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Budapest
22 de October de 2021
Yes! We’re in Budapest and we’ve come here to meet Susana and have her tell us about her Erasmus experience!
Let’s Get Started with a Brief Introduction:
Hi, I’m Susana!, I’m 28 years old and from Barcelona. I’m doing my Bachelor’s in Marketing and Digital Communication at EAE and I’m currently on Erasmus in Budapest.
Susana (in the middle) with her Erasmus friends on a terrace in Budapest.
Why did you choose this destination? What caught your attention?
I had initially chosen Shanghai but, due to COVID, it got cancelled and the only options available were Paris and Budapest. Paris is very close to Barcelona and I had already been there twice, so I thought Budapest could be more interesting and, honestly, I’m happy I ended up choosing it. I wasn’t even thinking about visiting the city at that time, but now I know it’s a great place to visit. The student life is amazing: there are a lot of pubs and a wonderful atmosphere full of international university students. The city has a lot to offer, both during the day and during the night.
View of the Hungarian Parliament at night. It’s the 3rd biggest in the world.
What was University like over there?
It’s one of the best business and economy universities in the country; very famous among locals. My classmates are great and they are from very different parts of the world. Every professor speaks English and they are quite helpful. The Erasmus coordinator is also really helpful, which made me feel very welcomed from day one.
What surprised you the most?
Getting to know so many people from so many different countries has opened my mind: the different points of view, ways of thinking and values… all very different but completely respectable nonetheless.
At first, Hungarian people are a bit cold, which is a big contrast for someone coming from Spain. But as soon as they get to know you a bit better, they are very friendly.
Tell us about those sights we shouldn’t miss if we visit the city!
If you visit Budapest, you have to visit the ruin bars. They are beautiful and full of history! You must visit every bridge over the Danube river — at least the main ones. The Parliament by night is amazing! The second-hand stores, the beautiful city centre and the atmosphere of District VII.
One of Budapest’s bridges at sunset and the Danube river.
Could you give us some tips for living there or visiting?
It’s a very safe city in general, but you should always be careful. You should know that, at the market, they only take cash. Even though the city is very modern, I would recommend you always carry some forints with you (that’s the local currency). To move around the city, the best option is the Tram: it connects all the neighbourhoods and, if you get the student card, you can use it as many times as you want for only 10€.
Transportation in Budapest.
Life during Erasmus is full of fascinating stories. Can you tell us some of yours?
I can’t think of any at the moment but I can tell you one thing: this Erasmus experience has changed my life. My advice regarding this is that six months aren’t enough. If you have the opportunity, I would always recommend taking the whole course, stay the whole year. During this experience, besides improving my level of English, I have changed a lot as a person; the way I understand life and the people around me are so different. I have left all prejudice behind and I enjoy life more completely now. I live my life in a much lighter way.
Heroes’ Square.
Time for your top 3: a place, a food and a plan
For food, I like to go to Budapest’s Chinatown. There’s a massive supermarket called DunaPanda and, right behind it, there are some bars with terraces and some little restaurants that serve Chinese barbecue. It’s the food I enjoyed the most here and the atmosphere is so special that I think you couldn’t find it anywhere else in Europe.
As for the favourite place and plan, I like going to Margaret Island, a gigantic garden in the middle of the city where people practice sports, have picnics or just hang out and have some drinks. There’s a coloured fountain and a Japanese garden that’s beautiful, which makes this place a perfect space for disconnecting from the city while being right in the city centre.
How was your experience?
I’m giving the whole experience a really high mark. I absolutely loved living in a place that’s so different to the place I grew up in. When you leave your country and go live elsewhere, at first you feel a bit off, because you’re far away from your family and friends… You feel a bit alone. After a while, you start meeting new people with whom you develop connections and you start seeing them as your new family. You may leave Barcelona thinking people are going to be a certain way, Hungarians will be this or that… And then, you realise it’s a mistake to have any previous conceptions. You never know what’s going to happen. After an experience like this, you see the world in a brand new different way.
I would recommend it for everyone who wants to become a more open-minded person, more humble and empathic.