Strange Hungarian Customs

[Lotsokids]

Most of you know that I am an American living in Hungary for the next few years. Things are a lot different here. I thought I would give a few examples of what I find odd. My intention, however, is not to "bash" the Hungarian way of life.

- Hungarians push their bicycles everywhere. My kids keep trying to justify them by saying maybe they are tired, but I've never pushed my bike because I was tired. Just pedal slower. My son then said, maybe they don't feel safe riding next to the road. But then I mentioned that they just doubled their width by walking next to their bike! I then started counting bicyclists. The next 7 bicyclists were found in 30 minutes. 5 were pushing their bike, and only 2 were riding it. I find this strange. Just leave the thing at home and go for a walk! I just saw a family walking their bikes - The mom was pushing her bike, and the dad was pushing his AND the kid's bikes... while they all walked. I asked a Hungarian friend why they walk their bikes around so often, and he said, "Where do you see this?" ...kind of like he was in denial. Sorry, but this is really bizarre to me!

- Bicyclists legally have a right to 1/3 of the lane you are driving in. They know it, too - they won't move over. Many bikes have a brightly colored baby seat with no baby so they don't get run over.

- Reflective vests are "cool" to wear - because it keeps you alive! A co-worker got a ticket and fine from the police for jogging *near* a road without a reflective vest.

- I changed the oil (and seals) on my forks, and I coudn't find 10W-30 oil ANYWHERE. I just paid $15 for ONE QUART of 5W-30. The most expensive oil I saw was about $37 PER QUART.

- Fuel is about $7 per gallon. Of course, horse-drawn carts are all over.

- No offices use carbon paper. All documents must be signed in blue ink and stamped. ALWAYS. I just bought a car here, and I could see where they ripped out all the carbon paper on the form they used. I had to sign ALL copies and the seller had to put his stamp on each copy. If it is not signed in blue and does not have a stamp, it is not legal or binding.

- Houses have tile everywhere. I've been here for one year, and have not seen carpet in a house yet. That's fine with us - it's much easier to clean!

- Most drinks are kept at room temeperature. Ice is unheard of. Our Hungarian landlords are very nice people, but when they come over and we offer [iced] tea, they specifically ask for no ice.

- Here's my favorite part of Hungary... the "shelf toilet." When you poop, it just lands on nearly dry porcelin, then when you flush, the water wisks it over the edge where it should have gone in the first place. Of course, there are brushes next to EVERY toilet I have seen here in Hungary. And you must use them because of the skidding action you might imagine. What in the world??? I guess after you take a dump, Hungarians must enjoy seeing (and SMELLING) their crap. It's also called, "lay and display." Some exist in Germany also. Read this article for a funny explanation:

http://www.banterist.com/archivefiles/000212.html



Here's a video of a railroad crossing near where I work. I was on the bike, so the video is short. Just to the left of the stop sign, you can see a guy hand cranking the railroad crossing arms up - by hand.

[FJmonkey]

Thank you ....I think.....

[Mark Olson]

thats some weird shit.

[Lotsokids]

Some pics for your enjoyment:

They still sell record players here!







A trailer full of bread?



Most pizza comes with corn on it.



What does "Non-Stop Parking" mean?



I don't remember ever seeing orange cola in the U.S.

[FJmonkey]

Most pizza comes with corn on it.

I bet that works really well with them toilets you have, "Yep, that pizza sure was loaded with corn"....

What does "Non-Stop Parking" mean?

Sounds like if you park there you don't get your back.

I don't remember ever seeing orange cola in the U.S.

Bring some back for us when you return for a rally, might be good with red cap.

[pdxfj]

That toilet reminds me of the Japanese style toilets.. same concept, but you have to squat over them.

[Firehawk068]

Why do all their food labels refer to Americans? 

[Travis398]

Not a lot makes me happy about living in this country anymore,
but this is helping quite a bit.  Thank you

also what is the law enforcement like over there? is there peace?  or do they like to use clubs on the citizens like they do over here (USA)?

[jwh]

i do love budapest, it has some lovely quirks and customs!!, must go back soon as it has been a couple of years now,
i do still have some fantastic triple stamped complicated train tickets somewhere, those toilets are pretty popular all
over mainland europe as is the orange and coke mix, in germany and holland there is a good one called mezzo mix which
i think is made by pepsi or coke,
$7 for petrol is pretty good for europe these days, it is more here (in uk) and even more in france, germany and holland,
mind you a gallon over here is bigger than a us gallon.
i do miss lounging in the open air pool in city park, esp on a cold winters day with frozen hair (well what is left of it these days!)
and snow falling but being really warm and toastie in the hot water.

[Lotsokids]

...also what is the law enforcement like over there?...

Pretty crazy actually. I know someone who was driving a BMW and got rear-ended. The "Rendorseg" or police showed up and the officer said that since he appears to be more wealthy than the guy that hit him, he could charge HIM with the accident to let his insurance pay for that poor other guy's car.

Doesn't sound corrupt at all... 

[carsick]

...also what is the law enforcement like over there?...

Pretty crazy actually. I know someone who was driving a BMW and got rear-ended. The "Rendorseg" or police showed up and the officer said that since he appears to be more wealthy than the guy that hit him, he could charge HIM with the accident to let his insurance pay for that poor other guy's car.

Doesn't sound corrupt at all... 

Reverse snobbery for the win! In America we get rear ended by the rich guy all the time. Sometimes there is even a car involved.

[Lotsokids]

On a more positive note, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE driving here on the highways. It seems they get their driving practices from Germany or Austria. Vehicles generally DO NOT SIT IN THE LEFT LANE!!! Sorry, this is a pet peave of mine. The left lane here is ONLY for passing. If only Americans could figure that out. When I came back from the track a couple months ago, I was holding the old FJ right at nearly 100 MPH for a couple hours. Hungarians pay close attention to what is going on around them and especially behind them. If they see you coming up pretty hot behind them they make every effort to get over to the right to let you by. They turn their turn signal on well in advance so you know that they intend to get over. Maybe that's the key - arrogance might be why Americans don't move over. Just a thought...

I just watch people peel off to the right like Moses parting the Red Sea - it's great. My road rage has nearly disappeared. 

[carsick]

Sorry, this is a pet peave of mine

Mine is poor spelling. 
I was hoping Klavdy would be on this faster and use torrents of foul language to correct the misdeed, however punctuation was not involved in this transgression.

I envy your freeway freedom! I think it is ignorance not arrogance that causes the traffic trouble over here. And do be careful riding, I hear the Hungarian medical system is about 40 years behind the rest of civilization.
Doug

[RichBaker]

Not so much ignorance as obliviousness...... nobody in cages pays any attention to what's going on around them.

[mikeholzer]

Maybe that's the key - arrogance might be why Americans don't move over. Just a thought...

No, it isn't arrogance, its the stupid sense of entitlement that Americans have learned in the last 50 years. I seriously think it began when they started telling people that they can't beat their children and that they should encourage every mediocre thing that their children do. Because of that, every American citizen believes that they are the most important individual in their particular postal code, and that they shouldn't have to wait in line like everybody else. This is why we ride the left lane at 3 miles over the posted and rush the merging lane at 20 mph over just to be three cars ahead of where we'd have been had we just waited our turn.

I was hoping Klavdy would be on this faster and use torrents of foul language to correct the misdeed, however punctuation was not involved in this transgression.

Yeah, me too.