Exclusive Interview with Hungarian TikTok Sensation Livi

With an unrivalled charm and a keen eye for the comedic elements of everyday life, Hungarian TikTok sensation, Livi, offers a humorous glimpse into the unique and uproariously funny nuances of the Hungarian language. In this exclusive interview, we delve into her journey of turning the bizarre yet hilarious idioms and phrases of her mother tongue into viral TikTok videos, her experiences of growing up in the United States while straddling two different cultures, and what Hungarian identity means to her.

To start off, can you tell us how your TikTok/Instagram journey began, and how long you have been a creator? How did you discover your unique voice or niche on these platforms?

I’ve been a creator since about late 2020, and it has been a crazy journey! I started off just posting funny anecdotes from my life, but it wasn’t long before I shared my Hungarian background and captured a Hungarian audience. I don’t think I ever realised how interesting my Hungarian speaking skills were to native Hungarians. I grew up in California where most of my classmates spoke a different language at home, so it was completely normal to me to be bilingual and experience a different culture at home than in school. Once I spoke in Hungarian on a video, Hungarians were enthralled with my accent and asked me to continue. I now predominantly post videos in Hungarian on my TikTok with English subtitles. I love that my platform has helped me keep in touch with my Hungarian community and simultaneously promote language learning.

How did the idea of creating these hilarious Hungarian TikTok videos come about, and what was your breakthrough viral content? 

Thank you for thinking they’re hilarious! My breakthrough viral content was a “tell me” trend where I asked viewers to share moments where they caught others speaking about them in another language. I then proceeded to tell a story about how some Hungarians were behind me and my friends in a cafe, saying that we were a group of “stupid American girls.” I proceeded to place everyone’s order in Hungarian in front of them and they stopped chatting pretty quickly after that. In terms of creating content, I think I see a lot of my life experiences through two lenses and that duality helps me see quirky things about the Hungarian language that maybe Hungarians sometimes don’t see. For example, I’ll very often translate Hungarian phrases to English since they just capture the moment better than an English phrase, but, in doing this, I realise how funny it can sound to English speaking ears.

@liv_iathan I’m so ready for these stories #foryou #fyp ♬ original sound – LIVI

Could you share a bit of background story of your family’s move to the States? Where do they come from originally? Do you still have relatives living in Hungary? 

My mother is from Budapest, and my father was from California. My father was a friend of my moms cousin, who already lived in California at the time, and they met when my mom was visiting once. My mom’s parents moved out to the States a few years after my parents got married as I was on the way. My father passed away when I was a year old, so I spent the majority of my time with my maternal grandparents, who only spoke Hungarian. Hungarian was technically my first language as a result. We no longer have relatives in Hungary but we do have many family friends we still visit.

When did you first visit Hungary, and what were your first impressions? And despite your Hungarian roots, did you experience any culture shock?

Well, I was first of all shocked to hear Hungarian all around me! It was mind boggling, because, for me, this language only existed in a home environment up until that point. We would sometimes meet Hungarians out and about in grocery stores, but I had never in my life been able to walk into a store and ask a clerk, in Hungarian, where an item I was looking for was. It was so empowering to know that, thanks to knowing the language and growing up with the culture, even if I was thousands of miles from my physical home, I was still home. In terms of culture shock, I don’t think I experienced as much of it as the group I was traveling with did. My first trip to Hungary was with ReConnect Hungary, a Hungarian birthright trip for young adults, and most of the cohort had never even been exposed to Hungarian culture prior to the trip. I will say that paying to use the bathroom or paying for toilet paper surprised me, though.

Do you have any plans for another visit to Hungary in the near future?

I’m dying to visit! I haven’t been to Hungary since 2018, and now that the pandemic has ended, I’d really love to visit. I’m also very excited to take my fiancé, Torrey, as well. I think I’ve talked his ear off about it at this point but he’s ecstatic to go, so my chatter has paid off!

What do you believe are the most unique traits/strengths of Hungarians? Additionally, how do Americans and Hungarians differ in their approaches to life, mentality and way of thinking?

Hungarians have a multitude of unique strengths: their pride in their rich cultural heritage, their resilience throughout history, their hospitality towards guests and eagerness to share cultural food, their strong emphasis on maintaining interconnectedness with family and supporting one another, the list goes on. In terms of differences between Hungarians and Americans, I’m not even sure where to start. In terms of communication, Hungarians take their time forming friendships and may take awhile to trust someone before being open and honest with them, whereas Americans will make friends very quickly. Generally, towards strangers, Hungarians are quite reserved and don’t express themselves as much as Americans do outright. I generally lean towards a Hungarian approach in that regard and, as a result, have had to really train myself over the years to be more open when speaking with other Americans.

Another key difference is dining etiquette: Hungarians have a more formal dining etiquette, where dining together in any capacity is a social event, while Americans will have a more casual approach. American cuisine is also more diverse, incorporating food from many different cultures, while Hungarian cuisine predominantly reflects Central European influences. Again, the list goes on and anyone who has visited both Hungary and the US will quickly be able to rack up a list of cultural differences themselves as well. Personally, since I was raised with both cultures, I’ve found myself adopting a blend of both Hungarian and American values as I’ve grown up.

Hungary is a pocket-sized country thousands of miles away from the US. For those who have never heard of it, how would you describe the country and its people in brief? 

Hungary is a culturally rich and historically significant country with many amazing attractions such as thermal baths, beautiful architecture, delicious food, and a vibrant community. Hungarians are very hospitable people and love connecting with others. They take great pride in their country and show their affection through sharing their culture, cuisine, and language with foreigners.

What does your Hungarian identity mean to you?

My Hungarian identity is a huge part of who I am as a person. As I’ve gotten older, my life experiences have proven to me that my values are a unique blend of two cultures converging. My Hungarian background has given me a deep appreciation for history, age-old traditions, family recipes, and my friends and family. Simultaneously, my American background has helped me embrace individuality, diversity, and a different set of traditions and celebrations. My experiences remind me that identity isn’t static, it’s dynamic and constantly evolving as we move through life.

Can you think of something ‘typically Hungarian’ during your upbringing?

Doilies everywhere. Vegeta and paprika in nearly everything. A big plastic bag containing neatly tied smaller plastic bags. Otthonkák (grandma housecoats). The list goes on, and I’d have it no other way.

@liv_iathan Been a minute since one of these 😂 #inhungarywesay #hungary #phrases #languages #languagelearning #hungarian ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

We’ve noticed on your page that you have a passion for cooking and baking. What’s your go-to Hungarian dish? Are your American and foreign friends fond of Hungarian flavours? 

Oh, I love this question, thank you for noticing that! I know I don’t post about it very often, but I’ve been meaning to share more of my cooking and baking lately. My go-to dish is always csirke paprikás (chicken paprikash), it’s just incredibly easy, delicious, and hearty. My American and foreign friends all love Hungarian food, and they’re always excited to try anything I make. It has particularly been a lot of fun introducing Torrey to all the different dishes, and, so far, he loves everything he’s tried. I haven’t served him kocsonya (aspic) yet, though, so the jury is still out.

Can you imagine moving to Hungary one day, whether for a short or long term? And if not, why?

At this point, I don’t think I could live there long term, just because my career aspirations, my friends, and my family are all in California. I also do get homesick to return to the States after I’ve been away for a while. Although, if possible, I would love to spend a month every year or even my summers in Hungary in the future.

Looking ahead, what does the future hold for you, and what are you most excited about?

Well, I’ll be getting married this year, so I’m very excited for that! I’m also currently job hunting for a role in software engineering after having taught myself software skills for the past few years, so I am excited to begin working in tech. More generally, I’m excited to continue spending my time with Torrey, my mom, and my dog, and hopefully visiting Hungary later this year.