I'll miss all of you!
Random Observation/Comment #199: The past 4 months have passed by unbelievably quickly. It felt like just yesterday we were all drinking our first beers in public, dancing on tables, and finding valid excuses to party every day of the week. I’ve had an absolutely wonderful time getting to know everyone, especially the “Hungarian group” (to which I will dedicate this entry to). I hope we will all stay in touch through tweets, status updates, and random pokes through facebook, email, or any other social network. If anybody (Hungarians and everyone else I’ve met abroad included) visits New York, you will have a personal tour guide and possibly a place to stay. Either way, I hope we will always be international friends. It’s incredibly sad to see this Hamburg University Chapter come to an end, but as with all good memories, it will have a fantastic finish tonight. Let’s make the last party rock the house (dormitory/apartment/whatever). May our paths cross again in the future…
In most of my journal entries, I think about the beginning and then flip through my mental photo album of these moments to find the right words. Each quirky personality comes to mind through the crooked smirks, embarrassed smiles, and uncontrollable laughter memories we shared together. I can’t quite pin-point how I exactly became a fellow-Hungarian, but our relationship grew from just being with each other in our happiest times. Whether it was a relaxing walk through Berlin, a well-cooked dorm goulash dinner, or another alcohol-filled night at the bar downstairs, the time we spent together will always remind me of freedom and friendship.
Interestingly enough, I was accepted into the group with open arms. It might have been the massage-hands or my tendency to take pictures of everything (which they find adorable), but I really felt missed when I couldn’t make it to a party – like I was a genuine part of their group from the start. It was only a small amount of attention, but it pulled me into this temporary family and I’m happy that I was a part of it. Each of you has made an impact on me and you deserve your individual tributes.
Greg has somehow become my pupil after these past few months of living in the same flat and partying (pretty much all the time). I can sense that he has respect for my opinion and enjoys my company, so he invites me to his excursions and discusses random topics when he passes my room for his occasional smoke. Although Greg is sometimes overstressed about certain aspects of his schoolwork, he knows how to have a good time and let loose at a party. Drunk Greg tends to use very flashy hand gestures (which we all love to notice and mimic), and will always push for more shots of Jagermeister (good man). It may seem like I did most of the teaching with the occasional English reviews, but you have taught me more than you realize. I’m glad we became friends and I hope I can meet you in Hungary or Austria in 2 years.
Frank exudes the qualities of a professional like no other. He’s well-dressed, current events savvy, and charismatic about all topics of conversation. Even if he’s never been to a place, he is automatically crowned the guide, leader, and decision-maker. I haven’t found this exact quality to his stride or the way he holds his conversations, but there’s a certain characteristic that makes his arguments very convincing. Either way, I think I have learned one of his secrets: Frank loves the camera and wants to be immortalized in the most interesting poses. It works out well – every photographer needs that fun-pose model.
For the sexy poses, I’ll, of course, yield the lens to the lovely ladies. This is one of my outrageous hypotheses, but I think the girls competed for my attention to get more massage-time. They each had their own strategies for getting my attention (or at least I saw it this way in my mind), but I found it interesting because they appealed to such different parts of my brain (I can’t choose a favorite so I think I fell for all of you in different ways =D). I’ll be more specific: (It is a given that you’re all very pretty, so I’ll leave it out of the descriptions).
Ria appealed to the obvious and straightforward physical contact. It is custom for European hugs and kisses, but it was more of an enjoyment than a formality. In many ways, I felt like she was the awkward hand on the thigh stepping around the line of appropriateness. We shared the sitcom inside-jokes with How I Met Your Mother and Friends references, which is always an interesting topic of conversation. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t consider it, but there was something with the grouping circumstances that made me more comfortable in a friend zone (going into detail about these personal dating rules would be too far off-topic).
Reka is adorable and really attracted that cute-sy, naming-stuffed-animals side of me. She shyly smiles, and often shows a silent jealousy I’ve often noticed from my Chinese ex-girlfriend. It used to work so much better, but I guess I grew up from that phase. Because of this sheep obsession, her personality stuck in my mind and it made me buy her a sheep toy and draw a sheep-portrait for her. The cute gestures continued, but my normal observation-driven drunken nights never lead me to common topics and inside jokes. I feel like younger-timid-Clemens would have been captivated, but more-mature-Clemens wavered and explored a different world.
Juli is the youngest, yet fit in seamlessly. I was unexpectedly impressed by her wit and our playful conversations. I don’t think it had to do with age or innocence, but rather a very quick connection to normal wordplay. I rarely say this, but she has a beautiful personality. It’s not even that we know each other extremely well; I just find this combination of words to be very fitting. The odd thing is that I don’t think anyone would disagree because I just said what everyone was trying to say, but just couldn’t find the words for. You’re welcome.
Vikky claims my educational and independence-driven part of my heart. She really reminds me of Monica from Friends. She’s responsible, organized, and very tidy with every aspect of her life – to summarize: she will be a wonderful mother. The trips will be planned down to every detail and optimal efficiency would be achieved (efficiency = super sexy). I think our personalities have much more in common than we gave time to explore, but (as expected) the positive and negative qualities of social intellectuals arise – we have much to say, yet we rather observe. However, one who pries will find a topic that just makes us talk non-stop. Her enthusiasm just so happened to be in volleyball, which – to put into my hobby gauge – matches my enthusiasm for ping pong (which borderlines obsession).
Orsi has the most extroverted personality with quite a contagious laugh and smile. She floats around in her own world and sprinkles her happy mood on the group. Not only is she quite the dancer, but I think I would consider her the most energetic. Her playful nature is something anyone would love, and I feel like a livelier person in her presence. She’s proof that happiness can be spread by example, and I’m glad I met someone with this quality. Even though I haven’t called you Sushi since the first time I met you, the word will always remind me of you and your enthusiasm.
Although I did not wind up a fluent Hungarian speaker (I’m surprised too), I’ve learned a great deal about the culture and customs. At the end of the day, we were all study abroad students living a study abroad student life, but there was a definite connection. Actually, I was probably drawn to the unbelievably hot group of beautiful girls. It’s true – you make all of my friends jealous and I’m glad we have so many pictures together.
Cheers! Egészségedre! Kampai! Kippis! Salud! Salute! Skal! Na zdrowie! Budem zdorovy! Let’s get our freak on. All the best and safe travels.
Your Sneaker,
Clemens
~See Lemons Miss Greg, Frank, Ria, Reka, Juli, Vikky, and Orsi (Sushi)
they're so cute...
