Take a moment to introduce yourself!

I see some have written that they grew up in Los Angeles in a Hungarian community. I was born in Los Angeles – downtown at The Hospital of the Good Samaritan. My parents and I lived in LA for a few years until we moved the Valley in San Fernando. We did end up in Burbank and I remember my mother would speak in Hungarian to the butcher at the meat market there, and there was a restaurant called Little Vienna in North Hollywood area and we would go and my grandpa would cry when the violinist came to play. He missed the Old Country as did my grandmother.
So good to reminisce!

Paul,
Yes, my Dad was James Soltesz, a Hungarian Lawyer from Delray. I went to Holy Cross grade school.
I got a ticket to Holy Cross Hungarian Church Sept 14 dinner as we celebrate the Church 100 years and Parishes 120. Are you going? Was your family connected to that Church?

Katherine Hickey, Hungarian father, Szaszi Lajos, from Ocsva-Apáti, Szatmár megye, mother born in America but her parents were born in Erdelyi, Száraszbereg and Szatmár Németi, Szabó Antal, Bakk Mária. Nagyapa was a Református lelkész at the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Los Angeles for 40 years after emigrating to America in 1921 due to the Treaty of Trianon. Interesting history of father’s family: Nagymama, born in 1888, lived to age 104 with no diseases, came to America in early 1900s to work in silk and cigar factories in New Jersey. Nagyapa, from same village pestered her to marry him, which she finally did, had 2 children in New Jersey and returned to Hungary in 1913. Father was born, Nagyapa didn’t want to be in WWI, so he left family in Ocsva-Apáti and returned to California. In America, Nagyapa changed name from Szaszi to Saltzer, wrote letters to Mrs. Saltzer, but didn’t receive any replies–finally reunited in 1928 when family all came to America. Nagymama was a gutsy lady–had the best garden during the war and after, refused to cook for the occupation troops, stood her ground when soldiers ripped off her apron with a bayonent, but wouldn’t let them search her house with young men trying to get out of Hungary.Lots of wonderful stories and memories of growing up in the rich Hungarian culture of Los Angeles, Hungarian church, dinners, programs, dance troupes, music, etc. As 3rd generation American-Hungarian, I speak fairly fluent Hungarian, my children and grandchildren speak some Hungarian. I am a musician and educator, directing the Kodály Center at the University of Redlands, CA, a specialist in the teaching of Kodály music education philosophy and pedagogy; taught by Katinka Scipiádes Dániel, friend and student of Zoltán Kodály and Jenő Ádám, who adapted the original Hungarian model to American folk music and schools. I am very proud of my 100% Hungarian-blooded heritage.

Hi, my name is David (Dave) Aiken. I live in Portland, Oregon, but grew up in Northern NY. My maternal grandparents were from Tur Terebes in Érdely (Transylvania). Kiss János arrived in 1909, and Mandics Roza arrived in 1912. They married in 1914 and settled in Massena, NY. My mother said I had relatives in Ontario, Canada, Ohio, Watertown, Van Nuys, CA, and NY City.I met the Van Nuys cousin when I was 4 but otherwise no contact. Would love to find North American relatives and especially any relatives in Hungary. I am in part way through the Simplified Naturalization process and I studied with Renata Forgacs (a speaker from Wednesday). I am always looking to learn more about Hungary, the culture and language, and my ancestors. I have several Hungarian cookbooks from my mother and a few restaurants and enjoy making Hungarian dishes!

My name is Renata Forgacs and I live in Veresegyház, Hungary. Our company, Hungarian Language Solutions was established in 2009 in London and since 2010 we’ve been focusing on preparing learners for their Simplified Naturalization interviews. As a British-Hungarian dual citizen I truly believe that it’s your birth right to take up your Hungarian citizenship!

Thank you Bethany. I’m happy to share my insights and answer questions you have about the process. My email address: [email protected]

Hello, Rhonda. Congrats on your recent citizenship! I would love to hear about some of your experience with the process and also what you plan to do with it. It feels very daunting and sometimes I wonder if I will ever get good enough speaking the language to talk with the consulate.