Rejoining the world

Hi friends,

I have a new cell - 617 875-5821.

I ordered a new computer (despite my being turned down for a Best Buy credit card today. Why wouldn't BB want to extend me and my new student status credit?)

I just went to Pizzeria Uno.

Yup, I am not in Hungary anymore.

Call me.

Szia Friends!

Hi friends,

Given I am moving to Boston, this blog is coming to a close. Thank you all for reading (hi, mom!), and I will keep you updated on my life through my new blog “Adventures in Business School.” Just kidding! Even I wouldn't subject you to that.

acbochicchio@gmail.com
abochicchio@mba2012.hbs.edu
US phone # and address TBD

Szia!
Alex

So, What Did You Learn during Your 14+ Months in Budapest?

It’s all relative.

I am surprisingly patriotic.

Learn to be patient.

Get to the point.

Don’t be apologetic.

Don't ask if you don't want to know.

Close the bathroom door. Completely.

Croatia

I maintain that Croatia is the most beautiful place on earth.

It is also the hottest. I love bikram yoga, but I don't know how I feel about bikram living.


View from our patio onto the Adriatic and Lokrum. Yes, you can hate me. I will hate myself when I am snowed under in Boston mid-October.


The Stradum running through the center of Dubrovnik served only as a conduit to obtain octopus salad and gelato.


How can you not take pictures of this? Actually pretty easily. All of the beautiful photo ops are courtesty of Alyssa and Lexipoo.


We took a ferry to the Elafiti islands of Kolocep and Lopud.


While Lyss and Lex played scrabble on the boat, I learned that my apartment in Boston didn't work out. What is a five letter word containing three vowels for my mortgage broker?


We took a break from the sun to visit Restaurant Gverovic Orsan in nearby Zaton Bay. During the time of Dubrovnik Republic, Zaton Bay was where Dubrovnik’s noblemen preferred to summer. Today, it is where Lyss taught us how to eat oysters.


Did ya know that although oysters have two sexes, they may change sex one or more times during their life span?


Furtheremore, opening, or "shucking" oysters has become a competitive sport. Oyster shucking competitions are staged around the world, including the annual Guiness World Oyster Opening Championship in Galway, Ireland.


Unfortunately making strange faces while drinking wine is not a competitive event. This was my response when Alyssa told me do my "Alex" look. Skeptical with a hint of lazy.


We not only had a wonderful time, but also Alyssa and I escaped Croatia without our usual traveling mishaps. And now I probably jinxed Alyssa, who currently is boarding a Titanic-sized cruise ship.

T-2 weeks in the 'Pest!

Exit Festival

Vacay’s theme was juxtaposition: drinking rocket fuel with old men in front of garbage cans in Serbia and discussing “three things that get us out of bed each morning” on the beach in Dubrovnik.


Granted, that “morning” we got out of bed at noon.

But first, Exit.


Exit Festival was started in 2000 by three University students from Novi Sad. Initially the festival had a heavy political bent, protesting the government under President Slobodan Milošević. Now the festival is less controversial and more on point with its original mission of providing relevant entertainment to Serbian youth with a social conscious.


Crossing the Hungarian-Serbian border to get to Exit was bizarre. Over half of the cars had Dutch plates but were driven by gypsy families literally spilling out into the street. Passing a car on the two-lane highway in Serbia was like a game of chicken.


Between concerts, we visited the communist beach built as a “present for the people." Speakers blared techno music, and tattooed, chain-smoking mothers bounced their children to the constant beat. Death by skin cancer is a tertiary concern to secondhand smoke and alcohol poisoning.


Matjaz texted some good advice: "Hey Alex, once you are at the beach, don't go swimming. I know you like it, but this river passes through some big cities."


But there was nothing like the silent disco. When I finally made it into the tent, a 12-year old Serbian girl plopped a pair of giant earphones onto my purple afro. I then tuned into one of two DJs silently spinning on stage and danced away in my adult romper.


It was cool taking off the earphones and hearing everyone singing along to different songs.

Alyssa was really good at Peaches.

Time for a vacation.

Flashback

Nostalgic after our 5-year college reunion, my first post-college roommate forwarded me this email (blitz) exchange dated 8/02/2005.

*******
From: Alex
To: Tracey
Date: 8/2/05

9:01--alex wanted to get to work before 9 to show that she is a good analyst. unfortunately, she was a little late and arrives to work a bit sweaty and flustered. she shares an elevator with the scary MD who doesn't know her name and makes it even more awkward than it should have been. newsflash: alex is awkward and apparently thrives on awkward situations.

9:10--9:30--alex spends many minutes trying to use the copy machine. apparently, there is touchpad where you are supposed to press the word "copy," but this fact elludes alex for quite some time. alexis feels triumphant that she has accomplished something.

9:45--there is still no work for alex to do. she surfs "Deutsche Bank's employee perks," but it looks too much like online shopping so she stops. she then receives 3 emails. unfortunately all of them are from her mom.

10:57--VP asks Alex if she "was the best in her training class." Alex faces a dilemma--does he want her to be an assertive employee and answer "YES!!!" or be an honest person and respond, "hell no"..? Alex contemplates her answer for a bit too long, and the VP frowns, questioning her mental capacities.

11:15--Alex breaks up the day with a trip to the coffee machine.

11:55--Alex goes to lunch with 5 male (older) members of her group. They are loud, boisterous, and swear a lot, so Alex doesn't say much, but eats her sandwich quietly (although she has forgotten napkins). Her fellow co-workers ask her one question, which she doesn't hear, so she answers "yes." Apparently, this wasn't a "yes or no" question, as her lunch companions stare questioningly back at her with looks of pity/disdain(???) on their faces. However, the Cosi Lime Chicken sandwich is quite tasty.

12:52--Alex has yet to do any work.

1:18--Alex wonders what she will order for dinner.

2:05--Alex decides to email every person she ever has known in Dartmouth/high school/elementary school/life. This takes some time. However, she is nervous about sending emails over her work email, so writes them in microsoft word (to appear like she's doing work), and copies and pastes them into her alum account. So far, Alex has received 0 responses. Except from her mom. That does not count.

3:01--Alex thinks she fell asleep for a bit. The past twenty minutes/6 hours/6 weeks seem like a blur.


*************************
From: Tracey
To: Alex
Date: 8/5/05

9:11 - tracey comes in late to work

9:15 - tracey eats the yogurt she brings for breakfast

9:30 - tracey gets a call from her boss who is out of the office today. she manages to scrape together some important questions to sound like she's doing work. she hangs up the phone and adds two things to her "to do" list. now she has three things on her to do list.

9:37 - tracey takes a blitz break

9:42 - tracey puts in her country music cd and annoys her coworkers

10:04 - tracey accomplishes one of the things on her to do list

10:07 - tracey accomplishes another thing on her to do list

10:15 - tracey takes a blitz break

10:22 - tracey learns that she is in fact going to nevis. tracey also learns that it will just be herself and her boss in nevis. tracey wonders if they will be sharing a hotel room and gets nervous.

10:52 - tracey signs for a package. the package is not for her.

10:53 - tracey gets hungry and thinks about the salad that she made for lunch.

10:54 - tracey realizes that lunch is two hours away.

********

Fam Time

Exciting developments in Boston coupled with continued insomnia sponsored this lazy post.


Happy Pop's Day!


Dad's middle name is Joseph, so his monogram is PBJ. How cool is that?


Maybe Dad got into Mom's vicodin.


On second thought, looks like they shared it.

Dartmouth '05 Reunion

I always liked school superlatives.


Least Changed: Olivia Whitinger – MIA since arriving at school, except for a text on Saturday morning: “I cannot find my pants.”


Best Smile: Alyssa Hochman


Best Catchphrase: “Go Daddy!” – Codi calling out to the ’96 rowers while lounging by the river


Strangest Compliment: "You look like a stewardess."


Biggest Faux Pas: Alex calling someone a d&!# not knowing he was standing right behind her.


Frattiest: Founding members of KDE

Others:

Most Missed: John Helmstedder III
Most Likely to Succeed: Matt Oppenheimer
Most Likely To Surprise Us All: Kate Schoener
Cutest Couple: Brian Edmonson & Nate Gorence
Inseperables: Megh Duwadi & facetime
Best Conversationalist: Abi Ridgway
Most Stylish: Krista Oopik
Best Eats: Bagel Basement
Ladies’ Man: Sean Robinson

Evil Pimms

Saturday night can best be summed up in Angelica's text:

Evil Pimms! After my second cup I decided I needed to dance, and the next thing I know it's 4 AM. I'm incredibly sweaty, my phone has died, and people are looking for me saying my husband is worried sick. I should also mention I found Tim drinking straight from the bottle of Pimms, like a pirate.

They weren't always pirates.


We were celebrating the England vs. USA soccer football match which ended in a draw. It was a proud day for American ex-pats in Budapest until the Hungarian American football team joined us at the bar and reminded everyone why foreigners think Americans are douches.

Luckily, Krista and I were there to redeem America's reputation.


If you define redemption as being unable to follow the football match, eating hamburgers and drinking Pimms like it was my job.

And deciding to go spelunking at the Palvolgyi Cave on Sunday.


In unrelated news, Kris introduced me to the skinny arm.

According to legend, if you shout the name of your favorite dish into the Laszlo Lakatos Chamber, the dish will be waiting for you in your kitchen.


Unfortunately upon our return home neither a pig roast nor blueberry pancakes were waiting for us.

(Can you guess which one was Krista's request? Hint: her favorite website is shouldieatbacon?.com.)


While the rest of the world focuses on the World Cup this week, I will reserve my energy for the not-so-young and occasionally-hustling Boston Celtics. Kris, you might want to purchase a romper for the occasion. Go Cs!!!

The Hungarian Debt Crisis: Deserved or Characteristic Pessimism?

IMF dismisses Hungarian debt crisis claims
Posted June 8, 2010

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has dismissed comments by Hungarian officials that the country faces a Greek-style debt crisis.

At a meeting with Luxembourg's prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker - who heads the Eurogroup of finance ministers - IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Hungary's finances pose "no special reason for concern".

Mr Juncker echoed the IMF's thoughts, saying he did not see a problem with Hungary, only with its politicians, who he said talked too much.

In an attempt to shed some light on the Hungarian economic situation which Hungarian politicians I do not understand, I conducted a mock interview with google search and the (small) part of my brain that remembers I was an econ major.

Q: What exactly is a debt crisis?
A: A domestic debt crisis occurs when a country cannot service its debts due to lack of access to capital. Because lenders are less willing to lend to countries at risk of default, a debt crisis is self-fulfilling. Think of it in terms of The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Danielle is a struggling country on the verge of sanity default, and the capital is friendship. (Theresa would have been too obvious an example.)

(Rhetorical) Q: I thought Hungary already had a debt crisis.
A: Hungary was the first EU member to obtain a bailout in 2008, lining up $26.9 billion in emergency loans after investors cited the country’s heavy foreign-currency denominated debt. While initially the foreign loans provided access to “cheap” capital, Hungarians increasingly were exposed to rising debt payments as the forint fell against the euro and the franc.

Q: So why the recent panic?
A: Until last week, Hungary was run by Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai’s Socialist government, who succeeded in bringing some stability to the Hungarian economy through the bailout funds and tax increases and other austerity measures. As a result, Hungary reduced its budget deficit to 4% of GDP in 2009 from 9.3% in 2006. However the newly elected, right-wing Fidesz government now claims the former government had manipulated budget figures and lied about the real state of the economy.

Q: How does Hungary compare to Greece?
A: Greece’s 2009 budget deficit was 13.6% of GDP versus 4% in Hungary, and Hungary’s external debt is about half that of Greece. Furthermore, Hungary is outside the euro zone and therefore not bound by its one-size-fits-all monetary policy, giving the Hungarian central bank more flexibility to respond to the ups and downs of the economy.

Q: Comparatively things don’t sound too bad. Is this just a case of Hungarians being typically pessimistic?
A: Although the budget deficit may be manageable, the Hungarian economy remains vulnerable. In recent years millions of Hungarians took advantage of cheap Swiss and Euro-backed loans to finance cars and houses and are now facing foreclosure. Imminent defaults are compounded by an unemployment rate hovering around 12% with little hope of improvement due to government commitments to cut spending as part of the bailout fund package.

Q: What next?
A: Although in a better position than Greece, Hungary is fighting an uphill battle. For an economic turnaround, the country needs fundamental and sustainable changes: right-sizing the budget, the return of foreign investment, and job growth stimulus. In a government as bureaucratic and corrupt as Hungary’s, this will be a Herculean task.

Content?

With the European economies already in turmoil, a tactless Hungarian politician unwisely told the press that Hungary had "a slim chance to avoid the Greek situation".

Contentment = x1(GDP growth) + x2(transparent government) + x3(national obsession with ice hockey or cricket) + x4(height of population) - x5(proximity to Russia)


I guess it's time to buy a bicycle, join a sports club, and ship any senior citizen friends to another country.

Hungarian Eats III: The Hungarian Breakfast

While lauded as the most important meal of the day in the US, breakfast is the bastard child meal of Hungary: illegitimate and of dubious origin. Hungarians rarely eat breakfast; and if they do, it isn’t balanced or nutritious.

However who am I to criticize Hungarian eating habits, given Hungarians are substantially thinner than their American counterparts? While any of the below popular breakfast options would send me straight into crankytime a sugar coma, Hungarians seem to be doing just fine. I guess when you have bigger things to worry about, breakfast is no biggie.

Expresso: Pretty much the standard breakfast. Hungarians do not drink giant cups of coffee brewed with lots of water the way Americans do, and you can tell a tourist a mile away if she is carrying a “takeaway” cup. Cappuccinos are another caffeinated option and served in miniature cups. Don't ask for low-fat milk.

Turo Rudi: The go-to breakfast (snack, lunch, dinner and dessert) option found in the dairy case of any supermarket or convenience store. This uniquely Hungarian candy bar is made of a sweetened compressed cottage cheese dipped in chocolate and one of the don’t knock em’ til you try ‘em eats. At any given time, 12 out of 100 Hungarians are consuming Turo Rudis. One Turo Rudi makes a snack. Two make a meal.

Pogacsa: These rich pastries are everywhere, including the vending machine at work. A savory breakfast option, Pogacsa range in size from a donut hole to bagel, meaning they range from between 500 and 5,000 calories.



Jo Reggelt: Hungary’s answer to the granola bar. While these Muesli cookies are a bit bland, they make me feel smart because I know their name means “good morning.” While I thought Muesli was the quintessential European breakfast, I haven't seen anyone eat it outside of a hotel continental breakfast. That being said, why have a hearty bowl of Muesli when you could have Nougat Bits, cottage cheese covered in chocolate or a butter scone instead?

Cereal is without a doubt my favorite “American” breakfast. Yours?

An Offer She Can Refuse

My first week in Hungary, I joined practically every ex-pat group in Budapest to make friends. Because I didn't have any.

Although I rarely go to events anymore, I am on still on the mailing lists. Hence this email.

Hello Alexandra. I am [x] currently living in Budapest. I am 24 years young. I read with interest your profile, and will be happy to meet with you and get to know you. I invite for a drink this week. My greatest passions are guitar, foreign languages and practicing massage. I want to be straight with you about what I need. I am not looking for a life partner, nor am looking for a woman-friend. I am looking for a woman whom I will bring extreme satisfaction, caress, and pleasure, who will allow me to make her happy. I do feel that you are the right girl. So, waiting for your positive reply.

The next time I compare dating in Hungary to looking out over an expanse of frozen tundra, please remind me that I voluntarily declined an offer of satisfaction, caress and pleasure. Because, honestly, I don't know if I can fit even more satisfaction, caress and pleasure into my life.

Varnaland

Although I can check off Bulgaria on my map, I don’t feel like I really have been there. Maybe it is because we arrived in Varna at 4 AM on Saturday morning. Maybe it is because I spent 75% of the time lying prone by the pool and the rest of the time trying to convince Susan to get ice cream with me.

Varna was beautiful, although not beautiful enough to motivate me to buy new AA batteries for my camera. I had been trying to piece together some history on the region for you but then decided just to let Wiki do its thing and do what I do best: make lists.

Over the weekend I read Netherland, a novel in which the protagonist Hans, an equity analyst, begins stock recommendations with an unrelated but smart observation or fact to gain the audience’s respect. Then he says whatever the hell is wants about the price of oil.

Likewise I am sharing a few observations and facts about Varna/Bulgaria so you can impress your friends. However, I cannot guarantee that the observations are smart. After all, I was pretty f#*ked up on gelato.

Didya Know...?

The communist government renamed the city Stalin from 1949 – 1956. Apparently it didn’t have the same come-hither-tourists ring.

After this guy, I had thought Budapest was the Ed Hardy-wearing capital of the world; I was wrong. It is Varna.

When Bulgarians waggle their heads Indian-style, it means yes and when they nod, it means no.

When I first moved to Budapset, my mom kept asking me how I liked Bulgaria.

A Bulgarian invented the first electronic computer, and the country has been called the Silicon Valley of Europe.

Bulgaria and Denmark were the only two countries to save their Jews during the Holocaust.

What are some good Boston/Worcester/New York facts? I need to impress some peeps come September...

P'Bux

If Budapest is Dunkin’ Donuts, Prague is Starbucks: prettier and more polished but at the end of the day serving the exact same thing: Central European attitude with a shot of communist history.


Disneyland Staromestske Namesti , the old town square, is beautiful. And please note we did not take the above analogy literally; that ain’t no S’bux cup.


(For better or for worse, Nina and I feed each other’s mutual love for abbrevs and slang. I apologize if that has resulted in an incomprehensible post.)


The “Revolution” statue constructed from keys was built only a few months ago, begging the question: are the Czechs revolting against this?


It is not every day one sees a cowboy aspiring to become an F-1 racer.

The metronome in the distance replaced the behemoth Stalin Monument, which stood for only seven years. The sculptor Otakar Švec killed himself shortly before completion of the monument; he is one of many Czechs who chose suicide over communist oppression.


The metronome symbolizes that all time is relative. Or reminds me that despite 12 years of piano lessons, I still am mistaken for a beginner.


On a brighter note, the Czech Ice Hockey team defeated Russia on Sunday to win the world championship. Just like the C’s will defeat the Magic tonight and go on to win the NBA championship.


Much as one prefers to lounge in Starbucks rather than Dunkin’ Donuts (unless it is pumpkin donut time at DD), the Prague Castle trumps the one in Budapest.


And my lame analogy is done. I obviously have had too much of the ‘feine myself this morning.

The First Rule of Budapest Is:

Unlike Tyler, I have only three rules of the 'Pest.

I intend to share these with all visitors upon arrival; unfortunately, I usually forget. Now you cannot say I didn't warn you.

1. Avoid Chinese food buffets (Kinai Bufe) at all cost. Just assume they intend to poison you and hit up the sketchy gyro stand instead.

2. Heed the little green crossing man.

3. Never hail a taxi; call the special number.

Did I forget anything? What are the rules for where you live?

A View From the Apt Which Will "Make You Drop Your Knickers"

Because why not do a photo shoot alone in the bedroom?

Yoga Pose May: Hungarian Style

When I lived in Boston, I would leave Equinox yoga classes feeling pretty proud of myself. Not only had I done something “good” for my body, the instructor invariably told me I had good energy, tried really hard that day, or liked my T.J. Maxx yoga top. The sauna and locker room were pretty nice too.

Yoga in Hungary is a bit different.

Gauranga leads hot Ashtanga and Agni classes in the basement of the only vegan restaurant in Budapest Atma Center. I love Gauranga. I fear Gauranga.

Although he leads classes in Hungarian, Gauranga corrects me in English. And by corrects me I mean he asks me in a deadpan voice why am I not working in his class? Meanwhile I barely can grip the mat because I am drenched in sweat.

(Sorry for the visual.)

Gauranga has no problem “adjusting” me into positions I didn’t know existed or, if I did, would not dare to try. I am embarrassed to admit that I actually have cried (yes, cry. And I don’t cry.) in class before. G’s response? “Stop crying.” (I thought the sweat dripping down my face would have masked the tears but apparently G is as wise as he is sadistic.)

I also never have felt as “straight” or tall or wonderful as I do when I leave class. The euphoria continues for about two days or until I completely forget what actually happened in the basement torture chamber. Then I go back for more.

Thankfully, tree pose or Vrksasana has never inspired tears, just glares from G.

The purpose of tree pose is to improve balance and strengthen legs.

1. Stand in mountain pose or Tadasana.
2. Bend left knee, bringing sole of left foot to right inner ankle, shin, or thigh (never to the knee).
3. Push left thigh out and press left foot into right ankle/shin/thigh. Keep hips square.
4. Focus on a stationary object (i.e. not me if I am doing yoga with you).
5. Raise hands from heart center to ceiling with palms touching. Open arms to side.
6. Repeat with right foot.

I probably should have taken this picture before class.


If you are ever in Budapest, let me know. We can go see G together, cry, and then talk about how awesome we feel. I can promise you it will be a special experience.

Welcome to Budapest

Mr. & Mrs. Z,

Your daughter Nina arrived safely in Budapest last night.

We celebrated her arrival in typical Hungarian fashion with a palinka tasting. An ironic event since all palinka tastes the same - terrible. Pear palinka with honey may as well be charcoal palinka with lighter fluid.

Vanity almost precluded me from posting this picture. And I think it was only palinka #2 (of 8).


Luckily food was served with each course, causing Nina and I to admit - yes, we do like mayo despite protests to the contrary. Add it to the list.


This is a girl who just arrived to Budapest via Frankfurt via Montreal. Let's give her a hand.


Actually, let's give her a bed. 1/2 of mine to be exact.