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Question #3: How is the financial crisis affecting your country? Does your host family discuss these financial times with you? Have you noticed any changes in the pricing of what you buy? Is finance constantly in the news there? Let us know how the financial crisis is being reflected in other countries.
Written by: Lauren Bocskocsky
The worldwide financial crisis is a problem that is evident in almost all aspects of our lives in the United States. The effects of the struggling economy are present in the constant media coverage, limited job opportunities and the overall worry of the general public. Being abroad is a mini escape from reality, much like a four month vacation away from our “real lives.”
Even though we are sheltered as foreigners in Hungary, it is hard to miss the evident signs of the economic hardship being encountered worldwide. Since I don’t know the language, I can’t read the newspapers, hear the locals’ conversation or watch the news, all of my comments are purely observations.
Even as early as the trip from the airport to the hostel, I was able to see the poor living conditions many Hungarians have become accustom to, along with the majority of Eastern Europe, which has been largely unstable since the fall of Communism. The poverty is also apparent in the metro stations and the beggars outside on the corners.
This is not to say there aren’t wealthy Hungarians because there are streets that only have high-end stores and people can always be seen walking around wearing the newest trends. There was one situation when I was waiting in the metro to get to class that stands out in my mind as an example of the large differences between economic classes.
Sitting at the bottom of the elevator was a woman with no teeth and filthy clothes holding a young girl in her lap. She was begging for change while everyone was rushing off to work and occasionally the young girl would chime in. A few minutes after I walked past them a girl about the same age as the homeless girl came down the elevator holding her mother’s hand. She was dressed in a fuzzy pink hat and a warm coat, something the other girl probably could only dream for. The young girl seemed to be the only one to notice the homeless, while everyone continued to hustle past not stopping their conversation or even gave them a second look. The young girl then turned to her mom and went over to the homeless girl to give some change, but couldn’t stop starring at the girl. Although I do not know the situation of either family, this is a prime example of the large economic gaps found within Hungary.
There are also other clues that Hungary has been hit by the crisis that is also affecting the United States. Since arriving in Budapest, the majority of the time it has been raining and cloudy, so the unusually poor weather conditions probably played a large part in my first impressions of the city, but I can’t help to feel that there is sadness that has enveloped it. Budapest is a wonderful city that has beautiful architecture and museums, but there is an overall feeling of gloom that is hard to escape.
I wonder if this has anything to do with the struggling economy and the declining strength of their currency, the forint. I certainty feel the effect of this when I exchange my money and I keep getting more for every dollar. Although I am not complaining about how far my dollar goes, I do wonder what this means for the future of the Hungarian economy.
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