Life in Budapest is
going swimmingly as ever despite the sweltering temperatures. Last
weekend, I went to the House of Terror. Though it sounds like a haunted
mansion, it was instead, a museum. Fortunately, I knew that before going.
It is a memorial to the victims of the fascist and communist regimes of
Hungary. I had heard excellent things about the museum from peers and
guidebooks, so my expectations were high. The museum was sometimes
touching, sad, and scary, but my overall impression was quite negative.
Throughout the House of Terror, there was strangely dim lighting, harsh colors
of red and black, and horror movie style music. It was as though the designers
and planners of the museum were manipulating the visitors. The events which
occurred were tragic and alarming on their own without creating a contrived
setting. This was particularly ironic in the hall of propaganda. Despite the
historical significance and fascinating aspects of the House of Terror, I left
with a bad taste in my mouth.
The next day, I walked
around Heroes' Square and the city park. Early in the week, my shower
broke, which certainly brought some excitement into my life. Luckily a plumber--
with whom I could not communicate-- came the next day and fixed it. Speaking of bathrooms
(worst transition ever, I know), let us move onto our second edition of:
Things Amy thinks are
bizarre about Hungary:
8) Perfumed toilet
paper and only perfumed toilet paper. I understand that
some people must prefer it, but there should be an unscented option, no?
9) Popped collars on
normal people. I know that there are some people in the US who pop their
collars, but it is almost entirely constrained to a specific age and social
group. In Budapest, men of all ages and types seem to find popping their
collars as if it were a reasonable fashion.
10) Speaking of
fashion, women seem to always be wearing tights. Sometimes with patterns,
sometimes beige, but just always. With skirts, shorts, capris, sandals, flats...
always.
11) Also, smoking. all
the time. everywhere. I know it's a European thing, but why? In Budapest,
someone smoking is the norm. The outliers are us crazy tobacco-free
people. I thought that it wouldn't be as much of a problem because you aren't
allowed to smoke inside, but that just means people are smoking all along the
sidewalk.
12) Because I included
a laundry-themed point last entry, it only seems fair that I do so again.
Why doesn't Europe believe in dryers? I understand that they use a
lot of energy and will eventually ruin your clothes. Maybe that's it. But
after line drying my laundry for a month-and-a-half , my clothes are noticeably baggier.
How do you deal with this? Do you just buy clothes more often? Resign yourself
to baggier clothes? (Note: Although most of the questions I ask on this blog
are rhetorical, I legitimately want an answer to the baggy clothes question.)
13) Most people who
have ever been to Budapest will join me in the next one. The escalators are
insanely long. When you step onto one, you
cannot see the other end. Getting on an escalator when you don't know
precisely where it leads is a pretty strange feeling.
14) On the topic of public transportation: people talk on their phones in the metro, on the trams, and on the buses. I find it odd enough that they get service in the oldest metro line in mainland Europe. (Note: You know a metro line is old when it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.) The fact, though, that people have extended conversations whilst surrounded by commuting strangers is even more surprising.
My Fourth of July in Budapest was a lot of fun. While at work, I listened
to uber-Patriotic GO AMERICA music, and even shared some with my colleagues. I
also made a few the USA beat the UK jokes at the expense of my British boss. I
have been going to zumba on Wednesday nights with a Hungarian friend Sophia,
and tonight was themed. I didn't quite understand what was happening when
they told us that it was going to be a "slumber party." I was told to
bring pajamas, so I obediently complied. It was only when I arrived that
I realized we were doing zumba in our pajamas. Looking
back, it seems obvious that that was the case, but it surprised me at the time.
It was fun and bizarre, but something was missing from our workout
experience. Luckily, after the second song, they filled the hole. I know
some of you may not have participated in a zumba pajama party, but let me tell
you, they are incomplete without dixie cups of sangria being served after every
few songs. Happy Independence Day everybody!
On Saturday, I participated in the Budapest Pride parade. It was inspiring to see gay Hungarians marching together. Unfortunately, there was a great deal of opposition. Neo-Nazis dressed in all black with combat boots were shouting fiery things that I'm glad I didn't understand. At one point, they broke through the barrier and dozens of police officers forced them back. As I watched their angry faces and prejudiced shouts, I was reminded of their homophobic counterparts in the U.S. I wonder if the cruel American anti-gay advocates know that in Europe, those bigoted epithets they yell are repeated by Neo-Nazis. I wonder how the revelation that they were sharing beliefs with such a violent group would affect their views. I wonder if it would. I hope it would.
