The fence isn't sausage even in Budapest

Raining in Budapest

Rain in Budapest.  Me and our tour guide Katalin protected by umbrellas.

Woman washing window in Budapest

Sunrise was at 4:50am today, but it was the rain that awoke me this morning in Budapest.   My hotel room windows were open to the courtyard and the rain was steady on the roof tiles outside my window.

Pink polka dotted suitcase arrives in Budapes

After a late arrival from Frankfurt last night, I got up this morning at 7:00 local time but it was midnight on my internal clock as it was back home in Louisiana.  As you can see below my pink polka dotted bag arrived safely and was easily "spotted" on the luggage carousel.  Never underestimate the power of a little duct tape and spray paint!


The fence isn't always sausage


Our tour guide, Katalin gave us historical insights as well as art, culture, architecture and the "state of Hungary" lessons this morning.

While she told us that native Hungarians often pay mortgages on their apartments in Budapest of only $3.00 or $4.00 per month, they do pay what amounts to maintenance fees of approximately $130.00 per month that then get pooled and saved for renovation on the aging historic buildings.  While these flats are often only 800 square feet, they seem more spacious with their high ceilings and large windows opening onto fabulous boulevards and vistas along cobblestone streets.

She says that foreigners can move here and rent "a little something" for about $200 or $250 a month and that for $500 a month one can get something quite nice and large.  But for $1000 per month, she reports that you can get a place with an 18 karat gold bathtub!  Now I don't need the gold tub, but I sure wouldn't mind a flat in Budapest.

Our guide, Kathy (Katalin), says that some young couples move outside the city so that they can build a new home but then they are committed to a one and a half hour commute into the city of Budapest each day for work as they have no large highways or freeways here and the narrow winding streets make for lengthy traffic jams.  Then she quickly added, "so you see the fence is not sausage."  The fence may not be sausage, but the gulyas and csirpetke noodles were excellent at lunch.

General who fought off the Turks 

Budapest farmer's market

Buffchic checks in at Frankfurt-delayed on way to Budapest

Ten hour flight from Houston to Frankfurt, Germany was smooth and easy.  I slept well after watching a mindless chic flick movie (The Vow) chiefly worth watching for the nude shots of Tatum Channing.

at New Orleans airport

This was in contrast to the pre airport trip to MSY in New Orleans when we got a speeding ticket on I10 and a wheel broke off of my carryon luggage roller going into the airport.

Delayed in Frankfurt

I missed my flight to Budapest in Frankfurt due to delay in "de-bussing" the plane despite a United on time arrival.  No gate was available. So here are all these 767 and 747 jumbo jets parked out on the tarmac off loading passengers onto a series of buses to the terminal.

Beer & franks while charging

By the time I got through immigration and security, flight to Budapest was closed.  Watching the Lufthansa gate agents bicker and argue behind the counter was the only amusement here.

So I am spending the day waiting in the Lufthansa lounge for the 9pm flight to Budapest.

Luckily the accommodations are decent.  Sausages with crepes and German beer (round 2).  Earlier I sampled their artisan breads, made to order salads with fresh snipped herbs from their garden growing on the counter, fresh strawberries and some German Reisling as well as a couple German sparkling wines followed by an espresso and apricot custard-- quite delightful.

Fellow travelers amuse

Earlier I sat next to a table of professional mountain cyclists (didn't know there was such a thing) and their coaches who were all drinking water with lemon and comparing their body fat composition percentages and race results of cohorts amid waitresses offering cheesecakes, gelatos and pretzels.  Their bikes had been shipped ahead last week via truck and they were on a tour.

German sparkling wine and strawberries at Lufthansa lounge

Now I am amid business men skyping with their home offices discussing sales prospects, trends and issues.  Overheard - one man's phone call  in Italian, the next in German and the next in Japanese.  I admire these guys who can converse fluently in so many languages.

Back to my Rosetta Stone study of Russian.

Blogger in German


Did I mention that blogger is suddenly in German here?  Good thing I am familiar with the layout of the program.
Redeeming tidbit
Ah, but there is a Tiffany store in the airport here, along with the requisite McDonald's, of course.

Buffchic goes to Eastern Europe

Preparing for PA school by relaxing and traveling:

When I asked Harrison Reed, Yale PA student, what he advised doing this summer as I prepared to enter PA school in the fall, I expected him to recommend some texts that I should review.  Instead, he advised relaxation and travel.  I am taking him at his word.  Smart guy that Harrison.  Here's a look at Harrison's excellent blog on his PA school life.

So when my uncle invited me to accompany him to Eastern Europe and then on to Cairo, I said "yes!"  I will be visiting four cities I have never been to before:  Budapest, St. Petersburg, Moscow and Cairo.  I leave Wednesday.

Basilica in Budapest, Hungary

Summer in Budapest

Shanx looks cooler than Shanks

Today after breakfast, we painted my pink suitcase with multicolored polka dots and emblazoned a version of my last name (Shanx) down the side in blue and silver spray paint.

Polka Dot is ready for the road.

 And tomorrow I pack for my journey.

Sphynx

Memorial Day 2012

Today (Memorial Day) I visited my father at Oak Haven nursing home where he resides.  As we ponder the losses of service men and women, I wonder how he felt when he entered WWII as a 16 year old.  He rarely spoke of his time as a Navy corpsman aboard a light cruiser in the Pacific, and now he is past being able to recount any stories that remain untold.


Missing IMPACT in Toronto

So though I am missing AAPA IMPACT in Toronto, I've been tuning in to the town hall meeting posted online.  Sorry to miss the conference, but must prepare for PA school in the fall as Harrison urged! 

Cairo, Egypt

More cat pictures

Odette sleeps on her doggy bed.

Here are more cat pictures to litter the internet with cute cat images.

Cousin Preshus sits around the house in her sweater.

Odette loves her doggy bed for afternoon napping even though it is barely big enough for her.

Here is Preshus in her single days wearing one of her favorite sweaters.  She is now waiting on the stork to arrive with her first litter of kittens.

Our cats are great study companions and always ready to encourage a nap when you dose off with those textbooks.

"We nap by the heater on our lamby when it is chilly."

In Between Days

Going back to Louisiana (and points beyond):

Here I am again in those in between days of transition.  Just when I get comfortable in one location, home, routine, gym, sure as shootin' -- it's time to go to the next one.
Now comfort in Buffalo (BLO) does not include the weather.  Tomorrow is May 11th and they are expecting upper 30s.  The weather here is cold, windy and wet.  Might as well be Scotland!

So we are shipping out to Louisiana again today.

Sharing a link here to an article in the New York Times by a writer
who teaches at Tulane and calls NYC home who wrote really well on the topic of making frequent flip flop transitions.

Road sign I am looking for.

Buffchic goes to PA school:

When I return to Buffalo and Buffchicdom, I will count myself as officially in physician assistant school. As I will be taking a summer course at Canisius College in medical ethics that will transfer to my PA program at Daemen College.  YAY!!!!

How to be a PA student leader

So many good reasons to be a student leader, so little time.  (That's another post.)

Here are some good starter tips to get you going as a student advocate and student leader in your chosen profession as a physician assistant.

Join, join, join-read, listen and learn:

Join the AAPA as a student member, follow them on Twitter and Facebook.  Read what they are about as you look forward to becoming a full fledged professional.

The conference in Toronto later this month has student activities planned.  Attend if you can!

AAPA IMPACT 2012 in Toronto has educational and leadership events for you.  See below.

Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants
Like Us on Facebook: SAAAPA

SAAAPA created four tracks of lectures and forums for PA students attending the annual conference. The schedule and sign up ow.ly/azRxF

SIGN UP FOR THE TORONTO LEADERSHIP FORUM: http://www.aapa.org/about_aapa/governance/resources/item.aspx?id=4201
The Leadership Forum link can also be accessed through the SAAAPA page (www.aapa.org/saaapa) under IMPACT 2012.


FREE Student Membership with APACVS:

The Association of PAs of Cardiovascular Surgery (APACVS) has agreed to let students join for FREE for the next two years. If you are student who wants to check out heart and lung surgery - visit the website:  http://www.apacvs.org/

Sign up to get Weekly Healthcare Happenings Newsletter:

My friend, Bianca Belcher, puts out a weekly e-newsletter that gives thumbnail sketches and links to issues in healthcare for the week.  It is lively, informative and very interesting.
Below is how to sign up for this by emailing Bianca Belcher. 

Blog: http://biancabelcherpa.blogspot.com/

If you want to receive these emails, here’s how:
1. Email: saaapaagac@gmail.com
2. Subject: ADD ME

How my cats help me prepare for PA school.

There can never be enough cute cat pictures on the internet.  
So here are a few more from our Cornish Rex.  This shows how hard they work and sleep.  My cats help me prepare for PA school.

I help mom study her Bates guide.

Then I sleep

Aunt Odette sleeps, too.

Aunt Odette even sleeps on guests.

"We play, we study. We sleep a lot."

Odette on one of her favorite humans.

I look outside.

Then I sleep more.