Strange things about learning a new language: punctuation!

It wigs me out that not everyone uses the same punctuation I do. For example, Hungarians use the semicolon sparingly, if at all; however, they are extremly profliage with their exclamation points. For example, you use an exclamation point to begin a letter, even a formal one. You would also use it at the end of a statement like, "Prove this is true!" It makes my homework sound really exciting!

On the other hand, without the semicolon, we couldn't have English-language academia; how would people write their pretentious titles?

[Did I use that correctly? I thought it might be a stretch.]

I've been back in Budapest for three weeks now. It's been snowing on and off for most of that time, so things are pretty beautiful (and also rather cold). I walked home last week around two and things were perfect: big globules of snow everywhere, clinging to cars and buildings and blocking out the sound. I woke up the next day hoping to take pictures, but it was gone...

First thing's first! Here are degu:


I am getting one, pronto.


Classes this semester look like they'll be more or less good -- the ones that aren't shouldn't be complained about online. It's nice that I'm getting to a point where most of the material I'm covering overlaps; I feel almost competent.

Bullet points:
- I'm helping a friend with English. Teaching is hard!
- She is helping me with Hungarian. That's hard, too. I'm really going to put a lot of effort in this semester, though. I'm talking flashcards, workbooks -- the whole nine yards. I am going to be fluent in this language some day.
- I'm also going to take lessons once a week with some people from the Pecs summer program. Woot!
- I am working on making Hungarian friends. I went to a concert last Tuesday. It was great! Also a guy from class invited me to watch a seven-hour Hungarian art film at some point in the indeterminate future...
- February is getting a little slumpy, similar to November... I need new, fun things to do! Suggestions are welcome.
- Last but not least, we went to a pork festival: