Hungarian interview - John Somjen

John Somjen was born in Hungary and emigrated to Canada as an adult. He explains why he chose not to continue to practice law after moving to Canada. He discusses when and why he left Hungary, and also why he chose Canada as his new home. Dr. Somjen talks about the expectations that he had for his family's new life in Canada. He then explains his first job upon arriving, his salary, and their living accommodations. When asked what differences he has noticed between Hungarian and Canadian society, Dr. Somjen replies that they seem fairly similar to him. He talks about some parallels between the legal professions in both countries, but also the differences that exist between the European and Canadian judicial systems. Dr. Somjen then responds to questions about how he identifies himself, ethnically, and also what the word "multiculturalism" means to him. He offers opinions on the subject of integration of different groups, based on his experiences working as a notary public dealing with newcomers from different parts of the world. The interview ends with Dr. Somjen discussing which Hungarian customs he has retained, and which Canadian ones he has acquired. He also offers his thoughts on the issue of bilingualism.