Strange Hungarian Customs

Lotsokids · January 04, 2012, 10:28:05 AM

1. A little more on the bicycle pushing: My daughter said two of her friends (one Swedish, one Norwegian) were stopped by the police on two different occasions. The problem? You guessed it... RIDING their bicycles where they were supposed to push them!

2. I wish I had today's conversation with a Hungarian co-worker recorded. We were talking about vehicle registration. I think I mentioned here before that adding a trailer hitch on a car changes it's entire registration, to include re-registering, new papers, and an additional technical inspection. A friend and I were discussing this with our Hungarian friend. He said that without doing that, you could just install ANY trailer hitch even one that *GASP* wasn't made for that exact car! I said, So what? Being kind of a redneck myself, I said in the U.S., I could just weld something to the frame and call it good. He looked extremely surprised and said, "What if the hitch breaks off when you tow something?" I said, "It just rolls off into the ditch." He just rolled his eyes and left.

3. I went to the auto parts store the other day to purchase regular 1/4 inch pinstripe. They demanded my VIN for my car and refused to help me without my VIN. How rediculous. Talk about over-the-top OEM!!!

Lotsokids · January 11, 2012, 05:39:54 AM

Here's their government at work.

As I understand it, seems the Hungarian elderly have 2 choices starting this year.

1. Forfeit your savings to the government and retain your pension (U.S. Social Security equivalent)

2. Keep your savings and lose your pension, but you are still required to PAY FOR THE PENSION YOU WILL NEVER RECEIVE.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Adam-Smith-Institute-Blog/2011/0102/European-nations-begin-seizing-private-pensions

terryk · January 11, 2012, 11:12:52 AM

And, so what.

The USA subsumed the surplus into the general fund in the 19080's under Regan. A significant and unprecedented move to srew the people out of their future payments.

So, here in our country we let the government take the surplus for our system and listen to the same people speak about doing away with the system.

Seems like the Europeans are just catching up to our less than wonderful politicians and their irresponsible actions.

Hungary is just doing what the USA had done.

Lotsokids · January 23, 2012, 10:24:43 AM

NAME DAY

It seems that most people in Hungary have very common first names. Here's why: the Name Day. Hungarians name their child from a list of names on this calendar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_days_in_Hungary. No unique names here! It also does NOT relate to the day they are born at all, but is celebrated like a birthday. So they have a birthday AND a name day. They also reverse their names in formal greetings. So if your name was John Smith, you would answer the phone, "Hello, Smith John here." Introductions are in the same fashion also. The names are chosen after certain saints or prominent historical figures.

The most popular male names are:
- Attila (you know... the Hun)
- János (John)
- Géza
- Balázs
- Tamás (Thomas)

Dan Filetti · January 23, 2012, 12:33:23 PM

Quote from: Lotsokids on January 23, 2012, 10:24:43 AM
They also reverse their names in formal greetings. So if your name was John Smith, you would answer the phone, "Hello, Smith John here." Introductions are in the same fashion also.

This is true for 1.4 Billion Chinese as well. Many Indians [1 Billion] write it that way, (but do not say it that way).

We are, it would seem, globally speaking, nearly, if not outright, outnumbered in how we in the west sequence of names.

Dan

Lotsokids · February 18, 2012, 12:53:45 PM

I took my family to McDonalds for lunch. After we sat down my wife told me there was a guy behind me I HAD to see. I saw a guy standing at the table behind me. He was using the bench seat to support his stomach while he ate. I HAD to get a picture, so I used my phone the best I could to snap these photos behind me. It's not the best, but at least I have proof. He just stood there with his gut on the bench the whole time he ate his meal.

Lotsokids · February 29, 2012, 01:11:32 PM

More bike pushers today. This couple was holding hands while walking with a bicycle and had at least another mile to the next village. I think three's a crowd - just leave the bike at home.

And don't miss the "Night of Baths" in Budapest on March 10th! There will be 20 DJ's and bathing until 3:00 A.M.! I found this ad in the back of a magazine.

Lotsokids · March 10, 2012, 02:41:37 PM

Found today next to the tomato juice and carrot juice... SAUERKRAUT JUICE. YUM!!! There was a picture of sauerkraut on the top of the container.

I didn't buy it, but I'm sure it's delicious.

FJmonkey · March 10, 2012, 08:16:16 PM

Quote from: Lotsokids on March 10, 2012, 02:41:37 PM
Found today next to the tomato juice and carrot juice... SAUERKRAUT JUICE. YUM!!! There was a picture of sauerkraut on the top of the container.

I didn't buy it, but I'm sure it's delicious.

Send some to Klavdy, it may not be spicy but weird enough for his requirements to bring back to the land of Aus....

Lotsokids · April 07, 2012, 03:22:00 AM

If only I had a dollar for every time I saw a guy pushing his bike with one hand and holding his girlfriend's hand with the other while walking, I'd be rich.

Dude - three's a crowd. Leave the bike at home or park it!

There, I got that off my chest.

Lotsokids · June 05, 2012, 12:56:49 PM

While looking at a menu at a local restaurant, I found this:

"Brainscream"? Who needs coffee after that?

Probably Brains-cream, not Brain-SCREAM. Not good no matter how you cut it. No pun intended...

I saw this in Amsterdam while returning from the U.S.
If you say the name of the bank out loud, you'll know why it's funny.

Steve_in_Florida · June 05, 2012, 01:33:44 PM

Quote from: Lotsokids on June 05, 2012, 12:56:49 PM
While looking at a menu at a local restaurant, I found this:

"Brainscream"?

Lotta zombies in your area, maybe???

Who knows, it *might* be delicious.

Dads_FJ · June 05, 2012, 01:48:56 PM

Quote from: Steve_in_Florida on June 05, 2012, 01:33:44 PM
Quote from: Lotsokids on June 05, 2012, 12:56:49 PM
While looking at a menu at a local restaurant, I found this:

"Brainscream"?

Lotta zombies in your area, maybe???

Who knows, it *might* be delicious.

I see two Zombies, this guy and the guy walking toward the couple with the bike.

Lotsokids · June 05, 2012, 03:11:21 PM

Quote from: Dads_FJ on June 05, 2012, 01:48:56 PM
Quote from: Steve_in_Florida on June 05, 2012, 01:33:44 PM
Quote from: Lotsokids on June 05, 2012, 12:56:49 PM
While looking at a menu at a local restaurant, I found this:

"Brainscream"?

Lotta zombies in your area, maybe???

Who knows, it *might* be delicious.

I see two Zombies, this guy and the guy walking toward the couple with the bike.

That's hillarious!!! That guy in the photo probably just came from the restaurant. LOL

Lotsokids · June 13, 2012, 04:20:32 PM

A co-worker today went to a wheel and tire shop here in Hungary. His car currently has 16-inch wheels and he asked them to install 18-inch wheels and low profile tires. This is obviously NOT the original standard, so they refused to sell and install them. He asked to just purchase the wheels and tires alone and carry them out. THEY REFUSED TO SELL HIM THE WHEELS AND TIRES and lost the sale simply because they were not factory specs. Wow, talk about rigid.

Us crazy Americans think we can do whatever we want to our vehicles...

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Strange Hungarian Customs