“Bucharest?...Bangaldesh?...BUDAPEST? Where are you going?” This was the reaction of most people when I would tell them I was going to be studying in Budapest, Hungary for the fall semester of my senior year.  To people beyond the McDaniel College Campus, Budapest certainly seems obscure.  To McDaniel College students themselves Budapest is an opportunity to go abroad mentioned before they were even admitted as students.  It is all to commonly rarely thought of again.   Originally, a biology and political science double major, I must admit I was one of those people...someone who never really thought of going abroad and had too many activities and requirements. With much thought during the spring of my junior year I realized that if I changed my major to Political Science and International Studies I realized that not only would I be doing something I was much more passionate about, but I would have the time to go abroad.  I really did not know anything about Budapest before the fall of 2006, but to make a long story short…I went for it. So on August 28th, 2006, after months of answering questions and explaining just where Budapest was, I hopped on a plane and began an adventure that unknowingly would change my life.

My first days in Budapest were simply spent wondering just how I got here and how I was going to survive. I had to learn how to flush a toilet, turn off a light, say hello, thank you and good bye without making a fool of myself and stop smiling all the time, because that is not a custom welcomed on the streets of Budapest as it is in the states.  While all these things seemed a big deal at first, it quickly became the norm and it was in my first political science class that I began to understand the magnitude of studying at an international school.

In my political science class that consisted of 8 students, 7 countries were represented-Iran, Nigeria, Seychelles, Serbia, Switzerland, Hungary, and of course the United States.    As I sat in class being taught by a Hungarian professor that served in the Hungarian Army during socialism, I was looked at as a representative of the United States and every other student a representative of their respective country.  When issues such as the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, arose, each student was able to give a different perspective from extremely different and unique backgrounds.  Beyond classes we were able to discuss current world issues and compare daily activities that I would venture to say most Americans take for granted.  I was able to get a different perspective about the world, the US and myself.  The time I spent traveling was precious, but the time with my friends from these countries in addition to Turkey, Sweden, Israel and Russia have forever changed my life.

I was extremely fortunate to supplement my time in Hungary with a large amount of traveling.  My travels beyond Budapest included explorations both in Hungary and beyond its borders. The fact that Hungary was located in Central Europe, though its culture is more defined by Eastern Europe to the chagrin of Hungarians, allowed me the opportunity to travel relatively regularly.  One trip that included the cities of Prague, Czech Republic and Vienna, Austria, was already included in the tuition for the school and these sites gave us a better view of central Europe.  Due to the locations AND the cheap airfare, (I went to Paris for under 60 bucks!)  I was able to get to four countries in addition to the Czech Republic and Austria.  This included Germany, Switzerland, France and Spain.  This completed my experience abroad and truly gave me a small glimpse of the amazing world that exists beyond the US.

Since returning to the states, the transition between the hustle and bustle of European city life and a large international setting, to small town people and politics, has been hard to say the least.  Even more difficult is the ability to put into words the experiences of four months in the five minute conversations that normal people’s attention spans allow for when they ask you “How was your trip?” For people that have been away from the states for any length of time I am sure they can sympathize.

The follow up question to the simple “How was your trip?” always seems to be “What did you miss?”  I find it much easier to answer this… nothing.  When I first thought of leaving to go to Budapest I thought of missing soccer, sorority, choir, family, friends and of course the general excitement of being a college senior.  But in looking back at what I missed…I missed nothing.  Of course I missed my family and friends and in a perfect world I would have loved to have enjoyed all those activities of the fall semester.  In comparison to what I did do however, I can honestly say I missed nothing.  I walked the tiny streets of Prague, Czech Republic…played in the backyard of the Hapsburgs in Vienna, Austria…shopped at the Christmas Markets of Munich, Germany,… hiked the Alps through out Switzerland…swam on the beaches of Barcelona, Spain and climbed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.  On top of this I experienced things that challenged my thinking and literally made friends from all over the world.

So for those of you that are the people that asked me “Bucharest? Bangladesh? BUDAPEST?!?!” YES! Budapest, Hungary…and I LOVED it!  Actually, no… Buda-peSHt because that is how it is correctly pronounced. If you did not know before, you know now.  If you are someone who is considering going to Budapest or studying abroad in general…GO! It will be the best decision you have ever made.  And for all of you that have been Egeszsegedre!!!