Folyosó began in the spring of 2020, when school in Hungary had gone online in response to COVID-19. This fall, we are back in the school building, conducting classes in person, but the need for Folyosó has not diminished a bit. To the contrary: it continues to bring out lively ideas, language, and art; bring writers and readers together; and assume a character and life of its own. Folyosó pieces might be witty, eerie, or serene–but they all show writers playing with stories and words.
Some of the pieces have come out of English assignments; others came out of the blue. It has started to happen–with increasing frequency–that a student will stop to speak with me in the hallway, or at the end of class, and will tell me, “I think I have a piece for Folyosó.” In one case, a Varga graduate sent me a piece. Another former Varga student sent me photo art for the Folyosó Gallery. As the word spreads and the readership builds, there will be still more surprises.
This fall we had our first Folyosó contest, on the subject of how we determine what is important in life. This was a first in more than one way. It was the first time that students could submit work in Hungarian to the journal. Also, it was the first time that I involved colleagues in the selection of pieces. A five-person jury (Anikó Bánhegyesi, Judit Kassainé Mrena, Judit Kéri, Marianna Jeneiné Fekete, and myself) selected the winning pieces. This allowed not only for multiple perspectives, but also shared enjoyment.
So sit back, enjoy, and get rattled! Read Áron Antal’s touchingly humorous “Grandpa’s Stories,” Lilla Kassai’s morbid yet tender “Danse Macabre,” Gergely Sülye’s “All Should Be in Order,” Gábor Medvegy’s “The Damned Man,” Bernadett Sági’s “Taller Than Tall,” and much more! Share the pieces with others–and if you have a comment, please leave it here. We have one comment page for the whole journal, so please specify which piece you are commenting on.
For the winter issue, we look forward to our first-ever international contest, as well as a number of dramatic pieces that take Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in unexpected directions. Until then, the autumn issue of Folyosó will give you many hours of good reading. Thank you for taking part.
Sincerely,
Diana Senechal
English and Civilization Teacher
Editor of Folyosó