Hungarian interview - Gabriella and Geza Kardos

In this joint interview, Geza Kardos describes his early life in a small village outside of Körmend, Hungary. His family were labeled as class aliens because they owned property. Mr. Kardos worked in Zalaegerszeg, Budapest, Körmend. He cycled to Austria border with nothing (forced to leave due to class alien status). He talks about the refugee camp that he stayed in before getting on a boat to Canada. The first Christmas in Canada was difficult. He received a letter from his father in Hamilton. Mr. Kardos talks about Canadian immigration, and ESL classes. He go tmarried, and worked in Wawa and then in Hamilton factories. Mr. Kardos discusses Hungarian Communism at length (Kulaks, the regime AVO, house searches Nagy Imre kormány, Maléter). His children speak Hungarian, and one son has even returned to Hungary. Mr Kardos talks about how fifty years after the revolution, the '56 revolt is not addressed in Hungary in the context it deserves. He says that the west gave no assistance, and that oil was more important than people. Mr. Kardos talks about the reprisals: new dictatorship in Hungary 2005-2006, and also his Hungarian-Canadian identity. He is involved with a seniors group, literature, scouts, and an active member in the Hamilton1956 memorial.