Friday, January 15, 2010

Food, Midterm, and BKV

As students at St. Olaf, most of us are used to a demographic that some may consider lacking. And while this is hardly the case, it is obvious student body on the hill is less diverse than peoples elsewhere.



One great aspect of traveling abroad is the diverse cultures one gets to experience. The Hungarian lifestyle alone differs greatly from that of an average St. Olaf student. Every restaurant we step into seems to be empty regardless of the hour; determining what time, if ever, Hungarians choose to eat out is proving to be quite challenging. Large cities and urban areas are often areas of cultural diversity, and Budapest is just that. Budapest’s large urban population offers glimpses into many different cultures. Segregation of nationalities and cultures may occur within the city, but a mere metro ride can transfer one from area to area.



In actuality, the lack of ethnic diversity in Budapest may rival that at St. Olaf as over 90% of the population is Hungarian. However, one may be lead to guess otherwise whilst strolling the streets of the city. This evening some enjoyed a delicious Indian dinner, while others opted for Italian. Lunch options included gyros or Chinese. It’s safe to say nobody is dining on Hungarian goulash and paprika every meal. If nothing else, Budapest provides an abundance of options for its visitors and residents. Or, to use our Hungarian teacher’s favorite English word, a plethora of restaurants and activities are available, representing the various cultures present in Budapest.


Today was also test day for many, as the Number Theory midterm is due by 9:00am tomorrow morning. The afternoon was free, but students were largely busy enough proving theorems and crunching numbers in an effort to complete the exam. Both fortunately and unfortunately, this test was of the “take-home” variety, meaning that there were few limits on time or memorization requirements, but everyone had to find a way to complete the test on their own time. For many the exam competed with visits to the opera and last night’s professor’s dinner, and so this afternoon was the time to complete it. On the other hand, some were finished or nearly finished already and spent the afternoon polishing off the last few questions or improving their proofs.


On another subject, the public transport strike continued today with no end in sight. For those interested in knowing more about the situation, here is a synopsis. The trams, subways, and busses in Budapest are all collectively run by a company called Budapesti Közlekedési Zrt, abbreviated BKV for its previous name Budapesti Közlekedési Vállalat. BKV’s network of vehicles and systems was largely constructed during the communist era, and as such designed without much regard for their economic viability. Since the fall of communism, BKV has suffered continual budget shortfalls due to lack of funding and state-mandated low ticket prices. It has mostly survived by selling off buildings and property for retail or residential development in order to cover its operation costs.

This past year, BKV ran into particularly bad financial trouble. In order to cover their losses, they are seeking to cut two elements of workers’ pay. First, they want to cut benefits back. Workers and unions claim that a revised benefit plan will cost each worker approximately $80 per month. In addition, during the holiday season around Christmas, BKV has usually given its workers a gift of “Turkey Money”—a sizable bonus for the month. The company wants to end this practice. Several of the trade unions that work for BKV do not like this new deal that BKV is offering them, and so are on strike.


It probably doesn’t help matters that BKV is currently constructing a fourth subway line that has gone long past its original completion date. Knowing what these kinds of projects are like, it’s probably run over budget as well. In any case, attempts to finish this project add complexity if not more financial problems to the table. If only it had been finished on time, this strike would not be nearly so bad for the students either, as the Metro 4’s planned stops include Szent Gellért Tér, about a block from our residence, and Keleti Pályaudvar, the railway station right near our school, and the subway unions are not striking.

4 comments:

  1. If you can afford it, find some mangalista pork, it is to die for! www.budapesttimes.hu/content/view/13743/219/

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  2. I've loved reading all your posts. Tell Elle "Hi" from her mom.

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  3. Cari is going to be after you for the directions to the indian food place. Nice photos.

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  4. Actually I will probably have my fill of good Indian in London. Besides, I love Hungarian food so I be looking for anything covered in a paprika sauce.

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