Staying in Budapest this semester? Read this... My first days settling in the city

So you are thinking of doing your Erasmus exchange program in one of the universities in Budapest, Hungary. You just made a wonderful decision. Budapest is a good choice doing your exchange program. I have had good experiences in Budapest, Hungary and I would say such experiences are things to be cherished; the good memories I had there are really amazing.

The first time I saw Budapest I was tantalized by the very beauty of the city. However, just any first timer in the place, I need to get myself acquainted in the city in order to make my stay convenient and comfortable. I need to familiarize myself in the culture and lifestyle in the city. I also need to get acquainted about its language, people and its local dishes.

Let me tell you my personal experiences in my first days of settling in Budapest, Hungary. While it may not be as eventful as others had in this beautiful city, it is worth sharing for some fellow students who plan to do their Erasmus program in one of its reputable universities.

On Getting to My Dormitory

On the day I arrived at Budapest, I was literally clueless on how to get to my dormitory. I sought advice from a countryman on how to get to my dormitory and I was given the advice of taking the cab since it was my first day in the city and I did not want to get stressed finding my dormitory on the first day. With that being said, upon arrival and heading to the airport's exit I approached the Fo taxi booth where I could pay for my taxi fare and waited for the cab to arrive and fetch me to my dormitory. The fare is around 12 euros. After a thirty minute drive, I was able to get into my dormitory. It was Saturday, September 3, 2016, when I arrived in Budapest and I was initially surprised because the city was so quiet. Only then I understood that the semester has not yet started and that most students had not yet arrived in the city. In some cities like Budapest, the student population constitutes the great bulk of the city's population so much so that when the semester is over and the semestral break starts, students go back to their home cities. At that point in time, the city becomes so quiet and the streets are a bit clear of people who used to crowd in certain areas.

For a person who came from a huge and crowded city, I am not used to seeing the streets without people and the place so quiet. Be that as it may, such an amazement turned into fascination because I have an immediate positive connection to the city. The first time I saw it, I fell in love with it.

This scene is typical of the city in an early morning stroll. I love taking a morning walk in the city and truth to tell I miss this morning Budapest serenity.

When I arrived to my dormitory, I immediately filled up the accommodation agreement form and got the key from the desk. I opened my room and checked the existing ameneties. I needed to clean it and keep it tidy to make my first night comfortable. I was in the second floor and is located right next to the kitchen and the toilet.

Since there are no kitchen utensils and wares to be used, I needed to purchase in the central market which is situated one hundred meters away (100) from my dormitory. So it is within walking distance from Kiniszi Dormitory, my dormitory in Budapest. I considered myself lucky opting to stay in the Kiniszi Dormitory because it is so close to the university where I was studying and is likewise within walking distance to the Central Market and other places of interest.

Below there is a picture of some architectural buildings which are situated just across the street where the Central Market is situated. I find this photo so good as though it was a postcard in itself.

The Central Market is considered by many as among the most beautiful markets in the world. No wonder, Budapest is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The photo below is the Great Central Market in Budapest. The market was close when I visited it. Too bad I was supposed to do my first marketing assignment in the city on that day.

I would say that my first night sleeping experience is good. I had a good night sleep and adjusted easily with the time clock. The difference between Budapest and Manila is six (6) hours. I had trouble adjusting to my natural body rhythmn but I found no trouble this time. Whether or not my biological clock will not betray me in the next few months was an issue I need to deal with.

On the Local Currency

The local currency in Hungary is forinth. When I first exchanged a hundred euros to forinth, I was at a loss to the exhange rate. I realized that a euro is equivalent to around 315 forinth. I also needed to familiarize myself with the different denominations of forinth since I will be using the currency in the next six months of my stay in the city.

By the way, you can find a great number of money changer outlets in Budapest should you wish to exchange euro or dollar to forinth.

It is interesting to note that the cost of living in Budapest is comparatively lower than other cities in the Central Eastern Europe area. If you are smart enough in handling your finances, you may be able to save a part of your budget.

On the Public Transport System

To get from one place to another place in the city, I needed to purchase a transport ticket which can be done in some booths which are situated in the metro station across different places in Budapest. One can buy a one-day trip ticket. If you want a longer duration ticket, you can opt to buy ticket good for a week or a month. For students like me, buying a monthly ticket is much more practical since it is cheaper. it costs around 12 euros. But since I do not commute on a daily basis, I only bought ticket good for a day on certain occasions. Budapest, based on my personal impression, has one of the best transport systems in Europe. They operate tram, bus and metro. The public transport is efficient as they work on time schedule.

On Food

In terms of food, I enjoyed Hungarian dishes a lot although I also used to eat in Turkish restaurant, Indian restaurant and Chinese restaurant. There are great varieties of dishes when you visit the different restaurants in the city centre. If you want fresh produce, you can visit the Central Market. Grocery stores like Aldi and Spar are likewise seen everywhere in the city. I missed eating local dishes. I had no problem looking for rice and cereals.

On the Magyar Language

There is one area where I had trouble: the language. Hungarian is definitely and undoubtedly one of the most difficult languages to learn. They say that Chinese is a puzzle to many, try Hungarian and you might think twice. Hungarian, for me, is tougher than any other languages I have encountered. Young locals are generally proficient in English. But older ones are not that much. Notwithstanding I was able to survive in my first few days. Desirous of getting into the skin of the locals, I tried to study the Hungarian language and was able to familiarize myself with the basic conversational phrases that I can use in the market, in church, in the street, among other public places where I may find myself talking to a local.

Looking Forward

Over-all, I was able to survive on my first days of settling in Budapest. The good news is that as the days go by, I can see myself progressing at a good pace. Settling in to a new place may not be as easy as anybody may think, but it opens door for challenges in order for a person to get himself adjusted, be flexible and develop self-reliance and independence. There is a virtue in getting into a new place. I was confident that I can learn a lof of things in this new and unique experience!