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Tegan Ciappara, Bachelor of Commerce, Exchange Student to Budapest, Hungary
To organise and book a trip away for 8 months is not easy. Yes, it seems exciting at first but as the date approaches, the shock kicks in and it seems scarier than something to look forward to. You are saying goodbye to your family and friends and jetting off to start a whole new life in a new country, with a new culture and lifestyle. That is also what makes this experience so exciting. It is a journey, and the whole point of travel is to step out of your comfort zone and learn new things about people and places daily, at least that is what this adventure means to me.
3 weeks in now at ESSCA in Budapest and wow, I am loving it! I would be lying if I didn’t say it took me some time to settle in, but after 10 days I found my feet and now am enjoying every second of every day. Let’s just say, I thought I was going to suffer from hypothermia when I first landed but I have learnt to appreciate the cold weather and consume lots of warm beverages. The city is such a gem and I have loved experimenting with their traditional foods and discovering the famous sights daily all whilst meeting new friends and having my friend Claudia here to share the journey with me.
University is different here with 3-hour classes, intensive weeks and more interaction but in saying that, it’s interesting to see the differences and compare. We have found a new love for Hungarian chimney cones which are like a cylindrical donut that differs in flavour and filling but don’t be alarmed, our vegemite still has prime placement in the cupboard.
On 9th February, a group of 7 of us took a Flixbus to Slovakia’s capital city, Bratislava, for a day trip. It was such a beautiful city and was so surreal to travel for 2.5 hours and not just go to a new city but a whole new country. They had beautifully coloured buildings, cobblestone streets and a blue church that appeared as fondant on a cake.
All in all, things are going great, and if these first 3 weeks have been an indication of anything, the next 3 months of University and additional months of travel are looking incredible!
Image 1: A gem of a city
Image 2: Exploring Budapest with good company
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