Bound to Budapest!

Bound to Budapest!

It was in the middle of May 2016 when I received the news that I was selected as among the scholarship grantees for a two-year master's program study in Europe. I was ecstatic when I heard the news and I could not fill myself with self-control enough to conceal my excitement.

I have learned that my first destination is in Budapest, Hungary where I will spend the first semester of the program at the University of Corvinus. Truth to tell, I have not heard that much about Budapest but I was thrilled when I was informed by a friend that this city is among the most beautiful cities in Europe. Be that as it may, I started to read information about the city in the internet and tried to devour all possible practical information that can be useful during my stay in my new city Budapest.

As to Corvinus University, it is among the largest universities in Budapest, Hungary and has good academic reputation.

Below is a picture of the Budapest Central Market, widely regarded as among the most beautiful markets in Europe. 

Applying for My Long-Stay Visa

In order to get ready for my European academic journey, I prepared all the documentations that I will be needing for my transition to Budapest. I needed to apply for a visa for study purposes. Inasmuch as I will stay in the city for more than ninety (90) days, what I needed is a long-stay visa for study purposes. Immediately I tried to look for information over the web regarding Hungarian Embassy in Manila. After some phone calls and e-mail messages, I was informed that the Hungarian government did not have an embassy in Manila during that time and that applicants for long-stay visa need to go to either Bangkok, Thaiiland or Jakarta, Indonesia for long-stay visa application. A month ago a fellow scholar in the program told me that the Hungarian Embassy will now start processing visa application in Manila on July 2017. With that being said, Filipino students who would like to study in Budapest no longer need to go to Jakarta or Bangkok for visa application. 

Hence, I sent an e-mail to the Hungarian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia. I received a prompt reply from them giving me information regarding the requirements for visa application, the procedure to be undertaken as well as the scheduling of appointment to them for the visa application interview.

Having scheduled my visa application, I immediately booked my flight going to Jakarta, Indonesia and applied for the visa. I was informed that I needed to submit a travel insurance and flight tickets as part of the visa application. As required, I complied with the requirements submitting the same online.

Thirty (30) days thereafter I received an e-mail from the Embassy that I may now be able to receive my visa which was sent to me by mail. My visa has a duration of approximately seven (7) months and it was a single entry visa.

Here is a photo of the Hungarian Embassy at Jakarta, Indonesia where I applied for a long-stay visa for study purposes.

Getting Ready for My Journey

After I received my visa from the Hungarian Embassy from Jakarta, Indonesia, I was even more convinced that I am now really bound to my European academic journey and I could sense that I would enjoy this new opportunity ahead of me.

So I started to pack my stuffs. I packed all my necessities---clothings, travel documents, scholastic documents, family pictures, among other tokens that will remind me of home when I feel nostalgic.I limited my clothings to only a few important garments. I also brought with me my transcript of records, diploma, etc., just in case I will be in need of them. Not to forget are photos of mine in different sizes so that I can just pull them from my wallet in case I will be needing them when I fill up forms that will be needing a photo. Of course, I had with me the picture of my family so that I can be reminded of my home sweet home.

In Anticipation

The information that I received and heard about Budapest is but limited and based on the accounts of people who have been to the place. I heard lots of good things about the city and the exciting things to do when you get there. Be that as it may, it is entirely a different thing experiencing the life in the city in flesh compared to hearing it from people who have been there and experiencing it vicariously through books or internet.

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