THE NEW HUNGARIAN VOICE FALL 2003 (Read-Only)
THE NEW HUNGARIAN VOICE FALL 2003 (Read-Only)
THE NEW HUNGARIAN VOICE FALL 2003 (Read-Only)
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Fall <strong>2003</strong> - Volume II, Issue 4 - Free<br />
A VANCOUVER <strong>NEW</strong>SLETTER DEDICATED TO <strong>THE</strong> PROMOTION OF <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> CULTURE<br />
<strong>NEW</strong> <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> HALL<br />
The New Hungarian Voice<br />
‘team’ officially meets eight<br />
times a year, however many of us get together<br />
more often and with others who are involved in the Hungarian<br />
cultural scene. A popular topic of<br />
conversation (or rather debate) is our<br />
Hungarian-Canadian future and what<br />
we can do to ensure that we have one.<br />
Thankfully there have been no recent<br />
wars or revolutions in Hungary and<br />
consequently the influx of immigrants<br />
to Canada had considerably ebbed.<br />
We strongly believe that there is still a<br />
great need for the preservation of our<br />
ethnicity here in Canada even though<br />
most of us were born far away from<br />
Hungarian soil. Many things now<br />
stand in our way; from the mass marketing<br />
of homogenous ‘culture’ from<br />
south of the border to a general tendency<br />
for us to overlook past wisdom<br />
in search of things ‘a la mode’. Our<br />
biggest enemy however, is ourselves.<br />
When Hungarian-Canadians meet,<br />
sooner or later something of a therapy<br />
session begins, and common, ongoing<br />
themes appear: Why does it seem that<br />
we can’t work together Why doesn’t<br />
one group support the other And so<br />
on. This kind of conversation has come up so often that I<br />
thought it’s about time it was brought to light. So far, whenever<br />
such discussion takes place, we all agree to ‘keep quiet<br />
about it’ and to ‘move on’. Especially since we started work on<br />
the New Hungarian Voice, we have been very concerned that<br />
we may scare new people off by re-hashing old problems.<br />
Well, enough with the denial! Wisdom says that it’s not always<br />
what you do that can cause great harm; it’s also what you<br />
don’t do. Our culture is precious to us and is a key component<br />
of what makes Canada such a wonderful place to live in – we<br />
must address some very important issues in the hopes that we<br />
may help the situation here in Vancouver, and possibly in other<br />
IN VANCOUVER<br />
By Peter Czink VRNT<br />
“The only way we can ensure that<br />
our Vancouver Hungarian culture lives<br />
on is by having a strong community<br />
centre that will support all Hungarian<br />
endeavours equally.”<br />
places and with other ethnicities<br />
that share common challenges.<br />
The Vancouver Hungarian community<br />
became a significant entity after the Second World War, and<br />
flourished after the 1956 Revolution.<br />
Over the years, four important pillars<br />
served the city: the Hungarian Cultural<br />
Society and three churches (one<br />
Catholic and two Reformed). These<br />
were the places where people met and<br />
socialized, with the Cultural Society<br />
being the largest and most accessible.<br />
As time passed, people developed their<br />
social circles and regular members of<br />
the Cultural Society (formerly known<br />
as the ‘Hungarian Social Club’) turned<br />
the modest former movie theatre on<br />
Kingsway into a comfortable retreat<br />
for themselves – a place where they<br />
could be Hungarian. Comfort eventually<br />
overrode culture and the flow of<br />
immigrants just about came to a stop –<br />
everything was ‘just right’. Less<br />
people volunteered so the ‘old hands’<br />
returned year after year to administer<br />
the everyday tasks required to run the<br />
organization.<br />
I run into Hungarians quite regularly<br />
and they all have one thing in<br />
common (other than being Hungarian of course) – that is, they<br />
‘used’ to be involved with the Cultural Society. The reasons are<br />
many but similar - they were made to feel unwelcome; they<br />
were mistreated; they felt that the Cultural Society catered<br />
primarily to the small group of people that have become permanent<br />
fixtures there. I have long ago lost count of the number of<br />
people who have told me such stories.<br />
I abhor ‘finger pointing’, but I’m afraid that screwing our<br />
collective eyes shut will not make the problem go away - our<br />
‘four pillared’ cultural structure is on the verge of collapse. The<br />
Hungarian Cultural Society’s website states that their organiza-<br />
Continued on page 2...<br />
<strong>THE</strong> <strong>NEW</strong> <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> <strong>VOICE</strong><br />
P.O. Box 74527 • Kitsilano P.O. • Vancouver, B.C. • V6K 4P4 • Canada<br />
fax: 604 733-9948 • email: newhungarianvoice@hotmail.com<br />
www.newhungarianvoice.com<br />
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE<br />
Greg Csiszár • Péter Czink • Rodney Kovács<br />
Andrea Miklós • Lajos S. Miklós Jr.<br />
Magda Sasvári • Kristina Tanner • Zale Tanner<br />
Mária Vajna • Lorraine Weideman
There are many qualified and<br />
talented people in Vancouver<br />
who are capable of implementing<br />
progressive new ideas.<br />
“Send a questionnaire to all<br />
Vancouver Hungarians requesting<br />
their input and suggestions.”<br />
“The leadership should research<br />
government grants and other<br />
funding sources.<br />
Immediately start dialogue with<br />
the Federal Government regarding<br />
charitable status.”<br />
“Make sure both generations and<br />
genders are represented among the<br />
leaders and assure that the key<br />
positions are filled with<br />
qualified personnel.”<br />
“Apply for grants to employ<br />
students, with appropriate creative<br />
programs presented in the<br />
applications.”<br />
“Make the centre not only a ‘social<br />
club’, but an important information,<br />
counselling and social assistance<br />
centre for new Hungarian-<br />
Canadians and for those that<br />
are in need.”<br />
“The newsletter of the centre to be<br />
in both English and Hungarian and<br />
encompass local interests and new<br />
information from governments<br />
affecting all Hungarians. Encourage<br />
the older generation to learn<br />
English and for that purpose give<br />
free English lessons.”<br />
-Magda Sasvári<br />
“The Hungarian Cultural Society not only<br />
belongs to us Hungarians, but to all Canadians -<br />
it is a tile of the national mosaic as precious<br />
and important as the next.”<br />
tion’s mandate is to: “Maintain connections<br />
with multicultural, as well as other<br />
ethnic groups and organizations” and to<br />
“promote awareness of Hungary and<br />
Hungarian culture among all Canadians”.<br />
They make a conscious effort to completely<br />
disregard the activities of many<br />
important Vancouver Hungarian organizations<br />
and ‘promote’ Hungarian culture<br />
almost solely in the Hungarian language<br />
(they refuse to even acknowledge the<br />
New Hungarian Voice) – making it very<br />
difficult for ‘all<br />
Canadians’ to<br />
even have the<br />
slightest understanding<br />
of our<br />
culture. In fact,<br />
people with not<br />
enough knowledge<br />
of the Hungarian language have<br />
been made to feel very uncomfortable<br />
there, and not speaking Hungarian<br />
perfectly is often a subject of ridicule in<br />
their publications.<br />
The Cultural Society’s monthly magazine,<br />
the Tárogató, is a collection of<br />
tributes to their past events and obscure<br />
snippets of historical data culled from<br />
encyclopaedias and Hungarian<br />
periodicals. Problems or controversial<br />
issues are never mentioned, but events<br />
they put on are always given rave<br />
reviews. The odd pages of English<br />
thrown in for ‘young ones’ are usually so<br />
dry, my mind wanders after the first few<br />
sentences (even though I am constantly<br />
looking for Hungarian material to read).<br />
Interestingly, they have also forbidden<br />
the editor of the new Hungarian language<br />
newspaper (Vancouveri Magyar Szó) to<br />
distribute it on their property, while their<br />
website absurdly states: “[the Tárogató is]<br />
the best, the largest, and the only<br />
Hungarian magazine in Hungarian<br />
<strong>NEW</strong> IDEAS<br />
FOR AN OLD BUILDING...<br />
language.”<br />
Keeping with our architectural<br />
analogy, let’s momentarily turn our attention<br />
to pillars three and four – the two<br />
Reformed churches. For years now, they<br />
have both been courting an aging and<br />
finite number of prospective members.<br />
Less people speak Hungarian only, and<br />
many of us have moved to the suburbs –<br />
it is entirely understandable that they<br />
have to be competitive. One would think<br />
that the Hungarian Cultural Society, the<br />
strongest of the four pillars should be<br />
We sincerely hope that some of our ideas will be implemented by the<br />
Hungarian Cultural Society...<br />
“Identify the yearly events that should continue and which ones to scrap.”<br />
“Make an effort to be better known among other ethnic communities.”<br />
“More things like courses in woodcarving,<br />
traditional porcelain painting, cooking, etc.”<br />
“Keep roles clear - maybe even have a PR or contact person.”<br />
“Develop a useful Hungarian School for adults.”<br />
“Develop the existing library.”<br />
“Establish an outreaching attitude to other Hungarian institutions.”<br />
-Greg Csiszár<br />
2
“The structure is already there,<br />
and for it to survive we must ‘clean house’<br />
and work hard to replace the failing<br />
infrastructure.”<br />
ethically bound to help and support each<br />
one equally. József Molnár is a member<br />
of the ‘presbyterium’ of the First<br />
Hungarian Presbyterian Church and the<br />
president of its ‘financial council’ – as<br />
well as the current president of the<br />
Hungarian Cultural Society. The<br />
Society’s website uses 24 words to<br />
describe the other Reformed church (the<br />
Hungarian Reformed Church of<br />
Vancouver); 27 for Our Lady of Hungary<br />
(Catholic) Church; and an astounding<br />
34,254 words are devoted to the church<br />
that Molnár essentially runs. How long<br />
will the four pillars be able to bear the<br />
strain of such outrageous favouritism<br />
either by corruption or by apathy.<br />
The Hungarian Cultural Society not<br />
only belongs to us Hungarians, but to all<br />
Canadians - it is a tile of the national<br />
mosaic as precious and important as the<br />
next. Perhaps the answer is not to turn<br />
away and keep to ourselves. Maybe we<br />
shouldn’t just ignore the situation or live<br />
in denial. The only way we can ensure<br />
that our Vancouver Hungarian culture<br />
lives on is by having a strong community<br />
centre that will support all Hungarian<br />
endeavours<br />
equally.<br />
The structure is<br />
already there, and<br />
...A RENOVATION OF<br />
OBSOLETE PROGRAMS<br />
The resentment runs very strong<br />
among many people in Vancouver who<br />
don’t want to associate themselves with a<br />
small minority who use an official and<br />
registered society to segregate and abuse<br />
an already fragile Hungarian-Canadian<br />
population. My parents and many others<br />
who were very involved with the Cultural<br />
Society in the early years, and later left<br />
with irreparable hurt feelings, hoped it<br />
would be a cultural centre for future<br />
generations to enjoy. I don’t think we<br />
should let such a fine legacy be destroyed<br />
for it to survive<br />
we must ‘clean<br />
house’ and work<br />
hard to replace<br />
the failing infrastructure.<br />
I advocate joining them! If only those<br />
down-hearted old members would return,<br />
and if new and capable people would take<br />
over from the current tired and vacuous<br />
leadership; it could be made exciting and<br />
dynamic once again – it belongs to you!<br />
If it is left to continue as it is, its demise is<br />
a certainty.<br />
...and that Hungarian-Canadians in Vancouver will return to carry on<br />
the legacy of our parents and grand-parents.<br />
“Our culture is not represented by the Cultural Society’s 30 and 40<br />
year old programs. There should be events for the younger people as well.”<br />
“The Cultural Society should promote their work more often, as with the<br />
festivals 10 and 3 years ago.”<br />
-Mária Vajna<br />
“I would like to see more open minds, willingness to try new and better things .”<br />
“An environment where policy rules, not favouritism.”<br />
-Andrea Miklós<br />
Modern organizations require<br />
efficient administration<br />
and creative up-to-date<br />
social programs.<br />
“Run the Cultural Society as a<br />
community centre, open seven days<br />
a week. Offer workshops, courses,<br />
classes & concerts. A membership<br />
would be required for all workshops<br />
and courses, and fees would be<br />
charged for enrolment.”<br />
“All three churches should hold a<br />
position on the board along<br />
with six other members that have<br />
2 year terms. The members<br />
should nominate candidates<br />
for the board.”<br />
“The Director/Administrator<br />
should be a full time paid position<br />
that takes direction from the<br />
Board and is in charge<br />
Of scheduling, event planning,<br />
membership and volunteers.”<br />
“The accountant’s position should<br />
be a part time paid position<br />
reporting to the Director.”<br />
“Food services should be<br />
outsourced as a contract with a set<br />
fee or percentage paid to the<br />
Cultural Society for the lease of<br />
the kitchen.”<br />
“Current sub-groups should be<br />
classified similarly to special<br />
interest courses - additional fees<br />
maybe required for their individual<br />
membership.”<br />
-Lorraine Weideman<br />
3
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES WITH PASSION<br />
I first met Gabriel Von Ursus<br />
(known also as Szohner Gábor) at<br />
the 2001 ‘This is Hungary’ festival.<br />
His impressive display of paintings<br />
weren’t his only contribution to the<br />
event – he also won the audiences’<br />
hearts by his performance in the<br />
theatrical production of Ferenc<br />
Molnár's 'The Play is the Thing'.<br />
Von Ursus was born in Budapest<br />
in 1936. His life was not an easy<br />
road, he was eight years old at the<br />
end of the war when his family was<br />
executed - he witnessed his father<br />
and brother being shot. Tough<br />
times followed for everyone, especially<br />
for the children; and eventually his<br />
participation in the 1956 Revolution led<br />
him to Canada as a refugee. He settled in<br />
Vancouver, and following a myriad of<br />
vocations he published ‘The Immigrant’<br />
in 1978 (which he is<br />
currently working on translating<br />
into Hungarian), and several short<br />
stories. His life as a painter began<br />
in 1981, and since that time this<br />
gifted and prolific artist has<br />
produced several hundred large<br />
canvases that have been exhibited<br />
locally and internationally. Few<br />
people realize, for example, that in<br />
the 80’s he voluntarily created the<br />
main alter statue for the local<br />
Hungarian Catholic Church.<br />
On June 3, <strong>2003</strong>, an enormous<br />
fire destroyed a Vancouver heritage<br />
building at 337 West Pender Street,<br />
and that evening I made a point of<br />
watching the news because I had<br />
once worked at that familiar location.<br />
I was shocked when I saw<br />
Gabriel being interviewed while in<br />
the background his lifetime of<br />
work was being consumed by the<br />
blaze. For 12 years he painted at<br />
his second floor studio, and now all<br />
he could do was watch it burn. For<br />
any artist, such a loss is devastating<br />
– I wondered – would this talented<br />
and creative artist ever paint again<br />
With no studio or supplies, and<br />
all that he put his heart and soul into now<br />
gone, I knew that von Ursus would need<br />
support ‘to put a paintbrush back in his<br />
hand’. A call was sent out to friends<br />
asking them to help raise some money to<br />
buy some basic materials. Two weeks<br />
later we presented Gabriel with an Opus<br />
Gabriel von Ursus<br />
Art Supplies gift certificate for $615.00 –<br />
enough money to help get him started<br />
with a few brushes and paints. Not only<br />
was this sum helpful, but also it was a<br />
testament to a fellow Hungarian that he<br />
‘The Fifth Level’ (51” x 72”)<br />
was not alone at this sad time.<br />
Enormous support came from the<br />
Aaron Ross Gallery (204-1540 West 2nd<br />
Avenue) - for the month of September<br />
they put together a fundraiser selling<br />
limited edition reproductions (all of them<br />
are copied onto canvas, using the finest<br />
4<br />
UV protected pigments) of his lost<br />
paintings. The sale of these<br />
canvases has been brisk - they are<br />
very affordable limited editions of<br />
125 each - $175.00 for a 13" x 18"<br />
piece, framed for $275.00; and<br />
$350.00 for a 22" x 30" canvas<br />
(framed $475.00). His only painting<br />
that remains is ‘The Fifth Level’<br />
(51” x 72”) – it was in the gallery<br />
at the time of the fire. The gallery<br />
had it before review for acquisition<br />
into the National Gallery of<br />
Canada, but in the meantime a<br />
European collector snapped it up.<br />
Other opportunities have also come his<br />
way; the Vancouver Opera Society wants<br />
his work for their publicity promotions,<br />
and Emily Carr College of Art and Design<br />
has suggested putting a curriculum<br />
together with von Ursus and the<br />
students re-creating the paintings.<br />
Still, the pain from the loss still<br />
runs deep in him. In the past he<br />
could hardly wait for the sun to<br />
come up so he could go to his<br />
studio and fill canvases with his<br />
visions - in those days he was<br />
never without ideas and he painted<br />
non-stop – to him there was no<br />
such thing as an empty canvas.<br />
These days he is scared that the<br />
urge to create will not come again<br />
- he lays awake until the sun<br />
comes up while he waits for the<br />
joy his creativity used to bring<br />
him, to return.<br />
The sparkle in his eye tells me<br />
that his passion to create is still<br />
strong and will outweigh this<br />
obstacle, as it has with others<br />
throughout his life; and clearly<br />
communicates how thankful he is<br />
for the support from the community,<br />
his friends and family.<br />
Thank you, Katherine Armstrong,<br />
Audra Blazkow, Giovanni<br />
Boso Péter Czink, Rev. Lajos &<br />
Erzsébet Fábián, Marjorie Gratzer,<br />
Jürgen Kaminski, Rodney Kovács<br />
& Maureen McGuigan, Lajos &<br />
Andrea Miklós, Melanie Moore, Brenda<br />
Prokopich, Heidi Rohard, Magda Sasvári,<br />
Arran Saul, Attila & Gabi Szamosközi,<br />
and Kari Tuskó, who all answered my<br />
call to support a gifted artist and a kind,<br />
gentle soul.<br />
Lorraine Weideman
Boldog születésnapot kivánünk Mancika!<br />
When my friend suggested I write an article for the New Hungarian Voice to<br />
commemorate my mother’s 80 th birthday, I thought it was a wonderful idea, although<br />
I had no idea what a daunting task it would be. How do I share the story of my<br />
mother’s remarkable life in a few words I started to ask myself about what it means<br />
and what it feels like to be Hungarian. Having lived in Canada my entire life, it’s<br />
difficult to identify just what it is that is inherently Hungarian in me. Aside from the<br />
obvious tangible cultural influences: the food, the music and family mementoes, what<br />
do I know about ‘being Hungarian’<br />
I decided that it must be a way of thinking; an awareness that hinges mysteriously<br />
on the ‘old country’. The pride that surfaces, knowing that your lineage extends deep<br />
into a country and a people unlike any other. One that has existed and continues to<br />
thrive despite aggressors that threatened over the years to rob them of their country<br />
and their identity.<br />
If my mother is any example, then this is what I know about Hungarians: they are<br />
hardworking, courageous people known for sharing what they have with others less<br />
fortunate. They have a talent for making something functional – even beautiful – out<br />
of very little. It’s an attention to detail and striving for excellence against all odds. It<br />
is the ‘survivor’ in them - the ability to fulfill a dream where little hope exists. It is<br />
their laughter, and most importantly, their love. These are some of the qualities that<br />
embody my mother, and as her daughter I hopefully possess some of these values as<br />
well.<br />
Although my mother immigrated to Canada at the age of five, she had three opportunities<br />
to visit and live with relatives in Hungary. The deep connection she<br />
maintains to her Hungarian roots is - in her words - difficult to describe.<br />
From the bottom of my heart and with all of my love, I’d like to wish my mother,<br />
born Mary ‘Mancika’ Madeline Zelenak in Bodrogkeresztur, Hungary, a very happy<br />
80 th birthday.<br />
Michelle Allen, Vancouver, B.C.<br />
Join our team!<br />
We are always looking for new, original Hungarian related material for<br />
the New Hungarian Voice.<br />
We also need enthusiastic volunteers to proof-read and distribute our newsletter, or to help out<br />
with the many tasks that are involved with our growing paper and other Hungarian projects.<br />
Dear readers!<br />
Send us your comments and criticisms! We sincerely hope that our work continues to<br />
reflect the feelings of the Hungarian-Canadian community, and that by maintaining a high<br />
level of quality we will be able to promote interest in our culture - among fellow<br />
Hungarians and everyone with an interest in our homeland!<br />
www.newhungarianvoice.com<br />
TRADITIONAL <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> DESIGNS<br />
470 CRISP, BLACK AND WHITE <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> MOTIFS FOR DESIGNERS AND ARTISANS<br />
“This 77-year-old work is like a time capsule, as the images contained in it are from traditional<br />
Hungarian art forms long forgotten or near extinction. It is a must for artisans, embroiderers, wood<br />
carvers and anyone else who wanted to produce authentic works of art.”<br />
edited by P. Czink and L. Weideman • 68 pages • spiral bound • $24.95<br />
HUNGARO ENTERPRISES • PO BOX 74527 • KITSILANO PO • VANCOUVER, BC<br />
V6K 4P4 • CANADA • czink@shaw.ca<br />
Tune in to 690 AM CBC Radio's 'Global Village' on Saturday<br />
October 4th, <strong>2003</strong>. Our own Greg Csiszár's short documentary on<br />
Folk dancing in Transylvania goes to air at 7 o'clock AM.<br />
5
NO ESCAPING FROM GASTRONOMIC GIGANTISM<br />
Growing up in a bilingual<br />
household, I'm fairly certain<br />
the first Hungarian word I learned was<br />
fakanál - the one for ‘wooden spoon’.<br />
This was exceptionally handy for those<br />
emotional moments when my mother<br />
discovered muddy footprints on the<br />
carpet and reached for her favourite<br />
kitchen implement: the Wooden Spoon of<br />
Retribution. The wooden spoon, so often<br />
my friend (such as when it required<br />
licking clean after stirring embryonic<br />
chocolate cake), also supplied an early<br />
lesson in power, treachery and the<br />
importance of not hauling half the garden<br />
into the house on the soles of my shoes.<br />
Timber cutlery aside, the other Hungarian<br />
words with early significance were<br />
the ones that equate to: “Eat! Eat! You're<br />
too skinny!” Mealtimes became daunting<br />
affairs that bore an uncanny resemblance<br />
to those scenes in nature documentaries<br />
where eagle parents stuff whole haddock<br />
down the throats of hapless eagle chicks.<br />
Many years later and despite my<br />
mother's valiant efforts, I have yet to<br />
balloon. But even though I am - according<br />
to the finest medical mind in my suburb -<br />
of ideal weight, she won't be swayed from<br />
her mission to make me a better upholstered<br />
individual.<br />
My mother's blindness to research<br />
showing her cooking habits are firmly<br />
entrenched in the realm of the notaltogether-healthy<br />
is matched only by her<br />
deafness: “Please, I can't eat any more”;<br />
“I think the table will break if you put<br />
any more food on it”; and “Call an ambulance”<br />
are all entreaties that slide off her<br />
like water off a Teflon-coated duck's<br />
back. It takes steely reserve to ignore<br />
such weak-kneed pleadings year in, year<br />
out, and yet somehow she does it. Whenever<br />
I trundle off to my mother's place, it<br />
is with a well-developed sense of trepidation.<br />
Don't get me wrong - it's heavenly<br />
food. I've grown up with Hungarian food<br />
on tap and I love it, all the way from<br />
stuffed cabbage and chicken paprikás to<br />
sour cherry soup and poppy seed strudel.<br />
It's just that Mum, in her zeal to plumpen<br />
the world, has abandoned any sense of<br />
proportion. I will arrive, feeling vaguely<br />
like the prodigal son while she's out the<br />
back killing the fatted calf, or more likely<br />
stuffing its enormous carcass into the<br />
oven.<br />
Operation ‘No More Skinny Bastard’<br />
will, almost without variation, commence<br />
with soup. In some cultures this would be<br />
a mere appetizer, but not here. As the<br />
clouds of steam uncoil and disperse, they<br />
reveal what at first looks like a testing<br />
tank for large ocean-going vessels. Before<br />
me stretches a sea of noodles, carrots,<br />
cauliflower and half a chicken bobbing<br />
up and down in well-seasoned eddies. I<br />
will gaze across the liquid expanse armed<br />
only with a spoon, idly wondering<br />
whether the far side of the bowl is actually<br />
in a separate time zone.<br />
Mum will stand by, smiling beatifically,<br />
expressing her hope that my hunger<br />
is all powerful as the main course is<br />
nearly ready. Suggesting that this single<br />
bowl could feed me, my wife, my brother<br />
and both my sisters for the next fortnight<br />
gets short shrift from Mum: “It's only<br />
water!” Well, quite.<br />
Some time afterward, feeling a bit<br />
more like an oceanarium than I did<br />
before, it's time to tackle the main course.<br />
Wherever Mum goes shopping has not<br />
been blessed by health experts. Farm<br />
animals apparently raised on a sumo diet<br />
– hefty chickens, wobbly cows and pigs<br />
with almost translucent flesh - make it<br />
into the oven virtually intact. Goulash,<br />
dumplings, schnitzels, concoctions of<br />
cabbage, eggplant and cheese and, if<br />
we're lucky, lángos - basically bits of<br />
deep-fried dough. Utterly scrumptious,<br />
6<br />
even if you can feel your arteries quail<br />
with terror. It should go without saying<br />
that the portions are not on the stingy<br />
side.<br />
Later, as I walk gingerly towards the<br />
car, carefully avoiding sharp objects for<br />
fear of bursting and clutching an emergency<br />
pack of palacsinta (crepes) – “Just<br />
in case you get hungry tonight!” – Mum<br />
follows me out, eager to ascertain that I'm<br />
full. She's still half afraid of accidentally<br />
underfeeding me one night. Fat chance.<br />
And like someone who survives regular<br />
encounters with Darth Vader only to<br />
take a holiday on the Death Star, I travel<br />
to Hungary when I can and it's a destination<br />
I can't recommend strongly enough.<br />
But for me there is the added pleasure of<br />
catching up with my relatives. My aunt<br />
Joli, for example, is always overjoyed to<br />
see me, but her happiness is tempered by<br />
a vague sense of disappointment that I<br />
haven't become fatter in the interim.<br />
Operation No More Skinny Bastard<br />
Version 2.0 is launched with gusto.<br />
Unlike Mum, though, Joli seems to be<br />
gripped by the fear that I might faint<br />
from hunger at any moment and has<br />
subsequently grown adept at springing<br />
from nowhere with a tray-full of pastries.<br />
Sadly, my grandmother - the Great<br />
Gastronaut herself - is no longer with us.<br />
The combination of her, aunt Joli and<br />
Mum made for a daunting troika and the<br />
sight of all three carefully manoeuvring in<br />
the kitchen like aircraft carriers in a small<br />
harbour made us lesser mortals dangle<br />
our jaws in wonder.<br />
Which of course made it a whole lot<br />
easier to jam food down our gullets.<br />
Bon appetit.<br />
James Jeffrey
VANCOUVER <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong><br />
BOYS AND GIRLS SCOUTS<br />
The Vancouver Hungarian Boys and Girls Scouts<br />
have been hiking and camping since 1960!<br />
Introduce your children to Hungarian culture,<br />
history and geography!<br />
Our activities include crafts and games too!<br />
Meetings are held on Thursday evenings<br />
at 1810 East 7th Avenue<br />
Vancouver, BC<br />
Please contact Suzanna Nagy at 604 230-0106<br />
or e-mail at suzannan@slatervecchio.com<br />
for more information.<br />
ARNOLD MIKELSON<br />
MIND AND MATTER GALLERY<br />
KAFÉ EUROPA<br />
AU<strong>THE</strong>NTIC<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> CUISINE<br />
13743 - 16th Avenue<br />
White Rock, Surrey, BC V4A 1P7 604 536-6460<br />
Regular Hours: Daily from 12 pm to 6 pm<br />
(or by appointment)<br />
www.mindandmatterart.com<br />
7<br />
We serve all of your favourites:<br />
lángos, gulyás soup, wiener<br />
schnitzel, cucumber salad, gypsy<br />
steak, chicken paprikás, palacsinta<br />
and much more!<br />
EVERY THURSDAY<br />
All schnitzel (we have 8 different<br />
kinds!) are 50% off!<br />
Open 6 days a week from<br />
5pm to 10pm<br />
(closed on Mondays)<br />
735 Denman Street<br />
Vancouver, BC<br />
604 683-4982<br />
Private parties for up to 50 people<br />
Parking at rear
y Magda Sasvári<br />
FROM HUNGARY<br />
TOURISM<br />
IN HUNGARY<br />
July 14, <strong>2003</strong><br />
The ailing domestic tourism industry<br />
is pining its hopes on a deluge of<br />
Chinese tourists which may become a<br />
reality next year. Earlier this year,<br />
China granted Hungary ‘preferred<br />
destination’ status. Unfortunately, the<br />
Iraq war and the outbreak of the SARS<br />
epidemic scuttled the immediate implementation<br />
of the plans and negotiations<br />
between the two countries were<br />
suspended. Negotiations are about to<br />
resume, and the agreement may be<br />
signed in the fall, said Judith Tóth, head<br />
of tourism at the Economy Ministry.<br />
MALEV could also profit handsomely<br />
by starting direct flights between Budapest<br />
and major Chinese cities.<br />
BUSH NAMES WALKER<br />
FOR HUNGARY POST<br />
July 19, <strong>2003</strong><br />
U.S. President George W. Bush has<br />
nominated his father's cousin, George<br />
Herbert Walker as ambassador to<br />
Hungary, the White House announced<br />
July 17th. The nomination is yet to be<br />
confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The 72<br />
year old businessman completed his<br />
studies at Yale in 1953, and earned a<br />
law degree at Harvard in 1956. From<br />
1956 to 1958 Walker served with the<br />
U.S. Air Force. He took part in the<br />
election campaigns of former US presidents<br />
Ronald Reagan and George H.W.<br />
Bush. He will succeed Nancy Goodman<br />
Brinker who is expected to play a part in<br />
President Bush's re-election campaign.<br />
ELECTROLUX TO BUILD<br />
FACTORY<br />
IN NYIREGYHÁZA<br />
July 19, <strong>2003</strong><br />
It was announced that Electrolux will<br />
build a huge refrigerator manufacturing<br />
factory in Nyiregyháza. Construction<br />
begins next January and production will<br />
begin in 2005. The new factory is going<br />
to produce 560,000 refrigerators each<br />
year.<br />
MTV PROGRAMS ABOUT HUNGARI-<br />
ANS LIVING OUTSIDE OF HUNGARY<br />
TO BE DISCONTINUED<br />
August 8, <strong>2003</strong><br />
Hungarian Television will discontinue<br />
programs about Hungarians living<br />
outside of Hungary, but will save the<br />
Carpathian Chronicle program. As of<br />
the 1st of September people will not be<br />
able to tune in to Crossing the Border<br />
(Határátkelö), The Scatterds (Szórvány),<br />
The Bottle Message (Palackpósta), the<br />
Handshake (Kézfogás) and the Seven<br />
Frontiers (Héthatár). Along with the<br />
cancellation of the programs, jobs of<br />
many correspondents who report on<br />
Hungarians living in the neighbouring<br />
countries are on the line. The information<br />
network was created by MTV Rt.,<br />
with the financial assistance provided by<br />
the Illyés Public Endowment during the<br />
Orbán administration. According<br />
to information given to Magyar Nemzet<br />
newspaper, the Illyés Public Foundation<br />
notified MTV Rt that they will discontinue<br />
the funding for these programs.<br />
Csaba Belénessy, the regional chief<br />
editor of the minority and across the<br />
border programs hopes that ongoing<br />
talks will bring a solution to this financial<br />
crisis.<br />
CONFLICTS IN FOREIGN POLICY<br />
August 18, <strong>2003</strong><br />
István Szent-Iványi, chairman of the<br />
integration committee of the parliament<br />
claims that one should not exclude the<br />
possibility of introducing dual citizenship<br />
where there is a consent. The opinion<br />
of the Free Democrat politician<br />
diametrically oppose the negative<br />
attitude of the Foreign Ministry represented<br />
by László Kovács foreign minister<br />
and András Bársony political state<br />
secretary, but even within the Socialist<br />
Party there is no consensus on the<br />
question. WestelPress has announced<br />
that Ferenc Juhász, Minister of Defence<br />
claims the Hungarian government will<br />
do everything for backing dual citizenship<br />
after the necessary examinations by<br />
experts, regretting the irresponsible<br />
8<br />
messages sent to Hungarians beyond<br />
the border. József Szalma, professor of<br />
law in Ujvidék (Novi Sad) said in an<br />
interview for Magyar Nemzet that the<br />
request of the Hungarians in Vojvodina<br />
was well grounded from moral and legal<br />
points of view and the European Union<br />
was tolerant in the question.<br />
LIFE IN BUDAPEST MORE EXPENSIVE<br />
August 22, <strong>2003</strong><br />
Life becomes more expensive in<br />
Budapest after October 1, when the<br />
price of district heating is expected to<br />
rise. In this case, the Metropolitan<br />
FIDESZ has lodged a complaint with the<br />
Economic Competition Bureau. A price<br />
increase is expected at the Budapest<br />
Transport Company (BKV) as well. The<br />
district heating price increase will be<br />
probably approved by the Metropolitan<br />
Assembly, though it is supposed to be<br />
much higher, than the inflation rate -<br />
the Socialist Free Democrat majority has<br />
already decided on the issue. Pál Vajda<br />
(Hungarian Socialist Party) deputy<br />
mayor explained the decision by the fact<br />
that the price of district heating has<br />
been unchanged since October 2001 and<br />
gas prices have gone up by 12 percent<br />
recently. BKV ticket prices also must be<br />
raised but this depends on next year's<br />
budget.<br />
SKY EUROPE TO FLY<br />
OUT OF BUDAPEST<br />
September 18, <strong>2003</strong><br />
Starting in mid-November, a new<br />
discount airline, Sky Europe will operate<br />
flights from Budapest to London,<br />
Milan and Zurich, enabling people to fly<br />
to these destinations for as low as 6,000<br />
HUF. Seat reservations will commence<br />
September 23rd. Sky Europe started<br />
two years ago, flying first between<br />
Kosice (Kassa) and Bratislava (Pozsony)<br />
in Slovakia, and later connecting 13<br />
European cities with the Slovakian capital.<br />
Sky Europe CEO Christian Mandl<br />
said Hungarian tourism is sure to benefit<br />
from the service.<br />
Sources: MNO, Access Hungary, MVSz,<br />
Budapest Sun Online
<strong>THE</strong> ART OF<br />
BARGAINING:<br />
TRANSYLVANIA<br />
9<br />
Is there an art to bargaining I didn’t think so until I was<br />
kicked out of a shop in Korond, a little village in the Székely<br />
region of Erdély (Transylvania)!<br />
It is hard not to get carried away with trying to stretch<br />
those last few lei in a place like Korond. This charming little<br />
village along the highway between Szėkelyudvarhely and<br />
Marosvásárhely is lined from one end to other with shops and<br />
stands full of local handy-crafts. There are beautiful hand<br />
sewn or knitted items, pottery, woodcarvings and leather<br />
works. Often, the ‘shops’ are little more than tables and<br />
clotheslines in front of the seller’s house. Even the fences and<br />
gates are put to good use<br />
by having sweaters and<br />
tablecloths hanging from<br />
them. Rather than detract,<br />
the lack of a mall or<br />
market type of setting<br />
adds to the ‘folksy’ ambience<br />
of the town.<br />
While some might<br />
make the mistake of<br />
assuming this means the<br />
seller is a local farmer or<br />
average peasant, the truth<br />
is these villagers have had<br />
years of sales experience<br />
and know quite thoroughly<br />
the price their<br />
goods can fetch. That is<br />
why at the beginning of the season (around May) before the<br />
tourists have started to arrive in great numbers, the prices are<br />
quite a bit lower than later in the summer. In July and August,<br />
the tour buses and car loads of German and Hungarian tourists<br />
arrive and the prices are significantly increased.<br />
Bargaining is quite a difficult skill to acquire. Especially<br />
since the methods subtly change, depending on where you are<br />
in the world. Coming from a place like Canada, where bargaining<br />
is saved for ‘big ticket’ items such as homes and cars;<br />
haggling over the price of something small, like cheese in a<br />
market, seems rather foreign. Add to that the fact that in this<br />
case the price was being set for local artwork, and the whole<br />
transaction becomes even more difficult. On the one hand, I<br />
don’t want to be a ‘sucker’ of a tourist, but on the other hand I<br />
don’t want to offer an unfair price for something that has been<br />
crafted locally by hand.<br />
Could this be the reason my friends and I were (not so<br />
politely) asked to leave a shop in the middle of August Was it<br />
because during my first trip to Korond in May, that was a<br />
reasonable price, but in<br />
August it was insultingly<br />
low Or, was it because she<br />
figured out that we were<br />
non-natives, merely accompanied<br />
by someone with a<br />
local Hungarian accent<br />
After all everyone knows<br />
that there is a different price<br />
for locals than for tourists.<br />
Or, was it impatience with<br />
too much bargaining since<br />
another tourist would come<br />
along shortly and pay the<br />
asking price I guess I’ll<br />
never know. And really, I<br />
have to expect to run into<br />
some problems when I am<br />
trying to acquire a new skill. On the bright side, I had far more<br />
successes than failures. I consider myself lucky to have quite a<br />
number of lovely items from Korond in my apartment.<br />
So, for those of you heading to Erdély this summer or next,<br />
stop in Korond if you have a chance. Don’t be afraid to make a<br />
bargain or two. If you get out of line, the locals will be happy<br />
to let you know!<br />
Audra Blazkow
“Our efforts will continue for years to come in the<br />
promotion of Hungary’s musical arts with concerts of<br />
classical, folk and world music.”<br />
This fall/winter season brings the first anniversary of the Canadian Association<br />
for Hungarian Arts. CAHA has presented musical concerts by Hungary’s<br />
Téka Ensemble - one of the founders of the folk music movement in Hungary -<br />
as well as relative newcomers to the world music scene, Kálmán Balogh and<br />
the Gypsy Cimbalom Band. Also presented in concert was Edmonton’s Cifra<br />
Ensemble, a driving force in Hungarian village music in North America. At the<br />
same time we featured local talents such as Forrás and the amazing Urban<br />
Gypsies. Added treats were CAHA’s sponsorship of Transylvania’s<br />
Szászcsávás in Seattle and the discounted VSO Bartók concert. Our efforts will<br />
continue for years to come in the promotion of Hungary’s musical arts with<br />
concerts of classical, folk and world music.<br />
CAHA will also be presenting other arts and artists of a Hungarian nature.<br />
The first being a screening of Tristan Verboven’s Once American, a particularly<br />
moving documentary of four immigrants from Hungary returning to their home<br />
land to search for their identity. This English language film by Budapest based<br />
All You Can Eat Productions will have its Western Canadian debut here in<br />
Vancouver. Our other activities include actively pursuing opportunities to<br />
present visual artists and a partnering with other Hungarian organizations to<br />
present a national Hungarian festival.<br />
For more information or if you have any suggestions, contact us at 604 941-<br />
5941 or email us at CAHA_Vancouver@hotmail.com.<br />
Lajos S Miklos Jr.<br />
Executive Director<br />
‘Visszhang’<br />
(‘Echo’)<br />
“...the musicians that initially<br />
created and supported the<br />
[dance] festival's birth joined<br />
together for the creation of a CD,<br />
featuring most of the musicians<br />
and vocalists playing Hungarian<br />
folk music in North America.”<br />
This CD, a 79-minute compilation<br />
called Visszhang’ (‘Echo’) is<br />
available from Vancouver’s Forrás<br />
Folk Band (forrás@shaw.ca).<br />
The proceeds from the disc<br />
(produced by Hungária Records)<br />
will benefit a newly created<br />
‘Hungarian Musicians' Benefit<br />
Fund’ which will support more<br />
projects like this CD in the future.<br />
Contact the Forrás Folk<br />
Band or the CAHA to get<br />
this great CD.<br />
Tristan Verboven’s Hungarian projects:<br />
FILM<br />
Director of "RUBBER SIDE DOWN"<br />
A dynamic 27 minute documentary following the events of the<br />
2001 Cycle Messenger World Championships in Budapest.<br />
Director of "ONCE AMERICAN"<br />
A 47 minute historical documentary following the lives of Hungarian<br />
refugees in the United States.<br />
PRINT<br />
Feature Writer, COMMUNIQUE , Budapest<br />
Monthly publication of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce<br />
Film Critic, SCENE MAGAZINE , Budapest<br />
RADIO<br />
TILOS RADIO, Budapest<br />
Host of "ICE CREAM SHOW" Weekly English Language Program<br />
featuring live interviews, music and entertainment listings<br />
PARARADIO, Budapest<br />
Host of "GLOBAL COLLECTIVE" Weekly English Language Program<br />
featuring interviews and chat<br />
Host of "RADIO B-TOWN" Weekly Comedy Show<br />
satirical look at Public Radio<br />
MAGYAR RADIO, Budapest<br />
Reporter for "RADIO BUDAPEST" Hungarian News in English<br />
Short wave broadcast in English featuring culture, politics<br />
and headlines from Hungary<br />
EXHIBITIONS<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> NATIONAL HOUSE OF PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
"THOSE WHO CAME" EXHIBITION, Kesckemét<br />
Collection of photos taken of Hungary by foreign photographers<br />
over the last 100 years.
ONCE AMERICAN<br />
A documentary film<br />
by Tristan Verboven<br />
After sold out screenings at the OFF Festival<br />
and SoHo Festival in Budapest as well as the<br />
Ramallah Festival in Palestine, the<br />
documentary film Once American is finally<br />
available in North America.<br />
An actress, a millionaire, a<br />
Vietnam veteran, and a junkie return to their<br />
native Hungary. After escaping to America in<br />
their youth in search of freedom, they have<br />
come home to find a loss of identity both in<br />
themselves and their homeland.<br />
Matthew Hays of the Montreal Mirror calls it<br />
"...an impressive documentary debut.<br />
Verboven has collected an impressive<br />
collection of people here, each with a story<br />
seemingly more<br />
fascinating than the last."<br />
Friday, October 31, <strong>2003</strong>, 8 PM<br />
Video In Studios<br />
1965 Main Street<br />
Vancouver, BC<br />
$8 adults<br />
$6 children/seniors/CAHA<br />
members<br />
(tickets at the door)<br />
Info: 604 941-5941<br />
OUR SPONSORS: <strong>THE</strong> <strong>NEW</strong> <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> <strong>VOICE</strong> and VMTv <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> LANGUAGE TELEVISION<br />
____________________________________________________<br />
NAME (Last) (First)<br />
____________________________________________________<br />
ADDRESS<br />
____________________________________________________<br />
CITY<br />
________________<br />
PROVINCE<br />
______________________________<br />
POSTAL CODE<br />
____________________________________________________<br />
PHONE (day)<br />
____________________________________________________<br />
PHONE (evening)<br />
____________________________________________________<br />
EMAIL<br />
Please make cheques payable to:<br />
Canadian Association for Hungarian Arts<br />
PO Box 74527, Kitsilano PO, 2803 West 4 th Avenue<br />
Vancouver, BC, V6K 4P4<br />
YEARLY MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION<br />
MEMBERSHIP TYPE FEE<br />
BRONZE<br />
NON-VOTING MEMBER<br />
Name printed in programs & newsletter, $25 $<br />
best seats at concerts.<br />
NON-VOTING MEMBER<br />
Name printed in programs & newsletter,<br />
SILVER<br />
best seats at concerts,<br />
$50 $<br />
discounts on additional events.<br />
NON-VOTING MEMBER<br />
Name printed in programs & newsletter,<br />
GOLD<br />
best seats at concerts, $125 $<br />
discounts on additional events,<br />
receptions before and after concerts.<br />
PLATINUM<br />
VOTING MEMBER<br />
Best seats at concerts,<br />
discounts on additional events, $250 $<br />
receptions before and after concerts,<br />
voting rights at annual general meeting.<br />
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER
There is an old form of Hungarian writing that is presently<br />
going through a rebirth in scholarly circles and among code and<br />
runic enthusiasts. Rovásírás (from rovás ‘incised’ and írás<br />
‘writing’) predates Hungary’s adoption of the Latin alphabet<br />
and is a descendant from the Kök Turki script used in Central<br />
Asia.<br />
Many believe that the Christianization<br />
of Hungary promoted the disuse<br />
of rovásírás. It was considered rather<br />
important at the time to absolve the<br />
country of its old pagan beliefs and<br />
practices in order to continue to gain<br />
favour from the rest of Europe. It is<br />
therefore reasonable to believe that<br />
pre-European Hungarian relics are the<br />
key to our awareness and understanding<br />
of this ancient form of communication.<br />
Interestingly, the opposite is<br />
true. It was largely Christian monks<br />
and priests that continued the use of<br />
rovásírás as the Latin alphabet’s adaptation<br />
to the characteristics of the<br />
Hungarian language was not immediate.<br />
A religious order of monks called<br />
the Pauline Order (Pálos) lay claim to a<br />
proprietary form of rovásírás. The pálos rovásírás was widely<br />
used by the order from its establishment during the reign of<br />
tribal leader and Hungarian conqueror, Árpád, until the XIVth<br />
century. It was especially useful in the letters of Pauline<br />
missionaries sent to South America. They would report home<br />
on the abuses of the natives at the hands of the Spanish and<br />
Portuguese using rovásírás as a form of code. As with the Latin<br />
alphabet, pálos was written left-to-right. Pálos rovásírás was<br />
not developed as a complete and detailed form of communication<br />
and fell completely out of use by the XVIth century.<br />
The second form of ancient Hungarian runic writing is called<br />
székely rovásírás. It originates from the Székely Magyars in<br />
Eastern Hungary (Székelyföld), currently the land of the<br />
Hungarian speaking Székelys of Transylvania. While this form<br />
of rovásírás has been written both left-to-right and right-to-left,<br />
the latter is more prevalent – perhaps because writers would<br />
typically hold a small piece of wood in their left-hand, and<br />
carve the letters with their right. When they reached the end of<br />
the stick, they turned it around, so the next line is upside-down<br />
compared to the first.<br />
In the XIIIth century, a strong interest in székely rovásírás<br />
grew and it gained popularity in the royal courts and by the<br />
intelligentsia. The Hungarian Renaissance ruler, King Matthias,<br />
often used this form of rovásírás and while the Latin alphabet<br />
was considered the official way of correspondence, rovásírás<br />
was highly fashionable. In the 1500s, when Hungary was<br />
devastated by the Ottoman Turks, the independent Transylvanian<br />
Principality wanted to make székely rovásírás the official<br />
ROVÁSÍRÁS<br />
<strong>THE</strong> <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> RUNIC ALPHABET<br />
Transylvanian Church ceiling panel<br />
with Székely rovásírás.<br />
12<br />
form of correspondence. Rovásírás continued to be used<br />
throughout Hungary until the mid 1800s.<br />
The ancient writers of rovásírás wrote on hard materials<br />
(wood and stone). This obviously made writing lengthy and<br />
difficult and therefore, several shorthand features developed.<br />
One is the concentration or melting<br />
together of two or more neighbouring<br />
letters. These combined characters<br />
have been referred to as ligatures. The<br />
writer has relative freedom in deciding<br />
which characters will be ligatures<br />
based on space and decipherability.<br />
Another shorthand feature was omitting<br />
some of the vowels – the letter ‘e’<br />
was most commonly omitted. There<br />
were also sound characters that were<br />
bug-like symbols strongly resembling<br />
Egyptian hieroglyphs. The bug<br />
symbols are age-old Székely characters<br />
that point our origins to the<br />
nations of the ancient Middle East.<br />
The rovásírás numbers resemble roman<br />
numerals – this is due to the fact that<br />
they evolved from the same root, the<br />
Etrusk numbers.<br />
Rovásírás relics have been found throughout Hungary,<br />
Transylvania and to a lesser extent Asia and other parts of<br />
Europe but the most famous is a 181kg piece of sandstone<br />
found in Nova Scotia, Canada in the 1700s. The 78cm x 70cm x<br />
50cm stone had ancient runes carved into it, of which a portion<br />
had been worn down. Although the text was unidentifiable<br />
using Scandinavian runes, it was strongly believed that it was a<br />
Viking relic left from an expedition of Eric the Red or his son,<br />
Leif Ericsson. It wasn’t until 1984 that Silvia Luis, a Hungarian<br />
runic writing expert, happened across and deciphered the text -<br />
it read: “…son járt e hejen is sok társával” (“…son traveled<br />
through this area with many of his companions”). It is widely<br />
believed that the worn portion originally read ‘Erics’-son<br />
referring to Leif Ericsson. It has been long contended that one<br />
of Leif Ericsson’s men, referred to only as ‘Tyrker’, was an<br />
Árpádian Magyar. Experts have established that the name<br />
Tyrker came from a Byzantine, Arab and European designation<br />
of the early Magyars as Tourks – this reference was due to the<br />
Kök Turks of Central Asia. An additional theory exists stating<br />
that after his expeditions with Ericsson, Tyrker returned to<br />
Hungary with maps and knowledge of the ‘new world’.<br />
If all this is true, we Hungarians have an amazing claim of<br />
having a fellow countryman explore North America long before<br />
Christopher Columbus ‘discovered it’.<br />
Lajos S. Miklós Jr.<br />
To read more about rovásírás on the Internet, check out<br />
http://fang.fa.gau.hu/~heves/runic.html.
IN<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong><br />
VANCOUVER<br />
INSTITUTIONS<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> RETIREMENT HOME - <strong>THE</strong> ‘MAGYAR OTTHON’<br />
By the 1980's the youthful group of refugees<br />
from communist Hungary began thinking about the future and<br />
retirement. In Vancouver by that time there were many retirement<br />
homes springing up and one could see the success of other<br />
ethnic groups - German, Italian, Scottish, Croatian, and many<br />
other homes that were being built.<br />
One person who was totally dedicated to the idea of<br />
a Hungarian retirement home was Mr.<br />
Sándor Gyarmati. Mr. Gyarmati<br />
formed a committee of like<br />
minded Hungarians and with<br />
the support and backing of<br />
Vancouver based Hungarian<br />
churches he and his fellow Hungarians<br />
registered their organization<br />
in Victoria in 1982 as the<br />
Canadian-Hungarian Housing<br />
Society of British Columbia.<br />
After this important step,<br />
they started planning for the building,<br />
and most importantly they<br />
started the difficult task of trying to secure<br />
a lot and financial assistance for the project. Anybody who ever<br />
tried to fundraise for projects will know how much time and<br />
effort it requires. After many letters, phone calls, interviews<br />
and appointments, the Housing Society convinced the<br />
City of Vancouver of the importance of this venture, and they<br />
were granted a building lot for the future home. The lot (which<br />
was much appreciated), was not quite right for their purposes<br />
and the committee exchanged it for one on South-West Marine<br />
Drive. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation provided<br />
the funds for the building and by October 1988 the construction<br />
was completed and the Hungarian Retirement Home, or the<br />
‘Magyar Otthon’ opened its doors at 1564 S.W. Marine Drive.<br />
A total of fifty-four 535 square foot one bedroom apartments<br />
were ready for occupation, and people began to<br />
move in on the 1st of October. I visited<br />
the ‘Magyar Otthon’ few times and on<br />
each occasion I was delighted to be<br />
there. The building looks bright,<br />
clean, friendly and inviting. The<br />
apartments are also full of<br />
light, with flowered balconies;<br />
and the atmosphere is cheerful<br />
and warm.<br />
The managers of the building<br />
are more than just employees<br />
of the Board of Directors - they also<br />
look after the tenants and share in<br />
their Hungarian inspired feelings. There<br />
are extra rooms for meetings, reading and laundry; but what<br />
really touched me, was the little chapel where the tenants could<br />
go for Sunday service, or just to drop in to meditate and withdraw<br />
from the rush of our modern world. I applaud the success<br />
of the ‘Magyar Otthon’ and hope that it will be a peaceful<br />
home for many Hungarians in the future.<br />
Magda Sasvári<br />
“Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation provided the funds for the building and by October 1988 the construction was completed<br />
and the Hungarian Retirement Home, or the ‘Magyar Otthon’ opened its doors at 1564 S.W. Marine Drive. “<br />
14
EUROPEAN<br />
HAIR<br />
DESIGN<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> LANGUAGE TELEVISION<br />
HIRADÓ<br />
Weekly News Summary<br />
Fridays at 11:00 am and 7:00 pm<br />
MAGYAR VILÁG<br />
Weekly Documentary<br />
Sundays at 9:00 pm and Tuesdays at 2:00 pm<br />
On SHAW Multicultural Channel<br />
(channel 20 in Vancouver)<br />
Gabriella Hajdu<br />
4065 MacDonald Vancouver, BC V6L 2N8<br />
604 736-2300<br />
Suite 110 - 1140 West Pender Street<br />
Vancouver, BC V6E 4G1<br />
604 683-6773<br />
The Forrás Hungarian Folk Ensemble Presents a<br />
TÁNCHÁZ<br />
(Hungarian folk dance party with teaching)<br />
With live music from the Forrás Folk Band!<br />
Our Lady of Hungary Church Hall<br />
1810 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC<br />
Admission $5 at the door<br />
7:30 pm - Doors & bar open<br />
8:00 pm - 1:00 am<br />
Táncház and Dance Teaching<br />
Saturday, September 27th, <strong>2003</strong><br />
Saturday, November 15th, <strong>2003</strong><br />
Info: 604 941-5941 forras@shaw.ca www.forras.homestead.com<br />
15
LEARNING <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong><br />
Vocabulary:<br />
ott - there mi - what ki - who<br />
az - that (a different word than the definite article, but looks and sounds the same)<br />
ez - this köszönöm - thank you mi a neve - what's your name (polite)<br />
a nevem... - my name is… asztal - table pincér (remember c is 'ts') - waiter jól - well<br />
hol - where is - also hogy - how egy - a, an, one autó - car<br />
Some sample sentences:<br />
Mi az What is that<br />
Ez egy autó és az egy asztal. This is a car and that is a table.<br />
Köszönöm, jól vagyok. Thank you, I am good. (well)<br />
Hol a pincér Ott. Where is the waiter There.<br />
Grammar - The Indefinite Article<br />
The indefinite article in Hungarian is egy, which also means ‘one’. However, it is used less frequently<br />
than in English. Look at the following sentences:<br />
Ő turista. He is (a) tourist. Egyetemista vagyok. I am (a) student.<br />
In the above sentences, the article is required in English, but not in Hungarian. You will get a feel of when<br />
to use the article once you have been exposed to more sentences and had some practice.<br />
Ez and Az<br />
The Hungarian words ez and az correspond to English ‘this’ and ‘that’ respectively, in the context of<br />
both ‘that book is good’ and ‘that is a book’ (French, for example, makes a difference between ‘that’ in these<br />
two contexts). When ez or az is modifying the noun, as in ‘that book’, the Hungarian noun must be<br />
preceded by the definite article a or az. Examine the following sentences:<br />
Ki ez Who's this<br />
Ez az autó szép. This car is pretty.<br />
Az az autó is szép. That car is also pretty.<br />
Ez az asztal. This is the table.<br />
Note: Ez az asztal can mean ‘this is the table’ or ‘this table…’ but here it must be the former because the<br />
latter is not a complete sentence.<br />
Greetings:<br />
Jó reggelt (kívánok) Good morning<br />
Jó napot (kívánok) Hello (formal, literally 'good day')<br />
Jó estét (kívánok) Good evening<br />
Jó éjszakát (kívánok) Good night<br />
Note: the above expression are both formal and informal. The ‘kívánok’ is optional and slightly more formal.<br />
With kívánok, the expressions mean ‘I wish you good morning’, etc.<br />
A viszontlátásra Goodbye (formal)<br />
Szervusz (Szervusztok to more than one person) Hello/Goodbye (informal)<br />
Szia (Sziasztok to more than one person) Hello/Goodbye (more informal)<br />
Hogy van How are you (formal)<br />
Hogy vagy How are you (informal)<br />
Note: When you ask Hogy vagy in Hungarian, you are really asking how they are, unlike in English where<br />
‘how are you’ is a polite greeting. A good answer to the question would be: Jól vagyok, ‘I am fine (well)’.<br />
LESSONS CONTINUED IN <strong>THE</strong> NEXT ISSUE!<br />
Hungarian Language Course on the Internet: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~arubin/hungarian.html<br />
16
y<br />
With the flu season just around the corner, what better way to make one feel better than with a big<br />
Andrea bowl of steaming hot Hungarian soup Personally I find these home made soups both soothing and<br />
Miklós healing. In Hungary, soup is an essential part of the midday meal - that means they have numerous recipes<br />
to keep their taste buds enticed. Some of the recipes can even be prepared in different ways, which will<br />
give them different tasting end results. For example:<br />
- The ingredients can be cooked in water or stock; when close to done a mixture of roux, or rántás in<br />
Hungarian (equal portions of butter and flour, browned) is added.<br />
- Ingredients plus onion are sautéed in butter or fat, and then sprinkled lightly with flour; water or stock<br />
are then added and cooked.<br />
- Ingredients plus onion are sautéed in butter or fat; broth or water is added; roux is incorporated a few<br />
minutes before the completion of the soup.<br />
Another way of changing the taste of a soup is by the garnishes used in it. There are potato dumplings, chickenliver<br />
dumplings, beef dumplings, semolina dumplings, fried soup peas, cream of wheat dumplings and many more –<br />
all in addition to the everyday soup noodles that we all know and love. Here are two delicious soup recipes perfect<br />
for autumn:<br />
CARAWAY SOUP WITH GARLIC CROUTONS<br />
(KÖMÉNYMAG LEVES FOGHAGYMÁS KOCKÁKKAL)<br />
(Serves 6)<br />
2 tbs lard or bacon drippings 1 tbs caraway seeds<br />
2 tbs flour 1 litre cold water<br />
1 egg salt to taste<br />
1 garlic clove 2 slices of white bread<br />
1. Cook caraway seeds in heated fat until they pop.<br />
2. To make roux, add flour – careful not to burn it<br />
3. Add water and whip. Cook for 10-20 minutes. Strain; put back in pot and bring to boil.<br />
4. Beat egg until foamy and whip into simmering soup. Add salt taste.<br />
5. Toast bread; rub garlic on both sides and dice. Serve them separately to keep them from going soggy.<br />
During difficult times in Hungary, the egg was eliminated – but it still is delicious!<br />
BEAN SOUP (BABLEVES)<br />
(Serves 8)<br />
2 smoked pig’s feet (any piece of pork will do if this does not appeal to you)<br />
1/2 lb smoked pork ribs 1/2 cup celery<br />
1/4 lb dried beans (soaked over-night) 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped<br />
1 tbs lard or bacon drippings 1 tbs chopped parsley<br />
1 tbs flour 1/2 tbs paprika<br />
1 garlic clove mashed salt to taste<br />
1/2 lb smoked Hungarian pork sausage 2 tbs sour cream<br />
1. Cook pig’s feet and pork ribs in 2 litres of water until meat separates from bone;<br />
bone them and put meat aside.<br />
2. Add celery and beans to meat broth and cook until beans are soft.<br />
3. Sauté onion; add parsley and flour, cook on lowest heat possible until light brown.<br />
4. Mix in paprika and garlic; add 1 cup of cold water. Whip until smooth. Pour into cooked beans.<br />
5. Add smoked sausage and 1/2 tbs salt. Simmer for 10 minutes.<br />
6. Dice smoked meat, add to soup. Adjust salt to taste. Add sour cream.<br />
7. Serve with bread.<br />
17
GVC Credit Union - the kind of financial<br />
institution where you feel welcome.<br />
GVC is the successor of the Hungarian<br />
Credit Union formed in 1951. In 1985, it<br />
joined GVC Credit Union in order to make<br />
a wider range of services available to its<br />
members. We are proud of our historical<br />
ties with Vancouver’s Hungarian<br />
Community.<br />
GVCCU is dedicated to providing a full<br />
range of financial services designed to fit<br />
our members’ needs. So, if you’re looking<br />
for a good place to save or borrow, join us<br />
at GVC.<br />
Four convenient locations to serve you:<br />
VANCOUVER<br />
100-4088 Cambie Street, Vancouver<br />
Tel 604-876-7101<br />
BRENTWOOD<br />
1801 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby<br />
Tel 604-298-3344<br />
LOUGHEED PLAZA<br />
9608 Cameron Street, Burnaby<br />
Tel 604-421-3456<br />
IMPACT PLAZA<br />
#137-10090-152nd Street, Surrey<br />
Tel 604-584-4434<br />
aMemberLink Telephone Banking #604-444-5250<br />
MemberDirect Internet Banking www.gvccu.com<br />
‘Hungarian Village Music’<br />
Forrás Folk Band<br />
The popular local Hungarian<br />
folk band’s new CD!<br />
$20.00 (including<br />
shipping)<br />
To order,<br />
send a cheque to:<br />
FORRÁS<br />
1751 Coquitlam Ave.<br />
Port Coquitlam, BC<br />
V3B 1H9<br />
604 941-5941<br />
www.forras.homestead.com/zenesz.html<br />
WEBSITES THAT ARE A MUST FOR<br />
ANYONE INTERESTED IN HUNGARY!<br />
(all information is available in English)<br />
Hungarian Flags<br />
www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/keywordh.html#hungary<br />
This is truly an amazing page. I had no idea there are that many<br />
unique Hungarian flags and coats-of-arms!<br />
Hungarian National Anthem<br />
www.fsz.bme.hu/hungary/anthem.html<br />
Don’t know the words to the anthem Listen to them here!<br />
Hungarica.Net<br />
www.hungarica.net<br />
A site about Hungarian culture, music, history, cuisine and tourism.<br />
Corvinus Library of Hungarian History<br />
www.hungary.com/corvinus/lib<br />
A resource for Hungarian historical material for the<br />
browser and expert alike.<br />
Hungarian/English<br />
English/Hungarian Dictionary<br />
http://szotar.sztaki.hu/angol-magyar<br />
A very convenient on-line dictionary.<br />
18
GUIDING STARS<br />
by Julius Ling<br />
♥♥♥<br />
From the aftermath of the Second World War to the bloodbath<br />
of the 1956 Revolution, true love flourishes under the yoke of<br />
Soviet Communism. Two Hungarians - a freedom fighter and his<br />
sweetheart are torn apart amid the chaos. Along with many<br />
Hungarian refugees, fate takes one of the lovers to Canada, and<br />
the other to Australia where they cling to a faint hope -<br />
will they ever see each other again<br />
♥♥♥<br />
Soft cover $24.95 (including postage)<br />
Julius Ling<br />
591 Delora Drive ● Victoria, BC ● V9C 3S2<br />
250 474-5279<br />
REAL-ESTATE SALES<br />
KLARA TIMAR<br />
604 855-7393 VANCOUVER - 604 649-4871<br />
2655 Clearbrook Road, Suite 260<br />
Abbotsford, BC V2T 2Y6<br />
<strong>THE</strong> <strong>NEW</strong> <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> <strong>VOICE</strong><br />
is available at:<br />
ABC INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL LTD.<br />
1224 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC 604 684-5019<br />
EUROPEAN HAIR DESIGN<br />
4065 MacDonald Street, Vancouver, BC 604 736-2300<br />
GVC CREDIT UNION<br />
VANCOUVER<br />
100-4088 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC 604 876-7101<br />
BRENTWOOD<br />
1801 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC 604 298-3344<br />
LOUGHEED PLAZA<br />
9608 Cameron Street, Burnaby, BC 604 421-3456<br />
IMPACT PLAZA<br />
137-10090-152nd Street, Surrey, BC 604 584-4434<br />
METRO TRAVEL & TOURS LTD.<br />
450-555 W. 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC 604 879-5321<br />
MO<strong>THE</strong>R’S HERBS & VITAMINS<br />
119 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver, BC 604 988-4372<br />
PEOPLE’S CO-OP BOOKSTORE<br />
1391 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC 604 253-6442<br />
▪ Power drinks with herb<br />
extracts, greens<br />
and fibres<br />
▪ Digestive enzymes<br />
▪ 100 different health teas and<br />
extracts for joint problems,<br />
blood and intestine cleansing,<br />
hip and back problems<br />
▪ Products that ease breathing<br />
▪ Vegetable fibres and health teas that prevent<br />
cramping and migraine pain<br />
...are all available at:<br />
Mother’s Herbs<br />
119 Lonsdale<br />
North Vancouver, BC<br />
604 988-4372<br />
<strong>THE</strong> <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> REFORMED CHURCH<br />
OF VANCOUVER<br />
900 East 19 th Avenue Vancouver, BC<br />
Services start at 12 noon every Sunday and Holidays<br />
September 28 - Hungarian Mission - Abbotsford<br />
Services are held the last Sunday of every month at 3pm.<br />
3260 Gladwin Rd., Abbotsford, BC<br />
October 12 – Thanksgiving Service - Harvest display<br />
November 2 – Special Reformation Service - Lunch<br />
Sermon by: Rt. Rev. Andor Demeter, Bishop<br />
of The Hungarian Reformed Churches in America<br />
Closing ceremonies of the Presbyters Convention<br />
December 6 - Christmas Bazaar - Bake Sale<br />
10am - 5pm<br />
Held at The Hungarian Cultural Society 728 Kingsway, Vancouver<br />
Hungarian Foods all day – Traditional Christmas pastries:<br />
walnut/poppy seed rolls & crescents, rum, chestnut, cheese,<br />
mocha cakes; pogácsa, krémes and more.<br />
Sausages: white sausage, fresh & smoked.<br />
For more information please call Elizabeth 604 321-4226<br />
December 21 - Special Candlelight Service<br />
Lunch, Christmas program - gifts for the children<br />
December 25 - Christmas Worship Service<br />
2004 January - 1 New Year’s Worship Service<br />
19
LOCAL<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong><br />
EVENTS<br />
Please contact the organizations to<br />
confirm dates and times.<br />
October 5<br />
● Feast Day (Búcsú)<br />
Our Lady of Hungary Church<br />
October 12<br />
● Western Canadian Hungarian Folk<br />
Dance Festival - Massey Theatre<br />
Hungarian Cultural Society<br />
October 12<br />
● Thanksgiving Service<br />
Hungarian Reformed Church<br />
of Vancouver<br />
October 26<br />
●1956 Revolution Remembrance<br />
Hungarian Cultural Society<br />
October 31<br />
● Vancouver Premiere<br />
‘Once American’<br />
Video In Studios - CAHA<br />
November 15<br />
● Táncház<br />
Our Lady of Hungary Church<br />
Forrás Folk Ensemble<br />
November 22<br />
● Bazaar<br />
Our Lady of Hungary Church<br />
LOCAL <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> ORGANIZATIONS<br />
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> ARTS (CAHA)<br />
P.O. Box 74527, Vancouver, BC V6K 4P4 caha_vancouver@hotmail.com 604 941-5941<br />
FORRÁS FOLK ENSEMBLE<br />
21035 86th Avenue, Langley, BC V1M 2L3 forras@shaw.ca 604 888-6814<br />
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR MINORITIES, VANCOUVER SOCIETY<br />
606-1640 Esquimalt Avenue, West Vancouver, BC V7V 1R6 604 922-0783<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> BUSINESSPERSONS’ ASSOCIATION OF B.C.<br />
5026 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, BC V5P 3T8 604 222-6517<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> CONSULATE<br />
306 - 1770 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 4Y6 604 730-7321<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> CULTURAL SOCIETY OF GREATER VANCOUVER<br />
728 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5V 3C1 604 876-4720<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> EMBASSY<br />
299 Waverly Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0V9 613 230-2717<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> REFORMED CHURCH OF VANCOUVER<br />
(CHURCH) 900 East 19th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5V 1K7<br />
(MAILING ADDRESS) 7872 Jasper Crescent, Vancouver, BC V5P 3S9 604 321-4226<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> SOCIETY OF VICTORIA<br />
Box 30228, Victoria, BC V8X 5E1 vichun@telus.net 250 386-8669<br />
<strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION<br />
P.O. Box 74527, Vancouver, BC V6K 4P4 czink@shaw.ca 604 733-9948<br />
(KALVIN) FIRST <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH<br />
2791 East 27th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5R 1N4 604 437-3442<br />
NANAIMO <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> CULTURAL SOCIETY<br />
Box 85, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5K4 250 756-2410<br />
OKANAGAN <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> SOCIETY<br />
1670 Ross Road, Kelowna, BC V1Z 1L9 250 769-1609<br />
OUR LADY OF HUNGARY CHURCH<br />
1810 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5N 1S2 604 253-2577<br />
VANCOUVER <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> HOME FOR <strong>THE</strong> ELDERLY<br />
1564 S.W. Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC V6P 6R6 604 264-1064<br />
VANCOUVER <strong>HUNGARIAN</strong> SCOUTS<br />
suzannan@slatervecchio.com 604 230-0106<br />
CLASSIFIED ADS<br />
November 23<br />
● Annual General Meeting<br />
Hungarian Cultural Society<br />
December 6<br />
● Christmas bazaar<br />
Hungarian Reformed Church<br />
of Vancouver<br />
December 14<br />
● Christmas Celebration<br />
Our Lady of Hungary Church<br />
December 31<br />
● New Year’s Celebration<br />
Our Lady of Hungary Church<br />
Wanted to buy: Hungarian military<br />
antiques, decorations, documents,<br />
uniforms, etc. from ancient to modern.<br />
Also books on Hungarian history, folk<br />
art, embroidery and woodcarving.<br />
604 733-9948.<br />
Come to Transylvania and Moldavia.<br />
Roundtrip in Transylvania, Székelyland,<br />
Saxonland, Kalotaszeg the Banat, Aldera,<br />
Bukovina. 13 days, most meals. Cost<br />
$1350 CDN. elizburian@yahoo.ca<br />
For rent: Large, 75 sq.m. & gallery, fully<br />
furnished apartment in Buda, (15 minute<br />
walk to downtown, 10 minute to castle<br />
area). Short or long term, (except July-<br />
Aug.). $560/wk. Zale or Kristina 604<br />
732-7674 or zaletanner@yahoo.ca<br />
Hungarian Key Chains - genuine leather<br />
with embossed coat-of-arms or Hungarian<br />
crown. $3 each or 2 for $5 plus postage.<br />
604 734-2111<br />
Reliable realtor in Hungary. For all your<br />
buying, selling or renting needs, please<br />
call Eva Fuchs in Budakeszi. 011 36-23-<br />
450-795. eurofox@mailbox.hu<br />
Discover Transylvania by staying with a<br />
székely family in their beautiful home in<br />
Gyergyószentmiklós. Modern conveniences,<br />
privacy, home cooked meals and<br />
daily tours. Very affordable. For info<br />
call: Tivadar Czimbalmas 011 40 66 165<br />
0861 or write Czimbalmas, Gheorgheni<br />
4200, str. Fogarassy M. nr 3 Harghita,<br />
Romania.