William Penn Life, 2004 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-09-01 / 9. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán Culture sh in Hunga by Arlene Csornán (This article is the final installment of a two-part series by my wife, Arlene, recounting two trips she has taken to Hungary: the first in 1991, the second in 2004. - E. Csornán) RETURNING TO HUNGARY in May of 2004 was quite a different experience from my first trip. It had been 13 years since that journey, and the original plan was for my husband and I to visit relatives for probably the last time. But, one by one, each of our children began to hop on board for this exciting adventure. The dynamics of the trip suddenly changed: instead of leaving the family behind, we were taking everyone with us. The awful feelings of separation I experienced on the first trip did not prevail this time. Due to our large group (nine people), we had to split up into two different homes. I began to experience anxiety about the close quarters and having to share one bathroom with so many, but, amazingly, everyone appeared to be on their best behavior. The relatives in the village where my husband grew up were enthralled with their cousins from America. We were treated like royalty and felt genuinely connected to our Hungarian roots. One of the more memorable events of the trip was the ballagás. This was a graduation ceremony for my husband's great-nephew. The impressive program featured beautiful old Hungarian songs and modernday dance presentations that would rival any in our American schools. It indeed was a blend of old and new that endeared us even more to our Hungarian relatives. We truly are more alike than we are different. The meal, of course, was the ultimate feast. Starting with the csirke levés, we enjoyed the many courses of meat, potatoes, stuffed cabbage and (naturally) plate after plate of sütemény. As we sat at our table, we noticed that the other tables remained empty. Finally, we figured out that every one of the remaining guests (approximately 30) were in the kitchen cooking and serving. The meals that we ate in restaurants were also excellent, and when we went to spend a day in Eger, the relatives would join us for a meal. Even in the best restaurants the meals were reasonably priced by our standards. But, eating out for the Hungarians is still an expensive proposition. We travelled most of the time on day trips so that we could see the beautiful countryside. Our first day trip was to Párád where we watched the workers in the glass factory make beautiful crystal. We made the trip to see the famous Hortobágy and saw the amazing skills of the csikós (Hungarian cowboys). Then we crossed the border into Slovakia to see the castle at Krasna Horka, which sets on a hill overlooking the beautiful land that was given to the Czech Republic (now part of Slovakia) as a result of the Treaty of Trianon. Many Hungarians continue to grieve over this dissection of their beloved homeland, but, amazingly, the Hungarian language and culture continue to survive in these areas-a remarkable feat for an extraordinary people. The many changes I saw on this trip were small but important. The women seemed to have a new look about them with well-groomed hair and stylish clothes. The men still continue to hold onto the old ways, working several jobs to make ends meet. I have to say that I think the next generation will be the catalyst for bringing this country to a new level of change. The young people of Hungary already embrace our clothing, music and culture. They will bridge the gap to the future. I hope that they will not forget their amazing heritage, and I pray that they will preserve and perpetuate this remarkable culture for future generations. As an American I have been given a unique opportunity to visit the land of my ancestors. I will cherish that memory and urge all of you who are contemplating such a trip to take that opportunity. God bless America and Isten áldd meg a Magyart. _ m William Penn Life,September 2004 3
