Forints.

"What the hell is a forint?" 

Forints, or HUF, are like the dollar of Hungary. 300 HUF is equal to 1 USD. This tiny value per cent was quite hard to get used to and for the first couple of weeks I felt like I was purchasing a used Toyota every time I bought groceries. Once I was familiar with the currency I was able to realize how cheap this country really is.

Below are examples of common costs back home to here:

Rent per Month

• US $550
• HU $140 (40,000ft)

Big Ass Candy Bar

• US $5
• HU $.84 (250ft)

T-Shirt

• US $20
• HU $5 (1,500ft)

Shampoo/Conditioner

• US $5
• HU $1.35 (400ft)

These prices make sense when you take into consideration that minimum wage is about $3(1000ft)an hour. Not everything in Hungary is this cheap however. Imported items such as nike clothing, vans shoes, Colgate toothpaste and name brand foods such as frosted flakes and Recee's are equally, if not more, as expensive as they are back home. At the beginning it was difficult for me to be anything but happy about Hungary's GPD but along with the friends I've made from this country I've gained a deeper understanding. Not only is world wide merchandise extremely expensive to HU citizens but so are plane tickets which makes it nearly impossible for Hungarian citizens to travel. An aspiring photographer wanting to buy a Nikon or Cannon is practically a pipe dream. The wishes of a collage kid to study abroad will probably never become more than just an idea... 

Coming here helped me realize the privilege of middle class America and has me feeling more thankful than ever for all I have.