1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

In the last century, 24 years ago. A job brought me here. I was in Hungary a lot of times before especially near Lake Balaton since my parents came from there and I also have some relatives over there. Now my job and family binds me to Budapest since I am married and also have children.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere or if you could choose where would you go now?

Since I was born in Austria I´m somehow an expat here, and of course I would choose Hungary.

3. When you first came to live in Hungary what surprised you the most?

This is  interesting, since I have both mentalities inside me. I lived in Austria for more than 30 years, where I was educated and got also my university degrees. What I was most surprized was that the business mentality was more liberal than in Austrian or German.  The shops were open even after 6 pm and at the weekends, and that there are real malls where you can by everything.

It was very interesting for me that life does not stop at 11 pm, so you could go party even after midnight or you could go shopping also. In those days (1989 – 1990) when market was liberated, the possibilities were here to explore, to make things the other way round and the Hungarians did it very ‘taff’, very extremely and it ended up in a 24/7 action, it was amazing. And I loved this revolutionary approach.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?

Trip on the Danube, drinking some nice wine, have nice  food, do the sightseeing tour by boat because Budapest is a pearl on the Danube it is said and therefore is very special. Worth seeing the history on both sides of the city  from a boat from Margaret Island to Rákóczi Bridge.  

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?

Tatár beefsteak.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

Erős Pista and Dr Éher. Now read it together. :-)

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?

Dugóhúzó. (corkscrew)

8. What do you miss most from home?

My youth.

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

I have no idea. There are things I want to do, and I am doing the things I like doing. Used to be a tour guide, worked in a disco, was a bar keeper, worked as a cycling expert. I just do not do things to satisfy me, to bring in money, I  want to do things that make me feel good.

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

Accountant.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?

Salmon fishing in Norway.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?

Somewhere where there is a children’s service so I can spend some time with my wife.

13. Apart from temptation what can't you resist?

My children, when they come to hug me.
Apart of that, it depends on my mood if I want something I get it. If I want an ice-cream I get one I am not reactive but active.  I am not influenced by a situation, but my mood. (I stopped smoking so I can resist anything)

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

Band: Hungária, James Brown, and the Rolling Stones.
Film: The Breakfast Club and a German black and white one with Heinz Rühmann: Feuerzangenbowle.
Hobby: Cycling  - I organised bike tours from Vienna to Budapest, from Passau to Vienna and from Prague to Vienna. Used to ride around 8.000 kms per year by bike.

15. Red or white wine?

White in the summer, in the winter red.

16. Book or movie?

Depends on the topic and mood. If I want to have a short adventure feeling than I would take a movie. If I want to dive in I would read a book.

17. Morning person or night person?

I was a night person before the kids.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Environment, to save the planet. To separate the waste, to teach my children to keep the environment clean  because there is a nice saying ''We do not own it, we got it borrowed."  

19. Buda or Pest side?

Buda.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?

I studied economics and I am in this business so I believe that, if you want to use something You don´t have to buy it. My saying is that If you want to drink a glass of milk, You should not buy the whole cow, you just take the glass of milk. If you want to have mobility, you can also buy the mobility without buying the car.