Magyar News, 1999. szeptember-2000. augusztus (10. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-07-01 / 11-12. szám
change in routine and the constant chaos was the biggest hurdle,” explains Linda. Not only did they go from three loads of laundry a week to 20-25 loads, and from $80 for groceries per week to $250, but their house also felt the strain. It had accommodated two people comfortably, but now it had to stretch to make room for seven. The kitchen was so small that when the children sat down to eat, Linda and Ron had to stand. A “fairy godmother” in the form of The North Stamford Exchange Club came to their rescue. They extended the kitchen, built a laundryroom and an additional bathroom next to the kitchen, and added a fourth bedroom upstairs. Now Ron Jr. has his own room, and the girls double up in the two other bedrooms. “I'm so glad we could keep the children together as a family,” says Linda. When asked what was the hardest thing for them in America, the children had varying responses. Ron Jr., now 14, said making friends was the hardest, although Ron Sr. says he and the girls are all welladjusted, and now have many friends. Anna, now 12, and Loni, now 13, said the hardest thing was fitting in with the other children at school. Melinda, now 9, says learning to ride a bike was the most difficult (neighbors had bought bicycles for each of the children at a tag sale - only in America!) Christina, now 8, said learning to speak English was the hardest (though from the way she chatters on now, you'd never think she ever had trouble speaking!) The three older children, Ron Jr., Loni and Anna were first put into “English as a Second Language” classes for six months. But they had missed too much schooling back in Hungary, so they are one year behind their age group. Two girls,Melinda and Christina are in their age-appropriate classes. Loni had been teased a lot at school for having been adopted. The breakthrough came when her teacher told the class they all would have to teach something. Loni explained that she was adopted, and on a map of Hungary showed where she came from. Using handout sheets, she then taught them the Hungarian words for the primary colors, the days of the week and greetings. After her presentation, everyone in her class wanted to sit with her at lunch, and the teasing stopped. In Hungary, Ron Jr. had dreamt of becoming a fireman. In America, his dream has changed. He is now in the Naval Sea Cadets, and hopes to join the Navy when he's 18. Loni's dream has also changed. Back in Hungary, she had wanted to be a dancer; now, her goal is to become a clothes designer and a masseuse (the latter idea comes from her massaging Linda, who has back problems). Anna's dream is to become a comedienne and singer; Melinda's, to be a nun or a teacher; and Christina wants to be a TV actress and model. Three years after their arrival in Stamford, all five are fluent in English, and never revert to their native Hungarian. That's why Linda and Ron take them to the Hungarian language program offered by the non-profit Magyar Studies of America. This is a one-night-a-week program, housed at Fairfield Woods Middle School from October to April. As Linda explains, “We want the children to keep up with their heritage. We don't want them to forget their roots! It's nice to have nice things - bicycles, toys, dolls - but they must always remember where they came from, and remember children who are not as fortunate as they are. ” Ron Jr. can't always attend, as the time of Hungarian class conflicts with the Sea Cadets. When he can make it, he's in the most advanced class, as is Loni. He is even able to write to his friends back in the orphanage in Hungarian. Loni understands the language, but has a hard time responding. The three younger Kuzliks are doing well in the beginning children's class, where they learn mainly vocabulary. Linda says: “We want them to grow up with values. So what if they don't have designer clothes! We want their spirit to be in tune with God. And when they grow up, they will be able to give back to their people some of what they got from us, what God has blessed them with.” Three cheers for this wonderful non- Hungarian couple who stands up for our Hungarian language and heritage, and is concerned about passing it on! May we all learn from their shining example of love and caring! And may God abundantly bless Ron and Linda Kuzlik for their goodness to five Hungarian children! May God repay you! Isten fizesse meg! WATERS ENTERING INTO HUNGARY SLOVAKIA Polluted water 1 Magnezit |^[ Chromium HI Nitrate. Fenol fSSgHeavy metal j_| Sulfate, Chlor /—V Gold Mercury COUNTRY BORDERS ......................Hungary Others-----------------------------------------------------Pharmasutical Metallurgy ÍÜTI liibl machinery ^ Chemical Plant ||L| Power Plant ^ Oil refinery |tm] Paper factory Cleaning filters RUMANIA Polluted water ^ Pig Farming Poultry Processing WATTEAU WATTÉI? WHO’S DRINKING? WHO’S POLLUTING? nnnnnnn Recently the natural waters, rivers, lakes, creeks of Hungary were in the news many times. There were devastating floods, poisoning - killing all life in the Tisza, and the overall picture of the water quality is very dim. Unfortunately the basic sources of the Hungarian rivers are outside the border. Whatever pollution happens in these neighboring countries flow into the two main rivers, the Danube and the Tisza. I tried to get an acceptable picture about the situation and I was lucky to come across good information. The map on the right show the waterways of the Carpathian Basin. From the west, from Austria Hungary receives reasonably clean water because, as you could see, there are a number of filtering plants. Not so in Slovakia and Rumania. On the map we show those factories and plants that use no filters and pollute the waters heading into Hungary. Bear in mind that these are not all the industry in these countries. These are the ones that are in the immediate vicinity of waterways and with no regard to the consequences their polluting waste is carried away with the river bringing pollution to the land of the Hungarians. Hungary cannot pollute the waters of these countries because the rivers don’t flow backwards. J.F.B. Page 3
