The New Pope?

Is this a Hungarian commentary on the election of a new pope?

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Learn a New Word

 

I am not responsible for the spelling mistakes.

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Interesting Tidbits

Each weekday, I get a digest of Hungarian news translated to English by All Hungary Media Group. Sometimes the contradictions of what is in the new is laughable. Yes, I do read some US news online too, but they just have not gotten the knack of compiling it as humorously.

This first one is not so funny...
Californian Hungarian winemaker revealed as owner of far-right website kuruc.info
By MTI
A Hungarian winemaker living in California has been identified by a Hungarian whistleblower website as the owner of the far-right news site kuruc.info, according to an article posted on atlatszo.hu on Tuesday.

These two however, make me scratch my head in wonderment.

Hungary slips to 60th place in WEF global competitiveness survey
Hungary slipped to 60th place in a ranking of 144 countries based on competitiveness compiled by the World Economic Forum and published Wednesday. Hungary ranked 48th of 142 countries on the World Economic Forum’s 2011-2012 Global Competitiveness Index...
At the top of a list of the most problematic factors for doing business in Hungary was “policy instability”, followed by “access to financing”, “tax rates”, “tax regulations” and “inefficient government bureaucracy”, the World Economic Forum said.

Civil effort underway to launch new Hungarian national air carrier
Hungary’s Civil Society for the Establishment of a New Hungarian Airline hopes to wind up talks with Asian, Arab and European investors and lenders by December, Peter Leavai, who heads the initiative that seeks to replace failed national carrier Malev, told hvg.hu...

The airline, dubbed Hungarian World Airways, is expected to carry 10m passengers in its first year, generating USD 9bn, hvg.hu said. It targets profit of USD 260m by its third year, the website of business weekly HVG added.

Related articles

• Baku cons Hungary: Azerbaijan backs off on buying Hungarian securities
• Hungarian government stops payments to Holocaust survivors: demands a return of payments made
• Hungarians protest against release of Azeri officer
• Armenians to stage protest at Hungarian embassy in Washington
• Hungarian Website Offers Reward for Info on Anti-Nazi Protestors
• Far-right Hungarian party sacks member with Jewish ancestry

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Cheri, My Dear She Wrote In

Cheri @ The Watering Mouth has left a new comment on your post "Rosetta Stone Stones Hungarian":

This doesn't surprise me! My husband is Hungarian and I've been working on it for a long time now. And I'm GREAT at learning languages! That Onion article got me all excited thinking they might be actually releasing a Hungarian version. But FYI, a GREAT GREAT GREAT website that I've used in the past is www.livemocha.com which is very similar to Rosetta Stone, but all free. And that has Hungarian.

Best,
Cheri

PS I'm a food blogger who does a lot of Hungarian Recipes at http://theWateringMouth.com :D

Let's all visit Chei and see what's cook'in.

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Arpad Speaks

One of my students at least, reads my blog. I always remember that in the back of my mind when I think about what should or should not go here. He did comment on the "Say Cheese" post. Now if he or someone else could find me a discount photography supply store that would be awesome.

Arpad states:

"Well, yes, it does not really work to tell someone to “mondd, hogy sajt” in Hungarian. Therefore, it is never said. But we do say “csíz” which sounds exactly the same as cheese. It is frequently used when one wants the other to smile when taking photos. However, “csíz” has no meaning in Hungarian."

This portrait studio kit is similar to what we used in class. Not a bad price considering. Let's see, that is about 224 Euros, which is approximately four nights for two people in the large room. Throw in another night for transporting...now that is a thought.

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Budapest Innovations Video

A few weeks back, I taught a Master Writing course for an adult education program. One of the students sent me an e-mail saying he lent out my hand-outs to a co-worker and she lost them. He wanted me to e-mail him what I distributed once again. At the bottom of his e-mail was a video about Budapest and Hungarian inventors. I thought it was quite interesting to see which things I knew Hungarians were responsible for and which were new surprises. The helicopter was the only one I was not aware of. One question in my mind is which of these inventors invented these things while still in Hungary or after they left for a new homeland? The Biro pen was patented in Paris in 1938. The Biro brothers fled to Argentina in 1943 to escape the Germans.

There seems to be some confusion over the invention of the helicopter. Hungarian sources give credit to Oszkár Asbóth as the inventor, while other sources credit many others with models and prototypes, but the credit of successfully building the first working model goes to...drum roll please...Russian born Igor Sikorsky. He has been called the "Father of the helicopter".

If you want to prove or disprove other parts of the video, you are on your own. Either way, I think they put together a pleasant little piece of Budapest entertainment.

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NileGuide: Five of the Best Sweet Eats in Budapest

Here is an article I wrote for NileGuide as they "destination specialist". NileGuide: Five of the Best Sweet Eats in Budapest

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Spam Is Not Only a Food Option

I subscribe to a newsletter from The Consumerist. Most if not all of the articles are US based, which does not aid my way of living either way, but it does help me stay up to date with what is happening there. Today, there was an article on SPAM, not the supposed food product that came in can, which my mother served with fried eggs on top, during economically challenging times, but that hateful e-mail we find in our in-box. A survey shows that 12% of the survey group actually responds to the spam messages. With a rate like that, it is obvious that spam is not going to disappear anytime soon. You can read the article here and within it there is a link to download the survey. http://tinyurl.com/no3lzg This comment that struck my funny bone, since the person's spam comes in Hungarian and they are presumably in the US. Most of the time, I open Google or even Blogspot, it starts in Hungarian making me navigate to English. Google.hu is the default regardless of how many times I have changed and saved my preferences. If all of my spam were in Hungarian, it would be so much easier to ignore; I cannot read it anyway. In the past, not being able to tell the difference between the good and the ugly, I have been guilty of forwarding pieces to students for translation with embarrassing results for both of us. Opps!

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More Cows

I went to meet with the restaurant owner of Spinoza's today. She also owns self-catering apartments and a nightclub for young people. I have all of this in the current book, so I was unclear why she wanted to meet with me. After we discussed the business at hand, updating the information for the next edition, she asked me how long I have lived here. She and I have had this conversation innumerable times over the years, even before I started writing the book, but since I metamorphosize every two years, I have to forgive her for not remembering. She tells me she loves Budapest and Hungary, but the politics are what is keeping it from progressing into the future. As I give her my most sincere sympathetic look, she says to me "There is a Hungarian story...you have a cow and your neighbor has a cow...." I could not help but laugh out loud causing her to ask "Have you heard this story?" Yes, as a matter of fact, when I first moved here, but as luck would have it, in the last two weeks, I have heard variations of it from four different people, you are the fifth to start it. If you don't know the story, look at July 1st posting on Cows.

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Universal Crankiness

Our dear Balazs called today, distraught to say the least. At first, I thought it was an issue in his life; he was speaking so fast and furious, I had to have him repeat it before understanding it was about us. He received a call from OUR building manager stating at the last apartment meeting there were two complaints about us. 1. We have too many guests who let the elevator door slam shut and they find it disturbing. 2. We have not swept and mopped our balcony to their satisfaction. Balazs started to tell me the cow story, but I stopped him assuring him I have heard it. Actually, in the last two weeks, I have heard four versions of it, but the outcome is always the same. Animal rights activists need to be checking up on all of these dead cows. If you don't know the story, it is in the immediately previous post. Using minimal critical thinking skills, I suggested that they fix the damn door. We took the initiative of putting a sign on both sides of the door in Hungarian and English asking that the door be held until it is closed gently. We also meet all guests at the elevator now to indoctrinate them in case, due to their excitement, they miss seeing the sign. I can count on both hands and then need a helping hand from others to count the number of times Hungarians who were not coming here, let the damn door slam shut. They claim it would cost too much to fix the door, so they would rather make a bigger racket complaining about it. We have inquired as to the cost of repair. It is cheaper to fix it than listen to them squawk about. At least they will have to be creative with finding something new that we do to irritate them. Mopping the balcony? Give me a break! I have never in 7+ years ever seen anyone mop the balcony. Since we are the first apartment in from the elevator on one side, it seems it is our responsibility to sweep and mop the balcony from the outer hallway door to the part past our windows. So here is my solution. We will mop, but then post signs saying "We have just mopped the balcony. Please remove your shoes from this point forward until you have past our windows. Those caught with shoes on will be asked to pay a toll. It has rained at least an hour for the last ten days. Are these people nuts?

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The Hungarian Cows = Jealousy Metaphor

When we first moved here and I started teaching at the university, my department head had some reason for telling me a Hungarian story. This is the way her version went. You have a cow and your neighbor has a cow. By some good fortune, you acquire a second cow. Your neighbor sees the second cow and starts to pray. "Dear God, please kill my neighbor's cows." I bet you were expecting the neighbor to pray for a second cow also, were you? Well, the moral of the story is that if you had two cows it would be twice as much work; however, the green eyed monster of jealousy does not want your neighbor to be better than you are or equal to you, but in more dire straits. Fire up the BBQ, the cow is dead. This little tale will be referred to in future posts, starting with the next one.

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Hungarian Medical - The New Drama Series

Walking into the 'hospital' was an intellectual experience; the emotions did not kick in because I am so talented with repression, refusing to accept that this is my future. We had to walk up the stairs to the second floor, because the sole elevator was not working. Those in wheelchairs must have a real joy ride going down the stairwell. For one brief minute, the nurses station looked almost familiar. The women, presumably nurses were wearing white uniforms being busy, but not looking like they were doing much of anything productive at first glance. Then I noticed that they were cooking lunch in the little back room. I thought it was their lunch until they filled the top of a cart and delivered bowls to the rooms of patients. As we were sitting there waiting for the surgeon to call me, I started checking off the violations that the US Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) would find here. The nurses and doctors were all wearing open toe shoes, with socks, but open toe still. The food was prepared on the floor with no door and exposed as it was transported down the hall. Mental note: Do not eat while here. With anxiety building, I waited for the doctor to call my name, though it was difficult to tell whether the men in the green scrubs were doctors or orderlies. Then a bastardized pronunciation of my name was called out by this young man who introduced himself. He speaks English. Bingo! I won the jackpot. He is young and I can communicate with him. The tension eased as fast as a racehorse stung by a bee. After another brief exam, he explained that prior to surgery, I have to rid myself of an infection that he found. After giving me two prescriptions, we made another appointment for July 2nd and then surgery will be arranged for the end of July. Laszlo kept telling me how lucky I am. I hit the jackpot.

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Doctor, Doctor Give Me a Cure

Yesterday, after procrastinating for a long time, I tried to see the doctor. Okay, my brother is not the only procrastinator, but in my defense, I only do it where medical issues are concerned. I would rather not know and be taken by surprise than to know and suffer the treatment. Perhaps not the most intelligent thing to do, but... My other defense is that it took the university five months to straighten out my health insurance coverage giving me plenty of time to be an excused procrastinator. When they finally had it in place, it was the busy season at school, with lots of classes, thesis student to herd, and life was just too busy. To see a doctor, we go to our district clinic, which is just around the corner. The doctor is in 4 hours a day, but different hours Monday to Friday. When I finally pushed myself into going, I found that the English speaking doctor had left Hungary for London and a better paying job. This added a new twist, I needed to bring an interpreter along. Not wanting to discuss my personal issues with a student, I had to arrange a mutual time with our friend Laszlo. When we went to the clinic, it was the wrong set of four hours. The doctor had office hours from 8 to 12 on Mondays. We also discovered that the district is broken down further and although there are about ten doctors at this clinic, you have to go to the one to which your street is assigned. We now have this little old lady doctor. I am not showing her anything on this body. When the other doctor asked Laszlo why it took so long if this problem has been on-going, my first reaction included fear of showing up. However, afterward, it occured to me that what I forgot to include is the fact that I did not have a working health insurance from early November when I went in for a flu shot until the end of March. To complicate matters, I have to arrange an interpreter. The English speaking doctor was far from fluent making it uncertain how much I could explain clearly and thoroughly. We are trying again on Friday, but this time we will go to the specialty clinic. I had better have a good book handy and the book in Laszlo's hand had better be an English/Hungarian medical terms dictionary.

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Barack = Peach

I almost forgot to post his picture. Barack 1. It was almost like a Hungarian prediction, but really it is a street sign. Barack is peach in Hungarian, while the u is short for utca meaning street. If you are curious, the small sign is a warning that the dog will bite. Perhaps, it is also a warning to Republicans that the dog Obama promised his girls when they get to the White House.

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Malev in Trouble

Budapest Airport worried about Malev Airline downsizing

Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Budapest, September 24 (MTI) - Budapest Airport, the company that runs the city's Ferihegy International Airport, is worried about the downsizing of Hungarian Airlines Malev, as it generates the lion's share of traffic at the facility, wrote Wednesday's nationwide daily Nepszabadsag. Malev is owned by a company called AirBridge, which is part of a Russian consortium called Air Union. Financier Boris Abramovich, who has a 49 percent stake in AirBridge, has lost his majority hold in Air Union, which is being bailed out of a financial hole by a Russian government-owned corporation called Rostechnology. Rostechnology plans to expand the union, now including five airlines, by adding another five. No one is quite sure how Malev fits into the picture, but one-third of the company's 300 pilots received layoff notices on Monday, wrote Nepszabadsag. The pilots' union, Hunalpa, has charged management with dilettantism, claiming that multiple mistakes have been made, including termination of several long-haul flights. Hunalpa officials say that the company needs a well-capitalised investor, and tell of an unnamed Middle Eastern airline that is interested in Malev. Moscow analysts, however, say that Malev will not change hands. The contract with AirBridge prohibits a resale without the permission of the Hungarian government, but that is not the case for stocks in the company. Analyst Oleg Panteleyev of Aviaport acknowledged that a review of Abramovich activity was a theoretical possibility. Should the Abramovich brothers be found responsible for the Air Union's financial hole and required to pay compensation, AirBridge might become part of a compensatory package, said Panteleyev, adding, however, that he saw little practical chance of this, wrote Nepszabadsag.

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A Peach of a Guy

Barack means 'peach' in Hungarian.

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Questions from the Audience

Since my Frommer's guide hit the bookstores, I get a number of interesting questions from readers. Some I can easily answer, while others I have to research, which I do not mind doing at all. One reader from Canada asked me to help her locate a store where she could buy a Hungarian team football shirt for her son when she is here in November. Not being a sports oriented person, I had not even imagined that such a thing existed, but I went to the experts. I posted the request to my students who responded within the hour. For future reference, my own as well as anyone else who may want the information, I am posting it here. Sportsmania Budapest V. Kossuth Lajos utca 2/b (near Ferenciek tere).

www.sportmania.hu/index-en.html Lion's Sport

Budapest VII. Rákóczi út 64 www.lionsport.hu/catalog/index.php?cPath=102_103_122_919 If you happen to use Google maps, the default Rákóczi út 64 is in the wrong district, so make sure you put in VII or you will never find it. Another request I had to do some homework for was a request for information about a private tour guide who would drive two people from Budapest to Krakow, Poland and arrange for hotels along the way. I went to the TourInform Office for this one. The person there at first looked at me as if I had six heads, but then stated this was once a popular means of transportation. However, due to improved infrastructure, this is no longer a viable means of touring. He suggested that in the past, these were arranged through travel agencies. I called Vista Travel, the largest travel agency in the city where English is commonly spoken. The person I spoke with said they did not know of anything such as this in existence any longer and suggested a train for transport.

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Reader Comment

This is an unedited comment from a reader: Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Trains of Hungary": I wasn't a bit surprised by your experience. It's pretty hard for foreigners - especially from civilized countries - to get used to Hungary's "fabulous" railway system. Some basics to prepare foreign tourists for the horror they're gonna encounter (should they have the courage to travel by train). I hope you'll publish my comment so that people who have never traveled on Hungarian trains and are planning to, can see what to expect: 1. when buying a ticket, be familiar with the price and format and always check if the date is right, because they are prone to either rip you off right at the start or give you the wrong ticket, so that later the conductor can fine you. (They've tried this trick on me, and I'm Hungarian) There surely must be a way to pump some extra money into the bankrupt company! 2. Never - I repeat, NEVER - expect a train to be on time. Should such a miracle occur, then be pleasantly surprised. Remember, you're not in Switzerland! 3. If possible, try to avoid going to the toilet, chances are pretty high that you'll get some kind of contagious disease! Lucky if you don't just by sitting in the cabin. 4. Railway tracks are in a miserable condition, so the average speed these communist wonders are capable of is around 30 miles/hour. And interestingly, the more money the government spends on improving their state, the worse they get. 5. Don't get excited if the departures/arrivals board does not indicate any delay. They usually announce a delay several minutes AFTER the train is due - if they announce it at all. And never believe that the final amount of delay is the one they announce for the first..second..third.. .. time. 6. Be prepared to avoid dehydration. There's neither air conditioning nor a possibility to buy refreshments on most of the trains. Perhaps only on Intercity trains where if the air conditioning is on, you might freeze to death. 7. Conductors, ticket clerks, and railway staff in general DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH or any other foreign language for that matter. No wonder: They surely don't have the incentive to learn for an hourly wage of 2 dollars (probably even less). 8. Be familiar with all the stops on the way to avoid the experience you described. You might think that this crazy guy is exaggerating. But believe me, I'm not that far from the truth at all. I'm sure you've heard about the recent train accident in Hungary when the train de-railed. The reason is obvious and it should be a sign of warning for the government. Since luckily nobody got killed, I guess nothing's gonna happen. Welcome to Hungary - Gateway to the Balkans.

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We're Gonna Have a Revolution

No, I am not having a nostalgic moment with the Beetle's hit. Today is the anniversary of the 1848 Revolution when the Hungarians attempted to throw off the Hapsburgs control putting an end to the Austrio-Hungarian Empire. The Hapsburgs liberated the Hungarians from Turkish rule in 1686 after the Turks had been here for 150 years. Though liberation was spelled with a small 'l' as Hungary did not become a free nation, but went from one set of hands to the other. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was established. With revolution in the air all over Europe, the Hungarians were no exception. They were inspired by the writers and intellectuals of the time: Sándor Petőfi, a poet was one. He wrote the nation's song and the 12 point demands of the Hungarian people. This is something children must still memorize in school today. Crowds gathered in front of the National Museum, where you can find a statue of Petőfi gracing the courtyard. Although they made some progress in their wishes, the Austrians later turned on them and executed the leaders of the protests. Today, the fight continues, but no longer against the Austrians, but their own current government. There are many who do not like the state of affairs of the administation and protests, at times violent, break out through out the city on national holidays. The US Embassy sent out a warning of six places in the city that should be avoided due to the expectations of protesting and potential violence. Near us, Blaha Lujza square is a major meeting point at these times. Looking from our living room window, we could see a herd of police, but what looked like the general public milling around as normal. Here is hoping for peace.

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The New Laptop

The laptop I ordered for my use at school was supposed to be ready today, but I was not venturing there until Balazs was out of classes and could call for me. He called me at 3:30 to say his class was canceled and he would go with me to pick it up. They called him at 9:00 am to say it was ready. They had it hooked up when we arrived to show me that not only had my Windows installed, but also had it updated. The most important part was that the keyboard was an English one, which is why I had to special order it in the first place. I was charged. The B-man came home with me to reinstall Windows on the new desktop that was corrupted when the electric went out. I had to set him up in the hallway; we still don't have the electric fixed in the kitchen. I started loading programs on the laptop. We were like computer central. It was a good thing he was here. I installed programs that I had on disk and the strangest thing happened. When they installed, they showed up in Hungarian. The programs are English programs, so Balazs had to help me change the language setting back to English. If something can go wrong with anything electrical, it will happen to me.

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