Hungary is at a pivotal point in its long and colorful history. The country is cleaning up after an economically and physically damaging period. The evidence of this damage is clear everywhere I go and in all the local news I read. The country - like any other - wants to be a world leader, but for Hungary to do that it must rebuild itself. The buildings all over Budapest are a good metaphor for the country as a whole; most of the city is showing its age, many are dirty, with graffiti and most are falling apart, if an earthquake were to strike Budapest, 90% of the city would crumble. There are signs of change however, buildings are being renovated - others are being torn down with new ones immediately being built in their place. The capitalist economy is thriving here, the biggest mall in the country opened a couple days ago, with so many people trying to get in - some customers got trapped in the rotating doors in the melee. Its clear Hungary wants to catch up to its western counter parts, but it might be trying to do too much too fast. The countries economy is being stretched to its limit, the government is struggling to keep up the pace of its policies and services to its citizens. The growing pains will pass in time, and eventually Hungary will join the western world, politically and economically.