late one night above the lights of buda, my friend posed a question that a number of hungarians seem to ponder, belying a unique ability to look directly at their own geographically influenced patterns of thought as though they were not indeed a part therein. to make comparisons, notice contradictions, and generally be more selfculturally aware than just about anyone I’ve ever known.
we all bear evidence of our civilizations. on occasion we can even catch a glimpse of our selves out of the corner of an eye. others still compare general cultural traits (loud americans…). but it’s a rare westerner indeed who routinely checks his own thought process for traces of ingrained perspectives.
a brilliantly dry wit, the number one justification of my draw to hungary. this new sort of question is undoubtably number two.