Today we celebrate the most important national holiday in Hungary, the outbreak of the 1848 revolution against the Habsburg Empire. There are festivities held everywhere right now, but I am so annoyed by the way things go here* that I refuse to participate in anything Hungarian. If you are interested in the history of this day, you can read my post on it from two years ago.
I took these photos yesterday, after getting pissed off both by my previous workplace, the Medical University of Budapest and by the Chamber of Hungarian Health Care Professionals. My problem is that I lived in Western Europe for the last 10 years. And I expect logic in official administration. I tend to forget that this is Hungary, where logic has simply no tradition.
* well, actually by how they don’t go**
** I had some major frustrations caused by Hungarian bureaucracy lately***
*** what lately! Every f*cking day there is a new, totally pointless frustration just to make life a little less bearable than it already is; and by every day I mean every. single. day. I’m about to lose my sanity, because life here is really that ridiculous.
P.S.: I did not intend to leave my flat today, because the weather is terrible and I’m in no patriotic mood, but I had to pick up my mother at the bus station. So I kept myself entertained on the underground by guessing my fellow passengers’ political sentiments and calculating the results of the April elections, using this scheme I just invented (I was born to be an independent political analyst):
- Elderly female, wears tricolour cockade – Deeply religious (Catholic). Loves “our Viktor”; if she gets the opportunity, she even tries to kiss his hand. Votes for Fidesz.
- Young male, wears tricolour cockade – Has superiority complex. Visits archery clubs and manages his private correspondence using ancient Hungarian runes. Thinks that it’s his responsibility to clear the country of Roma and Jewish people. Votes for Jobbik, obviously.
- Young female, wears tricolour cockade – Deeply religious (Catholic). Believes that the women’s main (only) mission in life is childbearing. Marries Archery Boy right after college. By the age of thirty has already six children. Never goes to work again. Votes for Jobbik.
- Elderly male, doesn’t wear tricolour cockade – a relict of the former Socialist regime. Had the time of his life during the Kádár era as a socialist youth leader. Still believes in social equality and the equal distribution of wealth. Votes for MSZP.
- Young male, doesn’t wear tricolour cockade – liberal atheist/gay/socially conscious, practising Jew. Is disgusted by the present state of Hungarian politics. Worries about Jobbik and is naïve enough to believe that he still has a chance. Votes for LMP.
In my independent opinion, Fidesz will win the April elections and will form a coalition with Jobbik. Hungary will declare itself as a politically independent kingdom, that will still accept (demand) financial help from the EU, but is superior to other countries of the world. Women will lose their right to vote and have to pay “childless tax” if they are still single (and childless) at the age of thirty. Gay people will be publicly prosecuted. Children have to practise archery at school. Books will only be printed using runes and Hungarians have to learn to read from the right to the left. Falcons and mangalica pigs will be the only pets allowed. All men will be obliged to wear moustaches and/or beards (this will make us a land full of outdated hipsters).
Don’t say I haven’t warned you.
my world of melancholly 