Diane “Dia” Dobry
With 50-plus years of diaries in my stash of writings, I have a lot of stories to tell, and my passion is in telling about Hungary, as well as food, wine—especially Hungarian wine—and cooking. I have also been a teacher of writing and culture for several years, a writer since I could hold a crayon, and a Hungarian (by heritage) since before I was born, but soon to be a naturalized dual citizen of Hungary, as well. I grew up, got married and raised my kids on Long Island, NY, before setting out as an accidental nomad that took me from NYC to Hungary, to upstate New York and back and forth to Florida a few times before I settled happily in the Winter Park area of Orlando.
As a member of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), I specialize in writing stories about Hungary, Florida, and other places I have lived or traveled to, including Western Europe, Canada, and the east coast of the United States. My experience as an importer of Hungarian wines to the US for three years led me to the belief that what would have made that business easier (and possibly more successful) was a better familiarity among Americans about the history and practice of winemaking in Hungary, as well as the varietals they produce. I am in the process of writing a book about that topic now with the help of my friend, Ferenc Baglyas, a professor of viticulture who lives and works in Kecskemét, Hungary, and who traveled and studied winemaking in California and New York State, as well. But my interests in food, drink and travel are not limited to any particular place in the world, and I continue to watch and learn and taste whenever the opportunity arises.
My other interests include cooking for family and friends—as well as for my own pleasure and enjoyment—experimenting with ingredients and flavors, as if I do my own episode of the TV show Chopped based on what I find in the fridge. Sometimes I even record myself doing it.
I hope to be able to expand and extend my travel adventures, and include lots of river cruises and train tours in that effort.
While my writing has covered travel, food and culture, another pleasure is in telling stories about people I have met, adventures and memories of experiences I’ve shared with friends, family members and even strangers who happened to come unexpectedly into my life. I wrote for the Citrus County Chronicle in Florida, where I covered the stories about some of the local business people, veterans, church members, and even the ghosts. And I do like to tell ghost stories when the time is right (I am writing a book on that topic, and a separate website will be forthcoming with that focus).
My education includes a degree in Media and Communication from the State University of New York, and the good fortune of a master’s in International Educational Development and a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Studies (based in media) from Teachers College, Columbia University, where I worked for more than a decade in the Office of External Affairs, primarily as Director of Communications. I currently teach as a Course Director in the New Media Journalism and PRMA programs at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
Thank you for coming to this site. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy creating it. I’d love to hear from you as the site evolves and adds more opportunities to explore with me.
Dia
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