Hunglish.orgLiving for over a year now in Hungary I have found this small, but proud and distinct eastern European country to have a great deal to tell. I believe I have more of an insider's view than someone just coming to Hungary.--by Natalie Jaro
Living for over a year now in Hungary I have found this small, but proud and distinct eastern European country to have a great deal to tell. I believe I have more of an insider's view than someone just coming to Hungary. The time I have been here, I have learned some important do's and don'ts that will help anyone first traveling to Hungary to get a head start in acclimating into the scene.
The Social Scene
As for the pace of life, Hungary is more relaxed than in the states, people sit at cafes and dine together for longer periods of time than in America. Hungarians converse and enjoy each other's company often. With all that time socializing, there are a number of things you should know. For one, when you are invited to someone's house, it is standard to bring a small gift such as flowers or chocolates. Let the Hungarians serve the wine, they are rather proud of their local varieties and are eager to share a drink of what Napoleon called his 'drink of choice', Palinka, a Hungarian favorite! Palinka is a spirit made with distilled fruits. When you meet friends be sure to kiss cheeks, starting with the left one. Never talk politics or religion, but other than that, most topics are open for discussion. Don't chink beer glasses as this has been a 150-year tradition and practice. When you finish everything on your plate this signals that you are still hungry and the same with drinks. If you are done, then just leave a little left on your plate and in your glass. Be sure to cross your fork and knife together to tell the waiter/waitress you're not done! Address friends with the informal words of Hungarian and save the formal words for elders and people in restaurants and public places. There is a difference!
What to Do
Hungarians work hard and the income tends to be low. Much of the country is poorer than in the States but that doesn't take away the pride most Hungarians have in the work they do. Work environments aren't as pressured and many shops are closed on Sundays. You may see people smoking more freely in shops and outside shop doors while working. The parks are usually filled with people taking in the elements and enjoying the fresh air. The Hungarians love festivals and are often out celebrating in every season on weekends and holidays. There are a few superstitious do's and don'ts like: if you are a woman don't sit on a cold rock or you won't have children; if you are a woman don't sit at the corner edge of a table or you won't get married; and do take your hat off when indoors.
Challenges of Hungary
I have taken in the highest heights and the lowest lows of Budapest and its surrounding cities. It took time to get over a touch of culture shock at first. Aspects of Hungary that I found difficult involved a few different areas: the foreign tongue so uneasily penetrable; the subtler and more reserved mannerisms of Hungarians compared to the more boisterous energy of Americans, and the curvature of the roads and streets in which it is helpful to scout out where you want to go ahead of time. You may want to think twice about driving here; the pace is fast and it's better to take a driving course before getting behind the wheel of a car. If you want to go for it, remember not to drink and drive, this is considered a no-no and there can be legal consequences.
Where to Go
The Hungarians have many statues and monuments to commemorate past heroes and leaders and to mark significant dates. From Buda castle take in the prime view of Pest, Parliament, and the river Danube. Enjoy the view of the city from the Citadel too on GellËrt Hill, go to the SzËchenyi Medicinal Bath or visit the largest synagogue in Europe. Bike or walk around Margaret Island or take in a wide-range of museums and theaters. There are many places to explore. The countryside of Hungary is equally lush and speckled with small, stone towns with thermal baths, wineries, old churches and farm communities. Hungary's Lake HÈviz in the town of HÈviz is the second largest thermal lake in the world. Just be sure while in the thermal baths not to splash, it's considered rude! Lake HËvitz is settled in a sleepy, little town with many spas and hotels from the historic to the newly redone. Relax and refresh one's spirits and health in Hungary's prime thermal water culture. Then there is the largest lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton, where there are many activities like boating, bike riding, festivities and lakeside beaches. Plus Hungary has the largest natural grassland in Europe called Hortob·gy where there is a great equestrian culture.
So You Think You Can Learn Hungarian?
Not knowing the language, otherwise known as Hungarian or Magyar, is reason enough to feel like an outsider, but many Hungarians do speak English and there are a number of them. However, there are many that do not, and that is when it is advantageous to take a course at one of the many schools that offer Hungarian lessons. There are universities and language schools such as the Interclub International Hungarian School and Brain Turbo Language School. You'll find with practice and time that learning simple Hungarian comes easily, but once the sentences gain momentum and become more complex, good luck learning one of the most challenging languages known to date! With its quirky rules and structure, long words that can add suffix after suffix, and with postpositions instead of prepositions like in English, and formal vs. informal words which include four different levels of politeness, it is easy to understand the confusion that Hungarian can create for foreigners. Still, after learning the alphabet which is mostly phonetic except for a few coupled letters, you will be able to churn out a few necessary phrases to start to pronounce many words. Once I mastered some of the basics I felt more confident getting around and communicating.
Common Sense Corner
On the more practical side of living, traveling is easy as the public transportation is hauntingly punctual from the metro to the villamos, to the buses, trains and trams. When shopping be sure to announce yourself when you walk into a shop and leave. You can start with, “Jo no put” or “Szia” which means both “Hello” and “Goodbye”. After dining out be sure to figure in the service or 'tip' as Americans call it, and then to ask for any change you want back. You need to ask for water, it is not brought out free to tables like in the US. When you go to the grocery store only buy enough food for a few days as food spoils faster here as it's not as processed as in the States. There is the city of Budapest, otherwise known as Pest, which is separated from the hills of Buda by the river Danube. In Buda there are many international schools for children and quaint family homes and neighborhoods with many parks. To get away from the pulse of the city, Buda is a great place to retreat to for a relaxing picnic or drive. Hungary has jobs for expats for teaching English as a second language and there are a large number of them working in the corporate and political sectors. There are private medical insurance plans for foreigners that can be purchased from companies like First Med or Medicover and are reasonably priced compared to American medical insurance prices which are astronomical.
Pray Tell
Living in Hungary has been a lot of fun and has been filled with all kinds of new sights and experiences for me, feel free to share any of your experiences with us. What are some of your thoughts on essential knowledge for the new comer to Hungary? Let us know if there are any other do's and don'ts you have found helpful to share with Expats or for those traveling to Hungary for the first time! You never know, your advice may come in handy for someone else out there.