Admire the Houses of Parliament
Admire the Houses of Parliament. Extravagant, sumptuous, gracious, overpowering, rich, extraordinary, over the top, opulent, lavish, elegant – you will then have your own words to describe the interior. Many consider it the most beautiful Parliament Buildings in the world. Read more »
Student’s Basic Budget in Budapest
Survival budget - This is how much money you will need to have in order to survive in Budapest as a student:
- Accommodation: 40,000-60,000 Ft + utilities
- Food and drink: 30,000 - 40,000 Ft
- Mobility: 3,250 Ft (student pass)
- Insurance: 15,000 Ft
- Leisure activity / recreation: 2,000-12,000 Ft (one movie ticket costs approx. 1,000 Ft)
- Other (phone, internet, clothing, medical expenses, etc.): 15,000-30,000 Ft
Total: 85,000-150,000 Ft
To survive on your own in Budapest, and if you must pay your rent, want to go out only once or twice a month, and have the odd meal at a cheap restaurant, you need the bare minimum of 100,000 Ft monthly as a limited student’s budget.
Convert Ft to your own currency
student’s budget in Budapest, cost of living, Hungary
Word of Life Summer Camp, Tóalmás, Hungary
Word of Life Summer Camp is one of the most exciting places to be for the summer… Read more »
Legal - Illegal
We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal“.
- Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Why We Can’t Wait, 1963
legal, illegal, civil disobedience, Hungarian revolution 1956
Hungarian Wine Online
In terms of European cultural frontiers or divides, a broad division can be made regarding drinking patterns or habits in Europe. There are beer drinking cultures and wine drinking cultures. Read more »
Szentendre Day-trip
Go to Szentendre for a day trip! It is a stereotypical cobblestoned European town. Buy a ticket at the Batthyány HÉV/Metro stop and take the HÉV to the end of the line! For a scenic ride home take a boat cruise down the Danube back into Budapest! Read more »
Family Housing Expenses
Rental prices
- 4 bedroom single standing home outside of Budapest city limits start at 250,000 Ft / 1,000 EUR monthly + utilities
- 4 bedroom single standing home in district 12: 750,000 - 1,500,000 Ft / 3,000 - 6,000 EUR monthly + utilities
Incomes in Hungary
The minimum payable wage in Hungary is 65,500 Ft (€ 258) per month. In fact you have to do a lot of math to make it last until the end of the month. Read more »
Onions and Paprika
Of the various vegetables and spices used in Hungarian dishes, Makó onions and ground red paprika from Kalocsa or Szeged must be listed as genuine hungaricum. Read more »
Horseback Riding & Horse Summer Camps!
Providing children, teens and adults with fun-filled opportunities to build cross-cultural friendships, practice English, and learn horsemanship the natural way in a Christian setting: Read more »
Budapest Playrounds: Margaret Island (Margitsziget)
One of the best playgrounds in Budapest is the large, modern playground on a hilly area of Margaret Island. There are many different play corners according to age: from 0 to at least 14. Read more »
Hungarians Unaware of Retirement Risks
Nearly two-thirds of Hungarian workers stop working before the official retirement age, 80% of them voluntarily, a GFK survey commissioned by French insurance group AXA found. Hungary came second in both these categories among the 26 countries surveyed. Read more »
New Playhouse and Summer Camp in Diósd
Szülők Háza (Home for Parents) will run theme Summer day-camps throughout this summer, and is opening a new day-care center / nursery school (óvoda) in Diósd in September, 2008 for ages 3-7. Read more »
Tour Guide in Budapest: Paivi Taskinen
Paivi Taskinen - licensed (and great!) tour guide of Budapest, Hungary
Paivi has lived in Budapest for more than 10 years and speaks fluent Hungarian. She has a deep and balanced understanding of Hungary’s past and present. She is familiar with the Hungarian culture and people. She can help you to discover the sights of the beautiful Hungarian cities and towns. If you are ready for a memorable Hungary experience with a personal touch, spiced with humor, Paivi is the one to go with.
We recommend her services if you are
- a travel agent bringing groups to Hungary,
- an individual traveler visiting Hungary only for a few days; or
- an expatriate who just moved to Budapest, ready to become familiar with the place.
Paivi Taskinen
e-mail: pktaskinen@yahoo.com
phone: +36 (30) 320-2401
web: http://saaratours.com
Paivi Taskinen guides in Finnish (her mother tongue), English and Swedish. She also speaks fluent Hungarian.
tour guide, Budapest, Paivi Taskinen
American Friendships
According to many Europeans and Asians, American friendships are superficial: Americans do not know what true friendship is; they seem very friendly at first, but the friendships do not grow.
Recently, I was away from home on a business trip. My husband suddenly had to go away too. There would be one afternoon when neither of us would be home with our children. Read more »
You Know You’re a Hungarian…
13. When meeting another Hungarian in a country outside of Hungary is amazing.
14. You know you’re Hungarian when you eat everything off your plate (if you’re female) and your non-Hungarian guy friends look at you as if you are a weirdo, or a cousin of Xena: Warrior Princess or Attila the Hun, ready to do battle. You think, “I’m not letting my tasty food go to waste, especially if I’m paying for it,” or “I love to eat and I’m not afraid of food.”
15. When you love Turó Rudi but cant really explain to foreigners what the heck that is until they try it.
Cabinet Allocates Ft 10bn to GPs, Dentists
To compensate for the shortfall of revenues following the March 9 referendum in which doctor visiting fees and hospital fees were cancelled, the cabinet is ready to allocate Ft 10 billion to GPs, pediatricians and dentists. Read more »
“Hello Turist” video
Making fun of promotional tourist videos…
Spend the Day on Margaret Island
You can ride a bike, a bringo or a pony, play in various playgrounds, have a family picnic on Margaret Island… and splash in the largest pool of Budapest! Read more »
Flea Market
Idea of Fun in Budapest: Go to the flea market at Ecseri út. Take the #154 or #156 bus from Boráros Tér near the Duna.
The Chain Bridge
Hungarian Forint: More Rate Hikes on Way
London analysts forecast more rate hikes from the National Bank (MNB). JP Morgan expects the MNB to raise the base rate by 25-basis points on Monday, followed by a similar hike a month later, bringing the two-week lending rate to 8.5%.
Other major banks and financial groups in London also predict Read more »
What’s that Trash?
In Budapest, districts provide an opportunity for everyone to get rid of all their unwanted furniture, electrical devices, magazines, books, records and whatever else they don’t need any more. People can leave these items two previously announced times a year, out on the street. Dates vary district to district. After a few days of exposition, the district will clean up the trash from the street. Read more »
Missionary Kids, Third Culture Kids
Quoted from a very informative and insightful article written by Matthew McNutt on his blog:
Positive things that characterize most Third Culture Kids:
- Third Culture Kids tend to be politically astute. They are interested in national and global events, and actively keep track of the news. They often times are aware of the issues and both sides of the debates.
- Third Culture Kids usually speak more than one language. It is not unusual for them to know three or four languages, often times better than they let on.
- Third Culture Kids are much more comfortable communicating with adults than the average American teenager.
- Third Culture Kids tend to possess greater maturity in social skills. They are able to adapt well and notice details others might not.
- Third Culture Kids possess global perspective. They are able to understand the perspectives other nations have and relate them one to another. As a result, they are usually less prejudiced than others their age.
- Third Culture Kids are achievers. A far greater percentage of TCK’s go on to earn Bachelor degrees and advanced degrees than other groups.
- Because of their own experiences of feeling different, Third Culture Kids are much more likely to reach out and accept new people, especially those with different cultural backgrounds.
International Schools in Budapest
Budapest has a number of educational opportunities in the English language. There are three schools that offer instruction in the English language and use an essentially American curriculum: Read more »
Like a Fish out of Water: Stages of Culture Shock
Honeymoon Period
In the early days, you may not feel the stress involved in relocating not just your home, but your whole life. In this “honeymoon period”, which can last from a couple of weeks to six months, you’ll be too busy swanning about, tasting the new food and exploring the place to notice. Read more »
New Tuition Fee Proposal
The Conference of Hungarian Rectors approved an alternative tuition fee proposal behind closed doors at Károly Róbert College in Gyöngyös yesterday. According to plans in the possession of Magyar Hírlap, a broader sphere of college and university students would be obliged to pay tuition fees. Read more »
Cultural Tax on Clothing
Socialist MP János Schiffer has proposed expanding the 0.8% “cultural” revenue tax to include clothing. The government supports the idea, because clothing represents cultural values through design, Cultural Ministry undersecretary Márta Schneider said. Read more »
Good experience with a Service Provider?
Are you a happy client? Share your story with us! Reward your favorite service providers… Give a free promotion to your gas furnace repairman, electrician, carpenter, cleaning lady, babysitter, tutor, tour guide, hairdresser, car repairman, veterinarian, pediatrician, specialist, mover, gardener… and so on. Read more »
Escape to Margaret Island – Paradise In Budapest
The Danube River runs through the center of Budapest in Hungary. In the middle of the city chaos lays an oasis of tranquility, Margaret Island. Read more »
Heroes’ Square
Walk up Andrássy Street to Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere).
Andrássy Street is the great boulevard of Budapest. Many of the buildings in Budapest were erected in the 19th century - the private nobility took an eclectic approach and you can see the extraordinary mix of styles and ornamentation on such as Andrassy Street.
Andrássy Street goes straight from the Danube River to the Millenary Column in the Heroes’ Square – tree-lined all the way. Almost every building has ornamentation or plasterwork of note and the tree-lined street makes a lovely walk.
On Andrássy Street is the Opera House (Operaház). Built in the late 19th Century, the Budapest Opera House is an impressive neo-renaissance building reminiscent of the Opera House in Vienna.
Heroes’s Square is a place where art was used to express and honor the amazing history of the Hungarian Nation… from the time when the first Hungarian tribes settled in this area of the Carpathian Basin Read more »
Top 5 Emerging Property Markets In Eastern Europe
While the rest of the western world wonders whether domestic real estate investment remains a sensible consideration now that yields and equity growth rates are tumbling and the fast moving property sector slows and even stagnates in certain countries around the world, there exists a part of the world where real estate sectors are booming Read more »
English-Speaking Churches in Budapest
Bible Baptist Church
Budapest 17. 502 utca 19
Tel./Fax: 253-0390
E-mail: davef@axelero.hu
Calvary Chapel - ‘Golgotha’
Hiradó Movie Theatre at Blaha Lujza tér
Tel.: 322-2499
E-mail: golgota@internet.hu
Danube International Church
Non- denominational service
Meets at Mathias Corvinus Collegium, District 11, Somlói út 5.
Greater Grace Christian Church
Small church, familiar atmosphere - messages translated into Hungarian
Budapest 12, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 22/b (across Budagyöngye) 1125
Sunday Services: 10:30 a.m.
International Baptist Church of Budapest
Fellowship over coffee begins at 10 am. on Sundays
followed by service at 10:30 a.m.
Budapest 2, Törökvész út 48-54. 394-4965
International Church of Budapest
Multi-denominational service and children’s ministry takes place
at 10:30 am every Sunday
Budapest 3th district, Kis Korona u. 7 (Óbudai Community Center)
Contact: Pastor Glenn Ford
Tel.: 786 3073
Email: icb.church@gmail.com
Service times: Sunday, 10:30 AM
KEGY - Kelenföld Evangelical Church
A bi-cultural church in Hungarian and English.
Fellowship: Sunday 10-12 a.m.
1119 Budapest 11, Etele út 55.
Email: kegy@kegy.hu
Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Budapest 6. Vörösmarty u. 51
Tel./Fax: 246-2258
Roman Catholic Masses at Szent Antal Church
Budapest 2, Pasaréti tér 2
Contact: Katie or Sebastian Gorka
Tel: 368-4428
Service times: Sunday, 4 PM
The Bible Speaks Church
Budapest 8, Golgota u. 3. 1089
Tel.: 210-2028
Fax: 210-8526
E-mail: iroda@bibliaszol.hu
Christian churches, English-speaking churches, international churches in Budapest
Why Should You Be Culturally Aware?
Just because people speak English doesn’t mean that they think English. That’s why!
Cross-cultural awareness is a key life skill in the 21st century - but it is also the world’s best kept secret. We tell you why you should take time to become culturally aware and guarantee you’ll get more out of life. Read more »
English DVD Video Store
English DVD & Video Rental - There are two of these, one in Buda (Hajnóczy József u. 11, District 12) and one in Pest (Zichy Jenő u. 44, between Oktogon and Nyugati — walk south, dog leg to the left and follow the footprints on the sidewalk). Read more »
May Fair at GGIS - May 9
Event Info
Host: GGIS
Type: Other - Festival Read more »
Vacation Bicycling in Europe
Imagine your next vacation cycling around Europe not aboard a plane or a cruise ship but on your bicycle. Through well planning and research, a biking vacation in Europe can be a memorable experience. A Biking vacation in Europe provides a bicyclist the opportunity to enjoy every moment of their vacation by escaping Read more »
New Family Evangelical Church in Budagyöngye Area
Greater Grace Christian Church
- Meets every Sunday at 10:30 am at GGIS, 22/b Szilágyi Erzsébet Fasor, Budapest, district XII.
- In English with Hungarian translation
- English-speaking Sunday school for children
- Coffee and fellowship to follow
Address: 22/b Szilágyi Erzsébet Fasor, Budapest [map]
Tel: +36 70 619 6384
Email: church@ggis.hu
Bible Speaks Church
Greater Grace Ministries
Dearest Friends and Families,
Times of fellowship with other believers and hearing Bible messages preached is so refreshing for us all, so we are all warmly encouraged to draw near to be strengthened in our personal walk of faith. Read more »
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Pickpocketing
Pickpocketing is rampant downtown in busy areas and especially on stuffed trams and buses. It is not uncommon to have money taken right out of your front pocket or out of your purse or backpack – these people are professionals! The best solution is to carry a pouch with your valuables in it around your neck or waist under your shirt, or to use a zippered inside pocket. If you carry a purse, be sure to keep your hand ON your purse when you are in crowded stores or on public transportation.
When traveling, be sure to have no valuables in your backpack because it is so easy for pickpocketers to just unzip a pocket and take whatever!
Watch each others’ bags when traveling. If you’d cry if it were stolen, then don’t put it in your bag.
Breaking Down the Language and Culture Barrier
Just Shout Louder
The hoary old chestnut that the British and Americans abroad just resort to shouting louder in English in order to communicate with the natives may no longer hold as much water as it used to. Read more »
You Know You’re a Hungarian…
10. When you have a relative who’s name is Attila. Or József. Or János. Or László.
11. When half of your mother’s friends’ husbands’ are called József.
12. When you know that the “goulash” you see in many restaurants has in actuality nothing to do with the gulyás leves you really eat.
Budapest Windows
Hungarian Money
The official currency in Hungary is the forint, or Hungarian forint (HUF). The coins in use are 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 forints. Banknotes come in denominations of 200, 500, 1 000, 2 000, 5 000, 10 000, and 20 000 - with elaborate graphic designs. There are also Braille signs on them for the visually impaired. Read more »
English Language Pre-schools and Playgroups in Budapest
“Because a large percentage of a child’s personality is formed before they reach age seven, early childhood education is crucial to children’s development. Read more »
Get Out of the City
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Get out of the city! Take a day trip to a nearby town: Szentendre, Visegrád, Vác, Gödöllő, Esztergom, etc.
Loincloths and Tenderizing at a Budapest Spa
The Gellert Hotel Spa is renowned as the ultimate spa destination in Hungary. Here’s a first hand account of the Gellert experience. Read more »
Puli Puppy, Puli Dog
The Puli is an amazing looking shepherding dog. They seem to do well in all climates but like cooler weather better. They can live in an apartment as long as they can get frequent walks. They like other dogs and pets but may try to herd them. The same goes for children. Read more »
Hungarian Puli Dog
The Hungarian Puli dog is very intelligent and fairly easy to train if you are consistent and kind in your methods. Training should begin right away, traits that may be endearing in a puppy may not be so acceptable in an adult. Well-trained Pulis excel in agility and obedience. Read more »
Forint Weakens
The forint was trading down more than 1% against the euro at near 254 Wednesday after rumors of a possible downgrade of Hungary by credit-rating agency Standard & Poor’s. Read more »
No Public Transportation in Budapest on Friday!
Talks Fail to Avert Daylong BKV Strike. Public transport in Budapest will not be running on Friday as BKV management and unions failed to reach agreement yesterday. No talks are scheduled for today.
If the walkout goes ahead, the 22 BKV unions will be on strike Read more »
Restaurant Etiquette
Budapest etiquette when out at a restaurant with your Hungarian companion or companions.
Hungary, in the heart of Central Europe, retains numerous traditions and cultural expectations based on gender that may be different from our own. For the newcomer, as well as for many long-time expatriates in Budapest, these subtle expectations can be hard to spot, Read more »
Cultural Adaptation: A Personal Experience
‘In mathematics you don’t understand things. You just get used to them.’
- János Neumann, Hungarian matematician
Replace the word “mathematics” with “Budapest” and the Hungarian-born Neumann could be speaking to all of us living here. Read more »
Culture Shock Symptoms - How to Survive
A Second Look at Culture Shock
Culture shock, like falling in love, is a temporary madness.
In recent decades public attention is increasingly focused on the examination and labeling of our mental states. Read more »
A Foreigner’s Journey into the Hungarian Soul
As I’ve traveled some of the world, having been to 33 countries and living on five continents no other people has fascinated me as much as the Hungarians. What is the difference?
Why do Hungarians hold more fascination for this author than some of the world’s classic western peoples such as the English, Germans, or the French? Read more »
Shopping at the Great Market Hall
The Great Market Hall (Vásárcsarnok) is one of the best places to buy souvenirs and other typical Hungarian gift type things for family and friends. At the top floor of this interesting building (which, by the way, was designed by Eiffel, the same guy who designed the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris!) is where you find Read more »
Quality of a Leader
Where will the Hungarian soul take the nation from this point forward?
Hungarians have used their freedom to change governments well. In the second half of the 20th century Hungarians had very few opportunities to change governments. Since the change from the long time communist government Read more »
OVI to Verify Referendum Signatures
The National Election Commission (OVB) on Monday ordered the National Election Office (OVI) to start verifying the signatures submitted in favor of a referendum against the privatisation of health insurance. Read more »
Are Hungarians Antisemitic?
One of the things I discovered without looking for it was that in conversation about money, many Hungarians would complain about Jews. My first question was “why?”
This led me to do some research on the history of the relationship between Hungarians and Jews. Read more »