January 22, 2010

Life as we know it began in the early morning hours of January 20, 1957. That was when me, my then girlfriend and later wife, my best friend and another couple left Hungary. At 6 am in total darkness and shrouded in secrecy we boarded a train towards the south of the country.

Our plan was to cross into Yugoslavia and take it from there. While most of the Hungarians escaped toward the west through Austria we decided to try this way. The way to Austria was becoming more and more dangerous. The Russian troops and the Hungarian communists were guarding that border with a lot of their people. And they were pretty successful at preventing escapes.

But Yugoslavia being a socialist country under Tito, nobody thought people would be stupid enough fleeing in that direction. We had no idea what reception we would find once we succeeded crossing the border.

The danger was that we might get arrested and handed back to the authorities. We had no idea was the key to everything we did in this little escapade of ours.

We had no plan, we didn't know where we wanted to go. We were kids. I was just eleven days past my 20th birthday, my friend was not 20 yet, my girlfriend was only eighteen and a half. All very serious people.

We made all the arrangements in total secrecy. We thought everybody was listening and getting caught was not something we were looking forward to. People think James Bond was operating in secret. It was nothing compared to us.

We were probably so obvious that nobody took us seriously. Maybe that was our luck.

Anyway we took the train on that Sunday morning. Train travel towards any border was risky in those days. If one had no legitimate business there he got into trouble. So we gave some money to the conductor to let us know if any document checking is starting on the train. We thought we were so cool!

When he let us know that the authorities were starting to check the papers on the other end of the train we immediately got off at the next stop. We were cool.

When the train pulled out we looked around and the station platform was filled with people from Budapest who disembarked for the exact same reason. It was kind of funny. It was afunny collection of people. I remember one young woman in her fur coat. It was so out of place it was ridiculous. We got to know each other later on and she turned out to be a very nice person.

We had no clue where we were so we started toward the nearest farm house. This village was so small it only had a few farmhouses spread out in the countryside. We found a nice old man who agreed to take us in his horse drawn sleigh (there was a lot of snow on the ground) near the border, for a nice compensation naturally. As near as it was safe for him to go. From there we had to walk.

By now it was pitch dark. We had no clue where we were and which way to go. But, in the dark we met up with some other wandering Hungarians. One smart alec said he was a flier and he could get directions by the stars so just follow him. Hey, what we got to lose.

We were really right on the border because in the dark we saw the guard towers. Once they even lit a floodlight so we all just hit the snow and didn't move. Eventually we saw some light and headed toward it. It turned out to be the guard post on the Yugoslavian side. Phase one completed!

They received us very nicely. I guess we were not the first ones they saw. It seemed they were prepared. They took our names and other information including where we want to go.

To show how serious we were about this whole thing we had no idea where we wanted to go. We were totally unprepared. I mean here we are 19 and 20 year olds trying to figure out what country to start our lives. We really didn't even know what countries were the possibilities or what our options were. I think we gave some stupid answers at that time like South Africa not even knowing where and what really South Africa was.

Oh, none of us spoke any foreign languages either. I spoke some French and we all spoke some Russian that we learned in school. I guess we thought Hungarian was a world language and that would be enough to start a new life.

I for one didn't want to leave Hungary. I was living the life of Riley. The university was closed because of political instability. I was doing absolutely nothing but just hanging around with friends. My Mother and my friend were the pulling forces. My Mother wanted a better life for me and my friend experienced some antisemitic overtures. So they collaborated getting me off my buff and making me go.

I am not sorry that I left! That was probably the smartest move I ever made. But getting me started was like trying to move an elephant. I was so sure that this thing would not work that I told my Mother that I would try it once and no more.

We left on a Sunday morning and I was convinced that I would be back home by Wednesday. Actually, I made plans for that Wednesday. Thinking back, I was such a jerk.

I just realized that this story will be of epic proportions. So, I will continue tomorrow my saga to the Free World.