Kelly Koch is a Texan who has called Central Europe home for most of the past 10 years. Her most recent position as the Managing Director of FirstMed Centers a private, outpatient health clinic has allowed her to combine her desire to return to general management with her love of living in Budapest.
She first arrived in Hungary in 2000 with the international housing charity, Habitat for Humanity International, where she worked both in program development and finance management for the Europe & Central Asia regional office based here in Budapest. Prior to her arrival to Hungary, she lived in Poland where she managed a start-up training facility.
In her free time, she enjoys cooking (TexMex is the house specialty), spending time with friends over a good meal with wine, and then working off those meals at the gym. She also spends a fair amount of time in Prague visiting her brother and his family.
Interview:
1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived in Hungary in April 2000 after accepting a position with Habitat for Humanitys Europe & Central Asias regional office which is based here in Budapest.
2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
I began my expatriate experience at a young age when my family relocated to Saudi Arabia in the late 70s for 4 years. I them lived off and on in Germany during my college and graduate school years. Most recently I lived in Poland for 3 years prior to moving to Budapest.
3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
When I first arrived it was surprising how much I felt at home despite not understanding a single spoken or written word of Hungarian.
4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend--what must they absolutely see and do?
Coffee/drinks on basilica square, walk along the Danube at night with all the lights, castle hill, opera house if theres tickets, wine tasting.
5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Its a toss up between Csirke Paprikás and Borjú Pörkõlt.
6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Coke lite and salsa.
7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Ive always liked the sound of Renben & Pontosan.
8. What do you miss the most from home?
Besides family and friends??? I would have to say College football.
9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I believe Id enjoy going to culinary school, but I am not sure that id make a good chef.
10. Whats a job you would definitely never want?
Thats easy politician!!
11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Akumal, Mexico
12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Good timing. My travel buddy and I just started planning this past weekend weve narrowed the choices to the following three: Brazil during carnival, Manchu Pichu in Peru, or a windjammer barefoot cruise.
13 What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
I was an avid soccer player all throughout my school years; however the more interesting (and embarassing) answer is that my favorite band was similar to many other girls in the 80s Duran Duran!!!
14. What cant you resist?
Gooey tex-mex dishes like you find at hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Texas.
15. Red wine or white?
Red in the fall and winter, white in the spring and summer!
16. Book or movie?
These days Id have to say movie. I havent found much time to read in the last years and I am such a slow reader.
17. Morning person or night person?
Morning.
18. Dog person or cat person?
Neither but would love to one day have a dog.
19. Buda side or Pest side?
Definitely Pest!!