Hungary in the news

The latest headlines...

Hungary's parliament approves new rules restricting public use of swastika, red star

Pedal power: Budapest's bustling bike culture

Large crowd protests anti-Semitism in Budapest

And the World's Best Jump Roper - Adrienn Banhegyi

To Market, To Market...

... to buy some fresh fruits.

  

Home again, home again...

... to plant the garden.

Being an expat

Being an expat is being surrounded by another culture,
But never belonging to it.

Being an expat is navigating another language,
But never mastering it.

Being an expat is learning to shop by look and feel,
And having a collection of foods you didn't mean to purchase.

Being an expat is trying new foods,
And developing a taste for them.

Being an expat is an excuse to travel,
And taking advantage of every holiday.

Being an expat is making new friends,
From Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Being an expat is searching for that one product from home,
And finding a better option here.

Being an expat is making mistakes,
And learning to say bocsánat, pole sana, sorry.

Being an expat is learning to laugh,
Mostly at yourself.

Being an expat is learning about your own culture,
The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Being an expat is learning to accept differences,
And realizing we are all similar.

Being an expat is like learning to ride a bicycle,
You'll eventually learn to balance.

Being an expat is sometimes a battle,
But more often an adventure.

Being an expat is not for everyone,
But it's definitely for me!

Lost in Translation

There are many funny "lost in translation" kinds of terms that everyone experiences when going from country to country.

The Brits laugh at the American's "fanny pack".

Kenyans say "flash me" when asking for your phone number.

And my favorite two in Hungary...

When you leave a store or restaurant, Hungarians will often say "hello" as you walk out the door.  Hello for goodbye.  It's used more like the Hawaiian "Aloha".  Getting used to it, but a little awkward when I get back home.

Hungarians kiss when they greet and say goodbye, like many cultures.  So when they say goodbye on the phone, it's common to hear someone say "kiss kiss" as they get close to hanging up.  "Kiss kiss" in Hungarian is pronounced  "pussy pussy".  English speakers can't help but giggle a bit at that one.

Do you have any good "lost in translation" stories?

 

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