Minden kezdet nehéz – all beginnings are difficult

In my old 1960s Learn Hungarian book, an odd conversation passage it asks you to translate from Hungarian to English. It goes like this:
‘I do not understand this passage’
‘What don’t you understand?’
‘I don’t understand this proverb – all beginnings are difficult’
‘We already know this proverb’.
Well yes, I suppose we already do. I just finished my first set of evening classes, and though we’ve put in 90 hours (or 45 in my case) I’m still very much a beginner. But then again its better to look at how far you’ve gone rather than how far you have to go. Although I do have to say in a world in which they can get Robots to Mars and Goats to make silk, i can’t just buy something that plugs Hungarian into my brain???

The beginning of this year has mostly been characterised by a series of endings. For example, the shutting down of the Gödör – a place in the centre of Budapest with lots of good music, often free. Its been a feature of times in Budapest for the last two years and shame to see it go (for what sound like dodgy political reasons). Also, I was due to give a presentation at the institute of Criminology this week, but have been informed that the Professor (of some 20 years) has been ‘removed’. Which is shame (and once again slighly suspect). And then there’s Malev etc. What next – the end of the European marriage (‘I’m sorry, its not you, its me’).

So yeah, back to the proverb, I suppose ‘middles’ are easy because you’re in the thick of them, endings are easy, because they just occur quickly, like a snapping twig. Maybe it is the beginnings that are diffcult, with the jangling nerves of stepping into the dark and uknown forest. But no doubt tentative steps will, given a little practice, become long confident strides. And that surely is the right way to think.



One Comment

  1. bailey wrote:

    The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see
    if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation.

    My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views.
    I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

Follow

Get every new post on this blog delivered to your Inbox.

Join other followers: