I was born in Gyergyóditró, the most populous village in Székelyföld, but we soon moved to Csíkszereda with my parents when I was 3 years old. In my early school days I have accumulated quite a number of teacher’s notes much to the chagrin of my parents. Despite of the fact that school required mandatory home reading assignments,  playing football was my number one activity, which  I pursued  with great fervor along with my friends weather permitting or not. I married young which resulted in divorce and having a little girl to support. While raising my daughter, providence brought me a lovely wife whose life was marred by a family tragedy. Thus we have united two half families into one, given that, now I also have a son. The four of us have been living together in Cleveland in our new country since 2001.

At first we were concentrating on mere survival and the integration into a new life in a new country, but it was and still is very important for us to preserve our Hungarian heritage, and ethnicity. I always wanted to give to community. Therefore,  I undertook the editorship and co-management  of Bocskai Radio. Hopefully, through this medium we can significantly contribute to the survival of our Hungarian ethnicity respectively heritage through language retention, and by understanding our literature, our past, and our great history. That is the reason why we endeavor to provide every Sunday substantive, interesting programs as long as there is a demand for such.  However, I am extremely glad to observe that the demand exists in deed.

Truth above all!

Reklám

The first 30 years of my life I spent in Székely-land, in Europe’s Lothlórien.  During these 30 years I experienced good, great and dreadful moments too.  I was a skinny little girl; I was never hungry and did not want to eat. The only way I was able to be fed when each bite of food was delivered by a spoon disguised as a choo-choo train, mostly through my dear father’s patience. My precious mother just kept saying, “Your kid should become a bad eater just like you!” Well, he did! To feed my dear son, Csongor, became a chore equivalent to a workout. Since then, the situation has much improved though. Moreover, fate has endowed me some 17 year ago with a sweet little girl, Kincső, who like her father, Lorand, also loves her belly. Back then, in many cases, having not yet finished their lunch, they already asked about what’s for dinner? Therefore, I had to cook, and I was most pleased to cook for them for their enjoyment; certainly, mine as well! It’s very heart-warming to watch one’s cooking being consumed with such enjoyment.

My grandparents were peasant farmers – straightforward, Székely people – I think my love for the usual rustic dishes comes from their life-style. I spent every summer vacation “serving” with them all the way, so to speak. There were a lot of scrambled eggs for breakfast, cheese polenta strudel, tarragon potato soup, stews, cabbage and noodles, and funnel cake. I love bean soup with smoked hocks; I love smoked bacon, onions, with thick-crusted crispy bread.

My parents were civil administrators, now retired and living in my hometown, in Ditró, where my one and only sister Gabriella lives with her daughter, Boroka.

It’s been close to 12 years now that life has brought us to Cleveland. It was not easy in the beginning, but we adapted to the American lifestyle pretty well. We have learned to live our life here, and we found our place in the U.S. as well. I love my job! I direct one of CTL’s department, a biotech company. I love the people here, the Cleveland Hungarian community – I like people in general. Maybe this is why the “Bocskai Radio Boys” could get me to “cook on air”. I think, throug this Hungarian Bocskai Radio, full-blooded Hungarian words will enter the vernacular of Cleveland Hungarians, as will the Hungarian recipes spice up their life.

There was never a time when things were naught! After all, even evil contains something good, one just needs to find it, and make it prosper!

PS – Cats are my favorite animals. They are just drop gorgeous! 🙂

Reklám

I am a hardened child of Székelyföld forged by the anvil of time and the hammer of fate. While in high school, after handing in some sloppy work, my teacher taught me a poem by Attila József “Be not flighty”.  Ever since, the lines of his verse have left an indelible mark on my memory.

” … It’s worth to do the work accurately, neatly, as do the stars of heaven”

After graduating from István Báthory high school I have earned a degree at the Technical University of Cluj economics-mechanical engineering. After college I started my own business enterprises in Transylvania and in Hungary.  In addition, I did some part time community work as well.  I served as chief editor of a weekly newspaper published by a Baptist congregation at Cluj. After the revolution in Transylvania, I was the first to organize a large-scale, multi-day youth assembly, with more than a thousand young people attending.

I came to the U.S. in 2005 with my wife to get to know the country of opportunities. Here, too, I started my own business in a short period of time. An accident at work led me back to the school benches, where I learned to become a web programmer. Through all this I became more and more integrated into the life of the local Hungarian community.

I have been a technical producer since 2012 at Bocskai Radio, where in March of 2013 I also undertook senior administrative functions. I set up and operate the Bocskai Radio’s website, which is currently the most visited Hungarian website in Cleveland. I also send out the weekly internet newsletter to the listeners covering the latest news and information.

Reklám

I arrived in the United States in January of 1957, after the suppression of the 1956 Hungarian revolution when I was 12 years old. Having settled in Cleveland with my parents, I continued my school years here all the way through my graduation at Cleveland State University where, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

I also continued my education in Hungarian subjects such as history and literature in a school ran by Mr. and Mrs. Szabadkai .  Also in 1957, I enrolled in the Hungarian Scouts which was an official member of the Boy Scouts of America.  Later, during my high school years I became active in the work of the Hungarian Liberation Committee’s Youth Faction, which produced  several plays by well-known playwrights  for the entertainment of the Cleveland Hungarian community. I have also performed at other Hungarian events in those years, mostly reciting poems or acting as master of ceremonies.

After graduating from CSU, I soon got married and later, when our two sons reached the proper age, we enrolled them in the Hungarian School and the Scouts.  My wife and I took an active role in those organizations ourselves.  Monika taught at the Hungarian School, while I became an active supporter of the scouting program by serving as chairman of the support organization for the troop.

I also served as treasurer of the American Hungarian Communion of Friends for many years and was actively involved in organizing its annual Lake Hope Conference.  Simultaneously, I also served on the Cleveland Hungarian Development Panel, first as a trustee and then as its presidents for a number of years. It is only recently that I resigned from the Panel, just prior to going on vacation in May of 2013.

It has been two years into my retirement to the date, when I was presented with the opportunity to get on board at Bocskai Radio, since the previous editors have moved to Hungary. I perceived this as a great opportunity realizing the huge potential of this medium, and the wonderful role it could play in bringing the Cleveland Hungarians together through the air waves  as well as via the Internet to foster Hungarian identity and values as well as cultivate our culture ​​and ethnic traditions.

Reklám