My name is Nehir, and I am an international student from Türkiye studying English and American Studies at ELTE. Moving to Budapest to study abroad has been one of the most exciting and challenging experiences of my life. In this blog, I would like to share some experiences I have had in adjusting to a new country, university, and building a new life in Budapest.
Many students consider studying at a university in a place that they might not be familiar with. This can be a few streets away, a few neighbourhoods down, a few districts ahead, or even in a different city. For some people, however, this can look like moving to another country, learning and adjusting to it, forming new relationships, being buried in paperwork, and trying to balance their academic life while doing all of these. Basically, gradually building a life from scratch.
Arriving in Budapest as an international student, pursuing an English and American Studies BA at ELTE, my first year was a mix of excitement and uncertainty, as I believe most students can relate to on different levels. What surprised me the most was that the most difficult things in this process were not the new classes and subjects, but rather the things that sometimes get overlooked, like renting an apartment, living alone for the first time, missing my loved ones and the home I left behind, or other small things, such as checking maps every two seconds to find out which way I should go and which bus I should take.
Attending classes at the university was one of the things I was most enthusiastic about. It was very important to choose a program that was the most suitable for me. It had to be something I enjoyed learning about, and at the same time, it had to offer new opportunities in the future. Choosing English and American Studies at ELTE has certainly met my expectations, as I have gained valuable knowledge of language systems, academic writing, English-speaking cultures, various linguistic theories, and literature from different historical periods. Even though it took some time to adjust to the new pace and the new system of education at the university, where students are required to do more independent learning and are expected to participate more in seminar discussions and write academic papers, I can see how much those challenges improved me academically and, consequently, my self-confidence. Last but not least, I have also had the chance to meet so many knowledgeable lecturers and professors who were always kind and were there to help whenever their students needed them.
As an introvert, I was admittedly very nervous about building new friendships and finding my place in a completely new social environment. But it turned out to be much easier than I had imagined it to be. As there are so many other international students at ELTE, what I encountered was a multicultural environment with so many other internationals, dealing with the same problems I had been dealing with, and had concerns just like mine, which made it considerably easier to come out of my shell and talk to other students and gradually build friendships. I was also pleasantly surprised by how kind and friendly many Hungarian students were. Whenever I had questions about university life or small everyday matters, they were always willing to help. All of these experiences made settling into a new country much easier, and, most importantly, helped me find people with whom I feel comfortable.
Some of my favourite parts of university life happen in between classes. Chatting with friends in one of the university’s cafes and taking a small break before the next lecture, or visiting the university library for a study session has turned into my everyday routine that I appreciate.
Every international student’s path is different, but many of the worries and concerns are similar. Through my writing, I hope to share experiences I’ve had and will have in the future, so prospective students can feel a little more prepared, and current students can find aspects they can relate to. Although every journey is unique, I believe it might make it a little less overwhelming to know that someone else has faced similar challenges and experiences.