William Penn Life, 2014 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2014-12-01 / 12. szám
Grand Prix must be like. Our ambulance driver, Otto, weaved across several lanes of oncoming traffic, missing by mere inches a variety of cars, trucks and pedestrians. I lost track of the number of near-miss accidents that we encountered en route to the emergency room. Luckily for us, the tour bus company provided an English-speaking translator. Lari works selling tickets at the Central Market Hall area. When the accident occurred, she was quickly summoned to accompany us to the hospital. I learned that she was a student and would like to become a language teacher. She was fluent not only in Hungarian and English but also in French, German and Spanish. Her parents are educators in her hometown of Miskolc. I used the opportunity to pick her brain. She, in turn, questioned me about America. I could write an entire story about our discussions during the seven-hour hospital visit. • I learned a lot about the medical care rendered in Hungary. The hospital was average in comparison to other facilities throughout the country, but was inferior when compared to U.S. hospitals. A lack of cleanliness was the most prevalent shortcoming of this particular hospital. As the sun began to set, my apa began to feel the latent effects of the accident in the form of head and shoulder pain. We asked for some sort of pain relievers, but we were informed that medicine is not given out and that you can buy aspirin at the store about three blocks away. My dad received nine stitches that began just above his eyebrow, extending to his scalp. His doctor had an excellent command of English. As the good doctor began to sew up the wound, my apa asked when the stitches would dissolve. "Dr. Sz" showed my father the heavy black string that looked like 30-pound test fishing line and informed him that someone would have to remove the string with scissors and tweezers. My dad had to sign a waiver saying he would pay for the medical services before leaving the facility. With a charge card and a good deal of cash on hand, we were confident the bill could be paid in full. As the nurse and doctor tallied up the list of 17 medical services administered, the bill came to 11,250.1 gulped at the high sum. My apa smiled and said: "OK, where do we pay?" As we walked down the corridor on the way to pay, he said: "What a bargain-under $50 for antibiotics, three x-rays and an ambulance ride!" I didn't realize that the bill was in forints! • Many young Hungarians have an excellent command of more than one language. English, by far, is the most understood by younger Magyars. I learned that foreign Tibor s Take languages are taught in school beginning around the third grade. Many younger Hungarians credit their fluency in English to watching American television programs via cable TV or online streaming services. That also accounts for how they knew the current buzz words of American society. • The best goodwill program the United States can invest in is a study abroad or foreign intern program for Magyars. Many persons of various ages informed me that they came to America via such endeavors. The fellow we rented our Régi Posta apartment from in Budapest spent a year in Toledo as a high school student. The physician who attended to my father interned for a summer in the Detroit area. The middle-aged fellow who operated a souvenir shop on Andrássy út fondly recalled the summer of 1995 when he interned at Rutgers University. There were others who informed me of their learning experiences while interning/ visiting in America, and all were positive and sentimental. • Most of the casual clothing worn by the under-30 Magyars is called "Old Skool." Shirts and jackets popular in America from 1960 to 1980 are highly desired. Harley Davidson, muscle car and team logos are prevalent. The premium fashion statement in footwear is the Converse "Chuck Taylor" high-tops; several stores around the famous Budapest Fashion Street area were selling them for 10,000 forints (about $41). Anything "Monster High" or "Hello Kitty" is extremely popular with Magyar girls 10 years or under, while Hot Wheels are the premium toy for boys. • As mentioned before, my journey to Hungary was fun, enlightening, emotional and insightful. For the average tourist, there is much to see; for an American-Hungarian, there is so much to learn. In a previous Tibor's Take, I wrote about "Kindred Spirits." From what I saw and heard, that is exactly what Hungarians and Americans are. / Éljen a Magyar! Tibor II Tibor Check, Jr., is a member of Branch 28 and a graduate of Cleveland-Marshaii College of Law, where he served as editor-in<hief of the Law Review. He currently is an attorney working in research at American University in Washington, D.C. When he can, Tibor hosts “The Souvenirs of Hungary” radio program on WKTL-FM 90.7, Struthers, Ohio, on Saturdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. Let's hear your take If you have any questions or comments about me or my column, please email me at: silverkingl937@ yahoo.com, or drop me a letter in care of the William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233.
