Family

A family is a social unit, consisting of a mother, father and children who share certain goals and values and live together in one home. Its the most important social group. The family supplies basic physical, economic and emotional security for its members. A functioning family shows a strong relationship between its members. Human needs, such as love, protection, responsibility and support, are fulfilled there. In time of test, family is best. English proverbOne automatically becomes a family member immediately after being born. Exceptions: orphans and abandoned children grow up in orphanages and foster homes. Adopting a child is a very long process. Couples have to go through different checks on their origin, age, financial situations, etc.. All family members have specific social roles with various duties and responsibilities. Father: Most important role is to provide (or create) the financial security for the family. The one who brings the bacon home. Mother: She creates the emotional security of the family. Including: takes care of children, makes the family funcitoning (cooking, washing, ironing, and other domestic chores done by women). The hand who rocks the cradle. The main role of parents is to raise their children. Parents should teach how to differentiate between good and bad, how to solve problems in life, become and independent person and care about others. There are several type of parents: Democratic parents they lead dialogue with their children and respect their opinions Authoritative parents set strict rules and do not look for compromises, this kind of approach often leads to a generation gap. Very liberal parents they give too much freedom to theri children without limits. Over-caring parents they give too much love and usually bring up spoilt and dependent children. Children: Their main duty is learning and going to school. Besides that, children are expected to help their parents with some housework. Modern European families are monogamous and egalitarian. Married couples are expected to live faithfully without having any love affairs. Types of families: Nuclear family: It consist 2 generations (parents and children) and theres always kinship (blood relationship) between them. The parents have to be married. The steps to the wedlock (marriage): at first theyre dating then they being engaged, fiance (engaged girl), fiance (engaged man). On the day of wedding they are bride (bridesmaid is the helper of the bride) and bridegroom (bestman is the helper of the bridegroom). On the wedding ceremony theres marriage oath, after they bacome husband and wife. After this the wife becomes e.g: Caroline Smith ne Taylor (Taylor is the maiden name). Single-parent family: Typical is 1 parent, and there are reasons, e.g: - divorce

- death (is widowed), man is a widower, woman is a widow - child outside wedlock (illegitimate child) This type of family mainly disadvantages e.g: less financial security, missing role model. Reconstituted family: In case: - two single parent families are joined - Mother remarries a step family is created. Then the husband is the stepfather and for him children are step-children. If the husband has children the relationship between children and children step-siblings. We can consider a family step-family if the kinship is missing. If the mother and the husband has a child its the half-sibling of the existing children. Another type of reconstituted family is foster family theres no kinship, because the child is adopted. Extended family: Three or more generations are living in a house. Advantages: its financially better, theres no problem whos going to look after children, the family is together. Disadvantages: no privacy, if the house is not big enough then less room/person, the generation gap occurs more often. Cohabitation: When parents are not legally married, but theyre living in a house together. Its still dubious to the older generation and totally unacceptable among Catholics. Some couples get married when babies appear. Other topics to talk about: arranged marriages, inappropriate marriages (royalty+ordinary people or religions are mixed), gay marriages, monogamy, poligamy (polyandri, polygynyits having more spouses than one), overpopulation or decreaseof population (things touched on with natality, mortality), something about my own family. Questions: Q: In your opinion what are the benefits of being married in modern society and do they outweigh the disadvantages? A: Im more like a tradition respecting person. Certainly the wedlock has some disadvantages but these also can be advantages. For example I think that its not as good to promise for your spouse to live together and legally youre connected. Its much better to have nothing like that or sign a marriage contract. But on the other side this promise often holds back couples from divorce. So its either a good and bad thing. Here comes that I usually like traditions. I think in a persons life its very important to get married, to have all the things around wedding ceremony and the party at the wedding reception. Of course its just one thing. But I think its also worth of considering that a family with two working adults in it provides bigger financial security and its always a good feeling to come home because you know somebody is waiting you. A spouse who waits home could a huge emotional support for everyobody. Q: How has the importance of the extended family affected the upbringing of children and why?

A: In an extended family the new generations have better relationship with their grand and great-grandparents because theyre living together and of course the older generations help the parents of the children to bring them up. It can be a good thing but Id not live in an extended family because I think the generation gap occurs more often and more markedly. Q: How important in your opinion are shared family activities for developing childrens social skills? A: At first I think the social skills of children are mainly developed in schools. Because there they meet every type of person and they have to handle it. Although share family activities are very important but in an other aspect. These activites help to build a better relationship between parents and children. Unfortunately nowadays this type of relationship is relegated to the background. For example when a child wants to play sports I find that very important that the first steps of the activity should be taught by his father. For me personally our family holidays have given a lot of good experiences. I still like going on holiday with my parents. I think the discussion between parents and children should be a capital part of bringin up a kid. They should talk about their opinions on things. Q: In your opinion what is the best age for getting married and starting a family and why? A: In this question Im thinking like the majority of young people. Because for me presonally its fundamental to have financial security and a career before starting a family. Id like to marry around 28 and have children then or like 1-2 years after that. I think most of the people who are thinking this way have selfish reasons. They do want to spoil their life with a child or even with a spouse. As they say, they want to live their lives. But please, they should think more solemnly. I think in a certain age its important to have somebody by your side. To support you even in your career. Also having a child can be one of the biggest joys in the life. Q: What are the main characteristics of a typical Hungarian family, are they changing and if they are is this a good or bad thing? A: If I imagine a typical hungarian family then theyre living in a house, theres two children an of course theyre happy. Unfortunately sometimes its just the look. ??

Partnerships (Human Relationships)

Human relationships describe the way people get on with each other, talk and behave towards each other. Partnerships are created between parents, children, married couples, friends, men and women, employees and employers, etc.. The quality of relationships with others reflects our own personality. Its our choice who we talk to, how we treat other people, how muc time and energy we are willing to spend with them. There are several types of partnerships: Friendship: I think friendship is one of the most important things in life. I really appreciate my friends. I know I can count on them and this feels good to me. But true friendship is almost as rare as true love. If you have a friend like that you should take care of that

relationship. Friendship means to me support (A friend in need is a friend indeed), a background, and a reflection of who am I. I dont choose my friends. I think the destiny chooses them for us. But at least I spend time with people with whom I feel good. I never will play a role just to have friends. I emphasize friends, an acquitance is an other thing, because if its a business acquitance sometimes its necessary to take airs. But I think it's better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what your not. My friends usually share the same interests, values and activities like me. Sometimes we share our goals and ambitions, too and its a fantastic feeling to have somebody around you whos as ambitious and motivated as you. I like extremely motivated people because they inspire me. Talking about inspiration I think its essential in a friendship, the friends should definitely inspire each other. There are discussions about friendship between male and female. I think its possible, definitely. I also have friends who are females. I get on fantastically with them without having second thoughts. Maybe because Im used to the presence of women, even I enjoy it. As I said everybody who shares the same values and interests can be friends regardless they are male or female. In a human life there are stages and in my opinion at every stage we have a true friend. Like in kindergarten, in elementary school, in high school, at the university. For example I had a very good friend in kindergarten and we were true friends during the first 4 years in school. But then our interets and values because of our different upbringing and social background became to differ. We havent been that good friends anymore. Now in high school I have a really good friend with whom I get on extremely well, and as I mentioned he wants to study the same thing as me at the same university. So there are quite high odds we are going to be friends henceforward. Im glad to have this in mind. Love: Its also necessary in ones life to have an emotionally and spiritually satisfying life. Lots of people says love is the most beautiful think on the world and I think theyre close to the truth. I think the combination of true friendship, true love, a nice, healthy family and a succesful professional life gives us the feeling of happiness. But definitely love has a huge influence on our gladnes, I think from the mentioned factors love is the most influental. Without doubt love greatly enriches a persons life. For examle the most beautiful poems, songs, novels are born because of love. The reason is everybody can fall in love, and everyobody can interpret these works of art on his situation. This is why are these works are so succesful. Love enriches a persons life with happy minutes, hours, months when hes thinking about nothing only his/her love. These moments are extremely valuable. Because love also can do vast damages. Emotionally and lead by these emotions even physically. I always say to myself when I hear about a suicide commited because of love disappointment, that Id never do that. But being in love is a so strange and insane status one cant think clearly. There are also different types of love. For example platonic love or online love. Online love is an absolutely peculiar thing. I almost experienced that. Its a pure product of the 21. century. But I hope people will remain at normal, face-to-face love. Because online love can ruin lifes (as normal love but I think online does more often). Business partnership: Or I should speak about partnership in work. But either its business or work the most important thing is reliabilty, trustworthyness. The best salesmen and managers can sell you everything, because you start to trust them. Or if its about some serious business, a bank deal, something like that. One cant be cautious enough.

Even if we have a very good business relationship with somebody, emotions and work should be definitely separated. Because we are inclined to provide benefits for our loved ones. Sometimes even then when they doesnt deserve that. For example in the arabic countries before the arab spring the dictators of these countries were surrounded by their relatives. The biggest posts, with even bigger responsibility, were given to undereducated people. Boss vs. Subordinates? A boss should definitely be an authoritative but plain-dealing, ambitious man and he should lead the company without compromises touched on with quality. I think a very good example is the former CEO of Apple inc. Steve Jobs. Hes regarded as one of the most succesful businessmen in history. He always demanded the perfect quality either of their products and work. He wanted his people to have a legendary work ethic. He has it too. Boss shouldnt be feared but respected and acknowledged. There are several other types of partnerships e.g: children-parents, teachers-students, etc... Nationalities/minorities: Hungarians living in slovakia. reasons why, consequences, the recent situation, how do I feel about that The situation in sweden with finnish people Churches: Islam, jewish, christian, buddhism, hinduism. My opinion, ramadan, etc.. NGOs: UN, Unesco, Unicef. What are they activities? Do I appreciate their work? Would I work there?