Sándor Bartha was wondering whether his story would fit in with Xpatloops profile. In fact, its stories like his, with which we try to illustrate the colourful palette of not only expatriates living in Hungary but also Hungarians having lived abroad for longer periods.
Sándor was living the life of an ordinary high school student in Budapest when his life was turned upside down by his familys sudden decision to defect to Switzerland in 1972. He successfully adjusted to his new home and received masters degrees in Engineering and Business Science on the ETH Zürich in 1982. That year was significant in more ways, Sándor received his Swiss citizenship and he also founded the Hungarian Folk Music Ensemble Pendely, which was touring in several Western European countries over more than a decade.
Although Sándor has lived in Switzerland for over 30 years, his ties to Hungary and Hungarian culture have remained strong. He was co-founder and first president of the Association of Hungarians in Berne and it was also his interest in Hungarian history and culture that led him to the reconstruction of the beautiful renaissance Hédervár Castle situated in the region of Gyõr, where today the romantic four star hotel Hédervár is run amid 23 acres of old wooded parkland./
www.hedervar.hu/
Sándor Bartha is also the founder and managing director of BaSys Group, which today has companies in four countries and is active in the distribution of professional audio and multimedia equipment and high level consumer electronics.
Sándor moved back to Hungary in 2003 and today lives in Gyõr. He has two children, Sándor and Noémi, and is the proud grandfather of a little girl, named Csenge, who is by now 2 weeks old.
Interview
1.Where did you grow up?
I was born in Budapest. Until the age of 15 I grew up in the second district of Budapest. Then in 1972 my parents left Hungary for Switzerland suddenly and unprepared due to private, but also political reasons.
2.What Hungarian traditions bring back fond memories of your childhood?
As my parents, like most Budapest citizens, had close relatives on the countryside, we spent most weekends visiting our uncles and aunts, cousins and other relatives. The other weekends we spent in Ráckeve, where my parents had a weekend house directly at the border of the Danube. This is the place, where I spent the most exciting and beautiful time of my childhood.
3.What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
I would miss the Hungarian countryside, the wonderful places on the northern side of the Balaton. I would miss the friendly farmers in the neighbour vineyards. But I would also miss being able to speak in Hungarian to anybody around me.
4.Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
This depends on, whether they are Hungarian or foreigners. For foreign visitors usually I recommend to go up to the Mátyás templom in the evening and enjoy the breathtaking view at the Danube and the city. It is really three dimensional! If they have more time I suggest them to go in a good táncház or to a spa. They will never forget it.
5.What is your favourite Hungarian food?
This is a difficult question, as I like almost all of them. A real good gulyásleves can be as delicious as a fine paprikás csirke. But I adore palacsinta or madártej as well.
6.What is never missing from your kitchen?
Paprika, onion, sour cherry, kolbász, poppy seeds
7What is your favourite place in Hungary?
The Káli basin, the northern side of the Balaton, Hédervár and Budapest, but only on the weekend. During the week the traffic is awful.
8.What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I would like to take care of my vineyard or just make or collect music.
9.Whats a job you would definitely never want?
Customs officer, policeman, miner or worker in a foundry.
10.Where did you spend your last vacation?
I was skiing for some days in the Tatras in Zuberec.
11.Where do you hope to spend your next one?
I would like to go skiing once more for a weekend to Austria or Switzerland and then for some days to Szék in Transylvania.
12.What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
My favourite bands were Illés, Omega, The Led Zeppelin and Santana, later the Sebõ együttes. One of my favourite movies was The Easy Rider.
13.What cant you resist?
Swiss chocolate and other sweet stuff.
14.Red wine or white?
I prefer good dry red wine from Villány or Burgogne.
15.Kolbász or szalámi?
Rather kolbász, but I also like szalámi.
16.Book or movie?
Movie needs less time, but some good books are not available as movies. It is
today something special to take the time and read a book.
17.Morning person or night person?
Neither really and both of them.
18.Dog person or cat person?
Definitely dog!
19.Buda side or Pest side?
I grew up on the Buda side and went to school there. So I prefer Buda.
20.What would you say is your personal motto?
In order to know where you are going, you have to know where you come from. With other words: our future is based on our past and our traditions.