Judy Allen

My husband was offered a job in Hungary and we are wonderring if we should take it. It would just be for two years but we are wondering if it would be worth it to move. What will the schools be like? We have two picky children so will there be places for us to eat without too many complaints? What is village life like? If you have any other suggestions please let us know. <BR>Thank you.

Nicole

Hi Judy, <BR> <BR>I saw your message and had to respond - DO IT!! My husband and I moved to Prague for 2 years in 1996. This was quite a big ordeal for me considering I had only left the US on a weekend jaunt to Canada before! <BR> <BR>While we didn't have children, we know people who did. Their children went to "expatriate" schools and got to meet children of all different backgrounds (German, Australian, Chinese, etc.). It is an additional education that they won't get in the US. One that I remember was the "International School in Prague" and I think that they had a school in Budapest as well, (probably the "Internation School in Budapest"). For the people we knew with kids, the companies paid for the children's tuition. I think that is generally fairly standard in an "expatriate" compensation package. Plus, there is absolutely no "gun" violence to worry about there! <BR> <BR>Food - I wouldn't worry so much about the restaurants. In Budapest, they have Wendy's, McDonalds, KFC, etc. there. They also have Italian, Mexican, and Chinese restaurants there. In Prague, there was also Australian and Middle Eastern restaurants. In Budapest, you will be able to find peanut butter, jelly, Coke, Oreo cookies, and all the other basics - your children definitely WON'T starve. If you are living in another little town, your selection of American (assuming you are from the US here) foods won't be as plentiful, but I know you will be able to get Coke and probably some other American-type goods and the McDonalds and KFCs seem to be everywhere in Central Europe. <BR> <BR>If you have other questions or would like some tips about transition and what to expect, I would be glad to help. Feel free to email me! <BR> <BR>Nicole

Nicole

I forgot to add that we really liked Hungarian food when we were there on a weekend trip. I personally liked it much better than Czech food! <BR> <BR>Also, we found the Hungarian people are extremely friendly. <BR> <BR>Nicole

dan woodlief

Where in Hungary are you considering living?

lindi

Hello Judy! <BR> <BR>I'm a 19yr old Hungarian now living in Canada. I lived in Hu. until 96, so I can help with any school questions you might have <BR>In Hungary we have grade school (normally) from grades 1-8, and then there are 3 choices: <BR>-"szakkepzo"-gets you ready for a manual job <BR>-"szakkozep"-the same, but harder, you still have to take exams in chemistry, physics etc, and can go to higher institutions from there if you chose(these are called vocational schools I think) <BR>-and "gimnazium"-purely university prepatatory. <BR>These usually last 4 years and are numbered grades: I., II., III., IV. <BR>I went to a gimnazium in Szolnok called "Varga Katalin Gimnazium", and they had four types of classes: general, German-Math enriched, English-Math enriched and English immersion. The students in English immersion had their Biology, Math, Physics, Chemistry, English and English conversation classes completely in English and they had some teachers from the US as well. In Hungary you can't chose what classes you want to take, you have to take all 12(or so) in each year. We generally had 5 to 8, 45 minute classes each day. I liked that you are with the same class all day, and it comes to be a very close-knit class over 4 years. In all gimnaziums and even szakkozep-s, there is a minimum requirement of one foreign language, usually English or German, where I went we had to take 2 or more foreign languages, from English, German, French, Japanese, Latin and Russian, and I can't remember what else. There are a couple of schools with English immersion, so I don't think it would be a big problem. <BR>School generally is very hard in Hungary, it is (or was) the second in the world (to Japan) when comparing 'educatedness' in kids. My worst subject in Hungary was math, and my first year in Canada, I got a 98% in math. No language barrier, and they were learning stuff I learnt like 3 years ago. <BR>Also, teachers like to test students orally. In nearly every class, a couple of students are called upon out of the blue, and have to answer questions for a mark. It's really not a big deal once you get used to it. <BR>And lastly, most students speak at least a couple of words in English, and they really, really like foreigners, especially 'cool' Americans. <BR>Ok, I don't want to be too long or boring, so if you have questions, just post them, and I will try to answer them. <BR>p.s. for some food ideas check out one of my responses on "Do you have questions about Hungary?", here on the forum.

Lanny Morry

Hungary is an absolute treasure! And if you are lucky enough to be sent to Budapest, it is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. The opportunities for cultural expansion for your children with the galleries, theatre, the ballet, the state opera are unbelievable. Food of all kinds is plentiful (including American fast food) and as other posters have indicated, Hungarian food is delicious. Your kids will love the place and remember it for the rest of their lives. <BR> <BR>And a final point no one has raised. Hungary is very, very inexpensive. In fact, it is one of the most inexpensive countries in the western world. To be paid in American dollars to live in Hungary is to have the best of all worlds because your dollars will probably be worth double what they are back at home in terms of buying power. When was the last time you had a full dinner (I don't mean hamburgers -- I mean bread, a soup entre, and an entire huge trout and vegetables in my case, plus dessert afterwards so big I couldn't eat it all) for four adults with a bottle of white wine and pay the equivalent of $30 for it? <BR> <BR>In terms of schools, I understand there are English schools for foreign students, but whatever, the quality of education is excellent. <BR> <BR>Run, don't walk, to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

becky

When I was 13, my family decided not to move to Europe when given the chance. I am now 25, and I am terribly sorry that we did not go. Although it seems risky now, I encourage your family to make the move. You'll be very happy later on.

Alice

YES DO IT!!!! You children will learn That they are to be seen and not heard!!!!!! Kids respect their elders there big time!!!!! you rearly see them in resturants. Mcdonalds only I saw them. And I never once heard a child back talk an adult, let alone their parents. I am taking my 14 year old son there next June. Life there is so different, but wonderful. They truly love children, but make sure they know that they are to respect others everywhere. No back talking to the teachers either. Children are children there. They play and make up games all the time. They are not Oiving a lot of big gift for Christmas. Or anytime for that matter. They learn to read at age 7 or 2nd grade so they play the first couple of years in school. They don't let them grow up to fast and are shown a lot of love by all.