The joys of recruitment :)

Day 16
Today, I'm taking a break from the usual and putting up a little something which isn't a photograph. It's just a normal day at SELTI and then this email pops into my inbox. Perfect timing really! I'm so bored of filtering through the 'usual' application emails. Enjoy - this is a laugh and a half!

Dear Human Resources Director:

I am writing to apply for the position of English Teacher as advertised on tefljobs.com. I believe that my education and work experience make me the best candidate for this position. In addition to having a BS in Intergalactic Trade with Extra-terrestrial Natives and a Master's in Fruity Hats, I also possess in-depth knowledge of potato farming. Furthermore, I spearheaded a special initiative combining both of these skills when I established the first potato farm on Mars in September of 2006.

At my previous post, I participated in a project aimed at facilitating trade with other galaxies via the Wal-mart on Mars Sector 5. In this position, I gained valuable skills that I believe would be beneficial for your company. For example, I'm an expert in communicating with micro-organisms. Additionally, I can perform photosynthesis simply by utilizing a water bottle and three straws. Moreover, prior to being stationed on Mars, I completed my internship inside of a black hole. During this very valuable experience, I learned to use space and time efficiently, as we were faced with constant gravitational pull and vacuuming. Although not directly relevant to this position, I think it's still important to note that I taught reptilian offspring English while I was working as a guard dog in the south of France.

When it comes to my personal attributes, I am fluent in English, Farsi, Chinese, Microspeak, and Martian. As a motivated, prompt, dedicated, dyslexic, and Aspie employee, I'm sure that you will find me a joy to work with. As I'm immortal, employment duration is open. Location is not a problem for me either, as I own an eco-friendly photon hovercraft.

I hope that you will review my qualifications, as I'm genuinely interested in working with your company. Enclosed you will find my CV with additional information outlining my education and experience.

Thank you kindly for your time in reviewing my application. I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind Regards,

Ubarwye Looc

15: The bee-yoo-ti-ful Bazilika

I NEVER get tired of shooting all the amazing architecture that is just around every corner in Budapest and the Bazilika is without a doubt one of my favourites, especially at night when it glows gold and orange!

Buli buli buli time

14: Picnicking lambs? Picnic with lambs?
Your guess is as good as mine!

Oh so random and oh so Budapest! Followed these signs at Városliget earlier today (where it was lovely and spring-y). Half of me was expecting to find a farmyard themed party for kids and the other half of me was expecting to find lambs being sacrificed/worshipped. De persze, I found neither!

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13: You're the ping to my pong :)

Nothing too crazy or outta control here....just a good ole fashioned SELTI beer pong tournament.

And again

12: Surprise - I don't JUST eat...every once in a while

I cook too!

I have a beaut of a 'hand-me-down' mortar and pestle sitting around in my kitchen and tonight I had the perfect reason to use it. I've had chickpeas soaking for 4 days and they were beginning to look a little worse for the wear, so quickly googled a 'chhole' recipe and the first one I came across involved roasting and grinding whole spices. The enthusiastic cook in me arose from her sloth-like slumber and whipped up some pretty good 'chhole' :)

Blogging about food.....again :p

11: There might not be free lunches,
but there sure as hell are free breakfasts!

So I'm walking down the street, on my way to work, dreaming about what kind of 'pogácsa' I want for breakfast, when a Fornetti lady shows with a basket full of pogis that she's giving away for free. Meggyes and sajtós :) SCORE!

Springstorms!

10: Streetlights in Pest after a flash storm

We were treated to another storm out of nowhere last night! It was brilliant - I could see the rain coming towards me as I waited for the tram at Wesselenyi. Snuck this shot in after the rain disappeared just as quickly as it came. You'd never have known there had even been a storm if it wasn't for that distinct wet earth smell that the rain brings with it!

Would you ever steal a chair?

Day 9: I really wanted to!
These are so iconically Magyar for me

I was surprised not to see scantily clad octogenarians huddled around a game of chess and even more surprised when nobody yelled at us for getting comfy for a wee while. It's at times like this that my klepto urges emerge - who would miss a chair from an abandoned empty plot anyway? And as I edit this google ads is trying to sell me 'classic French furniture'. Jeez!

The pillars of Magyar society: Turo and the right to demonstrate

Day 8: Yikes, what do we have here?!?

I hate that I have to choose from a million pictures when it's the weekend, 'cos I just have so many more to choose from, but oh well!

What do I have on offer today? Just your friendly neighbourhood demonstration/rally/protest march with all of Europe in attendance. We Pest-ians stumble upon these on a regular basis, but Hungary's presidential debut in the European Parliament does seem to have upped the rally ante!

The 'rendőrség' were out in all their glory, but the riot police were missing in action - not that I'm complaining - they give me the jitters!

Day 7: Colour me spotted

Look what I found peeking at me from the shelves at Spar today - 'marcipánnal turo pont'. It definitely sounds and looks like the humble 'natur turo rudi's' long lost and very wealthy cousin from the erstwhile Habsburg dynasty. The verdict - two 'ponts' (which is what you get when you buy one pack) is one 'pont' too many. This on here is a little too decadent for my tastebuds, had too much marzipan and too little turo so it's back to the original for now.

Rumour has it though that there is a limited edition 'mákos meggyes turo rudi' doing the rounds.....watch this space for more.

For the uninitiated, turo rudi is a snack, dessert or even breakfast and undoubtedly the best thing to come out of Hungary and describing it just wouldn't do it any justice. You gotta try it!

Day 6: C4P

Just casually open at mid-day for your lunch break 'player' needs ;)

Day 5: Blossoms blossoms everywhere

I love this picture! I think it's my favourite so far. Blue and white - not really colours that steal that springtime show, but don't they come together just beautifully in this shot? And for the summer lovers, a reminder that non-stop ice-cream season is just around the corner :)



Day 4: When spring has it's way with you


Spring is in the air! Ergo, yes - blossoms, buds and maybe, just maybe, even leaves will be making an appearance here very soon. But before I go all kaleidoscopic, here's another taste of spring for you - deliciously erratic weather :) Monday was so windy, it was almost Welly-esque! Look at those clouds not knowing if they should go this way or that.....

Days 1, 2 and 3

Három...

Gotta have a birthday/farewell/welcome/quarter year anniversary you get my drift.

Feliz cumpleaños Ilandy!

You will rock 30 just like you do everything else :)

Két...

It wouldn't really be a true blue Budapest weekend without Phill baring some cleavage! Ladies, enjoy!

p.s. this was right after India owned at the World Cup Final....wooo hoooo! I was bleeding light blue too :)

Egy

Uh oh....not off to the best start here, but look what I found on April 1st! Now, either the people at Milka are geniuses or they're pulling a fast one on us choc-a-holics. And surprise surprise - I actually managed to split it across two days :)