William Penn Life, 2014 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2014-01-01 / 1. szám
Tibor s Take with Tibor Check, Jr. This year’s resolution: become a cultural ambassador’ THE ARRIVAL of a new calendar year brings with it the promise of renewal, progress and change. Many resolutions are made, and many resolutions are broken, but early January's spirit of rejuvenation rings true for all. This year, I am taking an approach different from the mainstream of resolutions and promises. This coming year, I am going to try my best to be a "cultural ambassador," and I encourage you to do the same. This concept occurred to me a few weeks ago while attending a performance of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble at Playhouse Square. I purchased the tickets as a 20th birthday gift for my sister. The show was stunning and featured the artistic precision of both the dancers and musicians. As an international showcase of our culture, this artistic display made me proud of my ancestry. We arrived about 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. I recognized several prominent members of our American-Hungarian community, but most attendees were not of Magyar heritage. As I perused the concert program, I examined several pages listing "program donors." The list included many recognizable surnames associated with the philanthropic community of Cleveland. Without their generous contributions, the resurgence of Playhouse Square would not have occurred. A few decades ago, this section of downtown was a forbidden zone for evening pedestrian traffic. Today, it is a miniature version of Broadway. My college of law at Cleveland State and place of employment lie in the middle of this vibrant section of urban resurgence. Many of the donors are well-known attorneys from powerful international law firms. The ticket sales for this inspiring event could not have possibly covered the expenses incurred. I assumed this same philanthropic group provided the extra funds which allow events just like this to continue. As my sister and I sat in eager anticipation of the performance, a distinguished gentleman and his wife sat next to me. He immediately introduced himself. After the usual questions and answers of a typical introduction, the conversation continued and became more distinct. He was rather curious as to why a young man like me would attend such a performance. I explained the occasion and particulars. In turn, I asked him why he and his wife decided to attend this particular Thursday evening performance. He said that he is a lifelong resident of the area, owned several businesses and is a contributor to many fundraising/philanthropic events. He further stated that complimentary tickets are normally given to donors of such causes and venues, but he usually gives his tickets to employees, associates or friends. I was curious about why he chose to attend this event in lieu of gifting his seats to another party. His answer was interesting to say the least. He said he is of English and Welsh heritage, and his ancestors came to America more than 150 years ago. He wanted to know more about this little country named Hungary and wanted to learn about it through dance and music. He further stated that a summer trip to Hungary was on his to-do list for 2014. Interestingly, he mentioned that he has been part of a group of investors that acquired several Hungarian factories and properties in the mid 1990s. In retrospect, he regretted never visiting Hungary in reference to business interests. Many of his colleagues have spent time in Hungary and were impressed by its charm, grace, food and people. Our conversation continued until the show began. During intermission, my new friend asked for a few clarifications pertaining to the first half of the program. Many of his queries were linked to words mentioned in the program notes. My sister and I briefly explained terms such as csárdás, verbunkos, cimbalom, Szeklers, Kalocsa and Somogy. He was enamored by the music of Franz Liszt. As we strolled back to our seats, he asked me how many times I have visited Hungary. He was surprised when I said zero. He assumed my knowledge of Hungarian culture, music and history came from a total immersion resulting from direct and extensive travels to Hungary. He was also surprised to learn that my conversational abilities in the Magyar language are rudimentary at best. 8 0 January 2014 0 William Penn Life Illustration © Can Stock Photo Inc./sunnyshine
