Ziray Studio Labs

Colombia is a Catholic country, and as every Catholic country I’ve been to, they celebrate Christmas on the 24th. Also, the gifts are delivered by baby Jesus, not Santa Claus. Hungarian Christmas is similar that way, but in Medellin, Colombia, the temperature is a perfect 75 degrees and sunny, so it really doesn’t feel like Christmas to me as a Hungarian Christmas would.

In Ana’s family, its a tradition to set off solar balloons and balloons with little candles in them to set them off at night. This side of the family had a big penguin that looked like Tux. Enjoy the photos below! Continue reading

This was the first time in two years that the Virginia Tech Street Fair was held out doors. Coincidentally, that is also the last time we danced.

Our booth this year was right next to the stage, so we had no problem with people coming by our booth. There was also no shortage of people at the fair, so it really didn’t matter except we got to watch all the performances without leaving the comfort of our booth and our food.

The best dances were the Persian dance with my friends Rana, Elika and Mana and the Indian dance, which won first prize in a competition in Washington D.C. Elika danced in our dance as well so you can see from the photos below that she’s dressed in traditional Hungarian attire. Also, my other Persian friend Golnaz is wearing a blouse that is strikingly similar to a Hungarian blouse, but she assures me its Persian. Glad to see the Kingdom of Hungary’s influence on the Persian Empire.

After the street fair, the Persians and the Hungarians had an awesome after party at my place. We purchased $150 worth of alcohol and people brought even more. Vintage Cellar was closed or else it would have been more!

International Street Fair 2009

Laci and Kisa

 

Rolls filled with poppy seeds.

Kisa putting the glaze on the jelly filled rolls.

 

 

Monika hanging up some traditional Hungarian table cloths.

 

The calm before the storm

 

It was cold that morning, but soon warmed up.

Food, all ready to be sold and consumed.

Beautiful girls, beautiful dresses on a beautiful day.

Elika dressed in a traditional Hungarian blouse.

Laci and Elika. Elika changed into her Persian costume

Elika and Goli. Goli's blouse is Persian, but how similar it looks to a Hungarian blouse!

Gabor.

Kisa, my dance partner for the Csárdás.

Laszlo.

 

Our Persian friends holding the Iranian flag in front of our booth.

Our Hungarian booth.

 

 

Beginning of one of the best dance performances I've ever seen.

 

The Indians know how to put on a show.

 

 

Erika and Kisa serving food and taking cash.

 

 

 

Beginning of the Persian dance performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

The after party supplies.

The knife dance. It involved dancing and a knife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since getting back from Hungary, I decided to create a new blog since the other one was so popular. This one won’t be updated as regularly, but will let people know what is going on with me, where I am, what photos I’ve taken lately, and other fun and interesting things I find along the way to share.

Right now I’m at Virginia Tech again for one more semester. I have my classes set up and are as follows:

* Computer Science 3304 Comparative Languages
* Computer Science 4204 Computer Graphics
* Computer Science 4104 Data and Algorithm Analysis
* Computer Science 3604 Professionalism in Computing
* Computer Science 4214 Simulation and Modeling

I’m a geek I know, but they are mostly all fun classes. It’s really nice not having any stupid math classes or any other classes that don’t interest me. Maybe I’ll even get on the Dean’s List this semester.

I got a new phone number so just make sure if you had the old one, to delete that.

Not much to mention otherwise. Europe was great and I had the time of my life but right now I have to finish up with school once and for all and get a real job. I did compile all of my photos (only the good ones) into a few albums for my and your enjoyment, so please enjoy