Magyar News, 1998. szeptember-1999. augusztus (9. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1998-09-01 / 1. szám

Eleven years ago I arrived to the United States, filled with anxiousness and anticipation of what was to become of me. Transylvania, my native homeland, which I will always remember for its striking mountains and fragrant pine trees, was just a memoiy. A new home in the States was waiting for me -a new life, yet I was not entirely overcome with happiness, but infused with longing and deep nostalgia for my original homeland. Now happily living in the America eleven years later, I still feel these genuine emotions for my native country, and I strongly feel that these feel­ings will remain present in my heart for the rest of my life. One of my fondest recollections of my past was my schooling in Transylvania, where I developed a great love for the Hungarian language and literature through the guidance of my teachers. Brought out through my exposure to calligraphy and composition classes, these affections made an indelible mark on my being -my role as a Hungarian. I would like to quote an influ­ential Hungarian poet Ferenc Szemler: "Ha kérdezik: hol indultál utnak?ezt az iskolát nevezd meg itt!" I find it impossible to literally trans­late "word for word" this quotation, prefer­ring to leave it in the text which means so much to me. Szemler's words show the importance of the school in which one's elementary years begin -for those years are the defining years of one's life where those important, initial morals, thoughts, and ideas are sown, preparing for a lifetime of cultivation. These words of Szemler's mir­ror my own on reflecting those important memories of childhood in my native land and the excellent education I received at an early age. Most essential in a child's life is the role that the parents play in nurturing those early years. In Transylvania, my parents and grandparents introduced me to the Hungarian musical culture. I listened for hours to the great operettas, particularly the singing of Hannah Honthy. Also mem­orable were performances I was able to see of the Kolozsvár Opera Company, in which these operettas were championed. These musical moments, while brief, had much to do with bringing out my innate (but at the time unknown) musical qualities many years later. Once in the United States, I found it difficult to reconcile my Hungarian culture with this sudden American lifestyle. Such feelings of homesickness manifested them­selves through the sudden desire to immerse myself in music. Although I knew nothing, I attempted to learn the piano with a new keyboard my parents bought me with numerous "how to play piano" manu­als. I also tried singing along with the new pop tunes I heard in this country. This new love of mine acted as a healing agent for my sadness. Finding an outlet for my emo­tions, I found a way to escape and ulti­mately I came to terms with America with much optimism and happiness. I was encouraged in high school to take part in the theater opportunities avail­able. Standing on the stage under the bright lights, I knew that's what I wanted to do professionally someday. These artistic experiences reached their summit when in 1994 I was granted a merit scholarship to study opera at the renewed Eastman School of Music. This new musical life for me in the States merged with my patrio­tism and love for Hungary and its culture when I performed Erkel's Bank Ban's aria for the celebration of the 1100th year anniversary of Hungary. My numerous performances for the Hungarian community have reflected my desire to continue my heritage through my art. By exploring little known but incredi­ble works by Erkel and Bartók, I hope to increase their visibility in America and wherever I may perform in the future. My art was a necessity dictated by coming to America and yet was always in my soul from those early Hungarian days as a young Magyar girl. Being a Hungarian in America ^ÄLcovics Individuality is an aspect of one's self respect. Being a Hungarian in America increases my self respect through my feel­ings of individuality and pride. I feel a cer­tain inner comfort in knowing that I have a heritage which delineates me from those around me. My heritage gives me the opportunity to feel both a sense of individ­uality, and a sense of belonging. I have the privilege of being able to consider myself the part of a family, a group, a nation, and a culture, while retaining beliefs which are uniquely my own. My sense of self comes from the combination of personal convic­tions and an association to those who's beliefs are similar to my own. Living in America with one's own per­sonal culture is part of the makeup of American society. We are a conglomera­tion of cultures whose views differ and unite. Everyone shares the commonness of living in the same place whereas they dif­fer in their living style. The perpetual melding of cultures creates a beautiful new culture which accepts those who are differ­ent. My Hungarian background gives me the opportunity to take part in the beautiful American society, with my own contribu­tions and individuality, which are accepted among others as I accept theirs. To be Hungarian in America is to experience freedom in a way that others cannot. Since sociopolitical repression is still taking place throughout the world, and I have an ancestry which has dealt with repression, I must do my best to under­stand and help eliminate the corruption of power. It is the knowledge of my culture's past which allows me to take such an active role in American society. Being a Hungarian in America is being part of the world community. By liv­ing in America, and sharing my culture with the rest of the world, I in effect become a part of the rest of the world. Living in one's native land does not give one the ability to transcend national bor­ders as easily as living in America. America gives one the opportunity to become more aware of one's own culture by being separated from it and analyzing it from an outside perspective in contrast to the other cultures one is surrounded by while maintaining its practices and beliefs. Being in a Hungarian in America means having the opportunity to appreciate my culture and reflect on it with respect to the world around me. I developed these feelings from a wonderfully patriotic father who while raising me in a foreign place refused to allow me forget my past. It was his beauti­ful stubbornness and his patriarchal teach­ing of the feelings he holds dear that allowed me to appreciate my ancestry in a society which is progressing towards less respect for heritage and tradition. The eccentric way in which my father pointed out the presence of a little Hungarian in every aspect of the world helped me to realize our omnipresent contributions to the world. My family, in an effort to compensate for not raising me in Hungary spent a great deal of time introducing me to other Hungarians my own age while allowing me to appreciate others like myself. They made noble sacrifices in order to allow me visit Hungary, to see Miskolc where I was bom, and to experience the culture that affected them as they grew. Visiting the farm which my Grandfather worked on, grew up on, and lived on humbled me and more importantly gave me the opportunity to appreciate what great steps our family has taken through Sie past few decades. Knowing the modest farming lifestyle of my family a mere two generations ago allows me to understand the great opportu­nities I have been given and allows me appreciate and respect the superb educa­tion which I am receiving at one of Americans best universities. Page 3

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