Szia!

Latest fashion trend in Hungary: (Women) Purple, magenta, pink, cherry cola, plum, or violet hair. And I am talking women of all ages. Pink highlights in your 50s is the new gray! (Men) Incredible unibrows or long, curled nose-hairs that twitch when you breathe.

No private space: Hungarians stand directly behind you in line (at the store, bank, posta, market...) and nearly rest their chins on your shoulder to keep an eye on every move you make.

Trust issues: According to my politics professor who is Hungarian himself, Hungarians do not trust the government or people who are a part of the government or a part of any sort of beaucratic institution. This is a serious sociological consequence from the communist rule unique to Hungary; other Earstern Bloc countries have not had and do not have this problem. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5358546.stm

Life Tastes Good: Coca Cola was not introduced to Hungary until the very late 80s, at the turn of the decade because communist rule did not want any Western influence in Hungary whatsoever. According to my dear Hungarian friend Agi, absolutely no one was allowed in or out of the country. Her Mom is very religious and was not allowed to practice or pray in any fashion. Religion was forbidden. "This was very, very terrible for my mother," she explained, "She's Catholic."

Vocabulary: Titkos ugynok - secret agent. Szeretlek - I love you. Semmi baj - It's all good.

Baby blues: Beautiful Hungarians... olive skin, electric blue eyes, and thick, ebony hair. They are mysterious, too. Absolutely no eye contact if you are passing them on the street, at the market, in the posta... No stranger-smiles. Men stare at the ground as they pass you.

The question: "So, why Hungary?" My response, "Uhhh... a gulyasleves (the goulash)?"