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ROB[August 12-13]: On Wednesday we visited a group called For the Protection of Homeless People's Rights, a legal advocacy group in Budapest. We sat down with them for two hours, discussing the challenges faced by homeless people in both the United States and Hungary.</p><p>In the afternoon, we left on a trip to Szeged, a beautiful city in the southeast. We arrived in the early evening and led a roundtable discussion with 40 people on PTH's work and how it relates to work being done in Szeged. The discussion was attended by homeless people, activists and social workers. <img width="512" height="384" src="/home/pictur11/public_html/blog/files/image/town.jpg" alt=""
On Thursday, I got up at 5am and hit the streets of <span class="il">Szeged</span> in search of my early morning cup of joe. Surprisingly, right outside of our dormitory room was a little kiosk that sold coffee and pastries. It was open by 6am. I knew from that point on <span class="il">Szeged</span> was ok with me. Coffee was also less expensive than in Budapest. As I walked the streets of <span class="il">Szeged</span>, I thought it had the look and feel of Northport, Long Island or Charleston, South Carolina, a quaint little village along the river. img width="544" height="408" alt="" src="/home/pictur11/public_html/blog/files/image/groupshot.jpg" /></p><p><br /> <br />We started the day's workshop at 10am and ended around 5:15 -- we had about 30 people. </p><p> </p><p><img width="544" height="408" src="/home/pictur11/public_html/blog/files/image/headphones(1).jpg" alt="" /></p><p> </p><p><br /><img width="544" height="408" alt="" src="/home/pictur11/public_html/blog/files/image/szeged%20workshop%202008_08_13(1).jpg"
Brandon and I visited a homeless shelter run by a social worker named Magdee. Magdee was a great participant in the workshop and obviously took pride in her work at the shelter. As we arrived at the shelter, she greeted every resident she passed with her warm smile and an introduction of her new American friends. Afterwards, Magdee took Brandon and I to a cemetery where poor people are buried. It was a moving experience.
Brandon and I can talk more about the cemetery when we return. <img width="522" height="392" alt="" src="/home/pictur11/public_html/blog/files/image/cemetery(1).jpg" /></p><p> </p><p>Our day ended with wine, beer and conversation by the river with our friends from <span class="il">Szeged.</span></p><p> </p><p><img width="522" height="392" alt="" src="/home/pictur11/public_html/blog/files/image/bridge(1).jpg" /> </p><p> </p><p><img width="480" height="360" alt="" src="/home/pictur11/public_html/blog/files/image/chillin.jpg" /></p><p> </p><p> </p>
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