I have three children, five grandchildren, all in the USA.

I am married, but not to the mother of my children. I am a clinical psychologist in private practice, and have been teaching in several universities. I am also ancient.


1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I came back more than 10 years ago. Why? Idealistically, I thought that with my training in the social sciences and by being a person used to bridging gaps I may be of help, however infinitesimally, in the post-communist era. Soon enough I found out this was a pipe dream, but stayed on as I found my place. However, I am exasperated with the political situation in Hungary and in the whole region.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Another difficult question. I was a political refugee and a student in Switzerland for a couple of years, and then an immigrant first in Australia, and then in the USA.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
What surprised me most about Hungary was how vast the changes were over the years. Now, anything goes for the quick buck.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Do a bus tour to find out where they want to return to. If it's a long week-end in summer, include a boat trip to the Danube Bend and Szentendre.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Poppyseed pie.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Kefir.

7.What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Oh Istenem -:)

8. What do you miss most from home?
Peanut butter.

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

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

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
On the Nile.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
On the East Coast of the USA

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
The Thief of Baghdad.

14. What can't you resist?
Chocolate and (censored).

15. Red wine or white?
Red.

16. Book or movie?
Depends entirely on the mood, the weather, etc. I find that these days most of my reading is on the internet.

17. Morning person or night person?
As soon as I open my eyes, I am wide awake, yet I don't get up early, and stay up late.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
The human race's slow, or not-so-slow collective ecological suicide based on what game theorists call the problem of the village common (although the total yield declines, for a while it pays for an individual to have more of his cows to graze there).

19. Buda or Pest side?
Pest.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Play win-win games if you can, avoid lose-lose games at all cost, and, if it absolutely has to be a zero-sum win-lose game, win it.