Fraternity-Testvériség, 2009 (87. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2009-04-01 / 2. szám
FEATURE ARTICLE AMBASSADOR'S WIFE BRINGS HUNGARIAN FASHION, MUSICIANS, AND ART TO WASHINGTON One cannot help but be drawn to the youthful vitality and beauty of Andrea Bors Somogyi, the wife of the Ambassador to Hungary, Ferenc Somogyi. Whether she’s hosting visiting dignitaries or attending to her two young sons’ education, Andrea exudes a sense of commitment to Hungary’s artists, musicians and fashion houses in an effort to promote their work and introduce them to new audiences here in the US. Even in her busy schedule, she allowed us time to get to know her better and offer Fraternity readers a chance to appreciate one of the finest women Hungary has sent to America to further Hungarian arts, culture, lifestyle and language. Q. Andrea, tell us a little about your own background. A. I was bom in Székesfehérvár in 1967. Until I was eighteen, 1 went to school there. Then I moved to Budapest where I attended the College for Foreign Trade and majored in foreign languages. After college, 1 worked for Videoton External Trade Corporation and during that time, I earned another degree from the same college in trade. My childhood dream came true when in 1990,1 went to work for Malév Hungarian Airlines. I met my husband Feri during those years, and we got married in 2000. Feri is a career diplomat, and I’ve always admired how attractive and what a gentleman he is. The most important aspects of our relationship are trust, reliability and predictability. We have many challenges in our lives so I need a sense of calm in my marriage. We complement each other because he is assured, considerate and weighs every possibility when making decisions, while, on the other hand, I’m vibrant, and tend to make decisions quickly. He keeps me grounded and is able to focus on what’s important, while I encourage him not to hesitate, but to make decisions faster. His charm and sense of humor are the attributes that so many people find most attractive about him. Fortunately, our sons, 9-year-old Balázs, and 6-year-old Bence, have the same great sense of humor. Having them started a new chapter in my life. For a long time in every regard, the main focus in our lives was our family. For three years, we lived in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, where my husband worked in an international consortium as the representative of the largest Hungarian telecommunications firm. In 2004, we returned to Budapest where Feri resumed his career in foreign policy as minister for foreign affairs. During those years, I had a chance to experience the interesting life of diplomats. Based on my experience and connections, I was exposed to charitable functions and organized such events, particularly for children in need. Q. You’ve been in Washington for a short time, but you’ve brought Hungarian artists, musicians, and fashion designers to the embassy to showcase their work and introduce them to Americans and Hungarians as well. How did your interest in fashion, music and the arts evolve? What has been the reaction thus far to these artists and what has been the impact on their careers because of such exposure to new audiences? A. I think art is a true gift for a nation. It is as important to daily living as using spices in one’s food. I’ve always appreciated those people who were particularly gifted in artistic By Kathy A. Megyeri ways. I think they deserve the utmost respect because they have abilities which mainly originate with inborn talent that can’t be learned. On the other hand, their talent needs to be nurtured and developed like cutting a diamond from the “rough.” I want the people we feature to be among the best of Hungary because we came not as private citizens but representatives of our homeland who want to present the best of our faraway small country to Americans as well as to rouse pleasant memories and feelings in Hungarians far away from their homeland. I think it’s a huge opportunity for Hungarian artists to introduce themselves and their works to Americans, and it can give a large boost to their artistic careers, as well. Here at the embassy, we have the opportunity to use our venue and connections to promote Hungarian culture and Hungarian artists, and this exposure is the best we can offer them. Based on my own experience, I can safely say that by performing or displaying their work in America, they feel honored and valued at the same time. Q. You are a most unique person in that you have two young sons, you are truly a partner with your husband in sharing Ambassadorial duties, you entertain beautifully, and participate in as many as possible diplomatic functions of different sorts. Since there are only 24 hours in a day, how do you prioritize and juggle your responsibilities? A. Ambassador’s wives have very unique situations. On one hand, it’s very uplifting and a great honor to be able to represent my country here in Washington, DC, but, on the other hand, 1 am not an employee of the Hungarian Government. I can have my own ideas but their realizations require team efforts. The success of a program very much depends on the extent the embassy staff and our American partners can work together and help each other, and this is not 14 SUMMER 2009
