Strange Hungarian Customs

[Lotsokids]

Sorry, this is a pet peave of mine

Mine is poor spelling.

"Peeve"
Sorry.   

[mikeholzer]

Are You Smarter Than Kellie Pickler?

[Lotsokids]

I've seen that video, Mike. Sad, but funny. It's so bad, it looks staged.

I thought I would share a couple more things with you.

#1
A couple of co-workers moved here from the U.S. and bought their furniture here instead of shipping theirs. So they went to the furniture store downtown and picked out a couch and chairs.

One couple picked out a couple chairs that were different colors. The salesperson asked if both chairs would be in the same room. When they said, "yes" they refused to sell them the chairs. They left and returned later and lied and said they would put them in different rooms. Then they "allowed" them to buy the chairs. 

The other couple were in the same situation. After talking with the manager, the manager reluctantly sold the furniture to them.

You gotta love former communist countries!

#2
I give you the......... TRABANT. It's a wonderful little East German car (Commie car, I call it). It's pretty popular here. It's a 600cc 2-stroke car. It comes in only a few wonderful flat colors. Of course you have to mix the gas and the gas tank is in the absolutely best location - UNDER THE HOOD ABOVE THE ENGINE.



Maybe a better use for it:

[rktmanfj]

I give you the......... TRABANT. It's a wonderful little East German car (Commie car, I call it). It's pretty popular here. It's a 600cc 2-stroke car. It comes in only a few wonderful flat colors. Of course you have to mix the gas and the gas tank is in the absolutely best location - UNDER THE HOOD ABOVE THE ENGINE.

Isn't that the one that has the body made of some kind of composite?

Randy T
Indy

[mz_rider]

I give you the......... TRABANT. It's a wonderful little East German car (Commie car, I call it). It's pretty popular here. It's a 600cc 2-stroke car. It comes in only a few wonderful flat colors. Of course you have to mix the gas and the gas tank is in the absolutely best location - UNDER THE HOOD ABOVE THE ENGINE.

Isn't that the one that has the body made of some kind of composite?

Randy T
Indy

Randy,

Trabbies were made of Duroplast - a material like glass fibre except using cotton. There was a problem when they came to dispose of them. Duroplast can't be re-cycled and causes pollution if burned or buried. A bacteria was developed that eats them - turning then into compost. I visited Liepzig in the former East Germany last year and didn't see any Trabbies. I had an MZ motorcycle and they're also gone. The only communist era vehicle I saw was the Simson moped.

Stuart (Glasgow, Scotland)

[rktmanfj]

I give you the......... TRABANT. It's a wonderful little East German car (Commie car, I call it). It's pretty popular here. It's a 600cc 2-stroke car. It comes in only a few wonderful flat colors. Of course you have to mix the gas and the gas tank is in the absolutely best location - UNDER THE HOOD ABOVE THE ENGINE.

Isn't that the one that has the body made of some kind of composite?

Randy T
Indy

Randy,

Trabbies were made of Duroplast - a material like glass fibre except using cotton. There was a problem when they came to dispose of them. Duroplast can't be re-cycled and causes pollution if burned or buried. A bacteria was developed that eats them - turning then into compost. I visited Liepzig in the former East Germany last year and didn't see any Trabbies. I had an MZ motorcycle and they're also gone. The only communist era vehicle I saw was the Simson moped.

Stuart (Glasgow, Scotland)

That's what I was thinking... one of the US 'news magazine' shows did a bit on them a few years ago.  They were talking about how the government wanted them to go away, but the loyal owners just keep driving them, kinda like older cars in Kalifornia these days.

Randy T
Indy

[jwh]

trabants do have a bit of charm in there own way! i like them, spent some time driving round nova huta in poland once in a matt black one with a furry pink fluffy interior! was fun to hurtle round in, but the lights had been left on so we had to bump start it every time!

[83elite]

I remember reading an article in "Automobile" magazine a few years ago about the Trabant. They were interviewing  an automotive journalist from that country and asked him if he had ANYTHING good to say about the Trabant. He thought for a moment  and them replied,"Production of it has ceased" or something to that effect. Supposedly the engine was sourced from Russian tanks; it was the starter motor.

[wakdady]

sounds like an excellent adventure and experience for you and your family. I was i could do something that allowed me to live and work in another country. as much as USA rocks, it also has its fair amount of suck

[Lotsokids]

I took a Hungarian driving class yesterday. WOW. Talk about a world of difference! Here are some interesting notes:

- When you park your car, you MUST lock your car.

- You cannot drive with your fog lights on in town. EVER. Even when it's foggy. There should be sufficient lighting in town. Out of town you may turn them on ONLY when it is foggy. I've had mine on a couple time without fog, and let me tell you - that's VERY offensive to other drivers. Every car will flash you to tell you to turn them off. I asked that question in the class, and the instructor got very upset and emphasized that if you drive with your fog lights on with no fog, it is a HUGE distraction to other drivers and you could cause an accident. You would be at fault, of course.

- You are required by law to carry a spare bulb for each light your car has, plus a reflective vest INSIDE the car. You cannot get out of your car to get it out of the trunk. I've seen many cars with a reflective vest draped over their seat back or in the back window. While I am talking about getting out of the car, I can't tell you how many times I've seen Hungarians peeing beside the road. Many women also, just squatting in the ditch. Yeah, that's a little distracting!

- After Oct. 15, you are required to install snow tires. If you have an accident after Oct. 15, and it is determined you did not have snow tires installed, it is automatically your fault.


We had our medical physical for our driver's license (required by law). They check your vision, your blood pressure, AND and EKG to make sure you are physically fit to drive. A couple problems - I've had a heart valve condition since high school, and they didn't detect it. Also, my wife had to take her shirt AND bra off to do the EKG. NOT COOL, especially since it's just a box they place a box above the heart. We heard about this before going in, but we were told that she could leave her bra on or use a towel. The lady that was translating for us slipped around the corner and said the doctor demanded her to be completely topless. Then she said, "sorry, I can't argue with a doctor." It's like they are invincible here. I just about stopped everything and left, but my wife said it's alright - it's required. I can only imagine all the young girls this guy gets to see as they are getting their license for the first time (about 18 year old). Absolutely not necessary!!! Welcome to former communist way of life! I'm not happy about that at all.

[fjrpierre]

>and let me tell you - that's VERY offensive to other drivers

LOL sounds like the German "do not ever ever ever flash your lights to tell someone to move out of the way " rule. They do get quite upset!

[carsick]

I took a Hungarian driving class yesterday. WOW. Talk about a world of difference! Here are some interesting notes:

- When you park your car, you MUST lock your car.

- You cannot drive with your fog lights on in town. EVER. Even when it's foggy. There should be sufficient lighting in town. Out of town you may turn them on ONLY when it is foggy. I've had mine on a couple time without fog, and let me tell you - that's VERY offensive to other drivers. Every car will flash you to tell you to turn them off. I asked that question in the class, and the instructor got very upset and emphasized that if you drive with your fog lights on with no fog, it is a HUGE distraction to other drivers and you could cause an accident. You would be at fault, of course.

- You are required by law to carry a spare bulb for each light your car has, plus a reflective vest INSIDE the car. You cannot get out of your car to get it out of the trunk. I've seen many cars with a reflective vest draped over their seat back or in the back window. While I am talking about getting out of the car, I can't tell you how many times I've seen Hungarians peeing beside the road. Many women also, just squatting in the ditch. Yeah, that's a little distracting!

- After Oct. 15, you are required to install snow tires. If you have an accident after Oct. 15, and it is determined you did not have snow tires installed, it is automatically your fault.

Damn, sounds like I'm a communist! Were they wearing the vest to tinkle? Cause that's OK then.

We had our medical physical for our driver's license (required by law). They check your vision, your blood pressure, AND and EKG to make sure you are physically fit to drive. A couple problems - I've had a heart valve condition since high school, and they didn't detect it. Also, my wife had to take her shirt AND bra off to do the EKG. NOT COOL, especially since it's just a box they place a box above the heart. We heard about this before going in, but we were told that she could leave her bra on or use a towel. The lady that was translating for us slipped around the corner and said the doctor demanded her to be completely topless. Then she said, "sorry, I can't argue with a doctor." It's like they are invincible here. I just about stopped everything and left, but my wife said it's alright - it's required. I can only imagine all the young girls this guy gets to see as they are getting their license for the first time (about 18 year old). Absolutely not necessary!!! Welcome to former communist way of life! I'm not happy about that at all.

Good thing they don't have a prostate exam, eh?

[pdxfj]

One thing to remember is that America is very prude compared to most other countries.  Remember how ape shit people went with Janet Jackson's nipple slip at the Superbowl?  The FCC fined CBS $550,000 for an "indecency violation".  OMFG it's a nipple, the world is going to end!  Quick, levy a fine!!

I've visited other countries around the world and they all were more lax on sexuality than the U.S. is.

Good to see they take driving more seriously than we do in the states.  You don't even have to read, write or speak English to get a drivers license here.  The DMV will give you the written portion of the test in just about any language.

[Travis398]

 Remember how ape shit people went with Janet Jackson's nipple slip at the Superbowl?  The FCC fined CBS $550,000 for an "indecency violation".  OMFG it's a nipple, the world is going to end!  Quick, levy a fine!!

How could we forget. Although she never exposed her nipple. she had some cone shaped metal thing covering it up. IIRC

[Lotsokids]

Another little story for you.
My wife and I were driving home at about 10:00 last Saturday night and as we were leaving a small village, we notice a very old lady trying to flag someone down. I pulled over (the 2 cars in front of me kept driving), and she was crying and very hysterical. The funny part is that the only people she got the attention of was the Americans - so unfortunately she couldn't tell us what was wrong. I had a feeling that her house was broken into, and I was correct. I called the police (Rendorseg), and they arrived within a few minutes. As we waited for the police, we went inside her house. She was a widow living alone. she literally owned only a cook stove, 2 chairs, a very small woodstove for heat, and a couch she slept on. We learned that some punk broke into her house while she was home, grabbed her arms and roughed her up a little, and stole her phone. One of the only things of value she owned. Made me want to track him down and teach him a lesson. Maybe I'll buy her a tazer... The whole situation makes me angry.