Strange Hungarian Customs

[Lotsokids]

........Even as robust as these cars are reported to be............

Yeah... ha ha! That certainly is a rare sight in the U.S.
There are a few here, but the general population does not like them. There is no way to dispose of them, either. It's got a Duroplast body, so you cannot recycle it or burn it (toxic gasses). It REALLY confuses the Hungarians here as there are a few of us Americans here who bought a Trabant. They don't understand that we buy these cars more as a joke than anything.

[Lotsokids]

The HEAT is turned on!
The heat in buildings is operated rather efficiently by a hot water radiator system. BUT it is only turned on Oct. 1. THE HEAT IS NOT TURNED ON BY OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, ONLY A DATE. My kids were freezing in school, bundled up wearing jackets and scarves in class.

[Lotsokids]

My manager's wife was driving home when a car came into her lane in a corner (Hungarians cut through corners a lot). She dodged out of the way, but over-corrected and went into the ditch on the left and hit a tree. She broke her arm and also suffered a spinal injury. While she was recovering in the hospital, the police showed up AT HER ROOM, and gave her a traffic ticket for losing control of her car. It was about $20.

If it was me, I think I might have created an international incident.

[Lotsokids]

A friend here has a Hungarian girlfriend. She said, "I don't know why you keep talking about how Communism ended in 1989. That's only when the Russians left. Communism was alive and well until about 1996."

So they are not far removed from it. Only relatively recent changes. But as you know from this thread, some things have not changed.

[Klavdy]

My manager's wife was driving home when a car came into her lane in a corner (Hungarians cut through corners a lot). She dodged out of the way, but over-corrected and went into the ditch on the left and hit a tree. She broke her arm and also suffered a spinal injury. While she was recovering in the hospital, the police showed up AT HER ROOM, and gave her a traffic ticket for losing control of her car. It was about $20.

If it was me, I think I might have created an international incident.

They do that here too, show up and give the injured tickets.

[rktmanfj]

My manager's wife was driving home when a car came into her lane in a corner (Hungarians cut through corners a lot). She dodged out of the way, but over-corrected and went into the ditch on the left and hit a tree. She broke her arm and also suffered a spinal injury. While she was recovering in the hospital, the police showed up AT HER ROOM, and gave her a traffic ticket for losing control of her car. It was about $20.

If it was me, I think I might have created an international incident.

They do that here too, show up and give the injured tickets.

They sometimes do it here, as well.

[movenon]

My manager's wife was driving home when a car came into her lane in a corner (Hungarians cut through corners a lot). She dodged out of the way, but over-corrected and went into the ditch on the left and hit a tree. She broke her arm and also suffered a spinal injury. While she was recovering in the hospital, the police showed up AT HER ROOM, and gave her a traffic ticket for losing control of her car. It was about $20.

If it was me, I think I might have created an international incident.

The question is did the other party that cut the corner get a ticket also ? I know that in Italy they have a tendency to proportionately assign blame or fault. I can't say if it is right or wrong but "when in Rome"....

A scenario could be an aggressive driver, gives a turn signal and "jinks" into a lane that you are in, and you rear end them because they had to put the brakes on because of traffic in front of them. In Italy both party's would most likely get ticketed. One party might be more guilty than the other but both will pay.

Keep the reports coming I enjoy reading them.
George

[Lotsokids]

Here's some new stuff on this topic.
I was working at a desk in the same room they were holding a driving class for a few of my co-workers to get their Hungarian drivers license. They were going over some possible questions for the test.

- One question discussed was that you absolutely could never turn on your headlight high beams in town. Ever. You can also NEVER turn on your high beams when you are not moving. Seems Hungarians are very sensitive about when to use high beams or fog lights. I know personally that if you have your fog lights on when it's not foggy, Hungarian drivers are GREATLY offended and will flash their lights until you turn them off.

- They discussed questions about the car's clutch. Most vehicles over here are manual transmission and the instructor said every driving test has at least one question about the clutch - how to identify when it's worn (length of travel of the pedal before it engages), etc. He said if you take the driving test with an automatic, your license will be identified that you can ONLY drive an automatic vehicle.

- Many questions deal with who has the right-of-way at intersections, main roads, etc. You need to identify the BACK of a sign. So if you see the back of a yield sign facing another car, he must yield to you.

- Then all the questions about motorcycles with sidecars, horsecarts, and so on.

[Lotsokids]

The air here is somewhat dry now, and my hands are dry and I get painful splits in the corner by my fingernail. So I took some superglue and put a drop on one of these splits which helps instantly. But there were two Hungarians watching me. They said, "What are you doing?" in a concerned way. I explained. They both shook their heads and said [in Hungarian], "That's bad, very bad!" I said "Why?" They just kept repeating, "That's very bad." One guy said, "I accidentally got some on my finger, but NEVER on purpose!" It seemed like a big deal to them. Not sure why. Strange culture.

Again, "no liberty" sums it up.

[Capn Ron]

I like your posts...It's always fascinating to me to hear or see a completely different take on a subject in a different culture.  Their views on high beams or fog lights for example.  I've noticed on shows that depict European highways, it's not uncommon to see someone pulsing their high beams at a slower driver in the fast lane to get them to move over.  Here in the states that would probably get you brake-checked!

Whenever I'm wrenching in the garage for weeks on end on various vehicles, the regular hand washing dries out my skin and I get those same painful cracks at the upper corner of a fingernail.  I never thought of just super gluing it!!   

Cap'n Ron. . .

[Lotsokids]

...I get those same painful cracks at the upper corner of a fingernail.  I never thought of just super gluing it!!  

Yes, I also found that certain cleaners like brake or carb cleaner are very bad for causing that. Super glue is the PERFECT cure.
Actually, when it says "bonds skin instantly" that is not a warning, but directions.

[rktmanfj]

Yep, I used super glue to stick the tip of my rt index finger on Monday this week, after my snaggletoothed dog accidentally laid it open.  I was able to play ball with it on Wednesday night.   

[FJmonkey]

Moisture accelerates the bonding process, our skin has moisture.... If you need a primer, use plane old water on one or both surfaces for a faster bond.

[Lotsokids]

As I mentioned before, Hungarians push their bicycles everywhere it seems. There are many places that are illegal to ride your bike like sidewalks, across any street, if you've had any alcohol, etc. There is a heavy fine for any of these. It's a very "rules" driven culture.

Yesterday I saw this. It's an additional paved area just for bikes, right next to a sidewalk, right next to a street. I've ridden bicycles on sidewalks all my life. I guess that's why it seems odd to me.

[Lotsokids]

Large American company hires Hungarians...

I work for Boeing as an aircraft mechanic here in Hungary. We've hired a few Hungarians to help us. All the ones we hired are great workers and eager to learn. There are some differences, though. Over-the-top frugality is one. Businesses here never have any lights on. When I go to car dealerships or other big businesses, it's always very dark with the lights off. Maybe one little lamp on the desk for the secretary or something. So our Hungarians have tried to get used to us leaving our lights on in our building, etc. But I agree, us Americans are wasteful in many areas.

Anyway... Boeing has a new policy that flightline workers must wear a yellow reflective vest while on the flightline. So Boeing purchased some vests locally. I was wearing my vest while lubing our main landing gear (dirtiest job). I had grease head to toe and all over my [formerly] yellow vest. We have a Hungarian that works in our tool room. I asked him for a new vest. He said, "You need to try to clean it." I chuckled and said, "There's no way this will get clean. I need a new one." Well, he made a big deal about it. He said, "We cannot purchase 10 vests per week!" I said, "Yes you can. Boeing is paying for them, not you." We argued back and forth for a few minutes which seemed like eternity. He went to my manager and told him. My manager said "Yeah... and...?"
Boeing has a lot of money. I think they can afford a new $5 vest.