Last year, over 300 students from around Hungary participated (there are three divisions--junior, intermediate and senior-- and two categories, students who attend International schools and students who attend Hungarian schools). The
American Embassy awards prize money for first, second and third places.

Last year, two winners from the Hungarian category won a 1.5 million forint scholarship to study in the United States of America. Support for this scholarship is made available by The American Embassy and YFU (Youth For Understanding).

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived in Hungary in 1999, the eve of the Sydney Olympics. At that time, I was living in Dunaújváros and had the pleasure (a comfortable euphemism) of training with and learning from Olympic Triathlete Nóra Edöcsény and her husband Hobart Peter. I was taking a leave-of-absence from teaching and decided it would be a great challenge and an adventure to spend my days and evenings with two world-class athletes. Looking back, I am still not sure what was the greater challenge: the miles and miles of biking, swimming and running, or the hours and hours of learning the Hungarian language. And since these were adventures, as is the habit of such things, I learned a lot about who I am and, maybe more importantly, who I am not ( mostly notably, that aspiration for Sydney Olympic glory would lead me in front of the television set, rather than being on it, and, as the astute reader can tell from the Hungarian in this article, I am far from being fluent in Hungarian).

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
No, Hungary is my first home away from home.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The traditions, the history, the difficult language, and the beautiful landscapes. Hungary is rich in legends, lore and mythic heroes and villains, alike. I am well versed in the annals of Hunor és Magyar, Benedek Elek Mesek, and Gogos Gunar Gedeon (I know this last work fits neither legend nor lore, but it was my first "successful" read in Hungarian).

As for history, the house I was living in when I first moved to Budapest is older the country of Canada! It was a real eye-opener to realize that history actually existed before Wayne Gretzky (hockey player) and Bobby Orr (hockey Player).

As for landscape. From the rolling hills, to majestic plains, to dense forests, to the various
cityscapes, I still get amazed at the cornucopia of sites Hungary has to offer (Aggtelek, really!!).

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
First, they must go for a hike in the hills surrounding Buda: either Kopasz mountain in Nagykovácsi, the Pillis/Dobogó k?, or walk the paths of Normafa. Then, of course, the baths (Rudas on a Saturday evening). And then, of course, the canon of Hungarian sights: Heroes Square, Váci utca, and the Castle District (I own plenty of copies of Bob Dent's "Blue Guide Hungary"). But then my visitor must read something from Móricz Zsigmond (The Tragedy), something from Attila József (The Seventh), and hear the story of Raoul Wallenberg.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Too many to name just one: in the dessert family, it's a draw between Gesztenye püré and Mákos Rétes. And for a meal, Chicken Paprikás

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Túró Rudi, a lifetime supply.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Puszi... What a nice way to say goodbye.

8. What do you miss the most from home?
Aside from family and friends, the simpleness of having a conversation about Tim Horton's coffee, the 72 Super Series, local politics, and discussing Margaret Atwood books.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Writer

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Can't think of one. I think that I would try anything at least once.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Primosten, Croatia... a dream come true

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Paris, France

13 What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Billy Idol, Star Wars, and soccer

14. What can't you resist?
The wishes of my Hungarian girlfriend

15. Red wine or white?
White

16. Book or movie?
Book

17. Morning person or night person?
Morning

18. Dog person or cat person?
Dog... I own two misfit shepherds, Rocky and Csoda

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Can't have one without the other: I live in Buda but luxuriate in Pest.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
"Do or do not, there is no try" Yoda