[Steven Bondor]

Rhonda and Heidi,
I went through the process too, but with the Consulate in Chicago. I need my parent birth certificate, marriage certificate, my birth certificate and marriage license, we filed the applications and now awaiting for the paperwork and approval. To me it was a long process.

[Steven Bondor]

Michelle,
There are various avenues of learning Hungarian at your rate of learning. See Veronica’s reply I sent her.

[Steven Bondor]

Veroniva, I don’t know where you live, but one avenue of learning Hungarian at any level and pace can be found on the internet, namely YouTube. There are several videos that teach and help you learn Hungarian. In Cleveland, Ohio you could listen to Hungarian spoken on the radio, they are also on Facebook, YouTube and their own website. If you are interested, let me know.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Steven Bondor.

[Steven Bondor]

The video was good, it showed something unique in our Hungarian culture. On YouTube I watched something similar to the HunArchers, it is the Ösők napja in Hungary showcasing the Hungarian ancestors with connection to the Huns, Avars, and other tribes related. I hope to see more videos or programs like this, it would be interesting to teach this archery to the young generation along with language and other cultural traditions.

[Steven Bondor]

Anna, your presentation of Hungarian Folk dancing was fabulous and well done. Do you know László Tihányi of Hungarian Scout Folk Esemble, who teaches the dances from Kalotaszeg region. We are a vibrant Hungarian community in Cleveland, Ohio. They will perform this Labor Day weekend on Sunday in Param, Ohio which is a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. I came across Tancház and folk dancing and music in my 20’s and 30’s. I always loved the rich music and dance from these Hungarian regions. I always cherish my Hungarian heritage and roots, especially the language and culture. I hope to keep in touch with fellow Hungarian cultural people. Isten áldja!

[Steven Bondor]

Emese, that was a good presentation. I live in Cleveland, Ohio where we have many Hungarians and organizations, like the Hungarian Scouts, even two good radio programs, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. I have heard much about these minorities, but many people of Hungarian heritage and ancestry don’t know much about them, for one it’s not covered in the news media, but with social media and the internet there is much information about them. There are some YouTube videos by Hungarians from Slovakia, Romania, and some from Serbia. Ukraine is a challenge. But thank you for the information about these minorities.

[Steven Bondor]

Your presentation was very informative and interesting. It’s very unfortunate that many of Hungarian ancestry and heritage really are unaware that these parts of Transcarpathia are now in Ukraine. They don’t know and understand that this region was part of Hungary. Best wishes on your work with these children.

[Steven Bondor]

Lajos,
My guess is that you were born and raised in Hungary? Did you speak Hungarian at home with your parents? What city do you live in? In Cleveland, Ohio we have a large Hungarian community, we even have a Hungarian radio program(the Bocskai rádio óra, 3-5ig), we have the Hungarian Scouts, we have several Hungarian Churches which use Hungarian Language in their services, including Sermons. But there is also the Internet, through YouTube, I found three native speakers from Hungarian teaching the language. They are on Patreon, small fee for the year, but worth it. Included in their podcast they provide Zoom sessions in Hungarian/Magyar nyelv. It also depends on your time and discipline in learning. I guess I am at A1/A2 to B2, but I don’t know for sure. It takes time to translate and/or interpret. This I did in Budapest for my two brothers that didn’t know the language, my older brother was very impressed. I am always learning, listening via audio is a great way of learning. Remember, Hungarians thought and understanding the world is much different than ours. They see the world from an Eastern European perspective. I don’t memorize dialogue. I was taught by a great Hungarian language instructor to slow down in my speech, to take my time collecting my thoughts in Hungarian.

Péter,
Does Debrecen School have any online classes, like Zoom to learn Hungarian. The Internet is great venue and doorway to reach students?

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Steven Bondor.

[Steven Bondor]

Lilla, I found your presentation very informative and interesting. I believe that in 1989 I attended the Debrecen Summer School(Debreceni Nyári Egyetem). I really enjoyed the Summer School learning Hungarian language and taking Hungarian Language based courses. However, I am now retired, in my mid 60’s, does your program have courses for my age group? I have considered Language courses in Hungary, in Debrecen we had Musical history in Hungary, even language development since the founding of Hungary. All of which was fascinating and interesting.

[Steven Bondor]

Ildikó, your presentation was great, how were you able to live in, I presume, Budapest for five years? Did you work somewhere, go to school? Did you travel around the country? Did you have a hard time in Budapest? Did the Hungarian government let you stay for five years, from 1993-1998? How did the Communist system or the Hungarian view impact you? Is your Hungarian language better or should I say near native. Some Americans that ended up living in Hungary mainly spoke English, some attempts were taken to learn the language. There many ways to keep up with Hungarian language, culture and other subjects. I am not sure that I have any relatives in Hungary, possibly on my father’s side, but I am unaware of them, and I don’t know if they know of me. I would like to connect with you via email, mine is [email protected] I really found your journey fascinating, thank you for sharing.

[Steven Bondor]

I also grew up on Buckeye Rd. In Cleveland, Ohio. I attended St. Margaret’s in the 1960’s, then we had move out of the neighborhood by the early 1970’s. We lived closer to Kinsman Park, our house was next door to a bakery shop. We basically spoke and heard Hungarian at home. The elementary school by the nuns only taught us in English, there was no Hungarian language taught or spoken. I don’t remember if any Hungarian was used by the priests at St. Margaret’s church.

[Steven Bondor]

Amy, my brothers and I just recently in early May of this year 2025 just visited Budapest, Hungary for two weeks. Since I speak and read the language, I was the interpreter and translator for them. Later I applied for Hungarian Citizenship in Chicago and I am waiting on a response from the government of Hungary. The process was long, but I had my father’s birth certificate and their marriage license to prove that I have Hungarian ancestry. I did study at Debrecen Summer School back in the late 1980’s and later took an official Hungarian language class in Bloomington, Indiana around 1989, if my memory still serves me well.

[Steven Bondor]

Hello, Sorry about this late introduction. My name is Steven Bondor. I was born and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. I am a first generation of Hungarian parents. My parents both born in Hungary migrated to the U.S. in 1954. They both settled in Cleveland separately and met each other in Cleveland. I did grow up speaking Hungarian and self taught to read and write Hungarian. I was involved with the Hungarian community in Cleveland, Ohio. After University I went the Indiana University to student formal Hungarian and had an opportunity to study Hungarian language and culture at the University of Debrecen in the summer language program. I still maintain my Hungarian heritage and language. I went to Budapest in 2025 with my older brother and my younger brother, we had a great time, as a matter of fact I was the main interpreter and translator for my brother, both which don’t really speak or have difficulties with the language. I am presently retired, but always learning. My main interest besides Hungarian language and culture is Biblical and Theological Studies including some Apologetics. I do listen to Hungarian biblical teachings and sermons. I hope to go back to visit Hungary, however, I am awaiting for news regarding my dual citizenship that I applied for this early summer. This is my second Hungarian expo and looking forward to this 2025 Hungarian expo.

[Author]

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