Xpat Interview: George Offord, A Life Abroad

  • 10 May 2019 6:44 AM
Xpat Interview: George Offord, A Life Abroad
My name is George Offord, I'm a USA citizen, born and bred in the Bronx. I grew up in the flourishing hippie era in New York. I left the Bronx, New York, and the United States in 1973 to see the world.

. I drifted around for
> 14~15 years while based in Scandinavia. There I picked up both Swedish and
> Danish language skills. I did my University in Sweden and began working for
> Ericsson. I've been with them for nearly 20 years now; the last 9 years
> with them have been here in the Budapest office. During the time since I
> left the USA I've managed to have 5 children and marry/divorce 3 wives. The
> last 8 years I've been happily married to my 4th wife; my fantastic
> Hungarian wife. I enjoy living here, the people are complex and the nature
> is beautiful!

 

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here? => August 2009
>
> 2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere? => Yes, Sweden and Denmark
> 3. What surprised you most about Hungary? => the poverty
> 4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see
> and do? => Anything, there are lots of things to do
> 5. What is your favourite Hungarian food? => Don't know the names. I eat
> everything; fish, meat, vegetarian ...
> 6. What is never missing from your refrigerator? => eggs
> 7.What is your favourite Hungarian word? => Szia
> 8. What do you miss most from home? => money
> 9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue? => gardening
> 10. What's a job you would definitely never want? => waiter
> 11. Where did you spend your last vacation? => Australia
> 12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday? => Carribean (boat tour)
> 13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist? => fattening food
> 14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen? =>
> band/Beatles, hobby/Bowling, film/?
> 15. Red wine or white? => Palinka
> 16. Book or movie? => movie
> 17. Morning person or night person? => both
> 18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about? => political
> corruption
> 19. Buda or Pest side? => both
> 20. What would you say is your personal motto? You can make up something
> original or choose a famous quote or a song lyric if you’d prefer. => Keep
> living until you die!

 

  • How does this interview make you feel?