Who is your favorite fictional hero?

My favorite hero is Hercule Poirot. He uses his brain and is great at adapting to any unexpected situation. He is very intelligent.

What is the weirdest thing you have experienced in Hungary?

I find it interesting that unlike in France, nobody runs on the escalators in the underground. Even after one and a half years in Hungary it is still difficult to get used to it that I have to stand still on the escalator, rather than run.

What is your favorite Hungarian dish?

Eszterházy cake.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I wanted to be an opera singer. I was learning to sing. I have been attracted to opera ever since my childhood. I am amazed by the power of the human voice, the impact it can make. A song can express any emotion.

What is the trait you most disapprove of in others?

Lack of intelligence, or stupidity. These people do not care about the views or the opinion of others. They do not even try to understand the other person.

Which historical person do you most identify with?

La Fontaine, because of his views on humans and the way he depicts human traits in his fables. Sainte-Beuve calls La Fontaine the Homer of the French. His fable called The Animals Sick of the Plague ends with the following thought: “Thus human courts acquit the strong, and doom the weak, as therefore wrong.”

What kind of job did you dream of when you were a child?

I wanted to become an archeologist. I read Arthur Schliemann’s book on how the ruins of Troy were found and excavated. It was very inspiring. I, too, wanted to discover treasures, especially in the depths of the pyramids.

What is your greatest regret?

That in the end I did not learn to sing.

What is your greatest fear?

I have acrophobia, that is, a fear of heights.

When and where were you happiest?

I prefer not to rank my moments of happiness. Each happy moment is equally important for me.

What was the most extravagant thing you’ve done in your life?

I am not extravagant by nature. Rather, I think of myself as a conservative. I would compare myself to Diogenes: I like simplicity and transparency.

What is your most treasured possession?

My family.

What is your favorite Hungarian word?

“Persze.”

What activities help you to cope with stress?

I like swimming, it really helps to switch off my brain. I swim one kilometer once a week. I just concentrate on swimming, on the motions, and forget about everything else.

Which Hungarian habit did you get accustomed to most easily?

As for daily habits, Hungarians do not appear very different from the French. There are of course cultural differences between the western world and Central Eastern Europe. I have always been attracted to the culture of Central Eastern Europe – I lived in Poland for quite a long time. Here in Hungary, I feel at home.

Which word do you tend to overuse?

“Minden rendben?” (“Is everything all right?”)

What would you do with €1 million?

In a situation like that, I would give myself time to consider what to do with such a large sum.

What is your favorite gadget?

My walking stick. Whenever I go walking, I take it with me. It is a two-meter long stick with a goat horn on top. I lean on it when I walk.

What is it your dream to live to see?

I would like to visit Antarctica before it disappears.

What three things would you take with you to a deserted island?

The Larousse encyclopedia, in three volumes.