William Penn Life, 2012 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2012-11-01 / 11. szám

Tibor's Take with Tibor Check, Jr.

Things to be thankful for...

MY PARENTS TRAVELED to Hungary last month with 37 other William Penn Association members. Most of their experiences were fun and fascinating. They were able to experience vast amounts of delicious food and beverages and an endless array of sights that would make any global traveler green with envy. As with all things, there were challenges on the trip, but that is part of the territory when traveling internationally. My anya and apa returned to Ohio safe and sound with suitcases laden with Hungarian treasures of all sorts. That, certainly, is something to be thankful for.

In conversations with my father, I learned a great deal about the "real" Hungary, which is quite different from what travel books and the media portray. His musings about the trip inspired this month's "Take," a (hopefully) heartwarming column about the spirit of this season for giving thanks. Writing this article gave me a welcome break from subciting, a painful and onerous task assigned to this particular first year Law Review Associate. That alone is something to be thankful for.

Going to the land of the Hussars was another item that my dad was able to cross off his bucket list. Traveling to Hungary was an ethnic and religious pilgrimage for him. He saw gorgeous palaces and churches, frequented vineyards and cellars, and dined at fantastic restaurants. The highlight of the trip was visiting Parliament where he saw the Royal Scepter, Orb, Sword and Sheath and, most importantly, the Holy Crown of King St. Stephen of Hungary. For my dad, seeing the crown with his own eyes meant that this crucial piece of Hungarian history was no longer a story and picture he read about; it was real. "Observing the Crown of Szt. István was a religious rebirth for me," Dad said. "The fantastic grandeur of the luncheon served at the Gobelin Hall made the trip a once in a lifetime experience." My parents realized that on this particular day, this memorable visit would never have been possible without the influence of William Perm Association. That, certainly, is something that they are thankful for.

While my mom was out visiting the many wondrous churches and cathedrals, my dad became acquainted with the young bus driver. Like most men, the two got to talking about cars and motorsports. This driver was proud to own a car. He told my dad that he inherited it from his grandfather. It is clear that many Magyars cannot afford to own a car, and even if they can, there is no utility to owning a vehicle. My father told the bus driver that between the five members of our family, we own eight

vehicles, two of which are antiques. In Hungary, such a statement would be nothing more than a bold-faced lie. My dad showed pictures of our vehicles to the driver, but the young man still doubted my father's truthfulness and appeared to dismiss the whole thing as something lost in translation. The young man could not grasp the concept of being able to afford such luxuries on the income of a retired schoolteacher.

The lesson learned is that we Americans have the benefit of years of industrialization and development. Our economy was unconstrained by tyranny. Americans are a population made up of hard-working and industrious people. We possess a land rich in natural resources and the protection of two oceans and a mighty military. Our wages enable us to not only exist but also to enjoy the better things in life. When we go to pump gas, even though the price may be outrageous to us, just imagine how much worse it is for our Hungarian cousins who pay more than $9 a gallon. That's something else to be thankful for.

My mother brought us many souvenirs. While some were purchased in commercial stores in Budapest, many of the items were handcrafted by local vendors or came from institutions that specialize in one form of artisan work or another. The finely-detailed embroidery, the expertly-fired pottery and the intricately-painted porcelain were all phenomenal. My brother received an authentic "Matyó" vest, dyed a rich green like the fields of the Hortobágy, with intricately stitched, hand-embroidered embellishments. My father purchased the vest from a family in Szentendre, who like many of the local vendors, were visibly down on their luck. My dad wondered if the fall of Communism had benefited that many Hungarians economically. My szülők, by virtue of steady work and stable jobs, were able to buy a great deal of goods. It was obvious that American money would go a long way for that family of artisan merchants.

One hot evening while staying near Lake Balaton, my father could not sleep. He strolled along the shore but eventually ended up logging onto the hotel computer system that was available to the patrons. He was curious about how much money a typical Magyar citizen makes. He was surprised to learn many occupations pay much less than $1,000 dollars per month ...before taxes. He could not believe his eyes. He cross referenced his research and found that the info was truthful and accurate. He surmised that, with the prices of consumer staples in Hungary being comparable to ours here in America, there was little if any money left in the typical Hungar-Point to Ponder....

Next month, I will feature the famous American-Hungarian zene based in New Jersey, the Kara-Nemeth Orchestra. I hope you will find this—the first in a series of stories about great Magyar bands—a wonderful trip down memory lane. - Tibor

6 0 November 2012 0 William Penn Life