Balázs Somogyi’s memoir recounts his life from the 1956 Revolution to decades of Hungarian–American community work, offering a personal account of history, identity, friendship and service to the Hungarian diaspora.

‘After a day or two I no longer felt like a guest, but like an integral member of an old family-and-friends kind of community.’ The 50th ITT-OTT Conference brought together Hungarian Americans and members of the wider diaspora for a week of culture, intellectual exchange, music, dance, food and enduring friendship.

‘The aim of these three-to-eight-week (most commonly seven-week) summer camps is to provide children with programs that develop not only their physical abilities, but also their social skills—all while they are away from their parents and in a gadget-free environment.’

‘Nestled in the rainforest, the house belonged to an elderly lady who rented out two bedrooms while continuing to live there herself. It soon became apparent that the reason she spoke English with an unusual accent was simple: she was Hungarian! Apart from a single tourist couple, she was the only fellow Hungarian we encountered during our stay in Hawaii.’

‘The final stop is the adult folk camp in Válaszút, where I’ll be part of the night-time band, providing music for dancing until dawn. During the day we’ll either be sleeping or dancing. Last year I learned Bonchida dances—perhaps this year I’ll learn something new.’

‘The flower is an important symbol for me on two levels. First of all, the traditional flower embroidery that was all over my grandparents’ house and even in ours was literally a thread that kept me connected to my heritage. The title also comes from a love poem by Sándor Petőfi…the book is really a love story about how much my father loved his country…It’s also about my love for my father.’

The Third Emigrants’ Heritage Workshop, held at the National Library of Foreign Literature, brought together researchers, institutions, and community initiatives exploring the history and legacy of Hungarian emigration to North America. The event focused on the USA 250 exhibition project, strengthening cooperation, and developing a sustainable research network on Hungarian American heritage.

The University of Pécs has opened the Collection and Research Centre of Hungarians Worldwide, a new academic hub dedicated to studying Hungarian communities in the Carpathian Basin and the diaspora. Built around a unique collection of books and research materials, the centre aims to strengthen scholarship, education, and connections among Hungarians worldwide.

Marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 15th biennial conference of the Hungarian Association for American Studies brought together scholars from Hungary and abroad to explore the American legacy through history, literature, culture, migration, and international connections across the Americas.

‘In 2007, I met a Hungarian American businessperson at QU…We connected and developed what is today our Hungarian American Business Leaders (HABL) scholarship and program: bringing Hungarians to QU to earn their MBA and work at businesses, then return home, taking that knowledge back to put to the best use, as they see fit.’