Interview with yours truly...

What is your name? Popcorn.

How old are you? "Maybe like this," holds up three fingers.

What makes you happy? Eating my hair. 

What are you afraid of? Bees!!!

What is your favorite thing in the ENTIRE world? A shinny mirror that's big and sparkly! (Read:narcissisism)

 

Who do you love the most? Apu and Pompom! ...obviously

What's your favorite food? Yogurt.

What is your favorite drink? Apple juice.

What is your favorite thing to do at the park? Slide!

What is the biggest problem in the world? Falling on my head. 

Who's your best friend? Hannah

What do you love about Pompom? When she's sick. 

What do you love to do to babies? Tickle them! 

Favorite place to be? Nursery.

What does mom do all day? Drink! (Coffee...folks...mostly coffee.)

What is favorite movie? Dinasours. 

Who is your favorite princess? Cinderella.

 

Where do you want to live in the world? Budapest. (Insert mom frown.) 

Should mom have another baby? Yea, I think so, four. (Who's been drinking here?)

What would their names be? Bouri, Csili, Micky, Kata. (The names of the nursery ladies.) 

Do you like boys or girls better? Girls.

What is your favorite toy? Mermaid swimming in the sea. 

What do you like about mom? I like when you drink coffee.

What do you like about Apu? I like when he goes to work and tells me stories. 

What's your favorite book? Princess books! 

What's your favorite color? Pink! 

What words of wisdown would you like to tell the world? The story about the princesses.

What is your favorite thing to do during the day? Drink a kakao.

"Mom, can I go and get dressed and not talk to you?"

Yea, sure. 

Always something!

We spent almost three hours at the "water park" with nagymama and nagypapa, and BOY did we have fun. So did mom, who spent half the time talking to her US accountant on Skype (with screaming kids in the background) about how NOT to get in trouble with the Feds.

We had a seriously great Friday! 

After, we went for ice cream and Pompom took a quick nap! 

But, in typical fashion, things did not stay blissful! 

At 1am, mom woke up to Pompom breathing really heavily and decided to take her temperature. 39.2C, which is 102.5F, was a little too high for mom's taste at that time in the morning. And reminded her AGAIN, that she would be TOTALLY screwed in an emergency. 

...no car.

...no husband. 

...no Hungarian.

...nagypapa and nagymama two hours away at the Balaton.

Uber taxi maybe??? But then you don't know who will show up at 2am! Yikes. 

After searching for a real thermometer, she decided to call Apu, who is in Sweden, and had to leave for a flight at 4am! Mom's not nice and felt like she needed to spread her panic around the world. 

So mom nervously watched Pompom sleep until about 5:30am, and I figured I'd wake up at 6 and demand a kakao and Peppa Pig! 

Pompom promptly took a big ugly number 2 at 6:30, and seems to be feeling a-ok! So far! 

Side story...

Someone in mom's group of expat mom friends asked where to go in a medical emergency...

Another mom responded promptly, "Vienna."

Touché! 

I'm hungry.

"Mom, I want a snack!"

"Ok, you can have grapes."

"Nooooo. I want a snack with sugar!"

The carmel apple doesn't fall far from the tree. 

How mom does the park...

Alone. 

Running back and forth pushing us both, hoping no one falls.

She also desperately needed to buy food before 2pm, when shops close, and forgot her wallet. Tesco home delivery, here we come. 

A first for everything!

We went on the metro for the first time ever!! Mom quickly remembered why she takes the bus. Between the death escalator, a million self absorbed people and NO way to navigate a stroller, she would rather drive...and that's saying A LOT. 

Plus, it was totally terrifying. 

We even stopped by dad's bar...where he spent many nights drinking water and chatting it up with ladies other than mom.  Let's just say, my existence really put the nail on the coffin for Apu on this front. Sorry, dude, diapers take priority!!! He doesn't seem to mind too much...now. 

Cheers!!

Mom is desperate...

For us to sleep in our own bed at some point. Maybe when we're 18? She tried to bribe us with new Frozen decor, but it only lasted about 15 seconds. 

Kindergarten?

Yes, folks, in Hungary, it's mandatory to start kindergarten...unless you want to be reported to some government entity and lose all your social benefits! 

Apu and mama went to go visit a private kindergarten, which is presumably better because you're paying for it. Boy, mom was in for a shock!! She's not even sure she would feel comfortable leaving a fake baba in the care of these ladies. Yikes.

We have another viewing on Thursday, but mom isn't getting her hopes up. We may be moving after all!!

Either way, I hope the new place serves kakao! 

Mom's slightly greener thumb.

Ladies and gentlemen...we have our first homegrown radish!!! It was the size of an marble, but it tasted like an actual radish!! 

We have radishes, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, mint, basil, aloe and a kamquat tree (but mom semi cheated and bought it as a tree). 

Not enough to feed the family, but enough to entertain mom and make her feel slightly better about her infinite existence at home.

If you told her she would be gardening at any point in her life, she would have called the police on you! 

Not impressed.

So far being three isn't really that different from two. The parents brought two cakes to nursery today (strawberry for the pre-diabetic kids and chocolate for the diabetic ones). Americans are so politically correct. But clearly they didn't care too much about nut allergies! 

The nursery lady took about 10 pictures, and this is the best one. I didn't crack one smile during the entire celebration. 

Pompom's First Sleepover

Well, not really. 

But she was invited to sleepover with a boy, four years her senior. He's well spoken (in Hungarian and English), and loves airplanes. What more could mom want for a future son in law. They literally couldn't get enough of each other. 

Unfortunately, both moms agreed that sleepover so early on in a relationship may be jumping the gun. 

This was before they were caught kissing in the playhouse. Well, not kissing, Pompom was clawing his eyes out...but he seemed to be loving it. 

Apu is taking the aforementioned crush on a tour of the airport tomorrow, but I have a feeling it's to feel out his intentions. 

I'm tree!

And feel much more mature.

Mom and I were discussing my world travels since my arrival and it's pretty impressive compared to mom's. 

US x four (mom has clearly lost her marbles)...and with flight connections I've been to London eight times! 

Hungary (obviously)

Austria

France

Turkey

UAE

Cyprus

We spent this birthday in Larnaca eating  the most amazing Mediterranean cuisine...a fresh Greek salad and lamb  kleftiko. Mom ate it all before she thought to take a decent picture. 

I played on the beach and ate ice cream! 

Not a bad start to being tree! 

Palms and Apu agree! 

Is there a doctor onboard?

Yep, this time WE were the ones in need of a medical professional on our three hour flight from Larnaca. 

Apu was walking with Pompom up and down the isle, when the flight attendant needed to pass. In a moment of panic, Apu lifted Pompom up on the seat by her weak little one year old arms. Welp, the whaling began, and Pompom couldn't move her shoulder for a few LONG hours without screaming bloody murder. Apu felt SO bad that he actually started to cry momentarily (mom unfortunately didn't snap a picture), and said he was never getting within 20 feet of another baby as long as he's alive. Poor, Apu.

After a horrible pep talk from mom (that we should be grateful that it's not cancer), dad came up with a great idea. The flight attendant made an announcement, outing the 'rents as the worst parents on the aircraft, and asked if there were any doctors onboard. 

It turns out doctors also like Cyprus, because about three people jumped to the rescue...and one was a nice pediatrician. She also happened to have oral pain medication on hand, so the decision was made to drug Palms into oblivion and hope for the best. 

We stopped briefly at the emergency korhaz on the way home from the airport (read: which would have ended up resulting in more injury/sickness), but decided to let her sleep it off at home. Mom avoided her second brush with Hungarian emergency medicine! Darn!!

But good news!!! Pompom woke up 100% functional, minus the pinkeye spred by yours truly! 

 

You know you have two...

...You know you have two kids when your hotel phone ends up in six pieces and above the refrigerator. 

With a nice note from hotel management that they could not reach us...

Politics

Are far more interesting than Elmo, Barney or Peppa Pig! 

Mom did it!

She conquered two of her biggest fears (albeit for only 10-15 minutes)! Driving on the opposite side of the road AND in a round-about!! Woot!!! 

Apu is ALWAYS pushing mama to do things she doesn't want to do...including motherhood. Turns out he's right most of the time! 

Turns out mama and Apu like Paphos MUCH better than Limassol (which is mini Russia), so moving may be back on the table. It's basically a decent version of San Diego, with killer seafood and exceptionally friendly people. 

We met up with another pilot, and he showed us his two story, three bedroom house with a lower apartment, pool, and ocean view for, 650€...so basically, you live like royalty AND can afford to save. Yes, please! 

So tomorrow, we may go back to Paphos and look at two houses. Sorry, VILLAS, just because we can.

Surprise Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to meeeee!!!! Mom said this was ALLLL planned, at that my friends from nursery regret they couldn't make it all the way to Cyprus. 

This is a jumpy castle in a bar. I have a feeling this WAS NOT planned. 

The Cypriots have things figured out. 

Of course, dad made friends with a British couple (the only other people in the bar) who also had a two year old...and before long, was making joint plans for the water park tomorrow. Mom and the other mom bonded over the perks of having husbands who aren't home most of the year. 

Mom also made me take a picture of her man crush, Tom Cruise...don't judge her  (circa his Top Gun era), after two pints of beer. Mom, go home, you're drunk. 

After three years of minimal socializing, mom can attest that it was a successful night all around. 

Close enough...

But still very far...

This is a picture from Pacific Coast Highway where mom grew up in California...

This is from the Medeterrainan Coast Highway in Cyrpus...

Did I get teleported without my knowledge?! 

It's a small world...

...after all...

We found a Cinnabon at the mall...along with a Taco Bell and KFC! God bless, globalization.

Most of the day was spent aimlessly driving around (on the opposite side of the road). Thankfully, Apu exudes enough confidence for a small army, so he took on the task of keeping us alive. 

**Mom, at one point, was telling dad he was on the wrong side of the road, and was VERY WRONG. Looks like she should stick to the apartment. 

Anywho, we won't be moving here...

It's a sprawling version of where mom grew up in RSD, plus a few more stray cats and abandoned construction.

I mean, it's NICE, but not worth the amenities she'd be giving up in Budapest! Who knew!!?

So, at the end of next week, we'll head back home and start planning our next adventure.

Which will most likely involve Cinnabon. 

The old castle...that we admired from the car while enjoying our brush with diabetes. 

Pompom had a bite too. Please don't report mom to CPS! 

Too cool for school...

And that's good, because I'm not there! 

Excuse me while the fam and I eat out ENORMUS 20€ Greek plate and sip on my sparkling water with lemon. Gotta love the Mediterranean! 

We even found a pretty sweet playground! Mom asked me where I want to live, and I still said San Diego. Looks like her brainwashing has served its' purpose! 

To judge.

Being judgmental is a fine line. A little judgment, in my opinion, is healthy. Sometimes you need to judge a situation in order to stay safe, or avoid a potentially problematic situation. 

Like, judging whether the person driving the BMW is going to cut you off and take you out. The answer is, yes. 

Anyway, mom also had her fair share of prejudice (which is much different), and  has subsequently been questioned since moving to Europe. 

So, friends, AMERICAN friends...

How do you feel when you see Cyprus on a map? 

Mom had her initial reaction of...

Hummm, will ISIS be waiting for us at the airport? 

Turns out, her limited experience in the Middle East, has made her question what Americans are so damn afraid of. On any given day, she would argue that people in the Middle East are more welcoming, than say, New Yorkers, and overall REALLY, REALLY nice. I'm sure some are not, like Ted Bundy, but 98% of people are pretty darn cool. 

When you look past the language and skin tone, it turns out people are the same everywhere. Moms love their children the same way mama loves me...in Istanbul, Hong Kong, and Sydney.

The world is smaller than it appears most days...

A day in the sun.

We spent the day on the Limassol Boardwalk, and headed down to the marina for a quick kakao. 

So far Limassol is what mom expected! Amazingly beautiful beachs, and then you look across the street and see Moscow...literally. 

Cinder block buildings that appear to have barely survived some massive bombings. BUT, for a 150,000€ beachfront "bungalow," mom could be swayed...maybe. 

We now order better pillows from housekeeping. Tough life.