Hunglish.orgIs it true that the amount one enjoys Hungary is inversely proportional to the amount of Hungarian that one speaks or is it just wintertime?
Written by Scott Savoie
Someone once told me that the amount that one enjoys Hungary is inversely proportional to the amount of Hungarian that one speaks.
In other words, for tourists, Hungary is great. For the locals, though, not so much.
In some subtle ways, I am discovering that this is true. As I comprehend more and more graffitti and mumbled utterings I find myself understanding and not understanding. Completely knowing what the words meant but not knowing why they were spoken.
I am often like, „Wow. Did he just *say* that?”
Most Hungarians in February start dreaming of either ski vacations or beach vacations. There is an „anywhere but here” attitude in Hungary in the winter. Especially in Budapest. The city can be a little depressing in winter.
Tack on a depressed economy and I think it is safe to say a lot of Hungarians are California dreaming nowadays.
So more and more, I am becoming Magyar: understanding almost everything and dreaming of far away places.