Three of them - Iwona Mazurkiewicz, Marine Miguel, Marcin Kolodziejak - travelled here with the Erasmus Programme, while one of them, Hicham Alaoui Rizq came with the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme.Would you briefly introduce yourself?
IM: My name is Iwona, I am from Poland, I live in Lodz, it’s in the centre of Poland. I study Logistics in Poland, but here I take Economics and Management courses.
MM: My name is Marine, I am here in order to study Law. I am from France, I live very near to Paris.
MK: My name is Marcin, I’m from Poland. I study at the National Defence University in Poland, it is a military university, I study there Management and Command, and here I study at the Faculty of Economics.
HAR: My name is Hicham, my home country is Morocco. I’ve done my state Engineering degree in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. After this, I’ve worked for a Korean company, and then I decided to continue my studies. This semester is going to be my second in this university, so I’m going to spend two more semesters here till graduation.
I think you had many opportunities to choose from, many possible countries and universities, why did you choose Hungary and the University of Miskolc?IM: I’ve chosen Hungary, because I have a friend who was here, and he told me that it was an amazing experience for him. The other reason was that Hungary is really close to Poland, it is only about 600 kilometres from my home city. I also have a Hungarian friend, who I’ve got to know in Greece. In Poland, we really like Hungarian people. So a lot of things came together.
MM: For me, it was a surprise, because I didn’t know I will be chosen to study and travel with Erasmus. I’ve chosen Hungary because I’ve always been interested in Eastern countries; I was also told that Budapest is a very beautiful city. So I thought why not, let’s go.
MK: It’s not my first Erasmus. Last year, I was in Turkey, it was completely different from Poland, the people, the religion, the atmosphere, everything was very different. For my second Erasmus I wanted to choose something similar because Hungarian and Polish people and culture are really similar. I could choose between Budapest and Miskolc, and I’ve chosen Miskolc because I think in smaller cities people are closer to each other.
HAR: For me, the main reason for choosing Hungary as a host country is first of all the fact that Hungary has a very different background from Morocco. So I can learn from it, furthermore it is located in the heart of Europe, which is a good opportunity to travel around, experience new things. The reason why I’ve chosen Miskolc is similar to what Marcin said, it is a small city, in which we can find calmness and so we can focus on our studies.What did you know about Hungary before you came?
HAR: First of all, there was a cooperation between my country and Hungary to send graduate students. Before I travelled, I started to read about my host country, and what I found was that it was a comfortable place to stay according to my long career expectations.
MM: What I knew about Hungary was only that Budapest is really beautiful and I knew goulash. That’s why I came here, to get to know more about this country. I’m happy that I’m here, and I’ve discovered a lot about this place.
IM: I knew that Hungarian wines are the best.
MM: Don’t forget about the French wines!
IM: Of course French, Portuguese and Spanish wines are also very good, but Tokaji is really popular in Poland.
MM: I went to Tokaj and Eger to taste wines, and they were very good, but I miss French food and French wines, champagne.
Was it easy to fit in when you arrived?
IM: For me, in the beginning, it was not easy because I came with my boyfriend one week later than the others, and it seemed that everybody knew each other really well, and we knew nobody. But after one week, it got really easy and good, because we all live in one dormitory, on the same floor, we cross each other in the corridor, in the kitchen, so it was easy to start conversations.
MM: I was really lucky, because when I arrived, my mentor was waiting for me at the airport, so we travelled to Miskolc together. I arrived as one of the first ones, so when people came, I jumped and said “Hey!” immediately. It is also lucky, that we live on the same floor, so we see each other very often.
MK: For me, it was also easy to fit in, because it was just after my last Erasmus. That’s why I didn’t have any problems with getting to know new people. I think if I had the opportunity, I would like to be an Erasmus student for my whole life. From the very first moment when I came to Hungary, I felt like in Poland, so it was easy.
HAR: I also came a little bit late. But fortunately, my birthday was really close, which I celebrated here in the dormitory, so I could simply and easily get to know everyone, especially the Erasmus students. But I also have Hungarian friends. I think Hungarian people are really warm in their relationships, they are really friendly, and they easily start conversations. I feel like at home here.
How do you like Hungary?
IM: I really like Hungary and the Hungarian people. My first connection to Hungary, as I mentioned in the beginning, is my Hungarian friend who I met in Greece. It was really nice, when we asked for directions, and a bicycling lady, who didn’t speak English, decided to show us the way and walked with us. Many Hungarian know the saying, “Polish and Hungarians are brothers, also to fight together and to drink together”. It was also really kind when a Hungarian man could also say it in Polish.
MM: It’s a nice country, I like Hungarian food also. But sometimes it’s really hard when we try to speak with Hungarian people, because many of them don’t speak English.
MK: As Marine said, a lot of Hungarian people can’t speak English, that’s why it’s hard sometimes to get to know each other. Hungarian people can seem reserved sometimes, but when they get to know you better, they open up and they are really warm-hearted. I really like Hungarian people and Hungarian food, I like to be here. When I say I’m Polish, Hungarians become to be more polite, and they say “we are brothers”.
HAR: I had much experience in this short period. I have a good impression about Hungary and Hungarians. Hungarians are very helpful, whenever you ask someone something, they offer their help. The language is very difficult, I tried to learn a few words, but it’s impossible as I see. I noticed that Hungarians really appreciate the efforts that I try to learn Hungarian.
MM: I’ve learned some Hungarian words to start conversations, but very few words, because Hungarian language is really hard.
MK: It’s almost impossible to learn Hungarian; it sounds like Japanese for me. When I try to learn a word, one of my Hungarian friends say it, and I can’t even repeat it. I think it’s one of the most difficult languages in the world.
How do you like our university?
IM: The teachers are really nice, and they’re smiling during the lectures. It was surprising because in Poland, most of my teachers are really serious during the whole lectures, but here the teachers also tell jokes, which is really nice.
MM: I’m studying Law, and I only have individual lectures, but my teachers are really nice. I see when I am talking to them, that they love what they do, and they are real professionals. I love the main building and the great hall is very beautiful. When I was there for the first time, I was really impressed.
MK: My impressions are similar to Iwona’s because we study at the same faculty, so we have the same teachers. The first impression was really that “Wow. They’re smiling.” There is a stereotype about Hungarian people that they are pessimistic, maybe our teachers are exceptions. The teachers are great and I like this university. It’s exactly what I expected from this university.
HAR: The University of Miskolc has a very long history, it has a very rich background. My experience in the university is great. My professors are strict, but also easy-going with their students. I like that I continue my studies here. The professors go step by step which makes it easier to study.
IM: I’d like to add that I really like the traditions of this university like the freshmen’s ball, and the armbands, we don’t have such traditions.
MK: We also don’t have these things, and the traditional clothes are also nice.
HAR: Every time there’s something to celebrate, something new that takes you out from the common studying days.
Why have you decided to try studying in another country, at another university?
IM: I think everyone who was on an Erasmus says that it’s a really amazing adventure, a possibility to meet a lot of international students, to change our points of views, to make international friendships. If I would stay just in Lodz, I wouldn’t have as many international friends and connections, probably I wouldn’t have any. That’s one of the many reasons to go on an Erasmus, to get to know another culture, another cuisine.
MM: It’s a really good opportunity. I’ve heard from people who were on an Erasmus that it’s amazing, you can make many friends, and I wanted to try it. I’m really happy. Now that the end is coming, I don’t want it to end.
MK: But you can go on another Erasmus, like me. My adventure with Erasmus, as I said, started more than one year ago. I always wanted to go on an Erasmus, but I was not sure in my language skills. One of my friends said to me that it’s an amazing opportunity which comes once in a lifetime, for me it came three times. Next semester I’m going to Turkey once again, it’ll be my third Erasmus. I’m lucky, Erasmus has opened my mind, and now I speak English better, I’ve met with a lot of people, with different cultures, different religions. I’m happy that I’ve started my adventure with the Erasmus programme.
Has this travel matched your expectations?
MM: I had no expectations, for me it was really new. I didn’t do Erasmus exchange before, and I really appreciate it.
IM: For me, it’s the same, I didn’t have expectations. I knew that there’ll be no cultural differences. It surprised me that Hungarians also say this saying about Hungarians and Polish being brothers.
MK: For me, it’s exactly what I expected. Unfortunately, we’ll have to say goodbye in a short time. In Erasmus, saying goodbye is the worst thing.
HAR: This short period matched my expectations, one of my goals is to experience new things, get to know new people, different cultures. I’m fully and definitely satisfied with my stay in Hungary.
Will you come to Hungary later?
MM: Yes, I have some friends here who spend here two semesters, and I’m sure that I will visit them.
IM: For sure, I will come back to eat goulash and meet with my friends. It’s really close to Poland, so it’s easy to come back.
MK: I will come back to meet with my friends.
Iwona mentioned that she likes goulash, do you also like Hungarian food?
MM: Yes, goulash is good, and I also like sweet rolls.
MK: It depends on where you eat it, sometimes the goulash is too fat for me. But I really like codfish soup, Hortobágyi pancakes and lángos.
HAR: Moroccan and Hungarian foods are really different. But it’s a good food experience for me.
Do you want to add anything?
MK: I want to say thank you to our teachers, the ESN section, our receptionist, the people I’ve met during my Erasmus here, because I have learnt a lot from everyone, and I’ve learnt a lot about myself, too. And for people who are thinking about going on an Erasmus programme, don’t think too much, let’s go, don’t think about your language skills, your money. It’s an opportunity only when you’re studying, and it comes only once in a lifetime or more times (like for me). The last one and a half years was the best time of my life, and it was Erasmus.
HAR: Thank you for everybody who have made our stay enjoyable, joyful and good. We definitely recommend this experience to other people, let it be Erasmus or other international programmes.
IM: I think when we leave, it won’t be “goodbye,” it’ll be only “see you soon.”
