The legendary Hungarian IQ is efficiently repressed by their lamentable EQ…– this is the Hungarian way of giving a sporting chance in life to other Europeans.
- Ardó Zsuzsanna in Love Blues
Hungarian is a way of life
Hungarians have never built pyramids, ruled slave empires, and conquered new worlds. They are a proud, strange and lonely people.
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Keeping One’s Given Word
Personal and national honor or integrity is a cardinal virtue in the Hungarian moral spectrum. Keeping one’s given word is an obligation overriding most other considerations, including political expediency. This is why the Hungarians never changed sides during international conflicts, however advantageous it may have been to do so. Read more »
Defenders of Christian Europe?
Hungarians like calling themselves the “Defenders of Christian Europe’ for having fought the eastern and southern pagan aggressors for a thousand years. Read more »
Attitude Toward Life
The proverbial Magyar dissension and lack of perseverance are probably the legacy of those Turkic tribes which frequently formed short-lived nomadic empires bent on the conquest of the world and soon in collapse for no apparent reason. The dreamy, unrealistic optimism, the expectation of miracles is, perhaps, a tradition handed over by the stargazing poets of Mesopotamia. Read more »
Origins of the Hungarian Ethos
The original tribal Hungarians developed a durable and strong national identity at the earliest stage of the Hungarian migrations. The original tribal group, which had set out on these migrations during the last millennium B.C., formed a viable nucleus for the future nation. Read more »
Mile Posts of Hungarian History
Appetizer to Hungarian History
For half a century beginning in 899, the Magyars — the name Hungarians call themselves — ravaged Europe. Fierce horsemen from the East, they penetrated German lands, northern Italy and France. An ardent prayer of the time implores, “From the arrows of the Hungarians, O Lord, deliver us.” “La Chanson de Roland” calls them “breeds of Satan.” Read more »
American Missionaries in Hungary
An interesting approach from a Hungarian Journalist, Norbert Izsák
Wherever we may go, we always find people living in other countries. Sometimes they do business in another culture, sometimes they are involved in charity, but no matter what their purposes are, they try to find a home in a foreign land.
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Key Questions for Your Effectiveness
Key questions in the areas of Individualism, Power-distance and Uncertainty avoidance. Read more »
Knowledge: Quality of Life
Knowledge means quality of life (the life we can only live once), gives the person a feeling of competence, and carries the hope of future.
Knowledge is highly valued is Hungarian society, but in the young generation, a materialistic value-system is developing due to the social and existential crisis in Central-Eastern Europe.
Knowledge is also seen as a tool for Hungarian society to be able to compete in the world arena. Science is the 4th element of power in the world today (after military power / force, economy / money, and media / information).
Missions: Misreading Each Other
Following the flood of Western evangelical missions into Hungary, many young Hungarians were trained with superficial methods of evangelism which tended to ignore Hungarian culture and promote a “cold turkey” approach without building trust. Read more »
Woody Allen and the Hungarian Psyche
Hungarians easily identify with Woody Allen who said:
“I have a persecution complex – because I’m persecuted.”
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Value-Related Problems
People in Hungary seek long-term relationships. They will invest time and emotions in people who can potentially stay around for a lifetime. Read more »
What are the Hungarian People Like?
The stereotypical Hungarian is pessimistic, historically conscious, pessimistic, cleverly pragmatic, contradictory, pessimistic, and appreciative of the fine arts and good food. Did I mention pessimistic? Read more »
What Friendship Means
Introducing someone as a “friend” communicates more commitment to the Hungarian than what you probably mean using this word, especially if you come from the North American culture. Read more »
Communication Style Differences
HU: Touching another’s back, shoulders or arms in a non-intimate relationship is generally considered offensive / uncomfortable.
USA: Touching another’s back, shoulders or arms generally is a sign of affection. Read more »
Relationship-related Features of the Hungarian Culture
SUMMARY
- High wall on the outside, low wall on the inside
- Shy and reserved in expressing positive feelings in relationships (verbally and in touching)
- High-context communication
- Preference of stability, desire for long-term planning in friendships
- In business: The relationship drives the business
The Little Prince and the Fox
It was then that the fox appeared.
“Good morning,” said the fox.
“Good morning,” the little prince responded politely, although when he turned around he saw nothing.
“I am right here,” the voice said, “under the apple tree.”
“Who are you?” asked the little prince, and added, “You are very pretty to look at.” Read more »
Formality, Status & Hierarchy
Hungarians are more formal than Danes, Australians or North Americans – more like the French and Germans, for instance. Read more »
Meeting People
Informal greetings between men and women friends and relatives are often a kiss on the cheeks, first left, then right. Kisses on the cheeks are not appropriate between men, except for close relatives and certain groups. Read more »
Formal or Casual?
How you dress mostly depends on the purpose of the meeting or presentation. It may be more formal the first day of your visit and casual the other days: it would go from a business suit to a more creative ensemble. Read more »
Meals & Table Manners
At the table, Hungarians wish everyone “good appetite” (Jó étvágyat!) before the meal begins. Like all Europeans, Hungarians keep the fork in their left hand rather than switching from left hand to right as Americans do. Read more »
Being a Guest
If you are a guest in someone’s home, it is a good idea to bring something for the wife (she is the hostess and the queen of the house). Read more »
Conversation Soft Spots
Business is not usually discussed at the ‘business dinner’, which is reserved for relaxing and getting to know one another. Read more »
Public and Private Spheres
Hungarian people bring to the workplace fewer private matters than Americans do, and you will rarely see family pictures on the desk.
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Presentation Styles & Challenges
In what way should presentations and seminars in Hungary be different from those in the US? In America, you usually talk for ten minutes and then start everyone in an exercise. In Budapest, however, if you don’t give your Hungarian audience a 40 minute background of history, philosophy, and theory, they will think what you are about to say is probably not established. Read more »
The Use of Humor
Sarcasm is one of the many intellectual weapons Hungarian people love to use.
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Decesion-Making
Hungarian decision-making process is relatively long, with a greater need for information in a risk-averse culture.
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How to Make Hungarians Like You
Give Hungarian people a good chance to get to know you. Do not rush the relationship.
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How They Tell You’re Smart
Cross cultural comparisons in the areas of geography, national history, values, faith and religion, adaptability to change, making a difference, the measures of success, wearing social walls, signs of bright-mindedness, behavior toward foreigners.
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Roles of Women
The United States isn’t the only country where people can’t quite sort out how they feel about the role of women at work, in government and in the family.
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