GOTG 2014 - Grand Final - March 2014

Winner - Viktor Morandini

Viktor Morandini has an MSc in geography and works with something completely different... for an American plastics company. He is more or less pure Hungarian, despite the fancy Italian sounding name. From time to time he feels the urge to speak on a stage, in front of people, in a foreign language, which led him to playing Caliban in Shakespeare's The Tempest; to becoming a regular member of Toastmasters International (and sometimes even competing in speech competitions), and eventually to finding the GOTG. Viktor's love of strange and/or dangerous sports such as orienteering, krav maga, kettlebell and urban cycling will probably feature in his GOTG appearance. Last year after coming 3rd behind the Buffalo monster and  his brother, he decided that he had to try his luck at least once more. He also promised somebody that he would come back, though he doesn't remember the name, face, or gender of the somebody.

GOTG 2014 Finalists

It's been fifteen years since Gretchen Meddaugh fell in love with Budapest and their on-again, off-again relationship is currently on.  Gretchen refuses to commit, though, until she sees the rink (a rollerskating rink being one thing Budapest hasn't got).   A retired schoolmarm, she needs to realize that she's getting on in years and can't really afford to be so picky. You try telling her that, though.

Tasleem Lalji is a British national of Indian origin. She has been living in Hungary since 1991 having  arrived with her husband Nadir Lalji, on a private enterprise from the Congo.Tasleem has three kids who are all based in Canada  now. Being a full-time mom kept her busy enough but she spent most of her time in Hungary working with the International Women's Club and was chairwoman for four years. She now spends her time between India, Canada, and Hungary.

Virginia Proud hails from Australia but has called Budapest home for the past two years. She moved here for no particular reason (after enjoying a long weekend in the city) and considers it one of her better life choices.  She has at various time pursued careers in law, marketing and innovation but now spends most of her time writing, acting and directing theatre for Budapest Secret Theatre, founded a year ago, dedicated to English language performance in Budapest.

Matt Tricks and his family left London five years ago after a sad incident involving an Overdose - not of Cocaine sadly, but of the fantastic Hungarian racehorse of that name, whose destiny to run at Ascot was denied by injury. By quite some furlongs, he is the oldest Vet student in town, but is now on the final bend for the uphill pull to the finish. When not studying he can be found trying to manage Orczy football club, or his unruly children, and is not sure which is the harder task. The last time he spoke in public was at his wedding, when his speech in German went down like a 'Blei-Ballon', and he is hoping for better this time!