Since then, she’s become increasingly attached to her homeland, and has spent nearly every summer of her life gallivanting around Budapest and soaking up the famed Balaton sunshine.

She graduated from the University of New Mexico in May, promptly packed up her life, and is now happily settled in Budapest. Anna considers herself an expat in spirit, having spent 16 happy years in the United States, particularly in her beloved New Mexico.  


1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived at the end of August, and my recurring homesickness, my large family, and my boyfriend brought me here.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
I spent a year in Paris, the original chic expat destination. I think Budapest is the new Paris.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
Hungary is nothing but surprise after surprise – for example, my family’s old, slightly dilapidated neighborhood in the 8th has become a jazz club, vintage boutique, urban café-infused paradise!

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Accompany me on a tour of all the city’s tiny, dirty, foul, smoky, noisy cellar kocsmás; consume anything I point at in a bakery; sit at the top of the tunnel and watch the night traffic on Clark Adam tér.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Turó rudi! And my grandmother’s sóska.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Turó rudi! Avocados, kefir, salsa, bananas

7.What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Huncut

8. What do you miss most from home?
New Mexican food in any form. And friendly, polite store attendants.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I’m right on the brink of having to choose a career from the many I would love to pursue: journalist, writer, social worker, diplomat

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Corporate lawyer

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Snowboarding in Colorado

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
Bulgaria, Bordeaux, or Thailand

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
I loved the Dave Matthews Band, David Bowie, and Queen (still do)

14. What can't you resist?
Chocolate or pastries, among others

15. Red wine or white?
White

16. Book or movie?
Both!

17. Morning person or night person?
Night, unless I have jetlag

18. Dog person or cat person?
One should never have to pick between one’s children.

19. Buda or Pest side?
Pest, for its character

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Optimism ensures happiness!