The world, our surroundings and our attitudes towards it all are what we make of it. I chose to live in Budapest because of the inherent beauty and rich history, then after being here for a while realized that the city is riddled with opportunity.

My background comes from early successes in business development and production management. I have started companies from the ground up, developed them to fruition and then sold them off for profit. I have directed large multinational operations with various agendas. All of these invaluable experiences have helped me to understand more what I want in life and what I can live without.

Today I look towards adding real value to society and not just trudge along towards a goal to show better numbers. Budapest is an excellent playground for fresh creative spirit and keeps me close to paprikas csirke the way nagyi used to make it (or so I’m told).

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
Just over two years ago. I had been living and working around Europe for a few years and had become fed up with corporate lifestyle and chasing someone else’s agenda. Within 5 days of quitting my job and realizing I didn’t have to live in a cold, damp, dreary Guinness-drenched city any longer, I received a phone call from a Hungarian friend who asked if I would take over her flat in Budapest since she was moving to Africa for a job opportunity. It took me less than 4 hours to decide that I would take the leap. I bought a plane ticket and scheduled a fedex pickup and was here within another 5 days.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
I have lived in Maastricht, London and Dublin

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
Probably how difficult the language was. I have always gone to places and picked up enough phrases to get by within a few days. Yeah no, not gonna happen here. Hungarian to other languages is like Judo to thumbwrestling.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Call the airline and change their ticket, a weekend is not enough time in Budapest.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Homemade lecsó with egg and tarhonya, get some.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
A variety of authentic Mexican hot sauces. It is a habit I’ve had since I was a child and I have no intention of kicking it.

7.What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Ashatom. Only used by me as far as I know but that’s just how I roll, ashatod?

8. What do you miss most from home?
Friends fam and real sushi.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Is this a trick question? If I wanted to do something other than what I do, I would.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
A politician or a jockstrap tester.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Colorado river, USA.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
I will be in Masirah or Socotra or both very soon.

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
Being in or near the water, wakeboarding, boating, snorkeling, diving, swimming or just kickin it. It is something that really does drive me a bit mad – people have mentioned that getting in the way of my plans to be near the water is dangerous - and so I am working on it, especially because swimming in the Danube is not recommended for regular recreation.

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
As a teen I was a bit of a misfit and had some not so culturally accepted behavior, so let’s just not talk about that.

15. Red wine or white?
Red for sure. White is alright, especially when it is followed up by a full bodied Hungarian red with a bit of spice.

16. Book or movie?
Depends on the mood. I read a lot but veer away from fiction, I prefer my fiction either in my head or in a movie.

17. Morning person or night person?
Morning person, of course.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Acceptance. For me, it is not about learning about everyone else’s point of view but rather understanding that they do have one that could be different from yours. Understanding processes is more important than understanding beliefs.

19. Buda or Pest side?
I like each for their unique features, both are beautiful. I live in Pest but do transfer the water feature and loiter around Buda on occasion. Some of the best Korean food is over there after all, and some of the best tacos are over here, so I let my mouth dictate my whereabouts I guess.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right. :-)