Reddit reviews The Hungarians: A Thousand Years of Victory in Defeat

You will drink. A lot. Take it in stride.

Their hospitality can be... pushy, at times. For food/drinks I always at least take a token amount if offered because otherwise they would be disappointed. You shouldn't outright refuse everything offered at someone's house you're a guest in.

Nobody there is going to expect you to learn the language unless you will be there for a long time. They know it's extremely difficult for a foreigner to learn. You should learn common phrases and words to show that you're making an effort but don't worry about being fluent. They'll be impressed, trust me.

Learn the general history of the country. It will come up in conversation if you have hungarian friends. This is a good book that sums everything up well: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0691119694

They say "hallo" or "szia" for both hello and good bye. It can be confusing. They also generally do a double cheek touch/kiss when meeting even if you've never met before. I'm not sure what the contempory ettiquette is for this, so you might want to just offer a handshake and then do the kiss if they lean in.

All my relatives have fairly cynical/pessimistic outlooks on everything. Not sure how universal it is but don't take constant complaining too seriously.

Always assume you will be pickpocketed in public areas with lots of people. Don't put valuables in your back pocket or open-top purse (I don't know your sex, sorry). Don't leave things in your car visible. Don't leave things outside your apartment/house.

Not sure how universal it is, but I'm American and everyone just assumed I was rich. My relatives also had exceedingly unrealistic or weird pictures of what america is like thanks to movies and tv.

There was another thread like this that would probably be useful: http://www.reddit.com/r/hungary/comments/1fjsbw/studyingabroad_in_hungary_highschool/

And finally: just enjoy yourself. Hungary is a fantastic country.