Posted by nemo on December 4, 2005, 10:14 am in life

Many expatriates have chosen to live in Hungary. Some say that there are at least 40.000 English speaker expats in Hungary. The reason that drives them to this Central-European country varies. But certainly they are looking for something different.

Why they have chosen Hungary?

Like other countries in this part of Europe, Hungary suffered under Soviet rule, but it's easy to see what sets Hungary apart from either the Czech and Slovak Republics or Poland in terms of expatriate life. Hungary practiced a so-called "Goulash Communism", basically meaning that when it seemed apparent that the West was winning, it set up industry and banking to deal with the Western World. This head start on these countries in many ways ended up being beneficial.In Hungary there is a multitude of European cultural influence. From Turkish baths to the eclectic, turn-of-the-century architecture, Hungary definitely has a sharply defined character of its own. Its restaurants feature cuisine with Asian, Turkish, Serbian, Austrian and French influences. And its people, with their humor and warmth, embody the charm of the whole country.Expats can find the appealing European lifestyle here too. You just walk home from the office at 2 in the morning, with little fear of a violent crime. You can take a trip to the Hungarian mountains on the excellent bus network and hike all weekend. The cultural life is also very prolific. And living well in general isn't expensive.

The expat groups here are not cliquey at all, and are actually easy to join whether you are just passing through or whether you are a new long-term resident. The Hungarian language has the reputation of being very difficult to learn and since almost no expat speaks the local language, they are bound to get together, share experiences and help each other out.Expats came to Hungary to do business, to work or to study or, many of them, just returning to their roots. They are known to be more entrepreneurial then the Hungarians, usually they have their own company or have well positioned jobs.So, if you want to feel a little closer to Western culture than you might in any of the Slavic countries (like the Czech and Slovak Republics or Poland), Hungary is probably the better choice. And the Hungarian people possess more international awareness than do people from the other countries in the region, particularly in and around Budapest and the northwestern portion of the country.

Tags: budapest | expats | hungary

Comments:

Speaking of the expat groups that are easily accessable, I am a South African born Hungarian how has returned to my roots, along with my wife and children. We all only speak english as this is our mother tongue, but are also trying to learn Hungarian. Where can we find groups in the Szombathely area, (North west region)as this will make for socialising a little easier and also introduce us into the local society. Please reply with any help to petlee7@hotmail.com

peter szobacsi on March 3, 2006, 9:37 am

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