The Hungarian people’s The Hungarian people’s characterscharacters

A characteristic Hungarian A characteristic Hungarian feature is their initial reserve and feature is their initial reserve and

private character.private character.

Do not try to mention all of your Do not try to mention all of your family members as a way to family members as a way to

introduce yourself. Hungarian introduce yourself. Hungarian people bring fewer private people bring fewer private

matters to the workplace than matters to the workplace than Americans do, and you will rarely Americans do, and you will rarely

see family pictures on their see family pictures on their desks.desks.

The Hungarian people’s charactersThe Hungarian people’s characters

Hungarian reluctance toward Hungarian reluctance toward sharing private matters in the sharing private matters in the

workplace make them look distant workplace make them look distant to American eyes. But don't forget to American eyes. But don't forget that what seems "obvious" from that what seems "obvious" from

an American perspective isn't an American perspective isn't necessarily the same from a necessarily the same from a

Hungarian point of view. As you Hungarian point of view. As you develop your relationship with develop your relationship with

your Hungarian colleague, you will your Hungarian colleague, you will have access to more information have access to more information about his or her private domain. about his or her private domain. Consider this privilege a mark of Consider this privilege a mark of

goodwill and be ready to goodwill and be ready to reciprocate with similar reciprocate with similar

information. You'll know you've information. You'll know you've been admitted to a Hungarian been admitted to a Hungarian

person's inner circle when you are person's inner circle when you are invited to share a family dinner at invited to share a family dinner at

your colleague's home. If you your colleague's home. If you don't succeed, never take it don't succeed, never take it

personally as many Hungarians personally as many Hungarians treat everyone the same way and treat everyone the same way and might never develop a friendship might never develop a friendship with their local colleagues, even with their local colleagues, even

after five or ten years.after five or ten years.

The marketsThe markets

As with most markets outside northwestern Europe, North America and As with most markets outside northwestern Europe, North America and Australia, it is vital to have established Australia, it is vital to have established relationshipsrelationships in Hungary. Also, "who you in Hungary. Also, "who you know" counts for a great deal. Critical business issues need to be discussed know" counts for a great deal. Critical business issues need to be discussed

person-to-person in Hungary; frequent visits and phone calls are required. As in person-to-person in Hungary; frequent visits and phone calls are required. As in most Asian markets, you can also expect lengthy, rapport-building preliminary most Asian markets, you can also expect lengthy, rapport-building preliminary small talk before getting down to business. To a certain extent, if a Hungarian small talk before getting down to business. To a certain extent, if a Hungarian

person doesn't like you, he or she is not likely to do business with you. A person doesn't like you, he or she is not likely to do business with you. A Hungarian person is more likely to think, "Hungarian person is more likely to think, "I may lose a good deal but I can’t do I may lose a good deal but I can’t do

business with that questionable characterbusiness with that questionable character." You may encounter an initial barrier ." You may encounter an initial barrier of distrust until you prove that you are a valuable and reliable person to deal of distrust until you prove that you are a valuable and reliable person to deal with. In a culture that emphasizes relationship and affect, people tend not to with. In a culture that emphasizes relationship and affect, people tend not to

involve themselves very rapidly in any endeavor, be it personal or professional. involve themselves very rapidly in any endeavor, be it personal or professional. There is always a "round of observation" that, for Americans, may seem to last There is always a "round of observation" that, for Americans, may seem to last forever. But this is an important stage for Hungarian people who need to figure forever. But this is an important stage for Hungarian people who need to figure out who you are before going any farther. In addition, the task or achievement out who you are before going any farther. In addition, the task or achievement

orientation of Americans makes it difficult for them to spend so much time orientation of Americans makes it difficult for them to spend so much time building rapport with their Hungarian counterparts, especially when the business building rapport with their Hungarian counterparts, especially when the business

could be taken care of in minutes in the US!could be taken care of in minutes in the US!

BusinessBusiness

Yet in a culture that values affiliation Yet in a culture that values affiliation and bonds with others, it is and bonds with others, it is important to go through these long important to go through these long "discovery stages." They are needed "discovery stages." They are needed to build a strong foundation on which to build a strong foundation on which a durable relationship can be built - a a durable relationship can be built - a relationship that will enable people relationship that will enable people to do business or work together and to do business or work together and achieve a mutually satisfying goal. achieve a mutually satisfying goal. For American business people For American business people visiting Hungary, it is important to visiting Hungary, it is important to be pleasant, efficient and well be pleasant, efficient and well prepared, but this alone might not prepared, but this alone might not obtain the results they would in the obtain the results they would in the US. Once you realize the importance US. Once you realize the importance of relationships and the workings of of relationships and the workings of the system in Hungary, you will the system in Hungary, you will certainly agree that the time you certainly agree that the time you spend building these initial bonds is spend building these initial bonds is well spent. You will be putting in the well spent. You will be putting in the time at some point; it's far better to time at some point; it's far better to do it at the beginning than doing do it at the beginning than doing damage control later on. In any case, damage control later on. In any case, don't suggest exchanging business don't suggest exchanging business cards right away - establish rapport cards right away - establish rapport first.first.

GreetingsGreetings

Traditionally, the Hungarian shows respect and deference in such things as Traditionally, the Hungarian shows respect and deference in such things as greetings and use of last names. Therefore, do not expect to use first greetings and use of last names. Therefore, do not expect to use first names right from the beginning. When your business colleague or customer names right from the beginning. When your business colleague or customer knows you well, he or she may invite you to simply call them by their first knows you well, he or she may invite you to simply call them by their first name, Zsuzsa or Péter. He would say: "name, Zsuzsa or Péter. He would say: "Tegeződjünk!Tegeződjünk!" (which means: let’s " (which means: let’s switch from the formal to the informal language in our relationship from switch from the formal to the informal language in our relationship from now on). Use of first names and informal addressing ("now on). Use of first names and informal addressing ("tete") may come quite ") may come quite rapidly if dealing with a person of similar age and status. Nicknames are rapidly if dealing with a person of similar age and status. Nicknames are used among good friends and family. It is advisable to learn the correct used among good friends and family. It is advisable to learn the correct pronunciation and use it, as that is quite complimentary to a Hungarian (or pronunciation and use it, as that is quite complimentary to a Hungarian (or anyone for that matter).anyone for that matter).

ScienceScience

The stereotype is that Hungarians are The stereotype is that Hungarians are intensely proud of the intensely proud of the accomplishments of their fellow accomplishments of their fellow citizens, and also that once a citizens, and also that once a Hungarian, always is a Hungarian. I am Hungarian, always is a Hungarian. I am amused to actually encounter this. I amused to actually encounter this. I have cold. „Did you know that a have cold. „Did you know that a Hungarian discovered vitamin C?” I Hungarian discovered vitamin C?” I study computer science. „Did you know study computer science. „Did you know that a Hungarian invented the that a Hungarian invented the computer?” (Actually, I had no idea computer?” (Actually, I had no idea that von Neumann wasn’t German. that von Neumann wasn’t German. Valid point) I’m cooking. „Did you know Valid point) I’m cooking. „Did you know that a Hungarian invented the match?” that a Hungarian invented the match?” I’m American. „Did you know that I’m American. „Did you know that there’s a statue of a Hungarian in your there’s a statue of a Hungarian in your white house?” But when I say that I white house?” But when I say that I study math here because Hungarian study math here because Hungarian mathematicians are famous, I mathematicians are famous, I encounter a blank stare. Erdos? Who’s encounter a blank stare. Erdos? Who’s that? Bollobas? No idea. The stock that? Bollobas? No idea. The stock answer about the most famous answer about the most famous Hungarian mathematicians is Hungarian mathematicians is apparently Bolyai, who I’d honestly apparently Bolyai, who I’d honestly never heard of.’ never heard of.’

http://www.barbwired.com/nadiaweb/http://www.barbwired.com/nadiaweb/nawl/archives/000365.htmlnawl/archives/000365.html

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food

food

Breakfast is served between 8:00 and 9:00, Breakfast is served between 8:00 and 9:00, lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 and the evening meal lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 and the evening meal

around 7:00 or 8:00. "Power breakfasts" are not around 7:00 or 8:00. "Power breakfasts" are not common. Hotels, coffee houses and restaurants common. Hotels, coffee houses and restaurants are open to host business breakfasts, lunches, are open to host business breakfasts, lunches,

reception dinners and formal dinners in reception dinners and formal dinners in Budapest. Our most popular national dishes are Budapest. Our most popular national dishes are Újházichicken soup, goulad, fish soup, chicken Újházichicken soup, goulad, fish soup, chicken paprika with sour cream, noodles with cottage paprika with sour cream, noodles with cottage cheese, sour cream and bacon buffed cabbage cheese, sour cream and bacon buffed cabbage

etc. etc. At the table, Hungarians wish everyone "good At the table, Hungarians wish everyone "good

appetite" (appetite" (Jó étvágyat!Jó étvágyat!) before the meal begins.) before the meal begins.

Meals

The Hungarian FoodThe Hungarian Food

We cut our meat with the fork in the left We cut our meat with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right, and hand and the knife in the right, and usually do not switch the fork after usually do not switch the fork after dropping the knife. Hungarians tend to dropping the knife. Hungarians tend to eat a little more comfortably at home, eat a little more comfortably at home, and in a formal way in restaurants and and in a formal way in restaurants and formal meals. Hungarian table manners formal meals. Hungarian table manners are sometimes tough for Americans but are sometimes tough for Americans but don't worry too much about using utensil don't worry too much about using utensil "continental" style. Neatness and "continental" style. Neatness and elegance are more important than which elegance are more important than which hand holds the knife. Paper napkins are hand holds the knife. Paper napkins are kept next to the plate, and fabric kept next to the plate, and fabric napkins are kept on the lap.napkins are kept on the lap.

At a business lunch or dinner in a At a business lunch or dinner in a restaurant, the person who "invites" the restaurant, the person who "invites" the others, pays the bill. It is polite to do this others, pays the bill. It is polite to do this as discreetly as possible - you might as discreetly as possible - you might excuse yourself for a moment to slip excuse yourself for a moment to slip your credit card to the waiter and sign your credit card to the waiter and sign the receipt so that nothing suggesting the receipt so that nothing suggesting payment is ever brought to the table. payment is ever brought to the table.

StereotypeStereotype

Stereotypical Hungarian items include paprika, Stereotypical Hungarian items include paprika, that is, dried chili srung together. This paprika that is, dried chili srung together. This paprika comes from certain local town (e.g. Szeged and comes from certain local town (e.g. Szeged and Kalocsa) but definitely are not representative of Kalocsa) but definitely are not representative of what the majority of the population eats at what the majority of the population eats at home. It does look pretty though. Still, if you home. It does look pretty though. Still, if you pay attention to the people bying these pay attention to the people bying these ornamental strings of paprika, you will see that ornamental strings of paprika, you will see that they are exlusively foreigners wih cameras and they are exlusively foreigners wih cameras and guidebooks. And an air-conditioned bus waiting guidebooks. And an air-conditioned bus waiting for them outside the market hall. for them outside the market hall.

StereotypeStereotype

Although this seems like a negative view of the tourist industryin Although this seems like a negative view of the tourist industryin general, the fact is that this false image of the country and its general, the fact is that this false image of the country and its culture is the same thing that attracts visitors in the first place. culture is the same thing that attracts visitors in the first place. Without the romanticed and exoticed images of the Eastern Without the romanticed and exoticed images of the Eastern Block, including spies, prisons, gloomy streets,, empress Sisi, etc. Block, including spies, prisons, gloomy streets,, empress Sisi, etc. Hungary would have a lot less appeal. From this point of view, we Hungary would have a lot less appeal. From this point of view, we should not only be grateful for the existence of such stereotypes should not only be grateful for the existence of such stereotypes but shouldactively promote them. (This, of course, makes one but shouldactively promote them. (This, of course, makes one realize that the existing ones were also created as a result of realize that the existing ones were also created as a result of some marketing campaign.)some marketing campaign.)

StereotypeStereotype

Naturally, the same Naturally, the same phenomenon exists in other phenomenon exists in other countries with other countries with other cultures. You have to make cultures. You have to make culture romantically culture romantically attractive in order to make attractive in order to make people interested in it. Look people interested in it. Look at the public sympathy with at the public sympathy with Tibet, where there are Tibet, where there are hundreds, if not thousands, hundreds, if not thousands, of tribes and ethnicities in of tribes and ethnicities in Siberia nobody knows of, Siberia nobody knows of, not to speak of donatin not to speak of donatin money for saving their money for saving their culture. In short, you have culture. In short, you have to present things the right to present things the right way in order to sell them.way in order to sell them.

http://www.logio.com/http://www.logio.com/notes/tourists in notes/tourists in Hungary.htmlHungary.html

GOODBYEGOODBYE

Thank you very much for your attention.Thank you very much for your attention.

We hope you could get closer to We hope you could get closer to Hungarian people and some of your Hungarian people and some of your stereotipical ideas have been pushed stereotipical ideas have been pushed away.away.

Created by Krisztina Székely and Created by Krisztina Székely and Veronika Kosovics 10 CVeronika Kosovics 10 C