Hungarian little big ego
As a Westerner talking to Hungarians, you can often notice an element of arrogance. Hungarians sometimes tend to feel a bit superior because “life (or survival…) in this country is harder than in the West” where people are “spoiled by the social system and lack of challenge and hardship”. Other common topics are: our school system gives more comprehensive knowledge than a Western one; basically everything was invented by Hungarians; we have the most Olympic gold medals and Nobel Prizes per capita and so on.
To some, well, actually many, historical nostalgia is the most dominant feeling. They long for the country that was three times the size of today’s and was a part of a major European power. Ridiculously, many Hungarians regard even today’s Hungary as a major player in Europe. At the same time, many Hungarians envy the living standards of the West. To many, Western Europe is an idealised place with functioning institutions and social security. They admire the available funds for education and culture. Often they prefer to buy foreign goods and try to follow the newest trends.
Some Hungarian products, especially fashion-products, are camouflaged as western products with foreign names and neutral campaigns. Those who know or care about the origins of these brands sneer at those who don’t. Add the widening gap between the euro-conform, multilingual and the rest of the country to this paradoxical, simultaneous feeling of superiority / inferiority and you have our version of a national identity crisis.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Sadly it’s all true.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I disagree. While many people there work so hard for so little, that country inspired me. I take so much for granted. Hungary opened my eyes. I would love to live there forever. I fell in love with that city the first day. Like any place there are negative that come with it, but seeing past the negatives to see the true value of a place is whats important. I’ve been all over Europe and Hungary is the best place I’ve visited out of London, Prague, Vienna, Amsterdam and Rome.
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Hey Admin!
Have u checked what is the truth behind the legends? How many Olimpic gold medal and how many inventions, and how many Nobel prices Hungarians have per capita? I ve just checked the Oxford english dictionary how many hungarian words are used in english, and i was surprised!
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
U had. Just found, sorry.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Hi Reg,
My name is “naturszelet” from now on, but you can call me Admin if you wish.
Yes, I have checked the Gold Medals. It is amazing.
The Nobels: true. But, as far as I am concerned, there were only two people whose research or work (Nobel related) was conducted in Hungary.
One is the vitamine C dude Albert Szent-Györgyi, the other is Imre Kertesz, the writer. And, some of the “Hungarian” Nobel prize winners didn’t like to be identified as Hungarian. This is also a fact.
I ve just checked the Big Magyar dictionary how many English words are used in Hungarian, and i was surprised!
a
August 15th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
naturszelet: You remind me of some of my classmates from when I studied with EAP at ELTE. Cynical, selfish, funny, politically incorrect and very observant
Kels: You also remind me of some of my classmates from when I studied with EAP at ELTE. Thoughtful, open-minded, culturally aware and intellectual.
Bottom line: You either love it or hate it. If you hate it, you end up creating blogs like this one. If you love, you sing its praises, not matter how grey and dull the buildings and people sometimes seem.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I love BP but some Huns are just pissing me off.
November 7th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Admin, Te tudsz magyarul?