I am Jeff Kovacs. My grandmother (paternal) was born in Hungary in the 1890’s (present day northern Serbia) and immigrated to the US just before WWI. My father’s paternal grandfather and his wife (paternal great grandmother) were both born in northeast Hungary (presently Kosice, Slovakia area) and immigrated to the US in the 1880’s. They all met and settled in Connecticut. I had always been interested in my Hungarian heritage having learned respect for the culture and history from my father, but unfortunately, with a busy work life I did not have time to pursue this in depth until I retired. So, now I have time, although my Hungarian-side relatives are no longer with me except in spirit. I learned to speak basic Hungarian, and I have completed the requirements for Hungarian citizenship through the simplified naturalization process. The only thing I am currently waiting is an appointment with the Hungarian consulate to take my oath. After that, I will consider living part-time in Hungary. Looking forward to the Expo to delve further into this fascinating culture!
