On the last Saturday of summer in southern Hungary, the vines in the hills hung heavy with grapes as the harvest was approaching. To celebrate the close of the season, on August 29th, the village of Palkonya opened its cellars and invited guests from all around to try their wine and go from door to door, trying different foods, pastries, and wine. The celebration’s official name is Palkonyai Sz眉reti Nyitott Pinc茅k, or Palkonya Harvest Open Cellars. Promoted by organizers to be the last toast of the summer. Unlike most Hungarian wine festivals, the entry is free, with no gates, no wristbands, and no tickets needed. It was all spread through the cellar row with the wineries surrounding, which complemented the setting very well as visitors were
able to stroll at their own pace.

Palkonya, in Baranya County, just northwest of Villany, calls itself a 鈥済astro village.鈥� It is the one-street settlement that exceeds expectations in food and wine production. The signature landmark is a hillside with about 50 press houses. These press houses were built in the tradition of the German vine growers who originally settled in that area in the 18th century. Somewhere along my way down this row, I ordered a glass of 2024 Portugieser. It was definitely my most notable wine of the night, with a light and fruity red, which I didn’t find out only after that Villany had actually been known for. It was the perfect wine to enjoy in a late summer evening among fellow enthusiasts.

I really enjoyed the idea that visitors were rather urged to keep moving instead of staying in one spot. Opened at 2 pm with the Birtok DJ Crew at the Haraszti Estate on the hill. Acoustic sets were rotating along the cellar row, with a bohemian brass band set off from Zsirai Winery;the entire village was quickly transformed into an on-the-move concert. As the sun set, Varga Cellar threw a retro party at 8pm, and toward Mokos Winery, DJ Ready, Milan Koosz, ran past 10:30. Regional newspaper Bama described the village as full of life again that weekend, allowing guests to discover the local wineries one cellar at a time. For producers, that kind of foot traffic turns first-time tasters into returning customers.

Palkonya is not done for the year. The village is already preparing for its St. Martin’s Day cellar walks on November 7 and 14, when Hungarians traditionally taste the season’s new wine. But for anyone who wants to see the Vill谩ny region at its most relaxed, the harvest open cellars may be the better introduction: no ticket, no rush, just a hillside of open doors and one last warm evening of summer.

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Fenerbah莽e鈥檚 return to the UEFA Champions League has ended an 18-year wait and brought a new kind of excitement to supporters who were too young to remember its previous campaign. The club is back in the main competition for the first time since 2008/09. For two Fenerbah莽e fans I spoke to, this season is their first opportunity to watch their team in this arena.

The return also puts Fenerbah莽e alongside local rivals Galatasaray in the 2026/27 league phase. That gives the story a wider Turkish football angle, beyond the celebrations of one club.

Memories and missed opportunities

Fenerbah莽e reached the quarter-finals in 2007/08 and returned to the group stage the following season. UEFA鈥檚 history records show several later attempts to qualify, including a play-off appearance in 2025/26, but none took the club back into the main stage until this season.

That history helps explain the difference between older and younger supporters. Some can remember the earlier European campaigns. Others have grown up hearing about them, without having a clear memory of watching their own team at this level. The new campaign gives those younger fans something they can experience themselves.

The night that secured the return

Fenerbah莽e sealed qualification by beating Lyon 2-1 away on August 26. Vedat Muriqi and Archie Brown scored, and the result secured a 3-2 aggregate victory after a 1-1 draw in Istanbul. The decisive result came away from home, making the second leg a test of whether the team could finish the job under pressure. Winning that tie changed the focus of the season: supporters could finally look ahead to league-phase opponents rather than another qualifying-round disappointment.

A personal connection

My whole family supports Fenerbah莽e, and I am a passionate fan myself. I have been a club member for three years. For me, Fenerbah莽e is a passion and much more than a football team. That personal connection is why I wanted to write about its return to the Champions League.

A competitive start against Roma

The opening league-phase match ended in a 1-1 home draw against Roma on September 10. Bryan Cristante gave the visitors the lead, but Archie Brown equalised early in the second half. Nathan Ak茅 later hit the crossbar as Fenerbah莽e pushed for a winner.

One point does not tell us how the whole campaign will go. Still, coming back after falling behind offered an encouraging opening. The next challenge is to turn that performance into consistent results, rather than letting the excitement of qualification become the main achievement of the season.

What the return means to supporters

Two Fenerbah莽e-supporting friends (Onat Onan 24,Serbia /Yi臒it Yarmal谋 22,Milan) described the Champions League as being in the club鈥檚 DNA. Both also talked about the excitement of watching Fenerbah莽e in this competition for the first time in their lives. Their comments combined a belief that the club belongs at this level with the personal feeling of finally seeing it happen.

A Galatasaray-supporting friend (Deha G眉莽l眉 22,Brighton) offered a different perspective. He said that having two Turkish clubs in the Champions League after so many years was a beautiful and proud moment for the country. His reaction showed that, for at least one rival supporter, the significance of Turkish representation went beyond club loyalty.

These three views do not represent every fan. However, they show how the same return can mean a first personal experience for one supporter and national pride for another.

The economic opportunity

The financial rewards are another reason qualification matters. According to beIN SPORTS鈥� report on the provisional 2026/27 distribution, each league-phase participant can expect an initial allocation of 鈧�18.62 million. A league-phase win is worth 鈧�2.1 million and a draw 鈧�700,000. These figures are competition payments, not the club鈥檚 net profit or its confirmed total earnings.

Beyond UEFA payments, the campaign could increase demand for tickets and merchandise and make the club more attractive to sponsors. These are potential benefits rather than measured gains. Extra revenue could support players, facilities or other needs, but European participation also brings costs. How the money is used matters as much as how much arrives.

For Fenerbah莽e, the return has already given younger supporters a European experience they had long been waiting for. The results ahead will decide how far that excitement carries into the season. Qualification is a milestone; building on it is the next task which is facing the Premier League team Aston Villa on next Wednesday, October 14, at Villa Park.

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By Riley Moore

There is a moment that every student and teacher knows, but we experience different sides of it. The professor asks a question and looks to the students to provide some form of insight.
The bevy of students dread this because now they have to seem busy to avoid answering.
The hapless professor dreads this moment because after narrowly avoiding eye contact and with the students uncomfortably shifting in their seats, the teacher must answer their own question.

Does this feel familiar at all? Perhaps it’s more than just a familiar moment- it’s part of the zeitgeist in today’s college classrooms. A quick look at a r/Professor forum provides insight to this situation and quickly shows us this is not isolated to one professor, one classroom, one school, or even one country- this is happening in classrooms everywhere.

In one recent post to the Reddit thread, a professor recounts their personal trials with attempting to bribe students with candy, participation points, anonymous polling, writing and sharing exercises, and anonymous feedback all in an effort to get students talking in the classroom. This professor is left feeling hopeless and wondering 鈥渨hat else am I supposed to try?鈥�

And perhaps that is the question we should be asking. Not 鈥渨hat is wrong with our students today?鈥� But instead, 鈥淲hat is happening within classrooms, and how can we respond to it?鈥�

The silent classroom is not a new problem, but this feels different

Teachers have always had silent students within classrooms. In fact, silent classrooms were a show of a good teacher who could handle their students. But as students got older, they stayed within the confines of that 鈥済ood鈥� silence instead of ever branching out to the scary or 鈥渂ad鈥� noise, like answering questions in class.

There have always been students who would rather sit in the back, take notes, and leave without ever having to offer their ideas or opinions up to a classroom of their peers. But now many instructors are describing something much broader and deeper: classrooms in which getting anyone to answer questions feels like pulling teeth. One professor took the time to recount a recent class they taught, describing that 鈥渘o one ever raises their hands, asks questions, or makes comments. It’s just a sea of blank looks/looking at their devices.鈥� In reply to that thread, another instructor recounts a class of theirs asking for more discussion on course evaluations, so the instructor set that up. Come time to discuss, no one in the class participated.

I find these contradictions fascinating. One, that students are actively paying and wasting their time to go to these classrooms to sit and stare vacantly at their devices. So, clearly a part of them know this is valuable to their brains and development and future, but there is still a dissonance.
And secondly, that students are saying they want more open discussions, only to not even participate when the said discussion is opened up. Maybe the problem isn鈥檛 as simple as whether students want to participate.

What if students are afraid of being wrong?

Some of the more revealing answers come from a Reddit thread called r/CollegeRant, where a student asks for advice or understanding of her classmates who utterly refuse to participate in classroom discussions. Reddit user, Hollyann, states that during her 鈥渇irst semester she thought it was just people being anxious, or maybe the majority of students being straight out of high school they weren’t actually that interested in school in general. But it’s been persistent, and it’s getting on my nerves.鈥�

The reason she cites for these behaviors 鈥済etting on her nerves鈥� is because it’s gotten to a point where professors will look at Hollyann with pleading eyes, hoping she will answer the question everyone else refuses to. The replies to this original post vary in understanding and sentiment, but almost all of them point to the simple understanding that students are afraid to get it wrong.

Reddit user, MelissaM replies that 鈥渟o many people aren鈥檛 willing to go outside their comfort zone to interact in class. Especially because they fear that they will be wrong so it鈥檚 better to not say anything at all.鈥� Similarly, another Reddit user writes in agreement, attributing social anxiety being the lead cause of limited participation in classrooms, saying: 鈥淚t’s an overall increase in social anxiety among Gen Z. Also, this generation is particularly focused on being “right” the first time. Being wrong at all is a social death sentence and somehow means you’re stupid and you’ll never learn.鈥�

One anonymous Reddit user, who battles with social anxiety but is getting her undergraduate degree, states they don鈥檛 speak in class because they鈥檙e 鈥渢errified of somehow bothering the class鈥� or an 鈥渁nswer being wrong and looking like an idiot in front of everyone.鈥�

Therefore, it鈥檚 fair to say that there is an environment of fear and judgement that is existing within most classrooms, and this makes it impossible for ALL students to feel safe to interact.
When students don鈥檛 feel like their voice is important to the conversation, they zone out. They let AI speak for them and watch random YouTube videos to pass the time in class; thus, losing all accountability for their education. I feel that because of this, we鈥檝e entered this ouroboros where the cycle keeps repeating. Because students don鈥檛 feel safe to interact in class, they never even give it a chance. They sit down and the first thing they do is find a distraction for the rest of the class.

Most students now fail to give the teacher or class an opportunity and instead launch right into their devices. Now, the students will never even know if they truly would鈥檝e made good contributions to the classroom, because they shut their brains off before they even give it an opportunity. From this, it鈥檚 evident the epidemic of lack of student participation has sprouted from social anxiety and major internet dependency.

Be the change you want to see

This is where I believe professors can make this biggest change. As soon as students come into the classroom and start opening their laptops, Ipads, tablets, phones, whatever it may be鈥ell them the class is going analogue that day. Watch their faces drop as they lose their entertainment.

Now, whether or not they participate is still up in the air- but at least then you know it not because of digital distractions. One element eliminated.

I have personal experience with this working in one of my classes. This was mainly a discussion- based class and my professor got really fed up with two people speaking every day. So that next class, when we went analogue things changed. It wasn鈥檛 a magical fix and not everyone in the class was contributing, but in an hour and a half, around half of the class had spoken. In a class of roughly 20 people, half of them speaking in one class was such a drastic difference from the classrooms we鈥檇 been operating in. And the next class, the professor did the same thing. Everything away, except a piece of paper and a pen on your desk. Sure enough, more of my classmates found their voices and wanted to speak. And more often than not, students would engage to rebuttal another student’s opinion. Now conversations were coming from conversations that had never been there before. A new cycle had been created.

Instead of continuing this education cycle, whereby both professors and students alike are all showing signs of disdain towards interactions in classrooms, I say it鈥檚 time we all put in a little effort to cause some (hopefully) big change. Professors, I plead with you to be open to new, fun, and interactive ways of teaching. I implore you to make the class go analogue- coming from a college student myself, trust me we can take a few hours a day without a screen in front of our face. I believe it’s imperative for the classroom environment to feel safe and accepting, and that life failing or messing up is just a stepping stone to succeeding.

And my fellow students, I beg you to be open to difficult and tumultuous times in your education process. I know that it seems easier to sit quietly in the classroom, but my hunch is that you are negatively impacting yourself in the long run. It is in the public interest that everyone puts their education cowboy hats on and let themselves get bucked around. Sit with some discomfort and speak your voice. Even though it may be difficult; the more you speak your mind, the easier it is to actually know what you think

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Hungary’s national anthem is one which doesn’t boast. It prays. Set beside the anthems its neighbors wrote during the same years, under the same empire, it raises a harder question: when a nation tells the story of how it survived, who does it say is in charge of its fate?

Picture a Budapest apartment at 11:59 on New Year’s Eve. A bottle of pezsg艖 (sparkling wine) sweating on the table, upon the stove some lencseleves (lentil soup) for good luck, and the television is turned up for the countdown. The clock strikes twelve, and instead of cheering, the room stands up.

From the screen comes a slow, grave melody that sounds more like church than stadium; the guests sing along solemnly, some under their breath, some with their eyes closed, head slightly lowered: 鈥業sten, 谩ldd meg a magyart.鈥� (God, bless the Hungarian). Among them, an outsider, let us say an American, a friend of a friend, holds a glass he isn’t sure he’s yet permitted to drink from; he stands because everyone else does.

The music ends. For a moment, no one moves. And into that moment, cheerfully and on instinct, the outsider claps. Providing us three, maybe four claps, loud in the quiet room, sharp to our ears. He soon stops when he鈥檚 noticed that no one has joined him.

Only then do the fireworks begin.

Why nobody claps

The scene is imagined, but the silence is real. Nobody applauds after the Himnusz (National Anthem), and no rule anywhere says you can’t. Hungarians stand for it the way people stand in church.

A symposium on anthem etiquette in 脷j K枚znevel茅s, a journal of Hungary’s Education Office, tells students to stand at attention with their hands at their sides, or clasped in prayer if the setting is a church, and not to chew gum or keep their hands in their pockets 鈥� for the same reason, one contributor writes, that one removes a hat on entering a church. In the same symposium, the conductor 脕d谩m Medveczky puts it more bluntly. Running through the German, Italian, Russian and British anthems, each of which glorifies a people or a monarch, claims that the Hungarian is the only one that does not partake in self-glorification, being a humble prayer instead 鈥� 鈥淓z nem is csak egy himnusz, hanem ink谩bb egy vall谩sos zsolt谩r,鈥� says Medveczky. (It is not merely an anthem, but rather a religious psalm).

The treatment has institutional ancestors. After the First World War, according to Classic FM, Hungary’s culture minister established restrictions on the anthem鈥檚 use, given its prayerful nature, to only serious occasions, and so kept it out of sporting events. In the communist 1950s, it was played without its words.

The American鈥檚 hands were trained by an opposite history. When a Navy band appeared and played impromptu 鈥楾he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� during the seventh-inning stretch of the 1918 World Series, the baseball fans sang, and at the final notes, burst into applause, according to The New York Times account published the following day.

So our midnight stages a collision: an anthem that became a match day ritual meets one that was once barred from them. The Hungarians have treated theirs as more sacred than performative, and the reason is not sentiment, but rather genre.

A prayer, not a boast

It is not strictly a song sung in the room. 鈥業sten, 谩ldd meg a magyart鈥� opens a poem Ferenc K枚lcsey finished on January 22, 1823, now Hungary’s Day of Hungarian Culture, and published in 1829. All of its eight stanzas are recognized as the official anthem; only the first being sung through the ritual.

It can be regarded as a sacred petition sung, 鈥楴y煤jts fel茅je v茅d艖 kart, / Ha k眉zd ellens茅ggel鈥�: (Extend a protecting arm toward him / when he struggles with an enemy) [translation mine]; the Hungarian fighting for his life, but it being God’s arm which decides his fate. Even the grammar kneeling: 鈥榓 magyart鈥� (the Hungarian) being singular, depicting the nation as a single individual standing before God.

Compare this to the anthem our American has grown up with. 鈥楾he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� ends its first verse with a question, 鈥極 say does that star-spangled banner yet wave / O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?鈥�, which Loras John Schissel of the Library of Congress has called the only national anthem to conclude with a question mark. were written by American lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key, the American lawyer and poet who wrote the lyrics to 鈥楾he Star-Spangled Banner, having asked a question about a flag/symbol, whilst K枚lcsey having asked his question of God 鈥� one anthem waiting for daylight; the other waiting for mercy.

Then the strangest claim: 鈥楳egb疟nh艖dte m谩r e n茅p / A m煤ltat s j枚vend艖t!鈥� (This people has already atoned / for the past and the future!) Megb疟nh艖dte is a completed past tense acquisition. A paid debt, even for sins yet to be committed; the lyrics sound like confession, though it works as a plea of innocence.

Is it humility, or simply camouflage? K枚lcsey’s subtitle, 鈥榝rom the stormy centuries of the Hungarian people,鈥� has put the nation鈥檚 suffering safely in the past, and it is often argued that this helped the poem pass Habsburg censors, a notion first promoted through literary historian P谩l Gyulai’s lectures in the 1880s. The dates don’t quite cooperate however, this subtitle having been on the 1823 manuscript, and when the poem was first printed in 1829, it appeared without the subtitle and drew no objection. The never-sung third stanza indeed being boastful, of Tokaj nectar and an army that made 鈥楤茅csnek b眉szke v谩ra鈥� (Vienna’s proud fortress) whimper. But this is only about history.

Hungary had another option. Mih谩ly V枚r枚smarty’s 鈥楽z贸zat鈥� (1836) commands the Hungarian to remain unwaveringly faithful to his homeland, and welcome, if it must come to it, 鈥榓 nagyszer疟 hal谩l鈥� (the glorious death) and insists that the sacrifice surely paid for something: 鈥楢z nem lehet hogy annyi sz铆v / Hi谩ba onta v茅rt.鈥� (It cannot be that so many hearts / shed blood in vain). Sz贸zat addresses the Hungarian; Himnusz addresses God, and its seventh stanza, also one never sung, refuses the bargain outright: 鈥淪 ah, szabads谩g nem vir煤l / A holtnak v茅r茅b艖l,鈥� (And ah, freedom does not bloom / from the blood of the dead). Hungary never came to choose between them; both songs open and close official celebrations.

A melody from church

The words kneel, but so, it turns out, does the tune, although the story Hungary spent a century telling itself about why it is mostly myth. In G茅za G谩rdonyi’s famous version, the composer Ferenc Erkel is locked by the National Theater’s director in a room and forced to compose on the spot the day before the deadline. In the silence, Erkel remembers his first teacher in Pressburg (Bratislava, or Pozsony in Hungarian), who had told him that those who write sacred music should always think of the bells. Then, tolling in his ear, he hears them, these same bells of the city in which he had studied as a youth. The musicologist Ferenc B贸nis was blunt. G谩rdonyi’s account is fine literature, though “鈥n terms of music history it is a mystification.”

The reality was really quite bureaucratic. On 29 February, 1844, the National Theater of Pest announced a contest to promote Hungarian poetry, not to choose a national anthem. Entries were anonymous, marked only by mottoes. Erkel won.

Then the twist. It was found by the musicologist Katalin Kim, who quotes B贸nis’s verdict in a 2021 study of the anthem’s genesis, found that the opening of Erkel’s melody matches that of a Pange lingua setting in Devotio Sacris Hymnis (1815) 鈥� a Catholic hymn book that had been compiled by Heinrich Klein, that very first teacher of Erkel at the Benedictine school in Pressburg. Despite being wrong in its details, the legend is right in its instinct: the tune really does come out of a church.

A reviewer in Reg茅l艖 Pesti Divatlap heard the church鈥檚 bells in 1844 and predicted, on those grounds, that the hymn “will not find an echo on the people’s lips.” 鈥� a line Kim recovers from the July issue. Her verdict on it: “He was wrong.” He had the roots right and the consequence backwards; the church in the music may be exactly why it lasted.

Next door, 1844鈥�1848

Please stay in Pressburg but a moment longer, since in January and February 1844, weeks before Pest announced its contest, a 23-year-old student named Janko Mat煤拧ka was writing Nad Tatrou sa bl媒ska in that same city (Pozsony to Hungarians, Bratislava today), where Erkel had learned his church music.

Mat煤拧ka wrote in protest. The Slovak scholar 慕udov铆t 艩t煤r having been forced from his post at the city’s Lutheran lyceum at the end of 1843, after objections were raised by authorities of the Kingdom of Hungary to his Slovak nationalism. In March, about two dozen students would leave Pressburg as a show of solidarity.

鈥楴ad Tatrou sa bl媒ska, / hromy divo bij煤. / Zastavme ich, bratia, / ve膹 sa ony stratia, / Slov谩ci o啪ij煤.鈥� (Lightning flashes over the Tatras, / thunder strikes wildly. / Let us stop them, brothers; / surely they will vanish, / the Slovaks will come alive).

鈥楲et us stop them鈥�. The Slovaks are depicted as the actors, writing their own destiny 鈥� God does not appear.

And the storm they wanted driven off was, in part, Hungary.

The Himnusz is unusually willing to accuse its own nation, its fifth stanza, unsung, turning on the nation itself: 鈥楬谩nyszor t谩madt tenfiad / Sz茅p haz谩m, kebledre,鈥� (How often your own son rose, / my beautiful homeland, against your breast), until the homeland became 鈥榶our offspring’s funeral urn鈥�. But look who is in that sentence. The son and the mother are both Hungarian. The poem is capable of imagining Hungarians destroying Hungarians; it cannot imagine Hungarians as somebody else’s storm. K枚lcsey’s accounting is real, and it stops at the border.

Set the two songs side by side and K枚lcsey’s poem appears in silhouette. Mat煤拧ka’s Slovaks have a verb: stop them. Hungary’s anthem hands its people almost nothing: struggling, suffering, and atoning, while someone else’s arm decides the outcome. The nation that expressed oppression within Pressburg wrote itself an anthem in which it can barely act.

Now change one variable and put God back in. It would be four years later, in 1848, when the Transylvanian poet Andrei Mure葯anu would write 鈥楧e葯teapt膬-te, rom芒ne!鈥�; first sung in Bra葯ov, then in Hungarian-ruled territory. The historian Nicolae B膬lcescu called it the 鈥楳arseillaise鈥� of the Romanians.

鈥楧e葯teapt膬-te, rom芒ne, din somnul cel de moarte, / 脦n care te-ad芒ncir膬 barbarii de tirani!鈥� (Wake up, Romanian, from the sleep of death / into which the barbarous tyrants sank you!) Himnusz reaches the same invasions and blames nobody outside: 鈥楬ajh, de b疟neink miatt / Gy煤lt harag kebledben,鈥� (Alas, but because of our sins/anger kindled in your breast.) Romania names its oppressors whilst Hungary names itself.

Nor is this piety versus secularism. Another line of Mure葯anu’s poem reads, 鈥楶reo葲i, cu crucea-n frunte, c膬ci oastea e cre葯tin膬鈥�: (Priests, with the cross at the front, for the army is Christian.) God is invoked in both songs, but in Himnusz God acts, and in Mure葯anu’s, God blesses an army that acts 鈥� an army assured that death in battle is better than living again as slaves, which is precisely the bargain K枚lcsey’s seventh stanza refuses, and Hungary never sings. Romania would make the song its anthem on January 24, 1990, weeks after its violent revolution.

So the prayer given in Himnusz is not a sign that Hungary was the more religious country, but rather a question of where the verbs went, and of who ends up in the ledger. Its neighbors’ anthems are willing to identify an enemy, while Hungary’s could only name itself.

The prayer took a long time to become law, with Himnusz only becoming Hungary’s official anthem in 1989, when it was written into the constitution during the democratic transition; a 1903 bill having passed parliament but failing to take effect.

That lag is part of a pattern: with the United States recognizing theirs in 1931, a mere 117 years after Key wrote it; Romania in 1990; Slovakia on January 1, 1993, at independence. The adoption of a nation’s anthems is done not when they are written but when the state needs to say what it is.

The 2012 Fundamental Law, the politics of which are still contested, went further: its preamble opens with the anthem’s first line. The poem’s last stanza repeats its first almost word for word. Only the verb changes.

鈥楽z谩nd meg Isten a magyart.鈥�

(Pity, God, the Hungarian).

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Unique beverages, delicious foods, good cheer, and a true sense of community 鈥� perhaps this is how we could best describe this year鈥檚 annual International Day at 91影视 College Budapest, which was organized by the SAC on Thursday, May 8. With over a dozen nationalities represented, the event drew a much larger audience than expected, and the nearly 60 participants quickly turned it into a lively celebration of cultural diversity and unity. The overriding theme was clear: cultivating curiosity and respect for one another鈥檚 cultures.

Due to the windy and rainy weather conditions, the event was held in the college鈥檚 grand Auditorium (Room 100) 鈥� for the first time since 2019 鈥� offering a nostalgic reminder to the predecessor of International Days, the once-highly successful 鈥淚nternational Dinners.鈥� Similar to previous years, the organizers welcomed students from all programs at the institution, including the four-year BA, Pre-Med/Pre-Vet, and BSM programs, therefore increasing the diversity of the represented countries. In addition to the United States and Hungary, attendees represented (among others) the United Kingdom, Romania, France, Greece, Namibia, Nigeria, Venezuela, Russia, Turkey, and Palestine, and there were even students from Nepal and Myanmar.

The event鈥檚 main highlight was undoubtedly the free presentation and tasting session hosted by Zwack Unicum, a distinguished and historic Hungarian spirits producer. This occasion provided a unique opportunity for students to learn about one of Hungary鈥檚 most successful and historic liqueur companies. Participants also had the chance to sample five distinctive flavors of Zwack鈥檚 flagship brand, Unicum: besides the classic version, attendees could enjoy the coffee, orange, plum, and premium varieties. The idea to organize such an extracurricular activity at the International Day first came up in March, when one of our students, Levente Laknerfi, who works at Zwack Unicum, approached SAC to share details about this exciting opportunity. The organizers quickly embraced the initiative and immediately began collaborating with Levente to coordinate the event. 鈥淚t was a great experience working with SAC to bring this event to my fellow students,鈥� Levente remarked. He also expressed his hope to make this tasting session an annual tradition for International Days, promising that next year鈥檚 event 鈥渨ill keep the high standards鈥� that were set this year.

Zwack鈥檚 close relationship with 91影视 College Budapest added an extra layer of significance to this collaboration. The company鈥檚 Chairman of the Board of Directors, S谩ndor Zwack, is an alumnus of the college, while students enrolled in Professor Robert Smyth鈥檚 popular 鈥淔rom Garden to Table鈥� gastro-journalism course have also previously visited the Zwack factory in Budapest. Although Dean Freny贸 had invited S谩ndor Zwack to the event, he was unable to attend, due to other commitments. Nonetheless, he sent his best wishes to those present.

Following the tasting and presentation, the event entered its second phase: a relaxed, picnic-style gathering, that transformed the auditorium into an informal and lively atmosphere. Many attendees brought special dishes from their own cultures, such as Greek moussaka, American blueberry muffins, Hungarian palacsinta (pancakes) with homemade jam, 迟煤谤贸驳辞尘产贸肠 (cottage cheese dumplings), and German pastries. In addition, the organizers ordered pizza, ensuring a laid-back culinary experience for all attendees. SAC members also acknowledged that next year, they plan to prepare even more food options in order to better meet the growing level of interest.

Participants overwhelmingly shared a positive feedback when asked by our student newspaper. A Study Abroad student, Amiya Daye, commented: 鈥淎lthough I wasn鈥檛 there the entire time, I saw that it was lively, and everyone seemed excited to share cultural experiences with their friends and even strangers.鈥� Freshman art student Lilla S谩ndor described the event as 鈥渞eally enjoyable and entertaining.鈥� Levente Laknerfi also emphasized the significance of the occasion, stating, 鈥淚t was a unique opportunity not only to learn about cultural diversity but to experience it firsthand.鈥� This enthusiasm was reflected in the large number of students who participated in the Kahoot game, featuring fun facts about various nations. Many students also enjoyed the selfie wall, which was created by the Art Club under the leadership of Alexa Bandura.

The International Day also marked the SAC鈥檚 final major program of the semester, making it especially gratifying to see such a large turnout, shared unanimously by several organizers with our newspaper. Indeed, this event not only signaled the conclusion of the semester, but also brought the academic year to a close, serving as a positive example of the increasingly vibrant student community that has been building since 2024.

Photos by Krisztina 骋茅肠锄颈, Anna Horv谩th, and Kristof Kocs

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The 91影视 Budapest Campus is revitalizing its student-run podcast that goes by the title MCDB-Clock It n鈥橤o. It can be found on Spotify and other audio streaming apps and platforms. The organization is run by co-producers and editors Nicholas Trunecz, (who is also a peer mentor and co-president of SAC) and Anna Horv谩th, a 91影视 Budapest alum. Dr. Christopher Cox, professor and director of academic and institutional development, acts as the overseer of the club.

Four students in total are being featured in front of the camera and over the sound waves this semester: Lilla Fekete, a second-year student and native Hungarian; Vera Timothy, an international student from Nigeria and fellow second-year; Jasmine Artis, third-year and study abroad student from the Westminster campus; and myself, second year student and fellow study abroad participant.

While reflecting on previous years, Nicholas comments, 鈥渢his project usually draws a disproportionate amount of study abroad students,鈥� but despite the high number of study-abroad students, this is an open and non-exclusive club where any and everyone is encouraged to join. There is no application process, and the emphasis is on creating a space where all conversations are welcome. The motto for the podcast this year is to 鈥淢ake of it what you will鈥� because those in front and behind the camera are always looking for innovative ideas that are important and interesting to fellow students.

The club not only gives people the chance to discuss things that are important to them but also to learn how to operate equipment, use audio and visual software, and post content on social media. Meetings take place each Monday (except Spring Break) in Room T2 where an episode is recorded, then the topic for the following week鈥檚 episode is discussed. The plan is to shoot and edit an episode each week until the end of the semester to produce five episodes with visual, audio, and short-form content.

Plans to continue and expand this project on the main campus in Westminster have been vaguely discussed. According to the producers of the podcast, higher-ups on both campuses are open to the idea and many students traveling to and from Budapest are intrigued as well.

Follow the link below to listen to older Clock It n鈥橤o content and prepare for upcoming releases:

The Interrogation, which is another podcast that has content from previous 91影视 Budapest students:

The post The return of the podcast appeared first on 91影视 College Budapest.

As acknowledged by the SAC, the event had a dual purpose: on one hand, to host a delightful and easy-going community-building evening centered around wine tasting, and on the other hand, to encourage participants to express their thoughts creatively in the form of paintings. Incidentally, the organizers provided all the necessary artistic supplies. Some attendees created landscapes, others chose to depict their beloved pets, while another participant rendered a figure study of a female nude. In the meantime, Professor Smyth 鈥� who is also the faculty advisor for 91影视 Budapest鈥檚 online student newspaper The Messenger 鈥� delivered a captivating lecture on the true art of wine tasting, emphasizing the importance of engaging all our senses.听

鈥淔or me, it was wonderful to talk about Hungarian wine to young people because we hear so much about how young people are not drinking wine these days; that it is a dying product,鈥� Professor Smyth told our newspaper, adding that 鈥渋t was really nice to see the joy in people鈥檚 eyes and the enthusiasm.鈥� When asked if this year鈥檚 event differed from those he had attended in the past, he responded, 鈥淣ot really.鈥�

鈥淓very event is unique,鈥� the wine journalist continued, and Art & Wine Nights are always popular because 鈥渢hey鈥檙e really fun,鈥� which is why he hopes to organize the event again next year.

The selection of drinks, similar to previous years, has been centered around traditional Hungarian vintages, aiming to provide both Hungarian and international students with a glimpse into the region鈥檚 rich and high-quality wine culture. This year, the choice has fallen on two exceptional Hungarian wines that truly represent the country鈥檚 exclusive winemaking heritage: the B脰JT winery鈥檚 Egri Bikav茅r Superior red wine and the Balassa winery鈥檚 鈥渄uck-themed鈥� dry Furmint from Tokaj.

All participants unanimously expressed their enjoyment of the event. 鈥淭he Art and Wine Night was such a fun experience, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it,鈥� remarked Savannah, an art major and one of the attendees. She emphasized that the purpose of the event was not 鈥渢o see who could drink the most wine or whose painting was the best, but [rather] to connect with fellow students while enjoying some wine and making art!鈥� Hope, another participant, echoed similar sentiments, describing the event as “an incredible night, filled with creativity, joy, and fun.” According to the Study Abroad student who arrived from the Westminster campus only for this semester, the Art & Wine Night also provided an excellent opportunity for community building. “It has inspired my friends and I to organize a picnic by Parliament during sunset and paint,” Hope continued, emphasizing the importance of 鈥渢aking advantage of the beautiful city we are in鈥� and creating artwork that will last forever.

In a continuation of past traditions, the Art Exhibition celebrating the works created during the Art & Wine Night has been organized on the second floor of the college. Due to significant interest, the exhibition was open for viewing until April 18, and visitors will have the opportunity not only to admire the stunning creations of our talented artists but also to purchase reprints in postcard, A4, or A3 sizes. Similar to previous events, the donations collected during the Art & Wine Night and the Art Exhibition will go to SAC, who will utilise the funds to support the costs of such programs and activities. After being delighted by the event’s success and large participation, the SAC has made several important announcements regarding a number of other exciting student life activities that will be held in the coming weeks. In addition to the Art Market, 91影视 Budapest will host an all-college basketball tournament on April 30 (the first such event in years), a hiking excursion during the first weekend of May, and many minor activities planned by the school’s Art Club. Furthermore, organizers have confirmed that the semester’s most highly anticipated event, International Day, will take place on Thursday, May 8, during the late afternoon and early evening hours, with an array of exciting surprise activities for attendees to enjoy. As a teaser, the SAC revealed that, following the success of the Art & Wine Night, representatives from Zwack Unicum 鈥� a prominent Hungarian spirits company where 91影视 alum S谩ndor Zwack is the chairman of the board of directors 鈥� will be invited to deliver a presentation about their products, which will include a free tasting experience.

If you are interested to learn more about 91影视鈥檚 Student Life activities, please make sure to follow their Instagram page (@mcdanielbudapest), or reach out to any of the Peer Mentors/SAC Officers.

Photos by Alex Contreras, Krisztina 骋茅肠锄颈, and Kristof Kocs

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The advice in this article is specific to living in Budapest, Hungary, as a first time international traveler, but includes quotes and pieces of advice from study abroad professor and 91影视 College鈥檚 Communication and Cinema Department Associate Chair Dr. Erin Watley along with fellow first time study abroad student and Communication major Isabelle Diffendal along with frequent international traveler and Spanish, Kinesiology, and Psych major Hope Safia.

1. Don鈥檛 pack like you鈥檙e (only) going on vacation

There will be plenty of places to travel and buy new clothes if that鈥檚 what you like to do. However, you will be living here so bring clothes you wear every day like lounge wear or pajamas, a jacket and coat; pack for cold and warm days, regardless of what time of year you plan to stay.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to bring things that are really unique to your comfort,鈥� explains Dr. Watley. For instance, for myself as a woman of color, there are certain things I must take into consideration when traveling, even within my own country, let alone another one. These things include certain hair and body products that may not be widely available like leave-in conditioners for my hair and cocoa butter for my skin, and more just based on my preferences.

The same can be said for all kinds of experiences, so if you prefer certain textures for sleeping, specific brands of snacks, spices, or sauces that you know you will miss, or anything (within reason) that brings you comfort, bring it with you. Also, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has a website where you can check which items can and cannot be brought on planes.

2. Travel in a group if you can

Unless you are a frequent international solo traveler or just enjoy solo travel, going to a new country alone can be overwhelming so choose a travel buddy from your program if you can; book flights together and stay connected throughout the trip. Once you arrive, it is safe to travel alone (with caution of course) but traveling in a group can lead to more interesting experiences and provide more assurance and safety.

鈥淚f you are traveling alone, stay in crowded areas and remember, it鈥檚 okay to walk away from uncomfortable situations,鈥� recommends Isabelle. 鈥淏e aware of scam ATMs. Do not use the ones outside of discount shops, only those attached to banks or those recommended by trusted individuals.鈥�

鈥淭hough it may be obvious to say, be conscious of your surroundings as well,鈥� Isabelle adds, 鈥淐ars will not stop for you even when pulling out of car garages. There are bike lanes on sidewalks and bikers who make sidewalks their road, look out for them too.鈥�

鈥淎lso,鈥� Isabelle says, 鈥淒o not go to places with only an English menu out front. Or places with names that are not unique. For example, a pizzeria that only has the name 鈥楶izzeria鈥� and not its own unique brand is a tourist trap.鈥�

3. Remember, you are still in school:

Though it may be encouraged to not bring much school supplies, if you are like I am, bring paper and pencils with you. Yes, it may be more convenient to only use electronic devices but if you know you work better with physical materials, then don鈥檛 be afraid to make room for them. Some classes may even require it.

When it comes to school advice, Dr. Watley encouraged students to go further into their educational exploration. 鈥淚f you have some 91影视 plan credits to fulfill or have room for an extra course, take a class that intrigues you but has nothing to do with your major. Everything is a part of the experience.鈥�

Here at the Budapest campus, you can jump into a badminton class, take the Music from the Margins course where you listen, dissect, and learn about music from marginalized communities, and much more.

4. Watch your money

鈥淏e mindful about your spending,鈥漵ays Dr. Watley. 鈥淭here is a cultural element to spending money and spending lots of it can draw unwanted attention to you.鈥� I would also add that budgeting is important for any trip but when living specifically in Budapest as an international student from America, it can be easy to overspend once you realize how inexpensive things are in comparison to back home.

I recommend making two lists of what you expect to spend monthly, then weekly. With all your numbers laid out, you can spend without stress. Make sure to consider monthly subscriptions, recurring payments, and bank fees. Most American banks have a 2-3% international fee every time you use your card, so using cash has been best for me. You can request Hungarian money from your bank at home before you leave or use the local and trusted ATM which is just a block over from the 91影视 Budapest school building. These transactions also come with a fee.

If you don’t like to cook, consider having a bigger 鈥渟pending鈥� or 鈥済oing out budget鈥� than a weekly/monthly grocery budget. Also, cheaper doesn鈥檛 always mean better when budgeting, sometimes it鈥檚 nice to spend a little more on necessary products like cleaning supplies for example.

5. Create some Lore! And explore!

Hope likes to go by a saying while living and studying abroad here in Budapest: Y.O.L.I.B.O. 鈥淭he YOLIBO (You Only Live in Budapest Once) concept came about during my last semester spent in Madrid, Spain,鈥� Hope explains. 鈥淒uring study abroad, you must take advantage of all the opportunities presented to you because you only have this chance once. So, say yes to everything, enjoy every moment, and take it all in.鈥�

Personally, I couldn鈥檛 agree more. Do all the things you may have been putting off or haven鈥檛 had the opportunity to do for assorted reasons. Visit those quaint coffee shops and try new and exotic foods. Take the inexpensive and easy to use public transportation to visit different cities (or even countries) and explore different sites. Book concert tickets, go to museums, and more. Also just enjoy a trip to the park or the market and take it easy. It鈥檚 fun to do these things on your own, but it can be just as fun to do it with the new friends or travel companions you鈥檝e made along the way.

鈥淒ifferent people will give you different opportunities to do different things so embrace the newness of it if you are there, just be present,鈥� Dr. Watley says, 鈥淒on鈥檛 compare the version of fun you will experience here to the one that you are used to, it won鈥檛 look the same. And, at the very least, you can say you did it.鈥�

Photos by听Amiya Daye

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Emotional Intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and influence one鈥檚 own emotions and the emotions of others. In the context of relationships, emotional intelligence plays a pivotal role in fostering healthy, supportive, and communicative connections between individuals. Psychologists have long emphasized how the skills associated with emotional intelligence contribute to better conflict resolution, empathy, and overall relationship satisfaction.

Emotional Intelligence in Relationships

1. Self-awareness: Recognizing one鈥檚 own emotions is the first step in emotional intelligence. In relationships, being aware of your feelings helps you communicate effectively and prevents unnecessary emotional outbursts. This is especially important when navigating disagreements or stressful situations, where emotions can run high.

Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your moods, emotions, and drives, as well as their effect on others,鈥漵ays Daniel Goleman.

2. Empathy: A key component of EI, empathy allows individuals to understand and share the feelings of others. In relationships, empathy is essential for connecting with your partner or loved ones on a deeper level, providing emotional support, and building trust. Empathetic individuals are better equipped to validate the emotions of others and respond with compassion.

鈥淓mpathy is the ability to feel with another person. It means to sense the hurt in another person and respond with care,鈥漵ays Carl Rogers.

3. Emotional Regulation: Managing one鈥檚 emotions in healthy ways is vital for maintaining positive interactions in relationships. Individuals with high EI can calm themselves in stressful moments, avoid escalation during conflicts, and communicate their feelings constructively. Emotional regulation is essential for reducing tension and promoting emotional stability.

鈥漈he ability to manage your emotions in healthy ways is essential for maintaining balance in relationships,鈥漵ays Daniel Goleman.

4. Social Skills: Effective communication and the ability to manage social interactions are fundamental aspects of emotional intelligence. Strong social skills help individuals express themselves clearly, listen actively, and respond appropriately to the needs of others. These skills are critical in maintaining harmony, especially in intimate relationships where misunderstandings and miscommunication can cause significant strain.

鈥淭he key to managing conflict in a relationship is not avoiding it, but how you handle it when it arises,鈥漵ays John Gottman.

5. Conflict Resolution: Emotional intelligence provides individuals with the tools to manage and resolve conflicts constructively. People with high EI are more likely to approach disputes with a problem-solving mindset rather than becoming defensive or aggressive. They understand the emotional undercurrents of the conflict and work collaboratively toward a solution, fostering greater understanding and connection.

鈥�In relationships, the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts is one of the most important skills we can develop,鈥漵ays Daniel Goleman.

Emotional Intelligence in Romantic Relationships

In romantic relationships, emotional intelligence is particularly important because it affects how partners connect, communicate, and manage challenges together. Couples with high EI tend to have healthier relationships, marked by greater intimacy, understanding, and a deeper emotional connection. They are more likely to resolve disagreements calmly and constructively, without resorting to toxic patterns like blame or defensiveness.Studies on Emotional Intelligence and Relationship Satisfaction have shown that individuals with higher levels of emotional intelligence tend to experience greater satisfaction in their relationships, whether romantic, familial, or professional. These individuals possess the emotional awareness and communication skills needed to navigate difficult situations with empathy, mutual respect, and problem-solving strategies.

Emotional Intelligence and Parent-Child Relationships

Emotional intelligence is also important in parent-child relationships. Parents with high EI are more likely to understand and validate their children鈥檚 emotions, fostering a secure attachment and emotional resilience in the child. By modeling emotional regulation and empathetic communication, emotionally intelligent parents provide children with the tools to navigate their own emotions and relationships. 鈥淓motional intelligence begins with self-awareness, but it develops through nurturing, positive relationships, especially with caregivers,鈥漵ays Daniel Goleman.

Emotional intelligence is integral to the success of relationships, whether romantic, familial, or professional. The ability to be self-aware, empathize with others, regulate emotions, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts in a healthy way are all skills that contribute to the overall health and satisfaction of relationships. Psychologists like Daniel Goleman, Carl Rogers, and John Gottman have highlighted the importance of these emotional competencies in creating strong, supportive, and lasting connections.

Overall, emotional intelligence is not only important for individual well-being but is also for building and maintaining meaningful relationships that thrive on mutual respect, understanding, and emotional connection.

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Kristof Kocs, Co-President of the Student Advisory Council, is a senior student majoring in Political Science with minors in Journalism and History. Alongside him is his long-time friend and Co-President, Nicholas Trunecz, who is also in his final year, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Economics.Both served as Peer Mentors in the past, inspiring them to aim for a higher leadership role in the spring of 2024. In this interview, we will explore Nicholas and Kristof鈥檚 experiences and motivations as SAC Presidents, as they believe that 鈥渢he best you can do is just do things鈥� while delving into their plans for the year, their goals for the student body, and the personal backgrounds that shape their leadership style.

骋茅肠锄颈: Why did you choose to run for SAC presidency?

Trunecz: I was the one who started that process at the end of last fall (2023). Originally, I just thought it would look good on a resume, and then we received more motivation and convinced him (Kocs) to join.

Kocs: That鈥檚 true. I was studying at the Westminster campus last fall, and I became involved in helping people there, study-abroads, and advertising the Budapest campus. When I returned, I just loved this sort of position, and I instantly became a peer mentor. He (Trunecz) convinced me that鈥檚 true, to run on a joint ticket for the presidency.

骋茅肠锄颈: How come you ran for the position together?

Trunecz: The tradition has been for a while that there are two SAC presidents, and experience shows that one person cannot do this job.

Kocs: I absolutely agree with Nicholas. It was two years ago that the Vice President and the President became two Presidents. They could divide the tasks equally, they are two different people, just like Nicholas and I. He has slightly different views on things; he鈥檚 the German calmness, I鈥檓 a little more Eastern European sometimes, and of course, the American. It鈥檚 kind of an interesting mix, and we thought it was better.

骋茅肠锄颈: It was the first time that you did the campaign together, right?

Kocs: Yes, this was the first time when it was instantly two people aiming for the presidency.

Trunecz: Chances are this will be the new standard.

骋茅肠锄颈: How would you evaluate the work of the SAC this semester (Fall 2024)?

Kocs: I think we had a fantastic and pretty successful semester. We had the fascinating Thanksgiving Gala, we successfully created a SAC Constitution, we have policies laid down, and we have people attending the events. 听We organized smaller and larger scale events, and students suddenly became interested in joining the SAC and participating in the events. I鈥檓 really proud of the SAC Team we have this semester; I think we all are fantastic people. We treat everyone as equal. Even though there are Presidents and Communication Officers, I think everyone is equally important, and everyone has an equal voice in the decisions.

Trunecz: It has to be admitted I believe the workload has been a bit more than what we expected. It is a bit difficult to manage.

骋茅肠锄颈: Paperwork? Or what type of workload?

Trunecz: All of it, in general.

Kocs: Yeah, the paperwork is a little more, too. The SAC that we know today is completely different than it used to be before Covid, especially. There were three different positions: SAC, Peer Mentors, and Student Ambassadors.

Trunecz: But the borders between these were very vague, to put it mildly.

Kocs: Since the end of Covid, these emerged into one, which we know today as SAC. We have more responsibilities, not to mention the number of duties that we receive from the administration, specifically Henrietta, working with the study-abroad students. 听Next semester is going to be a little easier now that we know what to expect and how to handle things.

Trunecz: Given the fact that we are both graduating, as well as 2-3 other members of the SAC, it will be an interesting semester.

骋茅肠锄颈: How could you increase student involvement in activities/programs?

Trunecz: The best you can do is just do things; you know. If we start a tradition, for example, the art club that Alexa (Peer Mentor) started if you just give up because the first time around, two people showed up only, you鈥檙e not going to get far. Of course, advertising is very important, and we have some good communication people now who are doing a great job. Putting up posters in the classroom has proven effective.

骋茅肠锄颈: Which is better: social media advertising or posters?

Kocs: I think both are equally important, but with the posters, the good thing is that you instantly see them. What I would also add to Nicholas鈥� remark is approachability. SAC members should be approachable from the very beginning, so what we did was we were really approachable during the first weeks for Freshmen and study-abroad students. They obviously got to know us very well; we built trust with them. This way, they have more willingness to participate in the events. With the upper-class students, it鈥檚 the same; we are approachable whenever they have any questions.

骋茅肠锄颈: I think it comes down to the fact that you guys are very open, so people aren鈥檛 afraid to ask. Moving on, for the Spring 2025 semester, what are your main goals?

Trunecz: We haven鈥檛 looked too far into the future, however,of course, we ought to organize another event on the scale of the recent Thanksgiving Gala. We could organize more trips outside the campus, within Hungary, as well as outside. Perhaps going to Croatia, Italy, or somewhere in May.

Kocs: Also, for the smaller scale events, we鈥檙e definitely going to have Art & Wine Night and organize something for the International Day that has been a great tradition. We want to bring back a tradition, the seniors/graduates dinner. There is a little personal motivation behind it. It鈥檚 been a tradition that existed for many years; it鈥檚 important for the graduates.

骋茅肠锄颈: Is it hard to tackle being president as well as your final years of studies?

Trunecz: Not yet we鈥檒l come back to that next semester.

Kocs: It can be sometimes stressful, but I like it. Especially orientation week, which is a lot of work. I remember one-day last year, we worked 16-18 hours straight. After you finish the event and you have this fantastic product that you鈥檝e created, it feels great.

骋茅肠锄颈: Kristof, you have been to the American Campus, as far as I know, you (Nicholas) didn鈥檛 go, right?

Trunecz: No, well, while the original plan was to go in my junior year, which is now, but then I had a bunch of entanglements here like the SAC, and I decided to finish a year early, so that doesn鈥檛 work out.

骋茅肠锄颈: How was your (Kocs) experience there at Westminster?

Kocs: I really loved it, thank you for the question. I feel like if students have the opportunity and resources to travel there and study there, even if it鈥檚 just one semester or a year, they should definitely take this opportunity. That鈥檚 a different campus; it鈥檚 bigger, more professors, and it鈥檚 more American, to say the least. It鈥檚 located in a rural area. Ultimately, it鈥檚 a great way to extend your view and learn about things that you might not be able to learn here at the Budapest campus, though we still have a lot of visiting professors. We will have a visiting professor next semester, take that class!

骋茅肠锄颈: You both study political science, what aspects of politics or international relations are you interested in?

Trunecz: Currently, given that we are at an American College, US foreign policy, and also domestic politics, you might as well.

Kocs: Honestly, I鈥檓 also a little interested in US politics but more Central European politics. We are living in the heart of Europe since I grew up in Hungary, I鈥檓 interested in what will happen to this country. I鈥檓 going to do my thesis on nationalism in Central Europe.

骋茅肠锄颈: Lastly, what are your plans after graduating?

Trunecz: There are two institutions that are my top two: the School of International Studies in Vienna and the University of Lucerne in Switzerland. Now, the Vienna program is specifically tailored to train people for the foreign service, which would be excellent because that鈥檚 step three: joining the foreign service in Germany. In Lucerne, they have a political science master鈥檚 dual program together with the University of Carleton in Canada.

Kocs: Previously, I was also leaning towards going for a master鈥檚, but now I鈥檓 more and more interested in starting to work instead. I鈥檝e been looking into several job opportunities in multiple fields. The US embassy, I did an internship over there if they had an opportunity, I鈥檇 instantly take that also NGOs. Maybe later on, do a master鈥檚.

骋茅肠锄颈: Thank you guys so much!

Kocs & Trunecz: Thank you!

Note: This interview was conducted in December 2024.

Photo by Anna Horv谩th

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