Xpat Interview: Katherine Warner
- 30 Jan 2006 11:00 AM
Let’s see…I have lived here about 8 of the last 10 years, taking time in the middle to finish my 2 master’s degrees in Spain and the US. I worked the first 2 years here, studied the third, left and then came back in late 1999, as my husband was in Sarajevo.
We sort of made this our base, since he works out of country, and it is closer for him to come here when he has break. I worked in real estate, advertising, and catering since returning to Hungary, and though I have not been working for over a year now, I am very much up for another job, though I know they are hard to come by for foreigners now!
Using my Hungarian has always been fun since I have been here—though I am not perfect and I have to feel a little sorry for the taxi drivers since they can’t just boot me out of the car when they are getting sick of listening to me babble!
Interview
1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
August, 1995—I came to teach English in a szakközepískola in Kaposvár where originally, there were no other expats.
2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Only twice as a student, in Spain.
3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
Nothing, I had been here before…maybe that when I asked for ham at the store it came in a big chunk…chunk-o-ham…but that was in 1995 so things have changed a bit .
4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend--what must they absolutely see and do?
One of my favorite sights is the Baszilika…beautiful inside and out. For food, if you want Hungarian Fatál may be touristy but it is good and very filling, or for good Italian I go to Comme Chez Soi.
5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Paprikás csirke or (dare I say it…) fried cheese with tartar.
6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Cola-light, ásványvíz
7.What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Undorító…who cares if it means “disgusting” it is just fun to say and sort of reminds me of Doritos (which are not disgusting, by the way…)
8. What do you miss the most from home?
Space, my parents deck and backyard, too many unhealthy foods to mention, and supermarkets with massive varieties of salad dressings and crackers…
9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Becoming a stained glass artist (I have worked in the field in the past), teaching, design of some sort—possibly home furnishings or accessories with textiles.
10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Politician.
11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
When was it…my vacations depend on when my husband comes home from work (3 times a year), so I guess that would be November and we stayed here. Other than that, I went alone to Italy in July.
12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Depends on what my husband is up for—it looks like we will stay here, or not go very far.
13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
I used to be a metal head (Ozzy, Metallica, from Bon Jovi up), but movie-wise I loved (and still do) The Blues Brothers and Star Wars, and hobbies were reading but I also did tons of sports.
14. What can't you resist?
Certain foods (I am too embarrassed to mention them), any opportunity to travel just to go see new places, eating out whenever possible.
15. Red wine or white?
Neither, I don’t drink.
16. Book or movie?
Book by far.
17. Morning person or night person?
Neither really—I can get up early or stay up if I have to but I like to sleep more than either.
18. Dog person or cat person?
If I HAD to choose, then dog, but as I have a Great Dane and 3 rescued cats, I might cause an in-house riot.
19. Buda side or Pest side?
Pest—convenience, entertainment, food, what more could I ask for?
20. What would you say is your personal motto?
“No one is ever presented with a challenge that they cannot overcome.” I don’t know if that is really true or not, but I like to believe that it is.
Using my Hungarian has always been fun since I have been here—though I am not perfect and I have to feel a little sorry for the taxi drivers since they can’t just boot me out of the car when they are getting sick of listening to me babble!
Interview
1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
August, 1995—I came to teach English in a szakközepískola in Kaposvár where originally, there were no other expats.
2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Only twice as a student, in Spain.
3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
Nothing, I had been here before…maybe that when I asked for ham at the store it came in a big chunk…chunk-o-ham…but that was in 1995 so things have changed a bit .
4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend--what must they absolutely see and do?
One of my favorite sights is the Baszilika…beautiful inside and out. For food, if you want Hungarian Fatál may be touristy but it is good and very filling, or for good Italian I go to Comme Chez Soi.
5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Paprikás csirke or (dare I say it…) fried cheese with tartar.
6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Cola-light, ásványvíz
7.What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Undorító…who cares if it means “disgusting” it is just fun to say and sort of reminds me of Doritos (which are not disgusting, by the way…)
8. What do you miss the most from home?
Space, my parents deck and backyard, too many unhealthy foods to mention, and supermarkets with massive varieties of salad dressings and crackers…
9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Becoming a stained glass artist (I have worked in the field in the past), teaching, design of some sort—possibly home furnishings or accessories with textiles.
10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Politician.
11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
When was it…my vacations depend on when my husband comes home from work (3 times a year), so I guess that would be November and we stayed here. Other than that, I went alone to Italy in July.
12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Depends on what my husband is up for—it looks like we will stay here, or not go very far.
13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
I used to be a metal head (Ozzy, Metallica, from Bon Jovi up), but movie-wise I loved (and still do) The Blues Brothers and Star Wars, and hobbies were reading but I also did tons of sports.
14. What can't you resist?
Certain foods (I am too embarrassed to mention them), any opportunity to travel just to go see new places, eating out whenever possible.
15. Red wine or white?
Neither, I don’t drink.
16. Book or movie?
Book by far.
17. Morning person or night person?
Neither really—I can get up early or stay up if I have to but I like to sleep more than either.
18. Dog person or cat person?
If I HAD to choose, then dog, but as I have a Great Dane and 3 rescued cats, I might cause an in-house riot.
19. Buda side or Pest side?
Pest—convenience, entertainment, food, what more could I ask for?
20. What would you say is your personal motto?
“No one is ever presented with a challenge that they cannot overcome.” I don’t know if that is really true or not, but I like to believe that it is.