2021-01-12 19:28
In the self-proclaimed best health care system in the world, I was greeted at the lab by a lab tech without a mask, less than a minute after the previous person had left the room. Usually at… Read More
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Helsinki-budapest Blog
HelsinkiBudapest.wordpress.com
A Cross-Cultural Kid's ongoing quest for identity, with a critical look at racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and other assorted bigotry, social commentary, and a style that can best be described as tongue-in-cheek.
2021-01-11 13:26
When people commit heinous acts, our primary instinct is to label them as simplistic, of lesser intelligence, ill educated if at all. Which is a grave mistake. It’s easy to get the rab… Read More
2020-08-07 18:17
I’ve been wrestling with this for a long time, because while part of me has been wanting to do this since forever, the other part was hesitant. Because, A. I don’t want this side… Read More
2020-08-07 09:47
When living in Germany as a child, I would frequently witness my parents being spoken to by locals in Ausländerdeutsch, deliberately grammatically incorrect German that was set to mimic… Read More
2020-07-23 10:53
I really hate when you tar everyone with the same brush, and yet I am frequently guilty of that. Let’s face facts, some men prey on women. Too many for sure, but then even one is too m… Read More
2020-07-22 20:55
Poland, Hungary’s permanent BFF and child from another mother, is at it once more. Then again, it never stopped. Poland is not a country I ever claimed (though God knows, it tried… Read More
2020-07-15 21:00
In the spirit of positive thinking, here are 10 things that put a positive spin on Finland. In the spirit of staying true to myself, I might make this a recurring thing, as it reflects not o… Read More
2020-07-15 20:02
When I was first introduced to Finland in its natural habitat, the country could not have left a better impression. Except for two cases of dishonesty both of whom were Finnish (one girl… Read More
2020-07-05 13:25
Blogs change, because people do. I believe that’s a normal transition, and transition seems to be the guiding force of our times. So here is the updated version of where I intend to ta… Read More
2020-06-06 16:51
My MO has always been to look at an issue from various angles, to get a better picture. The holistic approach, if you will. Which explains why I like to go deeper than just analyzing the… Read More
2020-06-05 18:09
Hashtags have been trending like crazy these past few days, with everyone expressing their outrage and sorrow. And make no mistake, police violence against is out of line at the best of… Read More
2020-06-05 08:51
This is an older post that somehow slipped through the cracks of drafts. Thought it would be a good source of information to place here, for readers to understand where I’m coming from… Read More
2020-06-03 16:05
Disclaimer: I am not purporting to speak for the black community as a whole (how would one even do that), nor am I trying to speak for any person. I am not even attempting to speak for the T… Read More
2020-05-31 02:25
There is no right way to begin writing about an event you know in your heart is beyond cruel, and wrong. A man died, because he was cruelly murdered. He wasn’t the first, and he wo… Read More
2020-05-30 12:50
When we were in Germany, it was always in this provincial hamlet. I like the word town, so I don’t want to mix it in with something I hate. Most people there were either guest workers… Read More
2020-05-28 16:08
I remember a Swedish girl my last year of high school in America telling me how strange it was to her that her host parents asked her to take a beanie with her as she was heading out the doo… Read More
2020-05-08 21:00
My father, who had nothing to do with Finland except for the distant possibility of sharing the same gene pool with a possible distant relative whose offspring or sibling made their way… Read More
2020-05-08 10:00
As I stated earlier, I’ve always had Finnish friends here and there. But the first time I was conscious of how Finns saw themselves and the world was during a brief stint of colleg… Read More
2020-05-07 20:03
I’m spending World Lockdown in Finland, and as with everything, there could be better places, while some could be worse. Finland is not unfamiliar territory, as I’ve lived here b… Read More
2020-04-24 22:22
A friend of mine used that term, and it’s one of the most perfect ways I can think of describing these people. We’ve all met them, they pile it on real thick because they learned… Read More
2020-04-05 09:00
The Hungarian mindset prides itself on being resourceful and finding ways out of every situation. Which obviously implies a good dose of healthy imagination. For myself, that’s what he… Read More
2020-03-28 00:01
Now that we know the Coronavirus was personally brought to Hungary by a bunch of Iranian students, we can go out and enjoy our stay in the sun again. If you’re wondering which one is m… Read More
2019-08-23 18:57
You’ll recognize the school by their polo shirts, color and logo deliberately picked to appeal to parents and students alike, and to drum up business, but only in the most subtle w… Read More
2018-12-25 01:31
I’m not even kidding. Hungarians in general have a great and easy solution for every trouble in life: lose weight and find a man. I’m not even kidding. In the country which clai… Read More
2018-12-22 19:52
This particular family was Christian, but I’ve seen the same variation on that particular theme play out in any authoritarian society. A mother explained why in her family boys and gi… Read More
2018-12-15 19:49
My fellow blogger Snow came up with this idea, and I wanted to share it this with you guys. The instructions are here, but in a nutshell, how it works is like this: pick an old post and brin… Read More
2018-12-13 03:42
Something positive about Hungary? Why yes, absolutely. Check it out here. https://hkibp.wordpress.com/2018/12/13/kimnowak-gyemant-a-song-that-will-tear-your-soul-out-and-serve-it-back-to-you… Read More
2018-12-11 22:11
https://youtu.be/JsntlJZ9h1UIn fact, I’m pretty sure she is. Which is kind of funny. My Crush’s ex doesn’t even know I exist, she’s never seen us together, but she pi… Read More
2018-12-11 19:40
The internet is full of armchair psychologists, armchair warriors, and trolls. We know that, which is why I don’t argue with strangers online, not worth my time, and just feeds their… Read More
2018-12-10 03:16
Ages ago, when I reconnected with Hungary and didn’t speak Hungarian yet, I thought it would be fun to also reginbect with an old friend. So I did what any person my age would have do… Read More
2018-12-05 22:13
In a perfect world, when we move we’d give to our friends what we can’t take with us but still hold dear. We ask them to keep those things safe, remember us by them. Reality is o… Read More
2018-10-13 03:16
Maybe it sounds more dramatic than it is, maybe less so. Fact is, I held out until June the year following my arrival, and I already wanted out. It took me another year, in which I had no r… Read More
2018-09-29 14:51
Sometimes we hold on to friendships because there’s no one else around. Or you’re stuck and people keep you there, creating a comfort zone for yourself. My Rump supporter acquain… Read More
2018-09-17 11:06
Zolán Kósz and Zsolt Petőváry have been friends for thirty years. Both have represented Hungary at the Olympics, Kósz, a water polo player, even has a medal… Read More
2018-09-10 22:35
Hungary is looking for a fugitive. Or rather the Budapest police force is. An Afghan national who raped an eighteen-year-old girl last week. A picture has been circulated on social media fo… Read More
2018-09-10 10:32
When I lived in Berlin, the German music channel played a lot of Finnish music. A lot. So much so in fact, that if people heard you speak German at a bar, they’d assume you were there… Read More
2018-09-09 19:34
Imagine, if you will, the following situation. This truly happened, despite it being told the way that it’s told.
Our event of the day finds us in the fast food restaurant of a mall. A… Read More
2018-09-09 19:18
In Hungary, which is currently fighting so hard to maintain its Christian values, you are judged not by your deeds but by your physical appearance. And your alpearance better hold up, and it… Read More
2018-08-27 10:09
I loved this commercial from the moment I first saw it. I always quoted it, too. But then I forgot about it, until this morning when I was idly checking my emails and got a notification of… Read More
2018-08-22 06:58
Hungary, we know, does not like nor welcome strangers, unless they can pay of course. And when we can get something out of them. Which is pretty much the same thing. But people needing help… Read More
2018-08-20 01:38
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Hungary is at it again. After the necessary amount of signatures was collected to warrant parliament debating the issue (a miracle in and of itself, as we all know… Read More
2018-07-30 11:09
Ryder, whom I haven’t written about in a long time, posted a classic Hungarian declaration of love as chiseled into the plaque by the statue of a famous Hungarian poet, on social… Read More
2018-07-29 09:37
It’s no secret, Hungarian girls and their fathers rarely get along. So here are a few accounts of those daughters, straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak. All names have bee… Read More
2018-07-26 21:26
In Hungary life is simple: respect your elders, respect those above you, and if you’re a woman always look sexy. There is an unspoken rule, whereby you pretty much don’t deserve… Read More
2018-07-18 19:09
Back when I was obsessed with life in Saudi Arabia (don’t ask), one of the questions that came up was, If I ever did move to Saudi, would I choose to live in a compound or within the l… Read More
2018-07-18 16:09
Once in a decade I try out my Hungarian identity, which means I wrap myself in its mantle by moving there. The experiment never works, or rather it doesn’t work for long. Becau… Read More
2018-07-16 17:49
A Hungarian song we don’t hate . . . https://hkibp.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/pearly-haired-girl-explaining-the-hungarian-essence/ Read More
2018-07-14 19:02
It’s been a while, admittedly, a while which was spent mulling over the ever-present question, conservative societies, what’s your game plan? Clearly, those who believe th… Read More
2018-05-25 22:09
I’ve touched on them a little here, and normally I try to avoid them as much as and whenever I can, because I know they’re toxic. I’ve always known that, even when my moth… Read More
2018-05-11 02:49
I’m all for respecting each other, and your parents – being the ones who fed and clothed you when you were little – deserve some acknowledgement, not to mention TLC i… Read More
2018-05-02 20:20
Comme vous le savez – certains entre vous sûrement – la Hongrie m’a toujours apporté de l’amour et de la haine. Elle fait partie de moi, question d&rsquo&hell…Read More
2018-04-24 23:21
Nobody would dare deny that Hungarian nationalism has taken some rather interesting twists and turns as of late. There are the usual ever so popular crackpot theories.
– Dropped into t… Read More
2018-04-23 13:04
Industrialist Fritz von Thyssen wrote I Paid Hitler, a book in which he stated his regret. Thyssen being related to the Thyssen-Bornemissza line, this picture is quite apt, if not sinister… Read More
2018-04-15 13:32
My parents were never happy about my interest in Hungary. Or rather, while the country was merely a travel destination in my book, it was fine. They’d even gift a few trips (mainly, be… Read More
2018-04-07 11:55
Tomorrow is a big day in our part of the world, boys and girls. To those who believe in Dear Leader and His Party (yes His, for Dear Leader deserves no less), this is a very significant day… Read More
2018-04-03 00:58
When I was in my late teens and visiting Chicago, a friend took me out on the town. She was an anti-fascist skinhead, and she listened to Ska. Out of all the songs that we listened to that s… Read More
2018-04-02 23:44
This post is mainly for my friend Luna, who is relatively new to Hungary, inspired by several conversations we’ve had recently. But also for anyone who is new, or who plans to visit. I… Read More
2018-03-30 21:47
Traditionsbewusst sind sie, diese Ungarn, die von sich selbst behaupten dass sie nirgendwo richtig hinzugehören. Denn dass der Ungar weder zu den Germanen noch zu den Slawen zählt… Read More
2018-03-25 10:11
We know by now that on average Hungarians prefer to be in the comfort zone. If the French are the adventurous wanderers ready to jump into any new project headfirst, Hungarians are the homeb… Read More
2018-03-15 14:12
3 1/2 weeks before the election Hungary is celebrating its national holiday as we speak (well, write). And in true Hungarian fashion it is one of utter defeat. Briefly put, a good 170 years… Read More
2018-03-02 06:30
On se prépare assidûment à une expo digne d’éclipser toute autre expo. Trash talk américain de côté, il se peut très fort que cell… Read More
2018-03-01 21:13
Bon, je l’avoue, c’est la honte qui m’a toujours retenue d’écrire un blog en français. Conflit éternel de ma vie de Cross Culture Kid avec un pas… Read More
2018-02-27 11:00
If you fall asleep while listening to music, was it because the music was so soothing or because it actually bored you to tears?
Imagine yourself buying an album. The only time you’re… Read More
2018-02-27 01:44
I’ve decided to try something new. Or rather, expand on a concept. In that it’s great to write posts about political activities around you, but it doesn’t give readers the… Read More
2018-02-24 15:04
Some bones were dug up of a major Hungarian king recently and put through rigorous DNA testing. At which point the discovery was made that Hungarians might not be, as previously purported, F… Read More
2018-02-22 12:59
For those who are confused, here’s a quick rundown.
Once upon a time there was a boy from a small village in the middle of nowhere. The boy really wanted to get ahead and therefo… Read More
2018-02-17 03:42
The inimitable Snow has given me a great idea when she commented on this post. So, in order to get to know each other better, ask me any question you want in the comment section. And if you… Read More
2018-02-10 01:22
When it is pointed out to Hungarians that in 1956 (and now) many Hungarians became migrants, the answer is always and without fail, “but we integrated. Never lied, never stole.”… Read More
2018-02-02 22:03
Uma, who blogs at https://uma197.wordpress.com/ has kindly nominated yours truly for the Liebster award. It’s an honor, of course, and I’m humbled. But I’d be lying if… Read More
2018-02-02 19:15
I’m minding my own business when the phone rings. My screen says No Caller ID, so I answer in English. Silence. I think I make a vague attempt at saying something, at which point the c… Read More
2018-02-02 02:55
One very positive thing about Poland is that it’s so very consistent. With very few exceptions the narrative is always one of Poland being the Very Heroic Victim Who Has Always Been Wr… Read More
2018-01-27 21:18
The imperial couple is – surprise, surprise – in the news yet again. And this time the question is whether or not they are truly happy. Though to be perfectly honest, when is thi… Read More
2018-01-22 23:25
On Friday students skipped school to take to the streets and express their dissatisfaction with the educational system in Hungary. Their main concerns being no future and a better overall ed… Read More
2018-01-22 04:01
And if you grew up in the ’80s – or had siblings / relatives who did – there’s no way you could have missed INXS. And even though I’m reluctant to speak collect… Read More
2018-01-21 22:00
It’s no secret, Walking Eagle – yes, he of the oddly colored skin and perma-flab who’s the (albeit self-proclaimed) smartest guy in the room in any situation bar none &ndas&hell…Read More
2018-01-17 23:39
I’ve been taking it (somewhat) easy on Finland in this blog, mainly because I haven’t been there recently. But the time has come, and so Finland takes its turn in the grand Analy… Read More
2018-01-05 23:22
I really like this blog, and I’m really digging the idea. So if you’re looking for new and interesting blogs to discover, check out the comment section.
MakeItUltra
Hi Everyone… Read More
2018-01-05 07:47
It’s funny what a seemingly random comment here or there can do. My fellow blogger Dipa took me up on my challenge to extend a prompt, and so here we are. The short answer of course be… Read More
2018-01-04 06:14
I mentioned my uncle. And getting over my inner laziness, by using an online dictionary, I managed to surmise that he died in September. So far so interesting. As I told my aunt in an email… Read More
2018-01-02 07:08
Well, we’re kicking off 2018 with the tried and tested tradition of losing people (which will make this a typically Hungarian post). What’s interesting about this is that I&rsquo&hell…Read More
2017-12-29 23:00
When it comes to business I don’t mess around. If I’m asking you for something, I try to make sure I have all my questions lined up, that I’m clear on what I want, and that… Read More
2017-12-29 00:25
Flucht in den Norden hieß der Roman, mit dem alles anders werden sollte, und so war es dann auch. Zumindest eine zeitlang, zumindest ganz kurz. Nicht mal einen Sommer dauerte sie, dies… Read More
2017-12-28 08:47
My friends and I have a joke. When one of us messes something up, we then decide we will apply for a job in that field. So far I’ve got master chef, housekeeper, PA, PR manager, Mathe… Read More
2017-12-27 23:36
A mother and daughter were sitting together in a café, discussing issues in general. The mother had mentioned something about her landlord giving her grief and follows this up with, … Read More
2017-12-26 20:35
While Brits do their shopping, and Americans drift back into work, in Finland the second day of Christmas is reserved for one’s friends. The reasoning, so a Finnish acquaintance, bein… Read More
2017-12-26 02:25
Well, this didn’t even take a day. A rightwing page, which won’t be getting any extra advertising from me here, ran an article on how the Pope likened current refugees to the Hol… Read More
2017-12-25 02:55
I’m not even kidding. Except for one guy, and he only liked it after I explained it to him. So, I put this to you, dear fellow bloggers and friends. It’s horrible, it’s sic… Read More
2017-12-25 01:57
Irgendwo gab es sie, ganz tief in meinem Herzen, obwohl ich nicht so viel darüber wusste. Diese ungarische Identität, die eigentlich nie verheimlicht wurde, die aber auch nie an d… Read More
2017-12-24 11:00
Christmas is upon us, and it’s time for the Dancing Girls to head back home. They’ve been working hard abroad, and have come back for some rest and relaxation. And to dispense pr… Read More
2017-12-23 00:53
That Hungary does not like foreigners unless they are from desired countries (formerly known as prestigious), is an open fact. No one can kiss ass better than a Hungarian (and there are som… Read More
2017-12-22 02:06
Except there is no hometown, or rather, that place wasn’t my hometown. But it was where I needed to be for my last three years of German high school. I’ve described the place en… Read More
2017-12-21 01:30
Es gibt kein Zurück, heißt es. Aber ob das denn stimmt? Jährlich machen es hunderte, tausende. Ob sie denn glücklich sind, frage ich mich. Aber die Frage ist doch nicht… Read More
2017-12-06 01:33
Finland is celebrating its freedom away from the yoke of oppression, it’s been doing so all year, but December 6 is special. It’s traditionally the day of Independence, the Presi… Read More
2017-11-20 23:05
There is the Alpha Male (usually depicted as tall, blond, well-built, and blue-eyed), and there is the beta, the wannabe. The one who could never be Alpha no matter how hard he tries, but al… Read More
2017-11-18 11:59
A comment left by The Snow Melts Somewhere just now made me dash out this quick post. Because her comment drove home an interesting point. And this does not concern Snow but the people (in s… Read More
2017-10-26 21:58
It should be no secret by now – nor should it come as any surprise – that Cousin Fester’s life is not without controversy. This is partly due to his character (Cousin Feste… Read More
2017-10-22 00:47
And another bon mot from the sister site, this time on an interesting chance discovery in connection with music. Enjoy, and let us know what you think.
https://hkibp.wordpress.com/2017/10/22… Read More
2017-10-21 21:15
Yes, rites. Because that’s what it has become, a rite of passage, for the abuser to prove his “virility,” and for the abused to accept this as par for the course. Make no m… Read More
2017-10-06 21:35
There is an “open” letter to the NFL going around these days. I won’t link to it, because if you have a conservative / populist / authoritarian/ Republican / evangelical f… Read More
2017-10-04 12:41
The ever-elusive Aweni has been so kind to nominate me for the Lovely Blog Award, which makes me feel incredibly honored and humbled. Aweni’s blog features plenty of interesting storie… Read More
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