Vivien Szatmári

I’m glad to announce that my interviewee for today is the 33 year-old Sean Toth from New York. He lived in Hungary for three years and he worked as a native English teacher at Avasi Secondary School. I wanted to know more about his experiences, so I asked him about that.

 

Why did you decide to come to Hungary?

I chose to come to Hungary because it was a personal dream of mine to explore my ancestral roots. I thought it would be exciting and also interesting to compare the life in Hungary to my life back home.

What was your first impression of Hungary when you arrived?

When I first arrived the weather was very cold, winter time. There was a traffic jam on the road to Budapest. It felt very raw and hectic for the first few hours. But, once we reached Miskolc everything smoothened out.

What are your best and worst moments linked with Hungary?

My best memory during my time in Hungary was cycling through the countryside villages on my bike. I enjoyed meeting the country people and staying a night or two in guesthouses. These people were very hospitable and charming. The worst experience would probably be the more often than not unfriendly supermarket workers at Spar and many other public places. The Hungarians certainly wear their emotions on their sleeves.

What are the differences between European and American teenagers in your opinion?

American teenagers are more talkative in class than Hungarian teenagers. But this is more due to the teaching format in Hungary. In America there is a more open dialogue between teacher and student. The Hungarians are certainly more well-behaved and respectful when compared to their American teen counterparts.

What have you been doing since you left this country?

Since leaving Hungary I worked in Manhattan for two years as a teacher and now am teaching English in Japan. But of course I miss Magyarorszag from time to time!