CEES MA students reflect on their internship experiences in Hungary
By Katie Jones and Benedek Gulyas
Our time in Budapest was a mixture of discovery and rediscovery. Both of us have spent time in the city before, for Katie it was for travel and a course, while Benedek grew up there.
We had very different attitudes starting our internships. Benedek felt bittersweet and Katie was cautious about what Budapest could offer us, both of us being aware of the status quo and affairs of the state.
It took, admittedly, a period of adjustment. It was not a culture shock per se.
Budapest offered us not only varied weather but also prospects. Going from chilly Spring to the boiling Summer, we both spent a lot of time exploring the city (sometimes together) and travelling outside of the country too.
The city had a lot of niches to find, whether it be food or books, both of us found treasures that we will cherish for a long time. For Benedek, it was a book from a Hungarian author, George Faludy. For Katie, it was a Hungarian Jewish cookbook, since she was able to try traditional Hungarian Jewish dishes at her internship, and wanted to bring a piece of that back to Toronto (and hopefully learn to cook them)!
Both of our internships were great to us, the staff were accommodating for our initiation and knowledge made it an interesting opportunity. Political Capital gave Benedek the chance to meet influential people and to learn while on the job. In Katie’s case with Centropa, she was able to observe and learn how an NGO is operated, and was able to participate in Centropa’s events that allowed her to meet educators from across Europe.
As both of us were Canadian dual-citizens (Katie is also American, Benedek is Hungarian) we learnt different things about Budapest. Benedek has got in touch with the city’s cynic, yet humorous, attitude again that has defined him since he moved abroad some fourteen years ago. Katie was able to have meaningful conversations during her internship about her experience growing up in the U.S., and was able to assimilate to life in Budapest easier and quicker due to her move from living in America to Canada.
The days, weeks, then months flew by and we grew familiar with the hum of the city. We were used to the beat of the streets as we walked to ‘work’. The sound of the trams passing us by and the haggling of vendors while we did our groceries. The twist and turn of the city’s shadows as the sun rose and fell, sooner and later as Summer came.
And as the days, weeks, then months will pass us after the end of our internships in Budapest we will begin to sideline, ignore and forget the flaws. The screeches of old trams or bakers’ grumpiness on Monday mornings. The dry heat and sleepless nights due to shabby insulation.
For us, that won’t be what’s remembered, but the city as a whole. The laughter and resilience of Budapest, with vibrant colors and beautiful views. We will miss it; we already do.