In the academic year 2003 -04 I found myself in Budapest. I'd had a couple of incredible years in Katowice where I'd learned everything I needed to know about my chosen profession and lived as intensely emotionally as you could possibly want to. Experienced every possible twist and turn of the rollercoaster ride. And drunk one hell of a lot of beer !
Katowice 2001-03. The two years of my life where I learned most. With my colleagues. Who worked hard, played hard. Drank a lot, And fell into beds together at every opportunity. Well, it was something to do. It was rarely dull. An EFL boot camp where people went from planning to teaching to input sessions. Then to bars and nightclubs and then back to bed. Our own or each others. And up the next day to start the merry cycle all over again.
I didn't consider myself particularly attractive but I did as well as anyone else during my time there. . People seemed to be eating life up as if it was a plate of pierogi washed down by Okocim or Zwiec, Mad Dog shots. It didn't seem to even occur to any of us 'not to drink' Ever !
Then one Sunday morning in my second year I woke up with a beautiful young Polish woman in my arms. She was nice. Actually incredibly nice. Pretty. Still slightly drunk as was I. A bit confused. A bit conflicted. I got the sense in the next few weeks that she was being pulled in many directions, But she was very, very attractive. In all kinds of ways. And spectacular company. We spent as much of the next few weeks together as we could.My life had changed but I didn't actually realise it at the time, .
I went to Budapest in the Autumn, I was still excited about the Polish woman.. There was a connection between us, Sometimes it's difficult to understand when you know you have a connection but aren't sure what it is, That you just like being together,,
I listened to The Strokes a lot over these years, They seemed to be eating life too, In New York. And on the touring circuit . On magazines. On the radio. In music magazines. They reminded me of the music I'd fallen in love with fifteen years before. Television, Pere Ubu, Velvet Underground. But they had an energy and vigour that was of the moment.
My friend arrived to see me in Budapest just before Christmas, I met her at a Central Station. It felt like I was spending Christmas with the blond Anna Karenina. The strangest feeling. She had a large suitcase on wheels, We hauled it across the broad Budapest thoroughfares to the splendid flat a friend had let us stay in over the festive period.
It was a golden period for both of us, Ten days? A moment outside life almost. Which we will both treasure forever. We explored Budapest together. Parks and castles. Bars. Parties with friends. The Opera. A disco in the Budapest Metro.In the early hours of the morning,
Or just sitting in the flat. Listening to music together.Not The Strokes. Life on Mars? That was the song. We played it. Again and again. She's was a great person for listening to music with.Then she took a train back to Germany. And I got on with my life.
Now twenty years in we're back in contact, Unexpectantly. She's got married and divorced in the interim. To the wrong man. I knew it at the time , But it wasn't my place to say. Everybody has the right to make their own mistakes,.
She seems happy.She has two beautiful daughters, I'm glad. That makes me happy too. I send her a song every day. We tell each other about our days. It seems like a great arrangement and understanding, This won't stop. Sometimes you don't need to put something into words. In fact it may be better not to, I'll send her a Strokes song one day. Meet Me In the Bathroom? You Talk Way Too Much? .. ..
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