‘There was a circus nearby, and I got a job shoveling after the elephants…My mother was hardworking and resourceful. She always pushed me to go see things. We saw Rome, Pompeii, and the Vatican—we traveled all over Italy, which made time pass faster. Meanwhile, we waited every day for our names to appear on the list—to get a sponsor so we could leave the camp.’

‘Réka and I work together to achieve our goals. To me, one plus one equals three, not two. When we combine our skills, we create something greater—the best possible outcome we could achieve together.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let us present the story of Dr Arthur Wadgymar, who had a quite unbelievable life…

‘I believe that anyone who comes here values Hungarian identity, including young people present here, and we should appreciate that…The children’s program started because parents wanted to attend the lectures. That’s why it’s so important that it continues, and that’s why I committed to it for so long. But a person must also know when to stop.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. This part will be about a recidivist conman, George Robert Gabor, who has been deported from the country several times and even sentenced to prison.

‘While some of our American school friends spent Friday nights socializing, we preferred to dedicate our time to our Hungarian community. Later, my enthusiasm for scouting leadership only grew. I never felt burnt out because I truly loved every task. This was possible because I was surrounded by supportive people who shared my passion.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let us continue the story of Joseph Pulitzer, who published a series of exposés on dubious transactions surrounding the Panama Canal, for which the federal government sued him.

Bishop Péter Vay was on board the steamship Carpathia when the survivors of the Titanic were rescued.

‘The Votin family joined the Hungarian community, motivated by learning the Hungarian language and scouting experiences to be provided for their children. The school…was closely linked to the St. Stephen’s Church. The last Franciscan friar, Father Domonkos Csorba, strongly supported them—he kept tuition low and mediated conflicts between the English-speaking and Hungarian-speaking members.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this section, let us go on with the story of Joseph Pulitzer, whose newspaper played a leading role in stirring up readers in the run-up to the Spanish–American War.

‘Suddenly, a very pretty lady appeared in front of me…And she told me straight out: “On Wednesdays, you’re coming to our folk dance session. My brother will drive you back and forth.” I liked her confidence, and of course, I gladly went—after all, I loved dancing, and I had time for it.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let us continue the story of Joseph Pulitzer, who intervened just in time when the American public and the press were almost on the brink of war.

‘I walked into the Garfield Scout House and enthusiastically presented my plans—singing, reciting poetry, reading, and analyzing short stories and poems. I was surprised at how excited the second- and third-generation youth became…They were genuinely interested because they had grown up hearing these stories.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this section, let us continue the story of Joseph Pulitzer, whose creative press campaign helped Grover Cleveland become President of the United States.

‘Gábor had mentioned that Pontozó is not about point-based scoring. Melinda added: “The festival is not about the competition—it’s about the opportunity to perform and the joy of being together. There will be no rankings, only evaluations, ensuring every participant receives recognition.”’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let us continue the story of Joseph Pulitzer, who, as a press magnate, considered education, opinion-forming, and influence to be his primary goals.

‘Again and again, I find myself marveling at how beautifully God arranges everything. From the way we found this place, to how we were able to purchase it, to the way the Hungarian Cultural Center was established—it’s clear that His hand has guided us through it all.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let us continue the story of Joseph Pulitzer, who, as a Democratic representative from New York, could even serve in Congress, but eventually chose the ‘fourth branch of government’ instead.

‘There’s so much that can be done or can happen even if you don’t speak any Hungarian. If you’re the person in your family who cares about your Hungarian heritage but you don’t share what you know, who is going to? It’s up to you to do it.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. This part will look at the life of Joseph Pulitzer, who originally left for Mexico to become a soldier but ended up staying in America and becoming a journalist.

‘It’s a place that can be filled with life and possibility. I’d like the Hungarian House to welcome even those who may have visited before, but didn’t feel it was for them. I don’t just want to celebrate Hungarian heritage in America; I want to somewhat shape its present and future.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. This part will explore how Americans perceived the arrival of Eastern and Central European immigrants as a chaotic phenomenon.

‘I started teaching the children ever since more of us from Wisconsin started attending the Csipke Camps…I try to put together a small performance for every major holiday, and in doing so, I help them learn more about Hungarian traditions. We meet weekly…but we gather beyond the rehearsals, to spend time together—we sing too, and try to preserve our Hungarian identity also in this way.’

‘When people asked me whether I’m Hungarian or Argentine, I used to say: “I’m 50 per cent Hungarian and 50 per cent Argentine”—until I heard someone saying they were 100 per cent of both. Since then, that’s what I do, too.’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let’s look at the adventurous life of Sándor Asbóth, a Hungarian emigrant, who came to a tragic end.

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. This part will be about Lázár Mészáros, former Hungarian Minister of War, who tried to make a living as a farmer growing melons in America.

‘I also have non-Hungarian students who get to know the Kodály method and Hungarian folk songs. For example, I have an American girl born in Nigeria who recently sang in Hungarian, receiving an enthusiastic reception from the Hungarian community. This way, even Americans learn a great deal about Hungarian culture…’

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let us explore the story of a 1848 émigré, László Újházy, who established a settlement with his family and other Hungarian refugees.

‘The craft beer industry is incredibly unique. There’s a level of camaraderie and openness between brewers that you don’t see in many other industries. We respect each other; we are aware that our strength lies in unity—with big brands dominating, that’s the only way we can compete.’

‘Though I am “only” its creative editor, in terms of my enthusiasm, dedication, and effort, I feel like I was a co-author, too. I warmly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Hungarian diaspora in North America and/or in small business economics, regardless of their location, age, or profession.’