Hello Saira, thanks for posting back! By the way, I love your name and the meaning of it.

I think you are going to have a wonderful adventure! I look forward to reading about it after your return home.

Like LoveItaly says, nice name and meaning. Casual walk to enjoy surroundings is always good so long as it is not for <i>awargi</i> ;)Don't be worried. Have a great time over there. I could be wrong but I think sixteen days is less than three weeks :) You will be back before you know it. Best regards.

Hello,
I can't really help with tips on learning Hungarian, though I applaud you for trying as it's known to be very difficult. I think that your boyfriend's family will be very pleased and flattered if you try and speak a few words to them.
My only real tip (as somebody who's spent quite a bit of time surrounded by people speaking a foreign language and not understanding much) is to take a couple of good, long books with you (if you enjoy reading, that is). When it all gets a bit too much, when you are feeling overwhelmed with the language and not understanding anything, it's great to just retreat to your room and lose yourself in a good story for an hour or two. (Maybe you could take the Lord of the Rings with you?)

Hi Hanl, thanks for the advice. And thank you all. What can I say... this has been a very difficult relationship in all ways. I am enthusiastic about going to see his family. What bothers me is that this is our only trip to Europe. He just told me that he will not be traveling with me on my birthday (something I always did before meeting him). His top priority is to send money home. If I was sure there would be a travel tourism trip after a family trip I wouldn't be so nervous and dying to get in what ever bit of Europe I can while I am in Hungary.

Comfyshoes, thanks for making me smile.

Thank you all so, so much for your kind posts and for helping me. To be honest one of the reasons I am so scared is not the fear of marriage or commitment but rather that in my current relationship he really makes all the rules - where to spend money in particular. I just feel like I'm being sucked in. I think it is time to reevaluate what is going on.

Saira, This is only the internet and we can help you with some travel situations. But (how to say this most kindly) you mention many things that would be HUGE red flags for me about your boyfriend's behavior towards you, he sounds controlling and not supportive of you or sensitive to what you desire. I'll say no more as this is too public a place for things this personal, but I hope you have friends or family in your life who could help you think this one thru before you consider marrying such a rigid man who is so different from you.

I don´t know. Like stfc already said, it might be a little frustrating if the girlfriend is more interested in neighbouring countries when she hasn´t even seen yours. And if it will be a long time before he sees his family the next time, he might want to spend those 16 days near them so that you learn to know them, and they get to know you. And his mother can have the joy of seeing her son as much as possible and spoiling you both.

If he cannot afford to travel more often, that is not something that makes him &quot;rigid&quot;. Money is money, and you cannot spend it if you don´t have it.

I can see some clouds in the sky...

Saira, I know this is a travel forum but you write quite a few things about your boyfriend that worry me. Read back over what you have written about your relationship and think about it. A good relationship is a partnership - both giving and both taking. You don't sound very happy, do you think this trip is a good idea?
Kay

Thanks all. I have lots of thinking to do.