Chikagoan

My impression is that there isn't that much crime in Kaposvar, but residents should be able to answer that question better than I. It would seem that crime results from the presence of gangs, specifically 'roma' gangs, according to the ... Read More

Kaposvar is a nice town. I've been through it and it looked really calm and nice. Budapest is much busier and more congested. Read More

My main concern is that when I move to Hungary shortly it is not a menagerie, like some parts of Western European and North American cities, including the US of A. Read More

The silly Soros issue aside, most Hungarians support FIDESZ or Jobbik over the socialists or other left-wing parties (http://www.tarki.hu/hu/research/elect/gppref_table_02.html) Consequently the Hungarian populace is in favor largely of government ... Read More

Oh, this is good. I'm up for some noisy banter. The Chinese people/Asians we've covered before. Yes, there are more and more. And Russians. More to the point, you're putting words in my posts. I think that's not much of an ... Read More

I personally resent how non-Hungarians move to Hungary and expect Hungary to conform to their vision of a politically correct and multi-cultural society, in direct opposition to what most Hungarians want. I am sure that this will leash a firestorm ... Read More

Haha, I have to take that bait. There's never been anything here as far as I know that excludes people of other origin acquiring Hungarian citizenship. I remember in the 1990s a naturalised guy originally from Nigeria going to vote in the ... Read More

Of course, some would like to have Hungary welcome all and sundry. I forgot about that point! :D Read More

This is an odd question. Since most every country allows paths to citizenship by foreigners without family or historical ties to the country. Despite the current status of the law (as discussed above) my link provided above shows one can ask for ... Read More

How can people who are not married to a Hungarian or not of Hungarian descent gain Hungarian citizenship? Through the investment scheme? I was under the impression that this program was going to end. Read More

Atomheart Very good response. I would like to ask if you are an ethnic Hungarian from Romania? Also, if you don't speak Hungarian then you really are pretty limited in Hungary, ugye? I will not move there for about two years, but I continue to ... Read More

That is what I observed. What other areas are sort of nasty in Budapest? Read More

What's with Blaha Lujza tér? It always seems kind of rough, especially at night. I have seen city workers hosing down the area with disinfectant spray. Read More

Are immigration offices of in major towns or only in Budapest? What other EU nationalities are represented among expat in addition to UK? Read More

Thanks a lot for the response. I will get a photo ID when I get there in June. What other kinds of ID and documentation would be useful? Also, when you enter the EU and have an EU passport, then how is that different from entering the EU on an ... Read More

This sounds really good, as I hate carrying my passport (I had one stolen in Hungary years ago on a tram) but my card does not have a picture. So with these cards and an EU passport you can freely travel AND reside in any Schengen-treaty EU ... Read More

Thanks! It does not have my photo, is there some kind of photo ID you can also get? It looks like the one above other than the part I mentioned as being different. Additional question: is there a pension fund in Hungary that I could contribute ... Read More

Thanks for the info☺. This is indeed the card I have. But I don't own any property in Hungary. I don't have an address either there, and the card says kulfoldi cim for the address portion. (Foreign address). It must be something ... Read More

It says: Magyarorszag Szemeyi Azonositot igazolo hatosagi igazolvany. It came with my Hungarian passport. It has my name and mother's name, etc. am assuming it is a kind of ID card. I also guess I am now a Hungarian national, as my HU passport ... Read More

I just received my Hungarian ID card (and passport) last week. How and under what circumstances is it used? Read More

You might want to read some news regarding Hungary and Muslims to get an understanding of the environment in Hungary in regard to your questions. Read More

Thanks for the input. My credentials usually are recognized abroad, I did study in Hungary a little too, during two Summers at the Nyari Egyetem in Debrecen. I also taught in South Korea. Usually the US does not recognize foreign credentials but not ... Read More

Question: I have an MA in TESOL from a 'real' university and am state certified as a TESOL/ESL (for secondary school) teacher as well. Could I get a 'real' teaching job in Hungary. I have 20+ years of teaching experience at secondary ... Read More

As you can tell from my email I am from Chicago. It is often very cold here In the winter, sometimes very hot In Summer. Rather like Hungary, but I believe Hungary is bit milder. How do expats feel about Hungarian weather? Read More

Also looks like Budakeszi was a Svab village at one point. Do Svabs still live there in any significance? Read More

You can see where I am on the marker just above my postings - Budakeszi. Mrs Fluffy just pointed out that we lived in District III before. That's older age for you - was a while ago. Anyway, Budakeszi borders II and XII and so is serviced by ... Read More

Which village? Also, I have asked before, but what is your experience with your neighbors? Are they friendly to expats? I am assuming that your children are well assimilated being Hungarian themselves. I like Budapest a lot, but I couldn't ... Read More

Are there many Hungarians in France or the Benelux? Also, it seems as though some British and some German people, for example, complain about the so-called "Polish Plumber". This supposedly being a major reason for the Brexit. Are ... Read More

I like the cool, relatively mild weather in that part of Europe. How would you contrast it to Hungarian weather? Also, what about costs compared to Britain or Hungary? Read More

Yes, everyone looks for certain things in a city. I like Koln because I like the Rhine and the feel of the place for some reason. I was in Berlin the first time 2 years ago and can't say i was very impressed, I prefer the Western part of ... Read More

Oh, and by the way, South Asians; Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, etc. are not really 'Asians' from my perspective. Totally different from East Asians; Chinese, Koreans, Japanese. It is interesting how much more accepted East Asians are ... Read More

Thanks for the info. I have been to London a few times. I observed that it was quite similar to Chicago, New York, etc. Very diverse and most European appearing individuals working in services were not, upon closer examination, British. That's ... Read More

Budaors is a nice town. I stayed there in an apt. many years, like 22 years, ago. I understand it was once a predominantly Svab community. Szekesfehervar is an OK community, the downtown is fixed up very nicely, like many town squares, with EU funds ... Read More

Very funny and very representative dialogue. It was interesting how many WW2 memorials began appearing in Hungary in recent years. Conversely in Szekesfehervar there is still the Soviet war-dead memorial too, which if I am not mistaken, was visited ... Read More

Interesting posts. Sad stories about poor treatment after the wars too. Now days vets are well treated in the US for the most part. My grandfather was in both world wars in Austro-Hungarian and then the Hungarian army. I saw pictures of him in his ... Read More

I read it to the end and it doesn't really support a sweeping generalisation that the EU now is aligned with the Visegrad nations. It talks only of some commonality. One can find commonality in everything easily enough if one wants to come to ... Read More

I was referring to the politico article, https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-migration-eu-has-won-the-argument/ This is from a very legit source and simply demonstrates that the common sense view on migration is now being adopted by other ... Read More

I suppose you voted Trump as well? I'm actually here in Hungary on a day to day basis while you are not and I actually have more insight than I care to share. I know what goes on.Frankly, if I voted for Trump or not, it is no one else's ... Read More

I won't thank you for that misguided advice. Many things are easy to say when one is not invested here and from several thousand miles away. I'll let my Hungarian wife and young kids know they should lie down to be doormats or they can ... Read More

Perhaps we should simply be more direct. The great majority of Hungarians do not want migrants in Hungary. Fidesz is expected to win heavily next year. History is turning against the politically correct, multicultural open border thing. ... Read More

I do understand the concerns of the lack of transparency of the HU government and the increasing 'illiberalization' of society. However, I believe that westerners do not fully understand the HU context. Some background might be provided by ... Read More

That's all easy to say, and it's possible to pick over each of those points but we're not discussing just a single issue. Immigration is just one part of the picture in Hungary. There are multiple other issues which have to be ... Read More

It's never been the premise of these discussions in this forum that economic migrants would benefit from a free-for-all in Hungary to the detriment of Hungarian citizens. To conflate economic migrants with refugees is at best disingenuous and ... Read More

Aw, come on, there may be plenty of people influenced by government propaganda but equally there are plenty of other free thinkers too. Plenty of people are not fans of the EU, but even they wouldn't say there's conspiracy to subsume ... Read More

To be honest, I really respect someone who did what you did, in moving to a new country, which although interesting and beautiful is certainly not Southern California. Also, Hungarian truly is a difficult language. You don't NEED to learn it if ... Read More

Very nice and appropriate sentiments in my opinion.😊 Very respectful to Hungary as well. It sounds like you've adjusted well to a somewhat challenging situation. But you did it very well. Read More

Please leave discussions of US foreign policy out of this. Globalism is not inevitable. Mass migrations are not unavoidable. Hungary can and will maintain its identity despite pressure from the EU and the left. Foreign residents not sympathetic to ... Read More

Haha! Nice! It's rich pickings here the same as Trump generates so much noise from people. In any case, Hungary and Hungarians are fair game just the same as everyone else. I've also been defending Mrs Merkel against Mrs Fluffy ... Read More

One of the things I love about this board is how the non-Hungarian expats correct and reprove the poor Hungarians who are so woefully ignorant and sadly so very politically incorrect. Thank you guys for coming to Hungary and being available to tell ... Read More

Oh, the irony. Yes, the irony.Oh Oh, here we go again........... The irony of the Hungarian cowboys, settlers, prospectors and cavalry that won the West and robbed the Native Americans and now in retaliation are being justifiably invaded by ... Read More

Yes, indeed, people here are xenophobes and don't want diversity but they'll get it in the end anyway. It's inevitable. Internet, cheap air travel, TV, diaspora, even the EU itself etc. It's everywhere. It's not even a ... Read More

Yes, fattening high cholesterol foods. Potentially deadly, but also delicious. I am glad my blood pressure is low, so far..... I can still indulge. Read More

Personally I like the francia krémes but I'm not allowed to eat them any more That is truly sad :( . You know in the USA there are some decent doughnuts, for example Krispy Kreme. Interestingly some doughnut companies that in the US are ... Read More

Hopefully anti semitism is fading in Hungary. Even Jobbik sent out Hannukah greetings last year. None the less, diversity is not always easy or painless. It depends on the people involved. In South Korea for example, when some Syrians flew to Seoul ... Read More

Anyways a becsi fank is not really a doughnut per se. I would rather have a Linzer with a dupla fekete. Read More

No one should eat rabbits. According to the East Asian zodiac, I am a rabbit and wife is a goat. I've had rabbit pets too. Don't eat us :sosad: ! Read More

Not true. There is no such thing as Asian cuisine, each country is quite different in its cuisine. I had had many meals in Asian countries where courses were served in a specific order. Particularly at more formal restaurants serving traditional ... Read More

People who are part, or half, Asian and the other half European are Eurasian. My son is that and he Is an Attractive Kid. I Have Seen Eurasians In Hungary Too. Part Chinese or Vietnamese. Read More

No. I never had trouble with Asian people. It is the opposite. My wife is Asian and she really likes Hungary. We have been to Hungary about 4 times together and I have been there about 8 times, including visiting relatives. I have been to Asian ... Read More

Yes, I am the 'right' race. I am a Hungarian citizen, beszelek egy kicsit magyarul es teljesen europai vagok.. My wife however is Korean and she has traveled throughout Hungary with no incident. In fact she is more conservative than I am. I ... Read More

I agree, doughnuts are not lunch. This was in university cafeteria for lunch. The fanks were the main course strangely enough. Read More

How about a Becsi fank?!? I ate that for lunch once with csirke leves. Gyumolcs leves is great for any meal. Read More

Glad to help always. I think that Hungary is a little difficult to live in, in some ways. But it really is a great country. Best wishes and enjoy your time there. I'll be in Budapest in June for two months. I'm really looking forward to ... Read More

Thank you for the info Felicia! :D I think LOT might be OK. Take care and have a nice day there in Hungary. I hope your experiences get better! Read More

It sounds kind of sad and lonely for you. Why are you and your father in Hungary? Wouldn't Germany or another country be nicer for you? Read More

Hideg meggy leves = nagyon finom. Szerintem hogy magyar etel majdnem a legjobb europaban! Read More

Along these lines, Why are there so many Chinese people, and Asians in general, in Hungary? I read that there are more than 30,000 Chinese people in Budapest alone. It is interesting given the general dislike of migrants and immigrants that ... Read More

Tempura is basically just batter fried shrimp and veggies, very delicious. Dip it in soy sauce with wasabi mixed in. Excellent on hot days. All Asians like it these days. Sushi is basically raw fish and rice and 'seaweed paper'. Also good in ... Read More

Great info! Thanks. :) I don't really eat to many snacks, so that won't be an issue. But I don't like to cook much, I prefer the microwave, as unhealthy as it may be. My wife does cook, mostly Korean foods. I understand there are lots ... Read More

What about groceries and markets? I used to shop at chains in Hungary. How are prices compared to Austria, Germany, etc.? Read More

That's OK about the water. I remember drinking the well water in Zala megye. I was only about 10 years old visiting my grandmother (nagymama) and aunts. We had to leave the water out in a pail for it to warm up as it was so cold when it was ... Read More

Is the tap water OK to drink in most towns? I used to drink well water as a child in a village when I visited my relatives. It tasted really good and was ice cold. Read More

Then answer my question. Unambiguously. Yes, or no. You still have not. So you are still hedging. One more try. After that you fail. Here is the answer: No I would not support the public will of any government that engaged in genocide, oppression ... Read More

Then answer my question. Unambiguously. Yes, or no. You still have not. So you are still hedging. One more try. After that you fail. that is obviously NOT the issue.Only to you. I am asking a question on a larger issue, of which ... Read More

Don't be ridiculous.That is, you did hedge. Good to know. You refuse to take a fundamental and important ideological stand on a basic principle that any normal, moral, ethical person would be able to answer easily.Once again, don't be ... Read More

So if the will of the Hungarian people was to kill all red heads with blue eyes, would you support it? This is a "Yes" or "No" question. Nisht gefonfit!Don't be ridiculous. We are specifically referring to immigration. 2017 ... Read More

2015. A bit old, eh? And do note, that most of those refugees in this chart are from actual conflict sites. So.... Basically.... Even in 2015 migrants from these sites have a legitimate claim as refugees. After all, in 2015 Syria was (and still is) ... Read More

Some are indeed economic migrants. But "most"? Care to show me actual data and facts from an objective source that "most" are indeed economic immigrants? I will not wait, because you can't. And that also does not in any way ... Read More

Very 'nice' personal attacks. Avoiding the real issue, which is simply that you don't really like Hungary being governed by the Hungarian people. You would like a nice left-liberal, "enlightened" Eurocrat to govern Hungary and ... Read More

Democracy is sometimes messy, but that is the basis of Western political thought at present. Furthermore, the ordinary people without graduate degrees (I have 3+ myself) should have the final say in government, not the so-called "elites" ... Read More

The same, tired, old political arguments and fear of economic competition made during the voyage of the St. Louis. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.No it isn't the same old arguments. Most of these so called ... Read More

Very good points. Hungary is not yet a truly wealthy country, and many Hungarians still live in relative poverty. Rather than help able bodied, illegal, economic migrants from Africa or South Asia, the government and EU should help impovershed, ... Read More

Frankly, as a 'new' Hungarian citizen, I do not want to see Hungary go the way of parts of Western Europe have gone in the last 50 years; filled with large foreign populations that do not assimilate, are dependent on public aid, have higher ... Read More

Very good points. Very true regarding Britain and other former colonies as well. There is no reason why people who are absolutely not refugees are allowed to wander around Europe and basically trash public spaces, i.e. Calais. It is dangerous and ... Read More

I have traveled somewhat in the world: Hungary, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Germany, Slovakia, Belgium, France, Spain, Netherlands, GB, Ireland, USA, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland ... Read More

Thank you! It was no big surprise, but it was good to hear. By the way, I've read here that you can buy into the national health insurance program. Can you also buy into a pension program? Thanks again Read More

Hi everyone: I just received word that my citizenship verification is approved and my docs are on the way from Hungary. The consulate has scheduled a passport procedure meeting for me on 10/31. How long does it take to get the passport? The staff ... Read More

Wow. Two years seems long. If you are getting the verification, as I apparently am, then would it be easier to do it in Hungary? I will be there in June. The individual at the Chicago consulate has not yet responded. I guess they do have a lot of ... Read More

Thanks ALOT for the info. Actually my dad was born in a village in Zala megye, right outside of Zalaegerszeg. He left Hungary in 1956. None of this should be a problem in terms of paper work. I had his old ID cards, his baptismal certificate, ... Read More

Yes, I was looking at a few embassy sites and they din't say 24 months, only 12 for verification. What is the difference between verification and naturalization procedurally? Read More

So actually I am getting the verification, not naturalization. Thanks! Read More

Hi everyone: I just contacted the Hungarian embassy in Washington DC because it has been over a year since I applied for citizenship. I inquired why it was taking so long and did receive an immediate response from DC but not from Chicago yet. As I ... Read More

Good ideas. Thanks as always. I found a website; sublet.com. It had many rentals in Budapest. I wonder how reliable these rentals are. Again, I would initially look for a place for 6 weeks for the coming summer, and after two years. Given the ... Read More

So if I receive a pension from the US at my US address, and I am a Hungarian and American citizen, then which taxes do I pay; Hungarian, US or both? Read More

Thank you. Yes, I saw Norwegian. I wonder if it is OK and not of really poor quality. I would like to try it this Summer. How about Wizzair from European cities? Read More

What is the cheapest airline or way to fly to Hungary from the US? Read More

In other words the prices are quite a bit higher in Austria. How much do you spend on groceries on an average week in Hungary? Read More

How would you say most consumer prices in Hungary compare to Austria, Croatia, Slovakia or Germany? Is the cost of living in terms of groceries cheaper in the smaller communities. Also, how are the suburbs of Budapest, like Budaors? Read More

Would $3,500 be comfortable in Budapest, smaller apartment? Moderate lifestyle? Can you travel in Europe with this amount? Thank you Read More