(1) I am a German volunteer in Hungary hosted by the Tolna TiT for seven months and
working on schools, in youth projects and the German theatre. For me Szekszárd is a small
village because I come from Berlin, a big and fast moving city. My first task was to get
familiar with the open and spontaneous way of life here in Szekszárd.
(2) Wineman next to Bodri étterem
I opened my travel guide of Hungary
before the departure and I could
find just one paragraph about my
new home. It was about Szekszárds
famous red wine. But the wine is
good. Szekszárd kept its promise.
(3) Wosinsky Mór Megyei Múzeum
The yellow colour is typical for many buildings in the south of Hungary. This museum
on the main road of the city shows the history of the county Tolna of which
Szekszárd is the administrative center. But you have to look up the opening times. As
nearly all shops in Szekszárd the museum is closing around six o´clock in the evening.
(4) Szent István statue on Szent
István tér
While walking throug the streets
you can see monuments of the
Hungarian history and statues in
memory of the important
historical figures. Mostly they are
placed on squares and in little
parks. As in whole Hungary also
in Szekszárd big street and places
are
named
after
these
personalities.
(5) The Német Színház settled in the centre of the city is the only German- speaking theatre
in Hungary. For the schools this stage is an important part of developing the German
language. It shows international plays in German language and was my first workplace.
(6) Babits Mihály Kulturális Központ
The cultural centre is a distinguished place for most socio- cultural activities in the city. It
organizes projects, accomodates a small cinema, offers dancing lessons for all ages,
choires, rooms for celebrations, space for exibitions and presents the youth center ´Polip´
which is a place for young people to go there in their free time.
(7) The Mondscheinchor
As the only German choir the group is singing traditonal German chansons. Mainly
consisting of seniors they gave my flatmate and me a warm welcome when we decided to
join. This choir is a way to keep the German tradition in the south of Hungary. To sing in
the chorus and to keep the contact to these people became a fix part of my weekly plan.
(8) The faculty of the Pécs university in Szekszárd is one the very rarely signs for young life
in the city. The demographic structure of Szekszárd corresponds to many small towns in
Hungary: The young adolescents are settling to bigger towns because of university, more
job offers or more varied cultural life. The population of the smaller cities is getting older
and you have no young work power. Until now I couldn´t figure out, if the young life of
Szekszárd needs a fitting inducement or if it is just existing in the university.
(9) Many projects are arranged in Szekszárd. It is bringing together the kids, the youth,
the adolescents and the seniors. Some topics are informing the population, sometimes
the goal is having fun and some projects are aimed to integrate minorities as the Gypsy
people. We as volunteers are helping in preparing these events and supervise the
implementation. And in some cases we are painting the children as my flatmate is doing
on the picture on a festival in September.
(10) The volunteers became
my friends and they
showed me the supposedly
only two opportunities to
spend an evening: Drinking
wine at home or drinking
beer in a pub and go to Ést
Café afterwards. I am glad
that we found a few other
ways of raising time.
We have the Hungarian
lessons
together
and
sharing much fun while
preparing activities and
spending our free time
together.
(11) The Garáy Tér is the middle of the Szekszárd. Up to that street you can find a few
restaurants where you can eat lunch cheap and delicious.
One time I was reading a book here on a bench and an old man took a seat next to me. He
asked something in Hungarian. After he recognized that I couldn´t understand anything
except of ´Jó Nápot´ he started to talk in broken German. We made a conversation around
five minutes and then his German vocabulary was emptied so he stood up, said ´Szia´ and
went. I didn´t know this man, I never saw him again. But nevertheless he tried to
communicate with me in any possible way.
(12) The German language
is common in the county
Tolna. One part of my work
was teaching pupils my
mother tongue.
Of course as a German I have
many advantages here where
many people can speak
German. This was an obstacle
while learning Hungarian if
you are always switching into
your mother tongue. On the
other hand I was able to
communicate
with
the
persons in my environment.
(13) The Gloriette on the Kilátó hill
For me it is the loveliest place of Szekszárd. After climbing the stairs you have a fantastic
view over the town and with good weather also the area between Szekszárd and the
Danube. From that place you recognize that Szekszárd is an elongated city. But the
viewpoint is also a reminder for the importance of the wine for the area.
(14) The vineyards of Szekszárd
Wine on the left, wine on the right, wine on the hills, wine in your glass. On the other side
of the Kilátó hill out of the city you have a wonderful experience of nature through the
vines and green mounds. If you are in luck you will meet a vintager who will, I am sure
about this, invite you to a nice talk in his tanjá to proove the openness and friendly
cordiality of an Hungarian heart in a small city.