Audun Kjørstad, from Dale, Norway. Volunteer in Hungary

Project: International Chainreaction 2003-HU-4
E-mail:

Why are you a volunteer?

I really had no idea what to do after I finished my military service, so I decided to take a year „off” – doing something else than just studying or freezing in the forest for a while. I had already played with the thought of going out as a volunteer during my last year of college, but didn’t get the opportunity to do so before now. I haven’t regretted it a second….yet.

Why did you choose Hungary?

I got a positive reply from the RÉS in Hungary, and I thought about it for a while. „What do I know about Hungary?” After a few minutes I came up with the name of the capital, and after a few more minutes I realized that that was it. Going to a country I knew almost nothing about was a very exciting thought to me.

What do you do?

I work at a youth center for disadvantaged youth in the city of Debrecen in Eastern Hungary. I help out in the free time activities such as computer clubs, cooking and drama. I also teach basic English and German to beginners.
In my free time I hang around in the local pubs listening to the local drunkards.

What is bad about being a volunteer?

Not much, really

Three typical Hungarian things?

Turo Rudi – (Some kind of cottage chese covered with chocolate.)
Unicum – (A Hungarian drink that looks and smells a bit like Jägermeister, but is nothing like it.)
The Hungarian language. (There is really no other just like it.)

What was your first phrase?

Kérek egy sört – (One beer, please) My flatmates taught me this phrase on my first night in Hungary, and even though my mentor had try to teach me „Jó napot kivanok” (which means „a good day to you”) earlier that day, this was the first sentence that stuck with me for more than two minutes.

Your best Hungarian experience?

I’ll let you know in April, when my project comes to an end.

Your favorite Hungarian food?

Gulyás Lévés

If you had optional things to do, what would you do?

Learn to speak the language fluently
Visit the Balaton and the Tokaj region
Paddle the Danube

The most important phrases in your job:

Hol vannak a kulcsok? (Where are the keys?)
Nem értem. (I don’t understand)
Uristen! (Herregud!)