9 things that shock a foreigner in Hungary

If you’ve had the chance to spend a few weeks somewhere abroad, you’ve probably experienced “culture shock” already on occasion. But what kind of culture shock hits a foreigner in Hungary? According to hataratkelo.blog.hu, the Californian Colm Fitzgerald moved to Hungary with his Hungarian wife and collected a few things that were shocking for him. Let’s see his points:

1. Surviving pig sticking (disznóvágás)

Colm experienced the first shock in September, when his father-in-law and his friend organised a pig sticking. “I thought that I was going to throw up” remembers the American, who also wrote how the whole family took part in the processing and how he helped with the preparation of sausages and chitterlings. “It wasn’t too neat but this is how meat is processed ultimately.”

2.It seems like everyone smokes

According to statistics, every third Hungarian smokes (however, it’s hard to imagine). Colm says that he’ll never forget the time when he was waiting for his wife in the carpark and everyone who passed his car was smoking. Another time he was at the dentist and the doctor had an incoming call. He answered the phone, started smoking and blew the fume out through the window. Nevertheless, he was satisfied with the dentist’s work.

3.Food above everything

The writer was quite surprised at Hungarian eating habits since he grew up eating fast food like Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr and microwaved food. He feels like eating is a religious tradition in Hungary and that the most common question is “What’s for lunch?” and the answer is never simple sandwiches. He experienced that Sunday lunches are sacred and they usually consist of at least three courses: some kind of soup, stew with dumplings and pickles, and finally a divine dessert.

4.Those weird toilets

He advises other foreigners not to be surprised if some toilets are created in a way that our doo-doo don’t get right into the water but sits at a small shelf. He guesses that the reason behind this is to watch your stool as an indicator of health or so that water doesn’t splash back. In any case, he finds it inconvenient to stare at your little friend…

5.The Hungarian language

Despite the fact that he’s been coming to Hungary for ten years his knowledge of the language is still elementary. He knows a lot of words and is able to express himself in basic conversations. However, if a conversation reaches a deeper note, he feels hopelessly lost. Hungarian is unlike any other languages in the world.