Got a 10,000 HUF fine in Budapest Airport - How bad is it?

jumperabv3

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Calm down, please, you're not making any friends on here by coming across as so arrogant.

I don't claim to be a linguist, far from it. I find learning foreign languages very difficult. But when I go abroad, I try and learn a few very basic things before I go - "Hello", "Goodbye", "Good Morning", "Please", "Thankyou" etc. Basic schoolboy stuff.

I'm not saying you should be fluent in the language before you go abroad, but learning a few key words/phrases is just common courtesy. And if you're not fluent in the local language, then you really have no right whatsoever to be slagging them off for not speaking your language.

I don't mean to come across as confrontational, but your general attitude does seem to be that of the "archetypal Brit abroad". You may get a more sympathetic ( and helpful ) response if you moderate your demeanour somewhat.

You might be a good person among many others here who I don't like and don't need to be my (forum) friends... I like it when people talk to me the way you do (directly, honestly without any sarcasm or cynicism which I don't appreciate).

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

Now back to your own post, I didn't call Hungarians idiots for not speaking English, I called the people who work in the airport police idiots for being rude, hanging up the phone, I had to call them at least 20 times each day for several days and when I was about to give up I finally got to speak to a good person (like you) who offered help and assistance and wasn't looking to be an idiot.

I never complained about receiving the fine, I never had a problem with that. I said initially I just want to get a proper confirmation (I just don't trust people in general, after having a gold digger in my life, now happily married btw).

These guys are rude, they hang up the phone, they transfer you to another person (who they say speak English and he/she doesn't) and hang up the phone.

It's a freaking bad experience.

So I'm done with this ... this thread can be locked already, there is nothing further to add to it except for more aggravation which is totally unnecessary.

NiftyDigits

They don't lock threads. They just remove posts from the people who cannot control themselves. Of course you can save them the trouble and edit the poor language from your post.
While I can understand your frustration, you are dragging yourself lower than the people you criticise.
British people tease their friends all of the time. Americans are more thin skinned.
Take it easy. The info you gave was useful. We can understand your frustration.

marleyboy

I dont think its very likely this thread will be locked OP, no matter how big a kitchen knife you carry around with you...............by mistake.

PeteDoff

jumperabv3 wrote: »

Hungarian is a VERY uncommon language, I think the only country that speaks Hungarian is Hungary

Remind us where you were again,

macman

jumperabv3 wrote: »

How do you assume I don't talk English properly? Do you see me writing to you like many other British people with there bizzarre mistakes. Their are lots of people like them ... my dad is American, born and raised in the US, lived there for 30+ years and spoke to me in American English since I was a baby and only in English ... I might not say "numba" in British but I know it means "number" in American English.

:A

I don't know what English you talk, but you write in US (or at least non-British) English. The giveaway was the phrase 'She hangs up the phone'.
Incidentally, the Hungarian police may have done you a favour, because if you'd been found carrying a kitchen knife in your hand luggage at UK customs (had you been returning to here), you'd potentially face a 4 year prison sentence.

phatbear

macman wrote: »

Incidentally, the Hungarian police may have done you a favour, because if you'd been found carrying a kitchen knife in your hand luggage at UK customs (had you been returning to here), you'd potentially face a 4 year prison sentence.

Ermmm nope.

A kitchen knife is not defined as an "offensive" weapon within the criminal justice act 88 (offensive weapons) and this is what we use as our guide for importation offences. It would be different if it was a flick or butterfly knife or a push dagger or a belt buckle knife or a tactical knife.

Possesion of a kitchen knife would bw dealt with in land by the police.

Actually its just dawned on me that according to the OP i too should probably be fluent in every international language because of my job

benjus

Personally I don't think there's anything wrong with visiting a country and not knowing a word of the language - provided you accept that it's going to be an inconvenience for you and you don't expect everyone there to speak English.

catmiaow

Well firstly I don't know anyone who would say "numba". So that isn't how every British person speaks. Secondly, I find a lot of American English isn't how things should be said.

I would say that although I don't expect people to speak English when I am abroad, I expect an airport to be well sign posted on where to go through security and what gate you need to be at. Amsterdam airport being a terrible airport for this, it will be too soon if I ever end up there again.

loskie

Voyager2002

catmiaow wrote: »

Well firstly I don't know anyone who would say "numba". So that isn't how every British person speaks. Secondly, I find a lot of American English isn't how things should be said.

I would say that although I don't expect people to speak English when I am abroad, I expect an airport to be well sign posted on where to go through security and what gate you need to be at. Amsterdam airport being a terrible airport for this, it will be too soon if I ever end up there again.

Evidently you have never tried to find your way around Paris CDG. Personally I find Amsterdam to be just about the most convenient and well-organised large airport I have ever used.