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Your Volunteer Guide to Magyarország,
the Land of the Magyar
Population: More than 10 million people reside in Hungary
Age Ratio: 0-14 years - 8%; 15-59 years - 63%; 60 years and up -
20%
Gender Ratio: Males - 48%; Females - 52%
Life Expectancy: Men - 65 years; Women - 74 years
Unemployment: 7%
Land: Hungary has an area of 35,919 sq. miles. 2/3 of the land is
farmed and 1/6 is used for non-agricultural purposes.
Minorities: Hungary is basically a homogeneous country with several
minority groups. 9/10 of the population is ethnically Hungarian. The
minority groups include Roma (the largest minority), Germans,
Slovaks, Croats, and Serbs.
Cities: 2/3 of the population is urban, but the majority of towns
have a population of less than 40,000 people. 1/3 of the population
lives in the greater Budapest area.
Literacy rate: 98% Literate
University Degrees: 10% have degrees, mostly in engineering and
economics
Suicide Rate: Ranked among the top percentages in Europe
Alcoholism: 6% of population is alcoholic; but about 40-50% of men
drink problematically
Religion: 68% Roman Catholic, 21% Reformed Protestant, 6%
Evangelical Protestant
Church Attendance: With the exceptions of Christmas and Easter,
churches are seldom full.
The Culture
Hungary is very much a mixture of the past and the present. You will
find cars and horse-drawn wagons on the same road. Not every family
has a car, so many people ride bikes, take public transportation, or
walk instead of driving. About 7 million people carry cell phones,
though they may or may not have a phone in their home. Some homes
are still heated with wood or coal. Gas and water lines have not
reached all villages yet. Many people still raise their own foods by
gardening or keeping animals.
Generally, Hungarians are very kind and understanding of foreigners.
They also are often curious about why you are in their country. If
time permits you may be invited to visit a Hungarian home.
When you are visiting a Hungarian's home, be sure to bring them a
gift, such as flowers or a box of chocolate. If you have been
invited for a meal, don't forget to bring a huge appetite. Upon
entering a Hungarian's home, take off your shoes in the entryway;
Hungarians don't wear their shoes in the house. Often your host will
provide house slippers to wear while you are there.
Hungarians are very hospitable and generous toward their guests, so
do not be surprised if a meal has 4-5 courses and they keep
encouraging you to eat more of everything. First,
you will be served soup and bread. Bread is torn in bite-size pieces
and eaten without butter. Then you may be offered a salad, which is
not the traditional American version of lettuce, tomato, cucumbers,
etc. It is often pickled cabbage, marinated sliced cucumbers, or a
plate of sliced tomatoes with a splash of vinegar and chopped
onions.
Next, the main course is meat, usually pork or chicken served with
rice, pasta and/or potato. Finally, dessert will be served. They may
offer you three or four types of dessert. After every course you
will be offered a second helping. Be conscious of how much you can
consume before taking more; Hungarians do not like to waste or throw
away food.
While at the table, your napkins is NOT to be in your lap, it
remains on the table until you need it, then you place it back on
the table next to your plate. Both hands are kept on the table. Use
the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand. Do not be
surprised if you are offered some type of alcohol; just politely
turn it down. Overall: just relax, enjoy the meal, and have a good
time!
There are many other cultural differences between Hungarians and
Americans. For breakfast Hungarians would have salami, ham, cheese,
sliced tomatoes and/or peppers and butter on slices of bread.
Americans tend to have a light lunch, while Hungarians prefer a
light supper. Lunches in Hungary are full course meals beginning
with soup and bread. The Hungarian home is guarded as a private
place where only family and closest friends are allowed to venture.
Although there are many differences between us, remember Hungarians
are people with feelings and needs like you, and they need to know
God's love. Be flexible and you will return home richer for the
experience!
Helpful Hungarian Words
Hello - Szervusz (SER-voos)
Goodbye/See you later - Viszontlátásra (VEE-sont-laa-taash-rawh)
Yes - Igen (EE-ghen)
No - Nem (nehm)
Thank You - Köszönöm (KUSS-uh-num)
Sorry/Excuse Me - Bocsánat (BOCH-aa-not)
I don't understand. - Nem értem (nehm AIR-tehm)
Do you speak English? - Beszél angolul? (BEH-sail on-GOW-lool)
I don't know. - Nem tudom (nem TOO-dom)
I don't speak Hungarian. - Nem beszélek magyarul (nehm BEH-sail-ek
MAWJ-yahr-ool)
Where is the toilet? - Hol van a WC? (HOL vawn aw vey tsey?)
What's your name? - Te ki vagy? (teh KEE vaj)
I am Paul - Paul vagyok. (Paul vaj yoke)
Train station - Vonat állomás (VOH-not AAL-lo-maash)
Bus Station - Busz állomás (boos AAL-lo-maash)
Passport - Útlevél (OOT-leh-vail)
Packing Tips
Do not over pack! It is likely that most of your travel will be on
public transportation; you should (or another way of saying it: YOU
MUST) be able to carry your own luggage, so seek to travel as
lightly as possible. Moreover, storage space for luggage is
practically non-existent on buses; if you happen to ride in a car,
they are very small by American standards. For train travel, your
bags should fit in a small overhead tray - so keep your bags a
reasonable size!
The summers are hot and the winters are cold in Hungary. If coming
in the summer, bring loose, cool clothing such as modest T-shirts,
shorts, and jeans. Air conditioning is almost nonexistent, so dress
accordingly. Also bring a bathing suit and a pair of sandals for the
pool because there are many spas in Hungary to enjoy. Again let
modesty be your guiding rule. Bring a pair of good tennis shoes or
other comfortable walking shoes for lots of walking.
If coming in the winter, we recommend that you bring sweaters, a
heavy coat, scarf, gloves, long underwear, and boots. Many public
places of interest like older churches and museums are not heated.
If you bring anything that needs electricity (e.g. hair dryers,
curling irons, battery  chargers, etc.), you may need to bring a
voltage converter as well as an adapter. Some electrical items will
run on either 110 or 220 volts, so check the voltage rating of your
device. If it is a dual voltage device then you will only need a
plug adapter so that you can plug it into the wall socket. If it is
rated for only 110 volts will need both a converter to change to the
correct voltage and an adapter.
The plug for Hungarian outlets uses
two round prongs instead of two flat blades--other European
countries may use a different shape.  Often travel voltage converters
come in a set with many assorted shapes of adapters. We strongly
recommend that you get them in the States before coming, since they
are difficult to find here. These are generally available at a good
travel store.
A battery powered alarm clock is recommended since most plug-in
electric clocks use the cycle to keep time. U.S. clocks usually will
not keep the proper time because the electricity in Europe is 50
cycle instead of 60 cycle. Travel voltage converters do not change
the cycle, only the voltage.
Don't forget to bring your passport and a couple hundred dollars in
cash. You should make photocopies of your passport and credit cards
with emergency reporting numbers in case of theft. Moreover, we
recommend that you bring along a couple of extra passport photos in
case you need to replace a stolen passport. Please be mindful of
your personal possessions, especially in crowds of people, in market
places, on public transportation, and at tourist venues. Pickpockets
love to prey upon the unsuspecting!
In-Country Travel
In Hungary, you can travel virtually anywhere via public
transportation. Budapest has streetcars, subways (Metro), buses and
trains that provide transport within the city and to outlying
communities. A single ticket can be obtained per leg of the trip at
Metro subway station ticket counters or most local news stands;
tickets must be validated/stamped whenever you enter a bus, trolley
or the Metro. If you make a transfer connection on the subway,
between buses and streetcars, you must validate another ticket (a
new ticket) for the next leg of your journey. The purchase of a one
or three day public transportation pass might be more advantageous
for sightseeing in Budapest; they are validated at the time of
purchase and do not require any further validations. They are good
for all forms of public transportation within the Budapest city
limits. Please cooperate with public transportation ticket
inspectors! Failure to validate new tickets for each leg of your
journey could result in an unpleasant fine when an inspector
confronts you! For more information on Budapest public
transportation, visit http://www.bkv.hu/angol/home.
Taxis can also be used; usually taxis can be found at designated
stands or waiting on streets. Taxis are more expensive than public
transportation and drivers should be tipped. In Budapest, some taxi
companies have gained a reputation for being unscrupulous by
overcharging or taking the longer route; thus, in Budapest, it would
be wise to have someone order a taxi by phone from a trusted,
reputable company.
Airport shuttle vans are available to transfer you to and from train
stations, hotels, and personal residences within the city of
Budapest. This shuttle service has a reasonable per-person charge
with vans able to accommodate groups carrying a lot of luggage.
Drivers should be tipped at least 100 HUF per bag handled. For
shuttle service to the airport for departing flights, you need to
make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance of your departure
time. For more information about airport shuttle services, arrivals
and departures at Ferihegy International Airport, please visit http://www.bud.hu/english.
Shopping
You will not find any Super Wal-Marts in Hungary. Most shops are
specialty shops. For example, you go to one store for clothes,
another for shoes, another for aspirin, another for shampoo, and yet
another for flowers. There are, however, a few stores that sell a
variety of goods.
Tesco or Spar are the closest you will find to Wal-Mart or Target;
these can be found in towns of 20,000 residents or more. Most local
shops are very tiny and can only accommodate a few people at a time.
Be sure when you enter to greet the salesperson. And remember to
pick up a shopping basket, located near the door, if one is
available. People without a shopping basket are looked upon with
suspicion. Be sure to say goodbye when you leave.
Money and Finances:
The Hungarian currency is the forint.
There is little difficulty finding an ATM in Hungary. Check before
leaving for Hungary if your bank will charge you a fee for using
your bankcard for overseas ATM withdrawals. Besides using an ATM,
you can exchange money at any bank or money exchange booth. Not all
establishments take credit cards, so generally be prepared to pay in
cash. Personal checks are not accepted anywhere. Traveler's checks
can be used/cashed at banks or exchange booths, but not in
stores.
NOTE: Never exchange money with individuals on the street or in the
market place; it is risky, dangerous, and it is illegal! In
Budapest, be wary of anyone posing as an undercover police officer
flashing an identification card or badge, who accuses you of
black-market money exchanges. Hungarian police wear uniforms and can
be clearly identified - always request the presence of uniformed
police officers if there is a problem. Tourists in some popular
Budapest shopping areas have been targeted by this scheme.
Eating:
This is one of the great benefits of coming to Hungary. The food is
good and it is relatively inexpensive to eat in many restaurants.
You can enjoy a nice, filling meal for as little as $10. However,
watch for the extra charges. Some things that you might take for
granted, like drink refills, are NOT free. Also, there may be bread
on the table when you sit down, but do not assume it is free; you
may have to pay for each slice of bread that you eat. In many
restaurants, you can choose to order half a plate of food or split a
full portion with someone else without an additional charge. Some
places might even have a menu in English, but you may have to ask
for it. However, don't be surprised if an English menu is not
available.
• Pay by one check/bill for the entire group! This is preferable
to the waiter. Often, settling individual bills can be a
frustrating, time-consuming matter for a waiter. Determine who owes
what later - it is important that each person keep track of what
his/her meal cost plus a portion of the tip.
• Request the bill! You have to signal and tell the waiter that
you are ready to pay and to bring you the bill.
• Tip Hungarian style! Round the bill up to the nearest hundred,
add in 10% as a tip and pay the entire amount directly to the
waiter. Please do not leave a tip on the table; it is considered an
insult. Instead, the tip should be included when paying the waiter.
There are a few American restaurants in Hungary, such as McDonalds,
Pizza Hut, and KFC; the menu and prices are comparable to what you
would find in America, though they will often offer some items never
seen in America. You won't find these famous American franchises in
smaller towns.
Cameras: Respecting Privacy
Please be considerate of people's right to privacy when taking
photos or making videos. Hungarians are very private people and may
be offended if you take their photo/film them without asking for
permission first. In general you are free to photograph buildings,
statues, large groups of people, but for shots of individuals or
close-ups, be sure to ask first.
Spiritual Preparation
Don't assume that just because you are packed that you are ready to
come to Hungary. Please take the time to pray!
• Pray that God will use you.
• Pray that God will receive the glory in all that you do.
• Pray for the people you will come in contact with.
• Pray that God will give you opportunities to share your faith in
Christ with the Hungarians.
• Pray for flexibility and the willingness to learn! Pray that you
will be able to get through the language and cultural barriers.
Recommended Resources and Books:
As you prepare for this mission project, we highly recommend that
you study these excellent resources.
Available from the going.imb.org resources link or LifeWay:
Impact Your World - Basic Training for Mission Teams - DVD/CD Pack
Impact Your World - Basic Training for Mission Teams member workbook
Available at amazon.com:
Lonely Planet: Hungary - not your typical tourist book, but
insightful/practical!
Just Enough Hungarian - an easy to use phrase book
Culture Shock: Hungary!
Available from LifeWay or Christian Book Distributors (christianbook.com):
How To Give Away Your Faith by Paul Little
Share Jesus Without Fear by William Fay & Ralph Hodge
Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person by Whole People
by Will Metzger
Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
Videos to rent and view:
American Rhapsody (2001), starring Natassja Kinski, Scarlett
Johansson & Tony Goldwyn - rated PG-13
Shop Around the Corner (1940), starring James Stewart and Margaret
Sullavan - not rated
Western Hungary Team
Budapest Team
Eastern Hungary Team
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