Trying to speak Hungarian...

I don't know if any of you realize, but the Hungarian alphabet has 44 letters. Even with the aid of a phrase book, trying to pronounce the words is next to impossible. But the boys have been trying. Hunter has asked the girls (who are cute) to help him pronounce different phrases and has translated the phrases to phoenetics which might be understandable in English. The girls at the desk seem pleased to help all their boys' with the machinations of the language. Actually, everyone here, in Eger, is so eager to help with our helplessness. They seem pleased that the boys are trying. One of the boys' favorite pasttimes during meals, besides describing all the different moves in water polo games, is figuring out different phrases, some of them appropriate, some of them not. One of the players cursed in English to Nick and the only phrase the boys could come up with in Hungarian was, "leave me alone".

All of the boys feel extremely comfortable wandering the streets of Eger. It is incredibly safe here. If they wander, they wander with at least one friend. Mostly, they travel in packs. Each of them has expressed excitement of how different it is here. They enjoy any kind of encounter with the Hungarians in the street, in shops, at the hotel and at the pool. All you of should be proud of the maturity and confidence they have exhibited. They've exchanged their own money without adult chaperones.

I'm trying to get them to write something on the blog but I think they have so little down time that trying to schedule any time comes next to impossible. But that may change in Split. It has taken a few days to get over jet lag and to become acclimated to a new country. For those of you parents who have boys who are doing reading for the fall, be pleased; they are reading when they can.

In the three scrimmages I have watched, I have noticed that the team is beginning to trust themselves and each other a little more. Most importantly, they always look like they are having fun.

Every time I can post, I will.