenting!

Truthfully, my first trimester was so rough, emotionally and physically, and my pregnancy was quite a surprise–and along with the fact that we have to leave my beloved Europe–I have been so up and down about this new adventure of ours.

Now that I’m feeling a bit better, with a summer of family and travel is ahead of us, and now that I even have a little baby bump!, it feels more real and more exciting.

I am so excited to show our little one the world! We hope to live abroad again and give our child that experience, but first we will have to adjust to being parents. Whoa!

I hope you’ll join me for this next chapter in our lives, too :). Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out and shared their excitement with both me and E–it means so much to us!

IMG_5989

Do you have any questions about my pregnancy? Do you travel/live abroad with a child? Share your wisdom!  

Croatia

An Overview of Hvar Island

0

Not long ago, I wrote about how many places I’ve visited that I haven’t written about.

Well, Hvar is one of those places, even though it happened almost two years ago!

I had so many friends rave about Korčula that I expected it to be my favorite spot of our Croatia trip–and definitely my favorite island in Croatia (although there are hundreds I need to go to, just to be sure).

However, I loved our time on Hvar even more–but I’m not sure how much that had to do with the island itself, or if it was just my own experience.

We stayed in an amazing (and sadly now unavailable) Airbnb in Brusje, a small village in the middle of the island. During our four days in Brusje, we found hidden coves to swim in, bought lavender, olive oil, and limoncello from various stands, wandered the back streets of Stari Grad, avoided any place that had WiFi, and had the best fish of our lives, cooked for us on a traditional grill on our porch by our host.

Now that I’ve talked it up, of course I’ll share a few pictures with you…not that I took that many! Although it was gorgeous, I was too obsessed with being on vacation to even think about photos. Now that’s what I call unplugging.

HVAR TOWN

First of all, Hvar Town is known as a play land of the rich and famous. Celebrities often dock their massive yachts there, and we definitely saw our fair share of those. The town itself is full of fancy shops and glittery hotels, although it still retains an island charm unique to Croatia.

Staying amongst all that glitz and glamour is not really our thing–and at the time, way, way beyond our budget (where as now it would just be way beyond our budget–although keep in mind we were booking last minute!). Still, we visited the town, for the one day we really needed Wifi, and to book ferry tickets and the like.

IMG_3757 IMG_3587 IMG_3636 IMG_3642

ISLAND LIVING

While exploring Airbnb for places in Hvar, I found one called “the Quiet Escape,” located in a village. Brusje is, as far as I can tell, a small collection of houses, a few olive oil stands, and a market that I never saw open. One reason it was so charming, I think, was its distance from everything (and nearly everyone) else.

This is not a quick walk away from Hvar Town, or the other ferry port at Stari Grad. You will definitely need a motorcycle or a car to get here.

Of course, that’s one reason I loved our stay on Hvar so much–our motorcycle!

 

IMG_3617 IMG_3547 IMG_3621 IMG_3678 IMG_3633 IMG_3580

STARI GRAD

While Hvar Town seems to be the main city of the island, the old port is Stari Grad. Stari Grad is much quieter, and in my opinion, just as picturesque–if not more so–than Hvar Town. We preferred to motor there rather than Hvar Town on the beautiful, windy roads, and pick up food at the local market.

And, of course, I loved exploring the back streets and the alleys. Croatia has some serious alley game!

IMG_3692 IMG_3563 IMG_3570 IMG_3555

HIDDEN COVES

Like I mentioned above, we spent a lot of time exploring the island and finding little coves to swim in (thanks to our host, who circled a bunch on a map for us). I wish I could tell you the name and how to find them so you could experience them yourself–but I don’t remember one single name! Also, part of the fun is stumbling upon them all by yourself, if you ask me.

Croatia was stifling hot while we were there–basically unbearable to a northerner like me–so swimming at least once a day was a necessity. Plus, that water is pretty impossible to resist–and why should you?

IMG_3750 IMG_3589 IMG_3736 IMG_3743 IMG_3592_2

Those few days on Hvar were the highlight of our time in Croatia, and looking back, one of our best (and most relaxing) vacations ever!

And I still cannot get over that water.

Linking up with Wanderful Wednesday. 

Hungary Writing

Currently, March (Budapest Edition)

0

Even though I decided to stop writing my By the Numbers posts, I’ve been writing them for over two years, so in the back of my mind I keep thinking “Oh! I can put that in my BTN post!” I liked them for helping me keep track, and for helping me share things I might forget to, otherwise. As I sat down to write this, I realize so much has happened since my one-year post in January that I’ve forgotten to write about. So, let’s catch up, shall we??

// Finally getting this post out on the last day of March…I’m nothing if not a procrastinator.

// I have to say…March is one of those months I’m rather ambivalent about, especially now that my spring break tends to be in April. Growing up in the Rocky Mountains, March was always kind of a gross month. It’s been pretty gorgeous here in Budapest, though!

// Speaking of…spring is here! I love winter so much, but European springs are what springs are made of.

DSCN7889

// I took part in the Women’s March here in Budapest. I’ve read so many mixed reviews of the march and what it means and why people loved/hated it, but I will say that it was a great day, at least here in Budapest. A long line of women, men, immigrants, and natives all made a human chain across the Chain Bridge. If nothing else, I felt inspired by the people I met/was with and hopeful about the future, if only for a few hours.

IMG_4811

// I had a horrible attack of the flu this year, in the middle of a month-long cold (thank you, January and February) and I thought I might die. Not dramatic at all. Of course, I got sick just a few days before we were going to Stockholm…so it ended up being a slower weekend than planned. Still a good one, though!

// As a result of said illness, I’ve been to the doctor several times in the past few months. I went to a pricey foreign doctor who was useless–and then when I mentioned this to the vice-principal at school, she suddenly swept me off to her doctor (who happens to be next door to the school…so much more convenient, although the language barrier is a thing). I was already feeling better and didn’t want to go to the doctor, but…I guess that’s now how it works!

// Along these lines, I am so not okay with the Hungarians and their casual approach to nudity. I find it refreshing but at the same time, I just cannot get used to it. I go to the same gym as my boss and let’s just say, having a conversation with your boss when she’s casually topless is a true test of my awkwardness.

// Before The Illness really struck, E and I went to a cooking class at Chef Parade here in Budapest. I gifted him a French cooking class for Christmas (mostly because they were making a French version of mac’n’cheese, his favorite) and it was fun, informative, and delicious! Our main goal was to learn a new dish we could incorporate into our lives, and the chicken we made was tasty, easy, and healthy(ish).

// Two weeks until spring break! We are going to…drumroll please…Macedonia! I’m having a really hard time finding anything about this little country, so hit me up if you’ve been with some advice! It looks really beautiful, and I’m pretty excited.

ohrid macedoniasource

// My sister is coming to visit in May! To say I’m thrilled would be an understatement. She’s never been to Europe! My list is huge and too ambitious for when she visits…but I have faith.

IMG_4597this remains my favorite photo of my dear sister.

// The kids are dabbing. All day everyday. It’s simultaneously adorable, hilarious…and annoying. Is it really necessary to dab to the A-B-Cs, children?! It’s probably most annoying when they’re supposed to be working and they do it behind my back, thinking I won’t catch them and that it’s a great joke. Silly things…don’t you know, I will always catch you??!

// So far the travels in 2017 have been the year of the S–first Sweden in February, and Serbia in March!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

// We took a night train to Belgrade, Serbia, to meet our friends (the same ones we went to Slovakia with last autumn) and although the city is kind of crumbling, it’s–there’s no other word for it–cool. There was a hip little bar/wine spot/cafe/restaurant/shop around every corner. You’ll find everything from flowers to WWII weapons to dinosaurs at the fortress, to give you an example of the funkiness. I also loved the food…I mean, cheese pie? Sounds weird, but trust me, it’s amazing.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Your turn! What’s your current status?!

Back to top