William Penn Life, 2014 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2014-09-01 / 9. szám
Tibor's Take Illustration © Can Stock Photo Inc./ tanatat days, there are many oddities and contrasts that have surfaced. In upcoming Takes, I will offer more of my observations and insights concerning my genetic homeland, but here are a few things I've observed: • Hungarians under the age of 30 love to talk to Americans in our vernacular. I learned that a little praise about how well they speak our language is like a passport to their souls. Many native Hungarians will boast that they know additional languages as well. I also found out that interjecting just a few words of Hungarian into a conversation opens other doors in communication. Young Hungarians seem to be interested in just how an American- Hungarian who is three generations removed from the old country can be so tuned into the history and culture of Hungary. During the course of conversations, the natives will ask where I come from. When Cleveland, Ohio, is mentioned, almost every person proudly boasts that they have had a relative or friend who lived in or visited the Forest City. • Alcohol is everywhere. Palinka and wine are the favored drinks. The native Hungarian views Tokaji wine as something for the tourists. My cousin Nagy Géza is the Palinka Király (Palinka King) of Csőt. He lectured me in what a true Hungarian drinks for enjoyment, and the "wine of kings and the king of wines" is not it. I do not see many teenaged drunkards. Partying is limited to certain areas. • In Budapest, I was most impressed by Heroes Square. The regal statues and configuration gives even a non-native a pretty good education in the early history of Hungary. My traveling companions were impressed with the entire layout. We noted that the Square is really a circle, yet it nevertheless awed us in the same manner as the Capitol Rotunda in Washington. • Most young people my age still live at home with their parents. Magyar university students are amazed that most American college students do not get their university education paid for by the government. • I have been in the hometown of my great-grandparents for about 24 hours and have already been introduced to many relatives, friends of relatives and community dignitaries. My cousins seem to be so proud that a cousin from America came to visit. Many of the people I met sadly mentioned how their relatives who moved to America no longer communicate with those they left behind; their children don't even know they exist. The identity of American-Hungarians seems to have diminished on both sides of the Atlantic. • Lángos, like alcohol, is everywhere. Vendors with carts offer a wide variety of the famous snack. I really didn't see any powdered sugar or cinnamon-sugar offered as a sprinkle garnish for the fried treat. I noticed that lángos is folded in half and served with sour cream. • Coffee is different in Hungary. No big cup servings, but little doll house-sized teacups. Worse, their coffee tastes wimpy. There is little cream. It is just there. • Csőt is a farming community of about a thousand people. The big sport here is horses. The Bakony Horse Club has events every weekend from early spring through autumn. The farmers all love John Deere tractors. The men of the village wear baseball caps with the traditional New York Yankees logo. I asked why they wear hats from New York City. Their answer: "They are a great team!" • I have had the opportunity to visit two dollar-type stores. They are similar to the kind we have in the U.S., selling mostly inferior goods imported from the Far East. One store had an interesting name, "200," where nothing costs more than 200 forints. (At this time $1 = 228 forints.) By the time I conclude my two trips to Hungary, I know I will have learned many lessons about the cultural diversity of my beloved America and Hungary. Stay tuned and have a safe Labor Day. As always, Éljen a Magyar! Tibor II Tibor Check Jr. is a member of Branch 28 Youngstown, Ohio, and a graduate of the Cleveland-Marshail College of Law. He serves os a host of the “Souvenirs of Hungary" weekly radio show broadcast on WKTL-90.7 FM in Struthers, Ohio. Let's hear your take If you have any questions or comments about me or my column, please email me at: silverkingl937@ yahoo.com, or drop me a letter in care of the William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. William Penn Life 0 September 2014 0 7
