Magyar News, 1991. szeptember-1992. augusztus (2. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1992-04-01 / 8. szám

I AM A HUNGARIAN AND THAT IS WHAT I WILL REMAIN

One of the requirements for the Mary Katona Scholarship, given out by the American Hungarian Heritage Association, is an essay on an experience in the Hungarian community. This was written by one of our applicants.

My home is a Hungarian home where one can hear the Hungarian language and see many Hungarian books, hand-crafted works, throw pillows, pictures on the walls, and ceramics which state that we are a down-to-earth Hungarian family. Even our dog is a Hungarian Puli who came from Hungary; his name is Ószentiván Durcás. I was bom into this Hungarian home where at nineteen years old I was very proud of the first thing that my parents taught me, my mother tongue, “Hungarian.” Only at the age of three did I begin to learn the English language in nursery school, but at the same time every Saturday until I was twelve, I went to Hungarian school. Here I learned more Hungarian words through folk songs, dances, and short plays.

When I was about five years old, I remember my mother’s sewing room filled with red, white, and green ribbon, white and red laces, red velvet and tons of white material. It seemed to take her many nights to finish all the Hungarian dresses. We were full of excitement readying for the celebration of March 15. I will always remember this one year when all the pupils of the Hungarian school proudly showed off their knowledge of the Hungarian language and customs. The curtain parted and die applause did not seem to want to stop. The stage was full with boys and girls in colorful Hungarian costumes. The glazed eyes of the audience were filled with joyous tears at the sight of the true Hungarian children.

The memorial celebration of March 15, 1848 and picture of Sándor Petőfi did not mean much to me until I decided I wanted to learn the Hungarian history and the famous Hungarian places and learn more about my Hungarian relatives and see one of the most beautiful cities of Hungary, Szeged. Szeged is where my parents lived for decades and all my relatives for centuries; now my older sister has been living in Szeged for four years.

Since November 1990,1 began to save every penny from the two jobs I had worked for only minimum wages. I had already planned out my route for my trip overseas. I wanted everything to be successful. My parents agreed to my journey. And on June 12,1991,1 was on the British Airways, full of excitement, towards Europe.

My trip will be a memory for a lifetime.

I arrived in Holland, toured along with Germany and Austria where I met many new friends. I was envied by many for being able to speak two languages.

When I arrived, the city embraced me not as a stranger but as a “home-comer.” Throughout my life I have been back home many times. On my First birthday in 1973, I was baptized in the beautiful cathedral of Szeged.

The city of Szeged is famous for many things; szegedi slippers, szegedi paprika, szegedi fish-soup, and szegedi salami, just to name a few. These were Szeged’s famous trades. Today’s city has different meanings for each individual. The trademarks did not mean much to me. Instead I enjoyed admiring the winding banks of the Tisza river which splits the city into two. For many hours I strolled along the bank and I learned that there is a place which could be seen from a far distance. A place where around the year 1700 thirteen people were burned at the stakes for their practices in witchcraft. Their ashes were then scattered in the Tisza river. I wanted to go there but was frightened to go by myself since no one wanted to join me. The dark weeping willows which are on the banks of the river are ghostly as they cover this mystical place. Ever since the incident, this area is called “Witches Islands.”

On the bank of the river there is a museum dedicated to Ference Móra, a Hungarian writer. I could not spend enough time in it to satisfy my curiosity. Nobody rushed me this year as before when I was there with my parents years ago. Now every hour and every minute was mine. I learned in this museum the thousand year old history of the “Magyars,” their ways of life, habits, clothes, and looks of their homes. I found a painting entitled “Fighting Bulls” by György Vastagh which I liked more than any otherpainting. I was anxious to find out from one of my relatives if this painter is related to me and my family. My uncle told me that our ancestors came to Szeged from Erdély as soldiers of Ferenc Rákóczy. I also learned that they settled in Szeged and made beautiful hand-carved furniture. Their sons and grandsons made rich contributions to Szeged as painters and sculptures.

At the entrance of the famous Cathedral stands a huge bronze statue of Ferenc Rákóczy on his horse. This statue was done by György Vastagh who is a cousin of my great-great-grandmother.

More than anything, the huge Cathedral of Szeged with its two one-hundred meters high steeple rising above the city as two guards. In the front of the Cathedral lays the Dorn Square which is surrounded by majestic university buildings. In the center of the square is the famous stage and grandstand where the festival of Szeged is held every year between the months of June through August. During these festivals, many great

productions are staged. And the city is filled with people from the world. Szeged, otherwise known as ‘The City of Sunshine,” is filled with parks, with many flowers and curious tourists who want to learn more about Szeged. In the Dorn Square directly across from the stage one can find the famous “glockenspiel” clock in which every hour of the day life-size carved figures march to the music. Later I learned that each of those figures represent a famous professor from the university of Szeged. I watched the clock as often as I could. I bought a tape of the music at that the clock

plays, and every time I listen to it, I feel as though I am back in Szeged.

I once saw a performance there in the summer of 1985, “István the King.” I will never forget when in the production István was crowned. The rear Cathedral doors, which were the backdrop of the stage, opened and a blinding light glowed out into the audience while silhouettes of priests poured onto the stage.

One cannot have enough of Szeged. In such a short time I wanted to see and know everything. I have seen the modem sections of Szeged, the beautiful Uj-Szeged across the Tisza, the busy downtown, the huge marketplace. As I grew up, Szeged and I became friends forever!

I visited many Hungarian cities. I was at the Balaton, Veszprém, Aggtelek, Debrecen, Pécs, Budapest, and Buda. The old fort and castle of Buda is where I spent most of my time after Szeged. I was in awe of the architecture at the Mátyás Templom. I took a detour on my way to Szeged from Budapest to see the birthplace of Sándor Petőfi in Kiskörös. He was bom in a house with a straw roof, which is plain but beautifully decorated with flowers and wreaths, with red, white, and green ribbons. I saw also the most Hungarian land, Hortobágy, with its famous bridge which has nine arches, the tavern, and the galloping horses with their shiny coats which all reminded me of the painting by my ancestor.

I like Hungary very much. I am very proud of myself because I took a friend of mine with me on my journey. I taught him for almost a year the basic Hungarian language. As of now my friend still remains in Hungary. He fell in love with Budapest He enjoys the Hungarian life-style, the people, the rhythm of die city and still cannot believe that he can walk on the streets without fear. He wants to learn good Hungarian. Right now he is teaching the English language in a Hungarian high school and his Hungarian is getting better and better everyday.

It feels good that I helped an American boy to become more aware of the Hungarian culture, which now he values greatly. And his knowledge toward the Hungarian world is so appreciated.

Emese Vastagh