The most cheerful barrack
author
Zsuzsanna Sebestyén
Zsuzsanna Sebestyén (née Lendvai) sang in a Hungarian choir. Being in the choir gave her an opportunity to travel extensively within the Eastern bloc, and even to some Western capitals, including Paris. Both of her parents were Trade Union members, and as a child she was an active member of the Youth Organisation. Today she is a music teacher in Budapest.
Postcard
- Postcard Text
- My dear little daughter! You won’t spend much more time without us. We are really happy that you could spend so much time in the summer camp. Lacika and Juditka, mum and dad are waiting for you at home. We are sending kisses to your teacher and your comrades, teachers Iza and Rozsi, and we are sending to you all our love. Your mum
- Balaton Lake
- As a child, Zsusi spent her summers in the Trade Union Summer Camp for young pioneers at Lake Balaton, a popular tourist destination in Hungary.
- Budapest
- Budapest, Hungary, at the end of the 60s.
personal archives
On a trip
Zsuzsanna during a holiday trip in 1976.
country: People's Republic of Hungary / year:
Zsuzsanna during a holiday trip in 1976. Like most students, when she was in college, Zsuzsanna was a member of the KISZ (Hungarian Communist Youth League). Historically, the KISZ had been the principal way into the Party, but by the late 70s, politics played a relatively minor role in the organisation.
Young Pioneer
A school portait of Zsuzsanna Sebestyén
country: People's Republic of Hungary / year:
A school portrait of Zsuzsanna Sebestyén. Like all Soviet primary-schoolchildren, Zsuzsanna was a Pioneer. Since both her parents were Trade Union members (her mother was in the Teachers Union, and her father, the Construction Workers Union), during the summer she went to special Pioneer's summer camps organized by the Trade Unions.
A Young Teenager
Zsuzsanna Sebestyén when she was a young teenager
country: People's Republic of Hungary / year:
Zsuzsanna Sebestyén when she was a young teenager. By the time Zsuzsanna was in Junior High, hippie style had arrived in Hungary, with bell-bottom pants and mini-skirts. Although mini-skirts were officially forbidden in school, Zsuzsanna recalls a choir performance where the choir members were on stage at the Academy of Music with skirts hiked up well above their knees.
The Section Leader
Zsuzsanna Sebestyén with a group of younger children.
country: People's Republic of Hungary / year:
Zsuzsanna Sebestyén with a group of younger children. After primary school, Zsuzsanna applied to become a section leader. Older Pioneer students could became section leaders and be responsible for a group of younger children.