University Information
University Pázmány Péter Catholic University
Country Hungary
Department / Faculty Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
University Website https://btk.ppke.hu/en
Short description of the university Pázmány Péter Catholic University was founded in 1635 and has been continuously operating ever since. As Hungary’s unique catholic university and the only Centre of Excellence in private higher education since 2013, our University is regularly elected among the 10 leading universities in national rankings since 2009. As member of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, as well as of the European Federation of Catholic Universities, PPCU has demonstrated its commitment to the internationalization of studie s and research.
The University has four faculties: the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, the Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, as well as the Postgraduate Institute of Canon Law, which also has faculty status. The Faculty of Humanities was opened in Budapest in 1992. Due to the increasing significance of the social sciences, our Faculty was renamed as Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2012 and the former Vitéz János Faculty was integrated into our Faculty as the Vitéz János Centre for Teacher Training in 2013.
Short description of the location 1. PILISCSABA Piliscsaba is located in the north-eastern part of Pest County, 14 km far
from Budapest, in the valley between the Pilis and the Buda mountains.
The Faculty of Humanities (today Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) started its operation here in 1994. (Egyetem tér 1., 2087 Piliscsaba) 2. BUDAPEST Since September 2012, we have launched courses in Budapest, too. The location of education is in the 8th district of the capital, in the middle of the old palace district, in the neighbourhood of churches, universities and famous cultural institutions. (Mikszáth tér 1., 1088 Budapest) 3. ESZTERGOM The university building is located in the historical city centre, next to the Basilica of Esztergom. In this building, the archiepiscopal teacher training institution has been operating since 1929. (Májer István út 1-3., 2500 Esztergom)
Contact Information International Office
Address International Office 1088 Budapest, Mikszáth Kálmán tér 1. - Sophianum 004
Website International Office https://btk.ppke.hu/en/international -office/contact
Mr. Gábor Weszprémy Name and email of the Incoming [email protected] (official contact), Exchange Coordinator [email protected] (for nominations and students)
Application
Term 1st Semester 2nd Semester
Student’s application Deadline 31 July 30 November
Information about how to apply Students have to be nominated by their home coordinator until 30 June for the 1 st and until 31 October for the 2 nd semester. Students will be informed about the next steps of application after the nomination within two weeks.
Requirements for Incoming Exchange Students
Do you have r equirements concerning no GPA or Overall Average Grade ?
Is an o fficial language proof required? no
Do you accept a language confirmation issued by Sciences Po yes Saint -Germain-en-Laye?
Which other documents do you require nothing with the application / registration?
Academic Calendar 1st semester 2nd semester
Orientation Session period from 31/08/2015 until 06/09/2015 from 01/02/2016 until 05/02/2016
Beginning of Classes 07/09/2015 08/02/2016
End of Classes 11/12/2015 13/05/2016
Exam P eriod from 14/12/2015 until 30/01/2016 from 16/05/2016 until 27/06/2016
Programs and courses open to Incoming Students
Link to Course Offer open to Exchange Students : https://btk.ppke.hu/en/information-on-studies/courses
The course list for the given semester will be sent to the Students after their successful application
Are Bachelor Exchange Students allowed to take courses at yes Master’s level? Are students allowed to take cross-faculty modules? no (e.g. Sociology and Law)? When do exchange students inform you along with their application of their course selection ?
Can students change their course selection after they arrive ? yes
Credits
Minimum and maximum number of credits (or courses) that no minimum or maximum requirements. can be taken by Incoming Exchange Students credit grading system : https://btk.ppke.hu/en/information -on-studies/exams-and-grading-system-ects
Services offered to exchange students
Information about accommodation for exchange students https://btk.ppke.hu/en/information -on- studies/accommodation
Buddies, or the so -called “mentors” will be assigned Buddy program after the complete application
Airport pick up service no
Tuition fees and cost of living
Are there any mandatory fees exchange No students need to pay?
Approximate cost of living per month Rent 200-500 Euros Living Expenses 100 Euros Personal Expenses 100 Euros ______Total 400-700 Euros
Guide-U A magazine for Erasmus students at Pázmány
Welcometo Pázmány Péter Catholic University
Dear Erasmus Student,
Have you ever imagined that once you would live in Hungary, even if only for a couple of months? Has it ever occurred to you that you would be waiting for courses held by Hungarian teachers? Or thought of visiting Lake Balaton, Central Europe’s largest lake, and tasting a lángos on its beach? And to top it o ƪ , ß inging yourself into the vibrant life of the beautiful capital, Budapest, especially in the evenings? Now, you have the chance to experience all these.
Let me warmly welcome you at Pázmány Péter Catholic University (Pázmány or PPCU for short). The university has a long history, as it was founded in 1635 and has been operating ever since. Pázmány currently has Þ ve faculties : the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, the Faculty of you. The mentor students of the students who know that it is di Ư cult to Information Technology and Bionics Committee of Foreign A ƪ airs will be Þ nd your way in a foreign country. We and the Postgraduate Canon Law responsible for your integration during would like you to enjoy being here, and Institute. These are located at three your stay. Each of you will be assisted by we hope that you’ll keep in touch with di ƪ erent sites: in Budapest, in a mentor student, and the Committee your new friends and will eventually Piliscsaba and in Esztergom. All of them will organize you International Evenings return one day. are worth visiting. I believe that you will and trips in Hungary. fall in love with the breathtaking view of the Piliscsaba campus, the panorama This magazine provides help with I am sure that by the end of your studies from the Esztergom Cathedral on the academic life at our university, on the you will have plenty of lovely memories Danube, and that you will never get one hand, and tips to ease your stay in and master a few Hungarian enough of sparkling Budapest. Hungary, on the other. We o ƪ er you expressions. I wish you a successful useful information concerning everyday semester at our university and a great You have made a very good decision by life issues, such as the use of public time in Hungary. choosing us for the place to study. We transport and useful Hungarian are glad to have you here and hope you expressions. We would also like to give will never forget this semester. To you tips what to do and see before you Boglárka Ilenczfalvi-Szász achieve this, we will do our best to help leave. Our articles are written by fellow Attila Tóth
3 Contents Erasmus 3 Greetings 6 Erasmus: Change your life for ever 7 Erasmus at Pázmány 8 Vital info Pázmány Academic life at PPCU 10 What to study at Pázmány 11 Neptun 12 The Budapest locations 1: Sophianum 13 The Budapest locations 2: Tárogató 14 15 The Piliscsaba campus 16 Pázmány at Esztergom 18 Libraries 20 How to reach your destination 21 Where to eat around the campuses Where to have fun around Pázmány 23 The Student Union 25 Interview with Johanna 26 from Germany
4 Budapest Moving around in Budapest 28 Budapest: Ten things 29 you must see before you leave Special programmes in spring 2017 32 Explore the hidden 34 treasures of Budapest 35 Escape to the green! 36 Scenic hiking spots in Budapest 37 Interview with Mariagrazia from Italy 38 Interview with Arpine from Armenia Hungary Discover a country that never ceases 40 to amaze you A country of revolutions 41 Basic Hungarian for your everyday life 43 44 In the land of food-lovers 46 Hungarian food specialities -- ticklist 48 Two Hungarian spring traditions 49 Interview with Julia from Germany
5 Erasmus: Change your life for ever You are on the verge of starting the experience of your lifetime. How are you feeling? Are you so excited that you cannot even sleep? Are you nervous because you have no idea what is going to happen in the next four or Þ ve months? Will you have any friends? Will you miss your family? Will you be able to speak the language? Whatever your feelings are now, they do not matter because you have made the best decision of your life – and you can take my word for it.
As an Erasmus alumna, I have gone through all the stages which you are going through now. One month before my travel I got so excited about my new adventure that no day passed without thinking of it. But the real excitement came on the day country opens you up, especially if you are on your own. You when I left my country and waved goodbye to my parents at try to get every possibility to make some friends, and the the airport for the last time in a few months. The thought others will try it too, since either they are also new in a new dawned on me: I am alone. I am responsible for myself and I country, or they are interested in you because you came from have to Þ nd my way in a completely new country. The feeling a diƪ erent culture. All of you are unique, from all around the cannot be described how excited world. You help each other together, you explore the new world with each other’s support. Not only do you explore the new country together, but you also go further and visit neighbouring countries as soon as you get the taste of being in this new situation.
You learn how to solve smaller or bigger problems. You cannot Þ nd the track from where your train departs? Go and ask somebody. You do not know which grocery shop is the closest to your living place? Or the cheapest? Discover it for yourself, or if the weather is not so pleasant, just ask the help of a local student from your university. You realize it is not hard at all to get by in life and nothing is impossible for you (or almost nothing). This is what you feel about the language as well. At Þ rst, you might be afraid to say many things because you are uncertain about them. Later on, you realize that if you never try, you’ll never win, and you just start talking, and the others will understand. By the end of your Erasmus semester it will be strange not to start a sentence and anxious I was at the same time. I also immediately in English, the language that you were speaking remember my feelings on the plane: where is my home? I knew for a few months. I had left one, but I had not arrived at the new one yet. I was afraid what was awaiting me and was asking myself how my I hope you see now that there are only bene Þ ts which can new dorm mates would like me, how well I would get on with come from an Erasmus semester. It is a life-changing my new classmates, whether I would be able to speak English adventure, and I am so glad you have made this move. Make ß uently enough or not. I had plenty of worries. the most out of your stay, and be present!
Fortunately, all of them turned out to be unnecessary nerves, Erika Kucséber and some fully written pages in my diary. Why? Being in a new László Mudra
6 Erasmus at I know the Sophianum building, and I have been to Piliscsaba and Esztergom. Pázmány Piliscsaba was amazing; it is better than Harry Potter. Here The Erasmus+ programme is run by the Þ nish the BA programme, then starts there are 15 people in the classes European Commission between 2014 the MA and goes back to the same that I follow, and it is not many. and 2020. This programme is available place for another half a year, again as In Belgium I have courses with for education mobility at all levels of an Erasmus student. There are cases at 300 people. For some courses we European education embracing the Pázmány when students came back to split up, so there are 60 people. kindergarten, primary and secondary study on the MA level after being here But here it is like 15. schools, universities and other for half a year on BA; some have educational organisations across the returned for PhD studies. European Union (Birgit from Belgium, studying (EU). Teachers, This university has an applied psychology) educational This university has not agreement with one administrators and only a BA-level Erasmus or more universities students can travel agreement, but MA and in each of these into another EU PhD scholarships are countries: Austria, Turkey and the United Kingdom. country for a Belgium, Croatia, the Recently, Armenia has been added to shorter and longer also available Czech Republic, the list. Former Erasmus agreements period. As you are Denmark, Finland, with Switzerland are being revised in also supported by France, Germany, frames of other cooperation networks. this programme, let me show you how Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, wide and variable the Erasmus network the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Ádám Varga of PPCU is. Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Andrea Ágnes Reményi Spain, Tünde Szeles This university has not only a BA-level Erasmus agreement, but MA and PhD scholarships are also available. Since 2015, 283 Erasmus students have spent one or two semesters at Pázmány, while 115 Pázmány students have been granted Erasmus scholarships abroad. Most incoming students are from Germany, Italy and France, involved in political science, international studies and history, while most outgoing students are in international studies, English and sociology.
In the concept of the Erasmus programme, during the university studies students may decide to go abroad and study there for half a year or for an entire academic year; furthermore, during their studies abroad, students can decide to lengthen the scholarship with another semester. It may also happen that a student returns to his/her university to
7 Vitalinfo
These pages provide you with basic information in Telekom connection with mobile phones, wi Þ on campus and (http://www.telekom.hu/lakossagi/english/plans/mobile/ Hungarian bank accounts. You can Þ nd the o ƪ ers of all the prepaid-plans) three main telecommunications companies below, followed by the parameters of the bank where PPCU Where? keeps its accounts, and Þ nally a link to the Budapest public transport network. \ Underground ß oor or ground ß oor or Þ rst ß oor, WestEnd \ Mammut I, 2nd ß oor SIM card Package / O ƪ er Vodafone (http://www.vodafone.hu/eng/phones-plans/pay-as-you-go- \ At least 2,500 HUF electronic top up means bonus plans) (+BONUSZ 0-HUF SMS to 1430 before the top up): 25 {mins & 100 MB up 4,999 HUF top up, 50 mins & Where? 200 {MB up to 9,999 HUF and 100 mins & 1 GB for more than 10,000 HUF (mins can only be used for calls within \ Vodafone WestEnd, WestEnd City Center, 1st ß oor, 1-3 Telekom network) Váci út (M3 Nyugati) \ Domino Surf 890 HUF per month (Telekom network: \ Mammut I, 2nd ß oor, 2-6 Löv įház Street (M2 Széll 29 {HUF/min/text, other domestic network: 39 HUF/min/ Kálmán Square) text +150 MB Internet included) \ 6 Deák Square (M1-3) \ Domino 5 no monthly charge, only top ups (Telekom network & 5 chosen basic rate numbers 39 HUF/min/ Package / O ƪ er text, other domestic network: 49 HUF/min/text +Domino NapiNet for Internet) \ Vodafone Tuti (19 HUF per minute/SMS; no lower limit of topping up) \ Max (0 HUF per min for calling other Max users): Telenor \ Max S 2,000 HUF per month (30 mins/texts included) (https://www.telenor.hu/en/tari ƪ /pre-paid/praktikum-tari ƪ - \ Max M 3,000 HUF per month (100 mins/texts +100 package) MB Internet included) \ Max L 4,000 HUF per month (100 mins/texts + 1 GB Where? Internet included) \ Vodafone Net+ (49 HUF per minute/SMS plus 500 MB \ WestEnd, ground ß oor Internet bonus valid for 30 days if you top up by \ Mammut I, 2nd ß oor 3000 {HUF, and 1GB if you top up by 5000 HUF) \ Astoria, 3/A Károly Boulevard (M2 Astoria)
Package / O ƪ er Advice for future Erasmus students? First, go and visit Budapest. Two, look for an apartment \ Starter package 1,590 HUF with starter balance of as soon as possible. And Þ nally, don’t be afraid of 600 {HUF (51 HUF/text, 141.50 HUF/MMS, call set-up fee talking to other Erasmus students because they are per call 2.50 HUF) in the same situation. \ Praktikum: 51 HUF/min/text \ Praktikum On-Net: Telenor domestic network 32 HUF/ min, other domestic network 62 HUF/min (Colin from Belgium, studying political science) \ Praktikum O ƪ -Peak: 62 HUF/min in peak hours and 32 {HUF/min o ƪ -peak hours and weekends
8 Wi Þ
At Pázmány campuses you can connect to the free “eduroam” network in the following way:
1. Register at http://info.ppke.hu/index_en.html 2. Connect your device to the network and use your previously created nick and password to log in 3. Enjoy your internet access
Bank account
As our university keeps its bank account at OTP Bank, we recommend that you open an account there. You should have your passport and your student ID card/con Þ rmation from the university with you.
Where?
\ OTP Kálvin Square, 2 Kálvin Square \ OTP Deák Square, 25 Károly Boulevard \ OTP West End, ground ß oor
Accounts
\ Basic Account \ Account management fee 0 HUF \ One debit card per account in the Þ rst year 0 HUF \ MasterCard Online (MCO) card-issuance fee 1988 HUF \ Cash withdrawal: \ 99 HUF + 1.49% within OTP’s domestic ATM network \ 989 HUF + 0.6% at any other domestic ATM \ OTPdirekt (Internet bank, mobile and telephone service as agreed on) monthly fee \ 56 HUF (green account statement) \ 106 HUF (account statement via post) \ OTPdirekt messaging charges \ Vodafone, Telenor, Telekom network: 33 HUF/SMS More info at https://www.otpbank.hu/portal/en/Retail/ Account/ForintAccountPackages
Public transport network
Download a public transport map of Budapest from the company’s website: http://www.bkk.hu/apps/docs/terkep/ budapest.pdf
Hanna Horváth Zoltán Major
9 Academic lifeat PPCU Being an Erasmus student is a Exams lecture course, but there may be more. challenge: new people, new places, and You can sign up only for one date per of course, a whole new university. We Each lecture course concludes with an course, but you can modify your choice believe that you will have the time of exam. In order to successfully Þ nish until the noon of the day before the your life at PPCU. To make things a bit those courses, you will have to pass exam. For example, if you’ve chosen an easier for you, let us o ƪ er a handful of the exams. You can register for exam exam date on Friday, you can cancel tips regarding academic rules. Make your registration until the preceding sure that you read this page, as it Thursday noon. This will not result in contains some vital information for you. If you have any penalty. If you don’t pass an exam If you have any questions, feel free to any questions, feel free or don’t turn up, it will count as a contact your Erasmus mentor. to contact failed exam. Should this happen, you still have one more chance to sign up your Erasmus mentor for another date on Neptun to pass the exam. Important dates dates on Neptun before and The spring semester of 2017 starts on 6 during the exam period. At least three Gergely A. Fekete February, but teaching will only start on exam dates will be o ƪ ered for each László Mudra 13 February! This means that you will have a whole week to accommodate yourself in Budapest. Courses will end on 19 May. If you have attended lectures, you will have to take exams in the exam period, which will start on 22 May and end on 1 July. The good news is that we also have a pretty long Easter holiday between 10 and 21 April. You’ll have two weeks to explore Hungary or to have fun with your newfound friends in Budapest. Class attendance
Class attendance is compulsory at PPCU. You will be required to visit both seminars and lectures regularly. Throughout the semester, unless your professor says otherwise, you can miss a maximum of three classes. You won’t have to explain the cause of your absence, but make sure you don’t exceed this limit if you want to obtain the credit for the course. Should you have any problems regarding class attendance, turn to your professor in advance.
10 What to studyat Pázmány
Arabic, Chinese) to history, art history, philosophy, sociology, international studies, translation studies, political science, communication and media. Teacher training is also run on the MA level. The departments are located at the Faculty’s campuses in Budapest (Sophianum, Tárogató), Piliscsaba and Esztergom.
In 2013, a new Þ ve-year teacher training program was introduced. Pázmány oƪ ers nine di ƪ erent teaching majors: Hungarian, English, German, French, Italian, Latin, History, Ethics, Media and Communication. Each teacher trainee is required to study two majors. The teacher training programmes take place in Piliscsaba.
What is more, accredited doctoral programmes are available in four doctoral schools of the Faculty: linguistics, literature, history and political science. The doctoral schools are located at Sophianum, Budapest. If you wish to broaden your sciences. In the two to two-and-a-half knowledge with the help of quali Þ ed year MA (Master of Arts) programmes Erasmus students can choose from a professors in a beautiful environment, one can continue their studies after a wide range of subjects according to Pázmány Péter Catholic University bachelor’s degree, concentrating on their interests. They have the possibility (PPCU) is for you! If your interest lies more focused areas. to choose from both BA and MA particularly in humanities or social English-language courses. sciences, PPCU o ƪ ers approximately 40 di ƪ erent study programmes. Even if Erasmus students can Check the list of available courses you are staying for a semester, check choose from a wide range here: out the system of programmes where of subjects according to https://btk.ppke.hu/en/information-on- your courses Þ t in. studies/courses their interests The Bologna system with the dual cycle For more information on PPCU’s study of studies (BA, MA) was introduced in programmes and academic life, 2006. The degrees are accepted In the Faculty of Humanities and Social explore the Faculty’s English- Europe-wide. The BA (Bachelor of Arts) Sciences 40 di ƪ erent Bachelor’s and language website: is a three-to-four-year degree Master’s degree programmes are http://btk.ppke.hu/en programme. Bachelor of Arts degrees available, ranging from Hungarian and put emphasis on education in the foreign languages (English, German, Lujza Szopkó liberal arts, humanities and social French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Latin, László Mudra
11 Neptun
You don’t know how to use Neptun? You After logging in, you see your messages mistakes, and it is easier to correct don’t know what Neptun is? Here you’ll and the options you can choose from. them at the very beginning. Secondly, Þ nd useful information on our Note that Neptun is a one-way click on the enrolment/registration part university online administration. Soon communication system in which and register for the semester. Unless you will realise that Neptun(e) means teachers can send messages to you, but you do this, you will not be able to sign much more in academia than the eighth you cannot contact teachers or other up for classes. planet of the solar system or the students. You can also see a clock in the ancient Roman sea god. top right corner next to the logout Now that you have Þ nished the button, counting down from preliminary steps, you can proceed to To reach the site, follow this link: 10 {minutes. This counter will reset at register for courses and exams. At the https://neptun7.ppke.hu/hallgato/ each click you do. But if you are inactive beginning of the semester, you can use Login.aspx for ten minutes, the topic “subject” to register for you will be logged classes. In the studies section, you can First of all, select one of Soon out. This is Þ nd information about your studies. the o ƪ ered languages: you will realise that especially When you need to pay for something, English, German or Neptun(e) means much important to use the Þ nances/payments section to French (apart from keep in mind transfer money. At the end of the Hungarian), indicated more in academia than when you wish to semester you can take up your exams. by the ß ags in the the eighth planet of the register for Be careful not to pick more than one middle of the opening solar system or the courses, because exam for the same time. When planning screen. Next, log in by you may Þ nd your exam schedule, think of the using the randomized ancient Roman sea god. yourself logged locations of the exams. Pázmány has six-character out due to many campuses far apart. username (usually inactivity when characters and Þ gures mixed) sent to you are waiting for the registration to If you have any other questions, don’t you via e-mail. The Þ rst-login password open. Sadly, there is no clock that would hesitate to ask your mentors or any is your birth date in the YYYYMMDD indicate the server time of Neptun, so student of PPCU or your teachers. If format (for example: 19950101 without be on guard when registration starts. they can’t help, they will surely steer periods). When you successfully logged you to the omniscient Neptun in for the Þ rst time, you must change Before doing anything else, you must administrators. your password. Unless you do so, you take two steps. First, check your data cannot proceed. (“my data”). There might be typos or Ádám Varga
Zoltán Major
12 Sophianum
Sophianum, one of the main locations of Pázmány’s Faculty of Find the following units in the building: Humanities and Social Sciences, is in downtown Budapest, at Mikszáth Square. It can be reached either from Kálvin Square metro station (M3, M4) with a Þ ve-minute walk, or from the Ground ß oor: stop of Tram 4 or 6 at Harminckettesek Square also in Þ ve Ficzak Café minutes on foot. International O Ư ce IT Specialist and Technician Sophianum is home to the Institutes of Psychology, Sociology, Registry International Studies and Political Science. Some other Student Counselling departments of the Faculty run some of their MA and part- time BA programmes in the building. The Doctoral Schools of 1st ß oor: Linguistics, Literature, History and Political Science are also Dean’s O Ư ce in Budapest hosted here. OƯ ce of the Vice Dean for Academic A ƪ airs OƯ ce of the Vice Dean for Educational A ƪ airs OƯ ce of the Vice Dean for International A ƪ airs Doctoral and Habilitation O Ư ce Sta ƪ o Ư ces Csapody Vera Room 2nd ß oor: Computer Lab Creative Media Workshop John Lukacs Lecture Hall 3rd ß oor: Babits Research Group Baroque Literature and Spirituality Research Group Institute of International Studies and Political Science Institute of Sociology 4th ß oor: Institute of Psychology Psychology Research Laboratories
Besides these units, each ß oor has classrooms, lecture rooms, areas for students and exhibitions.
OƯ ce hours: https://btk.ppke.hu/karunkrol/kepzesi-helyszineink/ budapest-sophianum/ugyfelfogadas-szolgaltatasok
Dávid Demeter László Mudra
13 Tárogató
No sooner had Tárogató become one of about your visual backings when giving course, all the services of the university the campuses of the university than it a presentation. Should you wish to have are available at Tárogató as well. Should gained the reputation of being easily something to eat or drink between the you have any questions regarding your accessible by public transport and classes, there is a snack bar and a studies, do not hesitate to ask for help located in a pleasant neighbourhood. canteen for those who starve. at the Registry or the Student Union on The new campus is only 15 minutes Unfortunately, there is a limited the site. away from the nearest tra Ư c hub (Széll number of opportunities to eat out Kálmán Square), from where you can around the site, but only a few tram Address: 2-4 Tárogató Street, 1021 reach the city centre either by the stops away there are plenty of Budapest underground or by bus. It is also quite restaurants or snack bars, for example, well-equipped due to the endeavour at Széll Kálmán Square. To take a break, To Tárogató from the city centre: Take pursued by the Council of the Faculty to go to the parlour where you can meet M2 to Széll Kálmán Square, then change make studying here as comfortable and your friends and discuss how you can to Tram 56, 56A or 61 eƯ cient as possible. catch up with the materials that you missed. From Tárogató to Sophianum: Take For instance, there is theatre hall which Tram 56, 56A or 61 to Széll Kálmán functions as a lecture hall suitable for Although the library of the Faculty of Square, change to M2 in the direction of holding lectures for a great number of Arts is located in Piliscsaba, Tárogató Deák Square, where change either to students. All the classrooms are also has a collection of English books, M3 or Tram 47 or 49 to Kálvin Square. equipped with state-of-the-art thus students do not have to take the projectors, so you don’t need to worry trouble to go to Piliscsaba for the Dániel Gazdik required readings. Furthermore, of Boglárka Ilenczfalvi-Szász
14 The Piliscsabacampus Piliscsaba lies at the foot of the Pilis Hills, surrounded by an awe-inspiring landscape which can give you pleasure at any time of the year. It is 24 km from the centre of Budapest, and it can easily be reached by both train and bus. The Piliscsaba campus is believed to be one of the most beautiful campuses in Hungary, owing to architect Imre Makovecz’s truly unique masterpieces. Students attending the Faculty of Humanities only call it “Our Hogwarts.” Without further explanation, see it for yourself.
Take the coach from Árpád híd station, Budapest to Piliscsaba Pázmány Péter Katolikus Egyetem or the train from Nyugati Station (M3) to Pázmáneum train stop.
Timetable for long-distance coaches: Timetable for trains: https://www. One of the Þ rst buildings your eyes get www.volanbusz.hu mavcsoport.hu/en stuck on, whether you arrive by train or bus, is Bibliotheca, the building of the Faculty Library. You can Þ nd here books, journals, newspapers, essays and papers from all Þ elds of study related to humanities and social sciences. Each department has a reading room. You can use the library for free with a reader’s card, and you can also borrow books. Sign in at the reception to become a member.
Opening hours: Mon-Thu: 9 am – 6 pm, Fri: 9 am – 1 pm, closed on weekends.
If you approach the central square of the campus, you will Þ nd yourself between the two most attractive buildings. On your right, Ambrosianum (“Ambro”) is the most frequently visited place of all: there are plenty of seminar and lecture rooms, o Ư ces of the foreign language departments (English, German, Italian, French and Spanish), printers, a photocopier, a snack bar and
15 an ATM. A few times every semester a Further down the road stands second-hand book market is held in the Quaestura, where the most important building. administrative o Ư ces can be found, including the Registry – they handle On your left, Stephaneum (“Ste Þ ”) has your study-related issues. (The other mostly lecture rooms, including the oƯ ce building, closest to the main largest lecture road, is hall of the Emericanum, university, The Piliscsaba campus is hosting the Dean’s Auditorium believed to be one of the OƯ ce.) Quaestura is Maximum. It most beautiful campuses home to the Centre doubles as a in Hungary, owing to of Teacher Training concert hall and as well. Attached to theatre with a architect Imre Quaestura, there is a respectable organ Makovecz’s truly unique post o Ư ce. (Opening and a large stage, masterpieces hours: 9 am – 1 pm hosting also the and 1.30 pm – 5 pm on Students’ Theatre weekdays.) Company (BÖSZK). The o Ư ce of the Student Union (HÖK) Further down, towards the back gate of is also located in this building. Attached the campus, Iustineum (“Iusti”) is the to Stephaneum, the campus canteen home of the Institute of Communication (menza) o ƪ ers warm lunch every and Media Studies. The building is weekday between 11 am and 2 pm with pretty far from the other buildings, pleasant jazz in the background. having the advantage of being closest to Fényesliget Café and Student Club, Pázmány at Leaving the central square of the the most popular socializing venue campus behind, stairs lead you down to among students. Most students refer to a park where students like to laze or it as “HK” (the abbreviation of Esztergom play games when the weather is warm “Hallgatói Klub” [Student Club]). The and sunny. The next building on your student hall Iosephinum is also within right is Anselmianum (“Ansi”), the home walking distance over a bridge across The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of various departments (Polish, the main road. of Pázmány operates at four locations: Hungarian, Eastern Studies, Philosophy, Piliscsaba, Sophianum and Tárogató in History, Art History and Archaeology) Erika Kucséber – Lujza Szopkó Budapest and Esztergom. Some may and seminar and lecture rooms. Tünde Szeles, Richárd Fodor Þ nd that a curse because of the burden of having to commute between locations. But it also gives the advantage of diversity, which proves that Pázmány is a unique university in Hungary. It o ƪ ers di ƪ erent environments and atmospheres for those who want to master an area in the arts and social sciences. Let us guide you around Esztergom here.
The main Þ eld of specialisation in Esztergom is teacher education. Future practitioners of two important professions, kindergarten and primary school teachers are trained there. In Hungary women are in the majority in
16 new friends, so do not miss the opportunity to drop by. After having a rest, visit the gymnasiums or the training hall, and join one of the several sports teams. The new dormitory (Vitéz János Kollégium, 25 Kossuth Street) is a 10-minute walk from Ioanneum, where you can Þ nd a ƪ ordable housing unless you opt for private accommodation. The newly renovated and furnished building includes rooms for two or three students each, bathrooms, kitchens and a hall for socialising. The practice schools for teacher trainees is a few steps from the dorm.
Esztergom, though a mid-sized town now, has a unique position in Hungary: it has been the seat of the Catholic Church for over a thousand years. More precisely, the Esztergom Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic Church and of the cardinal-archbishop in Hungary. For a few hundred years it was also the coronation town. Esztergom prides itself in both, which gives a very special atmosphere to the town. Visit the Cathedral (also the largest church in Hungary), including the Bakócz Chapel and the treasury. From the terrace behind the Cathedral, enjoy the panorama of the Danube with the Maria Valeria Bridge connecting to Slovakia on the other side of the river. the Þ eld of early childhood education, which Actually, the building of Pázmány was originally an basically means that most of the teachers in kindergartens and educational institution of the Archbishop of Esztergom. Later primary schools are females. So, at the campus you can meet on it went through several changes and became a college of some of the most cheerful teacher trainee women of Hungary. education, joining Pázmány in 2008.
The main building, In the middle of the old Iohanneum, has a unique town (Viziváros location: it is in Esztergom “Watertown”) remember to town centre (1-3 Mayer visit the Christian Museum István Street), next to River (2 Mindszenty Square, Danube and the Cathedral. http://www. Inside the building, apart keresztenymuzeum.hu/ from the lecture halls, index.php?lang=en): it has a seminar rooms and o Ư ces, rich collection, including you can Þ nd the library with beautiful Gothic altars and a peaceful reading room. It Renaissance Italian provides the students not paintings. To add a di ƪ erent only with academic readings experience, grab a towel about education but also a and visit Aquasziget Þ ction collection (Room (“Water Island”), a 111). A computer room is waterpark with several also open for students pools and waterslides (Room 213, entrance from operating all year round (5 the ground ß oor). The Táncsics Street, http:// Studies Department is on www.aquasziget.hu/ ). the Þ rst ß oor (Room 208), where study related administrative issues can be solved. If you want to have a break, Téka Club Richárd Fodor and Andrea Ágnes Reményi can o ƪ er you sandwiches, soft drinks and a chance to meet Ádám Varga
17 Libraries
National Széchényi Library (4-5-6 Szent György Square, Budapest)
This is the national library, which means that everything published in print in Hungary (books, periodicals, brochures, etc.) has a copy here. The library was founded in 1802 by Count Ferenc Széchényi, who had been travelling all around the world to collect and assemble books, then donated them all to the Hungarian nation. Thus, he laid the foundation of a library which prides itself on having the most extensive collection of books in Hungary. Today the library is located in the Buda Castle Palace, so it comes as no surprise that it is a favourable place for studying by many students. Far from the beehive of There might be a time during the semester when you need the university district, it is the right place this list of major libraries. I suggest that you take a look at for those who Þ nd pleasure in absorbing in their studies in a this summary in advance so that you can start the more isolated place. In the Second World War, the building preparation in time for your exams or immerse yourself in a of the library was extensively damaged as a result of the new Þ eld of interest. Þ ghts taking place during the siege of Budapest between the Soviets and Nazis in 1944-1945. In the communist era, Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library sadly, its interior was (1 Szabó Ervin Square, Budapest) not restored in its original condition The library is undoubtedly one of the most popular ones in but in Soviet-style, Budapest. Housed in a palace built in the late 19th century therefore it lacks the and located in the middle of the busy university district, this historical appeal of place seethes with life. Lately, it has evolved into a meeting the inside of Ervin point of university students who seek refuge in the café of Szabó Library. Even the library after a mind-numbing lecture. In fact, most of the so, it offers students come here with the intention of preparing for their a{marvellous tests or exams in the most beautiful and atmospheric reading opportunity to enjoy rooms of Budapest. Furthermore, the library boasts of 1,000 the breath-taking seats in more than 15 reading rooms where you can have view from Buda access to the free wi Þ network, besides having 150 Castle during your computers available to use. coffee breaks. http://www.fszek.hu/english http://www.oszk.hu/en
18 Libraries of the Faculty of Humanities copies of pedagogical and psychological books and academic and Social Sciences of PPCU journals. Of course, online licensed databases are accessible on all campuses of the university from where you can Bibliotheca, Piliscsaba download necessary materials for your coursework or exam. (1 Egyetem Street, Piliscsaba) Dániel Gazdik Located in the beautiful surroundings of Piliscsaba, the Tünde Szeles library of Pázmáneum is an ideal place for studying. There are over 80,000 volumes that are arranged according to study Þ elds at three storeys in six reading rooms. All the services of the library are free of charge for Pázmány students. Not only does the library o ƪ er an extensive collection of books and academic journals to read, but students also have an access to online databases such as Jstor and Project MUSE. Before getting down to work, make sure that you have your library card with you, which you can obtain on-site. http://btk.ppke.hu/konyvtar/ Catalogue: http://hunteka.itk.ppke.hu/btk/
Sophianum – Tárogató – Iohanneum
Tárogató and Sophianum also have a small collection of books so that you do not always have to take the trouble to go to Piliscsaba for the required readings. If residing in Budapest and in need of a reading that is not available on campus, visit either the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library or the National Széchenyi Library, where there may be more copies available. The university library of Esztergom (Iohanneum) has a large reading room, predominantly holding
The Erasmus community is really good; mentors organize several parties, sports events or just watching a Þ lm together, but you are not obliged to join. The people are open too. You can Þ nd something to do every day. And the city is diverse like in Duisburg: there is a Japanese restaurant next to a Korean restaurant or an Italian one next to a Turkish one, and there are also a lot of things to do, one day there’s a Turkish concert, the other day a Spanish movie.
(Laura from Germany, studying political science)
19 How to reach your destination Currently PPCU has several campuses MÁV (Hungarian Railway Company), (currently under construction). From and buildings which are not close to tickets, timetable: https://www. the station count a good 30-minute each other. For new students, it might mavcsoport.hu/en walk. Another possibility is to travel by take some time to learn the routines of coach line 800 from Árpád Bridge Bus travelling. I hope that this guide will Volán (long-distance coach company): Station (M3 Árpád híd) to Esztergom help you Þ nd your way to your classes. http://www.volanbusz.hu/en Bus Station, from where you can reach To simplify things, I will use the Western Iohanneum in 15-20 minutes. Railway Station (Nyugati Pályaudvar) as a starting point for the trips. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty of Information Before you try to get anywhere, buy Technology and Bionics your Budapest Public Transport \ Sophianum (1 Mikszáth Kálmán Company (BKK) tickets or monthly pass Square, Budapest) (50/A Práter Street, Budapest) which will enable you to use all public You can get there either by Metro 3 (M3) transport within the city limits, getting o ƪ at Kálvin Square or by Tram 4 To reach this site, use M3 and get o ƪ at including buses, trams, all four metro or 6 getting o ƪ at Harminckettesek “Klinikák” station. You can also use lines, suburban and long-distance rail, Square. The building is located halfway Tram 4 or 6 and get o ƪ at “Corvin- as well as the Danube boat service. A in between the two squares. negyed” stop. Whichever way you monthly pass costs 3,450 HUF for follow, you will have to walk about 10 students. Show your Hungarian student \ Tárogató (2-4 Tárogató Street, minutes to arrive. card to purchase one. If your Budapest) destination falls outside of Budapest, To reach this location, use Tram 4 or 6, you may take the train or the (white or or take M3 and change to M2 at Deák Faculty of Theology yellow) coach. The best option is to buy Square. At Széll Kálmán Square, take (24 Veres Pálné Street, Budapest) your tickets beforehand at the railway Trams 56, 56A or 61 to Kelemen László station or the bus terminal. You may Street; add a four-minute walk to the Take M3 to Ferenciek Square, and add a eventually make your bookings online. building. six-minute walk. (A coach driver can sell you tickets if you get on the bus at a stop, but not at \ Piliscsaba campus (1 Egyetem the terminal.) The Budapest passes can Street, Piliscsaba) Faculty of Law and be combined with the coach and train The Piliscsaba campus has its own train Political Science; Canon tickets to save some money. stop (Pázmáneum). Use the G72 or S72 trains to get there the fastest. Law Institute BKK (Budapest Public Transport): Alternatively, you can travel by coach (28-30 Szentkirályi Street, Budapest) http://www.bkk.hu/en/main-page from Árpád Bridge Bus Station (M3 Árpád híd) with line 800. However, due Within a stone’s throw from Sophianum. to tra Ư c jams and accidents the coach If you have found your way to is much less predictable than the train. Sophianum, Mikszáth Square, continue your walk down Szentkirályi Street, \ Iohanneum (1-3 Majer István until you see the majestic building of Street, Esztergom) the Law Faculty on your right. The farthest campus is located in Alternatively, the site is in a 10-minute Esztergom. The fastest way to get there walking distance from Astoria (M2). is to take Train G72 (this is faster) or Train S72. With either of these, you will Ádám Varga get to Esztergom Railway Station Tünde Szeles
20 Where to aroundeat the campuses Whether you are rushing from one course to another or have some spare time in the afternoon, it’s good to know where you can grab a bite. Fortunately, all of PPCU campuses have snack bars, where you can stack up on the lifesaving supply of co ƪ ee, sweets or sandwiches. But if you are looking for something more, let me suggest a few eateries o ƪ ering daily set courses or inexpensive but quality food near our university. Piliscsaba
Our campus at Piliscsaba o ƪ ers more than just fascinating architecture. Between classes, you can pay a visit to the snack bar in Ambrosianum (ground ß oor). You can buy co ƪ ee, tea, sandwiches and pastries, so it’s an ideal place to stop for a breakfast or some quality of the food is exceptional, and alternative music pub, priding itself on quick refreshments. For a hot lunch, you the sta ƪ are very friendly: they know Frank Zappa once having sung there – have two options. Firstly, we have the most of the students by their Þ rst name. hence the name.) Nowadays, whenever cafeteria on campus in the north wing I walk by the café, I always see teeming of Stephaneum, which o ƪ ers a steady Budapest/Sophianum life in there. Not only is the place supply of fried meats with rice or French irresistible for its pleasant atmosphere, fries. Apart from that, their weekly Without doubt, Budapest o ƪ ers a wide but it also o ƪ ers remarkably student- selection o ƪ ers at least one kind of selection of restaurants and pubs. friendly prices. Zappa o ƪ ers various set pasta and soup, and some special However, their prices and quality vary courses every day from 12 am to 2 pm, Hungarian one-course dishes. If you greatly. The places mentioned here which include a soup (standard portion: want to indulge yourself after a oƪ er student-friendly prices and great 360 HUF, large: 490 HUF), a main dish tiresome class, you can buy desserts, menus. At Sophianum there is a snack (standard: 740 HUF, large: 840 HUF), a salads and refreshments as well. As the bar on the ground ß oor, for the much dessert (390 HUF) and a glass of cafeteria is a few steps from the other needed co ƪ ee and sandwiches. A few lemonade (190 HUF). Altogether, a buildings on campus, it’s an ideal choice others in the neighbourhood include standard three-course menu costs only if you are between classes. Zappa Ca ƪ e (15 m from Sophianum, 1,680 HUF. A pretty good deal for a full- Alternatively, you can choose to eat at https://www.facebook.com/Zappa- stomach-guaranteed lunch. Fényesliget Student Club (https://goo. Ca ƪ e-333202771769/), a nice place just gl/qn6g7M, 1 Batthyány Street), only over the street at Mikszáth Square. It Just right around the corner, you can Þ ve minutes from campus. Functioning opened its doors in 2003 without any Þ nd Loyola Café (facebook.com/ as a restaurant during daytime and as a promotion and advertising, because the loyolacafe, 20 Horánszky Street). Here pub at night, Fényesliget o ƪ ers a great owners trusted that the high-quality you can eat delicious meals for a variety of meals and beverages. Their service, the delicious dishes and the reasonable price. Each day, they o ƪ er a daily menu consists of a small soup and cosy mood would draw people in. (Plus new soup and a main course, providing a regular meal for only 850 HUF. The the place had been famous as an a healthy, varied diet.
21 Fecske Presszó [Swallow Pub] (170 m the grill dishes which are made on the The snack bar next to the entrance o ƪ ers from Sophianum, http://www. spot following your order. Some dishes co ƪ ee/tea, sandwiches and sweets to fecskepresszo.com/), housed in a cellar, are quite expensive (exceeding 2,000 survive. The cafeteria at the end of the is located right across Szabó Ervin HUF), but you can choose from plenty ground ß oor long northbound corridor Library, at 10 Baross Street. During the of satisfactory dishes below or around oƪ ers hot lunches: a few set courses and sunnier months, they open a terrace as 1,500 HUF. The foods are generally a handful of other hot dishes every day well where you can wind down and just tasty and made with special care to the at lunchtime (800-1,000 HUF). If you get lost in your reveries, while other details. Worth a visit! don’t mind walking, Remiz restaurant is students are rushing in and out of the in 10 minutes’ reach to the south (http:// library. The cellar too is inviting with its If you are short on time, there are remiz.hu/en/, 5 Budakeszi Street), vintage posters, old various take-away restaurants: PASTA. oƪ ering a daily changing set course
books and genuinely homely vibe. for a comparable price (1,090 HUF), but Fecske has weekly o ƪ ers at favourable they specialise more on fancy dinners for prices available from Monday to Friday the higher price range. between 12 am and 4 pm. You can choose from two kinds of soups (295 Esztergom HUF), four kinds of main dishes (715 HUF) and two kinds of desserts (295 The snack bar in the Iohanneum, Téká HUF). Over and above that, there are and LEVES. (the periods are not typos!) Klub, o ƪ ers the usual co ƪ ees, teas, lots of other food options: meat as well belong to the same company, the latter sandwiches and the like (https://btk. as vegetarian dishes, all under 1,500 oƪ ering only soups, and the other, as ppke.hu/karunkrol/kepzesi- HUF. Take a look at their menu or ask the name suggests, pastas. Both of helyszineink/ppke-btk-esztergom/ for help if you’re hesitant; the crew are them are great places to eat, and a big szolgaltatasok/bufe ). In the friendly and helpful. plus is that you can Þ nd some special neighbourhood, Kiscsülök restaurant is meals in their selection. Make sure to a three-minute walk to the east (www. Il Treno (500 m from Sophianum, try out some fruit soups or pastas with kiscsulok.hu, 4 Téglaház Street): they https://www.iltreno. coconut-milk and curry! PASTA. oƪ er bu ƪ et lunches and dinners for a hu/?changelang=en), as its name (facebook.com/pastapont) at 2 Kálvin Þ xed price (weekdays 2,000 HUF, suggests, has the touch of an Italian Square, LEVES. (facebook.com/ weekends 2,500 HUF) – you can eat as restaurant, and indeed, their menu levespont) at 14 Vámház Street. much as you will there. Make sure to mostly consists of Italian specialities: avoid touristy places around the pizzas, pastas and salads. There are Budapest/Tárogató Cathedral, though. several Il Treno restaurants in Budapest, all members of the same Being in a residential neighbourhood, Dávid Demeter - Gergely A. Fekete - chain. The closest one to Sophianum is Tárogató o ƪ ers more limited choices, Andrea Ágnes Reményi located on Kálvin Square, to the right of but the hungry student Þ nds his/her way Tünde Szeles, László Mudra, Hotel Mercure. I especially recommend to something to munch on there as well. Richárd Fodor
22 Where to have fun around Pázmány Going on Erasmus means not only GPS-based hiking maps: http:// studying in another country but also turistautak.hu/english.php exploring it. Before venturing further Fényesliget Café and Student Club: aÞ eld, it is best to start from your https://goo.gl/qn6g7M immediate neighbourhood. Let’s have a look at the leisure activities you can do Sophianum around the university locations. Close to Mikszáth Square you can Þ nd Piliscsaba Corvin Cinema and Uránia Cinema, where Þ lms are often shown in The obvious choice is hiking. The rolling English. While walking towards Corvin hills with their hiking tracks will Cinema, there are several excellent de Þ nitely take your breath away. Signed cafés, such as Zappa or Lumen. tourist trails include the longest in Or if you prefer the true Italian co ƪ ee, Hungary, the National Blue Trail try Al Dente. (altogether 1,160 kilometres!), but also the yellow and red local trails will lead A bit farther away you can visit one of you to panoramic viewpoints, springs the numerous performances of MÜPA and caves in the vicinity. If you are not Budapest, the cultural hub of the into walking, you can just have a beer at capital, housing three institutes in one: Fényesliget Café and Student Club (350 the Bartók Béla National Concert Hall, HUF), which is only a 10-minute walk the Festival Theatre and the Ludwig from the campus. It is often crowded Museum of modern Þ ne arts. If you like with students, so you can easily make classical music, jazz, reggae, blues, pop friends there. or folk music, you must attend one of the MÜPA performances, since you can hear world-famous artists at a bargain. (Tickets cost only 500 HUF for students.)
For your body and soul, visit Margaret Island, encircled by a running path next to the Danube, with a spectacular view. While running, you don’t realize how tired you are, as your attention is drawn to the beautiful banks of the Danube. On Margaret Island you can also Þ nd swimming pools, an ideal place in the hot days.
Corvin Cinema: http://corvinmozi.hu/ Uránia Cinema: http://www.urania-nf.hu/en Zappa Café: http://www.zappaca ƪ e.hu/ Lumen Café: https://www.facebook. com/lumen.kavezo Al Dente: https://www.facebook.com/ aldenteristo/ MÜPA: https://www.mupa.hu/en
23 Margaret Island swimming pools: http://mnsk.hu/ letesitmeny/hajos-alfred-nemzeti-sportuszoda-es-szechy- tamas-uszoda/ Tárogató
If you are keen on leaving the clamorous city behind, try the Children’s Railway in H ŋvösvölgy, only a 10-minute ride from Tárogató. It is not only for children – some of the sta ƪ are children (trained to the do the job and doing it in their free time), including ticket inspectors! The carriages are retro style, so you can travel back in history and not only to Széchenyi-hegy, where the railway ends (full length: 11 kilometres). Along the journey, enjoy the forest and the panoramic views at a few points. If you fancy some forest walks like most of the other passengers, you may get o ƪ at one of the eight stops, including János-hegy or Normafa, to follow the several signed hiking trails, or get o ƪ at Széchenyi- hegy and get back to the city on public transport. From Tárogató, take Tram 56, 56A or 61 at Kelemen László Street to Hŋvösvölgy, and add a Þ ve-minute walk. Back to the city from Széchenyi-hegy, take the cog-rail (line 60) to Városmajor and change to Trams 56, 56A or 61 to Széll Kálmán Square.
Children’s Railway: http://www.gyermekvasut.hu/ GPS-based hiking maps: http://turistautak.hu/english.php
Lilla Berényi and Andrea Ágnes Reményi Tünde Szeles, Richárd Fodor
There are many things in Hungary which are old-fashioned, but in a cute way. For example, the way metro tickets are checked at the stations, or Metro line 3 itself is very old-fashioned, but I like it. Some of my friends visited me some weeks ago, and when they saw line 3, they were like: “I don’t know, Thomas, if everything looks like Metro 3 in Budapest, it is going to be a weird Erasmus semester.” Another di ƪ erence is that here nobody Þ ghts for seats on public transport. Even if there are a few empty seats, most of the people prefer to stand, even old people. That would not be possible in the Netherlands.
(Thomas from the Netherlands, studying political science) Zoltán Major
24 The Student Union What is the Student Union? It is indeed a union of students at Pázmány. The Student Union, called Hallgatói Önkormányzat (commonly shortened as HÖK) in Hungarian, supports and represents every student of our university: as of this semester, YOU included! You probably have a similar student body at your home university, responsible for organising events, handling scholarships and day. After the races, famous Hungarian bands and providing help with your studies. Western European student singers perform on stage, followed by DJs at night. This unions emerged at the beginning of the 20th century; the event usually attracts thousands of people; it’s like a Þ rst Hungarian union was created during the 1956 one-day festival held every May. Revolution. \ Speaking of festivals, we are planning our own festivity Can the Union o ƪ er help to Erasmus students? at the Piliscsaba campus. Last spring, we organised a Of course! In fact, you have already met your mentor who will very popular event called PZMNY Park. We staged guide you through this semester. Mentors are members of concerts, organised games and cooked goulash for our International O Ư ce, and they are responsible for more than 200 people. This year, we plan to make this organising trips, parties and useful programmes for you. event bigger, better and even more fun, hopefully with Should you have questions about courses, student life or any your help. The event is planned to be held in late spring, aspect of university life, do not hesitate to contact them. following the Easter holidays. They will provide you all the help you need. \ Every semester, we organise our football championship What else does the Student Union do? called Campus Kupa [Campus Cup]. The next event is Our tasks include organising events and keeping in touch with planned to be held in Budapest in the spring. Twelve the professors and departments of the Faculty. Apart from teams of 5-6 students from our Faculty compete against this, we handle social grants and academic scholarships, each other for the golden medal. Hot tea, drinks and advertise our university to the wider public and inform our sandwiches will be provided for the participants between students about various issues. We work in a committee the matches. The atmosphere of this competition is very system, currently running ten committees, among them an friendly, and in fact many teams come back year after event team, as well as the committees for social a ƪ airs, year. If you would like to join, keep an eye out for Campus academic a ƪ airs, communication and sports and culture. Kupa: your mentors will share the details with you in due course. Who knows? Maybe you and your team will be the Can you visit non-Erasmus programmes too? champions of Pázmány this year. Absolutely! We would be incredibly happy if you joined these programmes. Actually, there are several opportunities to How to contact the Student Union? have fun, including the usual semester-opening parties, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ppkebtkhok sports events and other outdoor activities. This is just a short Email: [email protected] list of the major events of spring 2017, but your mentor can President of Union: András Jancsó [email protected] tell you about numerous other possibilities: Committee for International A ƪ airs: Balázs Tóth [email protected] \ Dunai Regatta [Danube Regatta] is the largest sports Committee for Academic A ƪ airs: Richard Fodor richifodor@ event of the year, where teams from Hungarian gmail.com universities compete with each other in rowing on the Faculty Erasmus coordinator: Gábor Weszprémy weszpremy. Danube, in Budapest. Pázmány takes part in this race [email protected] too. Students gather on the riverbank, cheering for our university. Additionally, you can try yourself in di ƪ erent Gergely A. Fekete and Richárd Fodor sports and games, and taste foods and drinks during the Gergely A. Fekete
25 “…you get to know yourself much better” Interview with Johanna Graf about her Erasmus many Erasmus students! I don’t really experience in Hungary like this, because it means I am not that much in touch with Hungarian people. I Johanna Graf is from Stuttgart, Germany. She studies political science expected to be more in touch with them. But when I am at home, I am not at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg. She spent a really in touch with Erasmus students, semester as an Erasmus student at Pázmány in the autumn of 2016. and this may be the same situation I{met her on a rainy Friday afternoon to ask her about her here as well. If you are going experiences, impressions and feelings about her studies here. She said somewhere, you always meet Erasmus that Pázmány was her Þ rst choice, she enjoys her classes, and loves people. Maybe it is di ƪ erent for those who are originally studying here, like kürt įskalács – read her answers. native Hungarians.
Why did you choose Hungary as your being in English, so I was quite shy. I What is your impression about Erasmus destination? knew there would be so many people Hungary and the Hungarian people? from all over Europe, and I thought I wanted to come to this part of most of them would be pretty good and The Hungarians I met of my age, among Europe. Pázmány is our partner well-informed in politics. I felt them our mentors, are super nice and university, and I thought of Hungary uncomfortable; I super friendly; they are open and want and Budapest as a great option. My felt that I may not to help you all the granddad was really happy about this, be as good as And generally time. And it is because he spent the Þ rst six years of them, and I really crazy how his life in Hungary, right next to the couldn’t catch up about Hungarians? I do motivated they are Austrian border. They had to leave for with them… But not know if it is just a to become Germany after World War II. He was now it’s turned out rumour, but I heard that mentors and to moved by his grandchild going to that I actually like show you around Hungary. He was really proud. He still the courses; they Hungarians usually aren’t or to organise feels a connection to Hungary, even are really that happy. And when parties. though he doesn’t speak the language. interesting. There you walk in the streets are lots of case And generally What expectations did you have studies in di ƪ erent and watch the faces, you about Hungarians? before coming to our country? classes, for sometimes see that, I do not know if it example, on especially in the case of is just a rumour, Oh, that’s a hard question. I don’t know. international old people. but I heard that The thing is that I wanted to go to terrorism or armed Hungarians usually Central Europe, because I hadn’t had con ß icts. aren’t that happy. any knowledge about it. I was really And when you walk in the streets interested, especially as a political And what did you expect from and watch the faces, you sometimes science student, about the changes Budapest? see that, especially in the case of old here and about what’s going on here people. For example, the woman who and in Poland. My second choice was My expectations were pretty good, works in a small food shop down Poland. But Budapest was my Þ rst because I have several friends who had under my apartment. It is open all choice. I thought that my studies here already been here and told me that it is day, so she works there day and night, would be hard, because I have chosen a great city: there is so much going on. and she looks so exhausted that it is some MA classes, and I am a BA It is really a city for students. What I hard to get a smile on her face. That’s student. I was afraid of all the classes haven’t expected is that there are so really sad.
26 What is the most useful class that you at home. I think you can really learn Pázmány paid us everything. Every are attending here? how to handle all kinds of people. You single tram ticket, entrance to need to deal with everything alone museums, and we got lunch every day I have a class that I have already without the help of your family and and many other things. You really care mentioned; it is on international friends, and this is not easy. for your Erasmus students. terrorism. It is really interesting, but there is such an amount of topics and What interests you about Hungarian Are you planning to return to we can deal with each of them very culture? Budapest? brie ß y. I have other really interesting classes, too. I would appreciate, though I am really interested Sure. I want to if we had more room for discussions. in history, especially come here We have a new topic every week, so we in the communist For sure, you again in the can’t really get into the ideology of a era. What this get to know yourself much summer, terrorist group, for example. country and these because I people went better. You can make close experienced On what do you want to improve through, it’s really friendships which are here just a during your studies here? a challenge and it di ƪ erent from the month of really is not too far away nice For sure, my English. I want to improve in the past, it is friendships at home. I think temperature my academic English, because I do not really close you can really learn how to and sun and all really use it in Germany, which is why it actually. There still handle all kinds of people. of those is pretty hard for me. I want to broaden live lots of people amazing ruin my knowledge in general, especially my who took part in pubs. The city knowledge about Hungary and the the 1956 Revolution. was so neighbouring countries. Actually my What I am also really interested in is an wonderful in the summer. It is still now, Þ nal aim is to build connections to issue that people do not really talk but in the summer it has another touch; Budapest so I can feel a bit like home, if about, or at least it is really hard to for example, it was so nice to sit out on I come back. I would also like to get in address: the refugee question. What to the bank of the Danube. I think touch with some Hungarians and maybe think about the refugees and how to Budapest is really unique. The scene of visit them later on. handle the situation. Should you all those cafe shops and restaurants welcome them or totally refuse them? and bars… We miss that in Germany. It In what way do you think your studies is really not that cool to go out in here will be useful concerning your What did you know about Hungary Germany; here it is much better. future career? before your arrival? Would you recommend our university First of all, I think it is always useful to To be honest, not that much. Just think to your friends? Why? Why not? have an Erasmus semester in your CV. It of what you know about Poland. For is also pretty common to have some sure, I knew about the current situation Yes, sure. The main reason is the thing I study experience abroad, but I think the here, and some basic information have already told you about: the major thing is that I hope I will extend about history. I knew about goulash welcoming and the mentoring of my knowledge about this country and and I really love kürt įskalács and Erasmus students. I think it also counts its politics and society. I think the major lángos. It is amazing. that an ideal amount of foreign thing I can get out of this Erasmus students are studying at this university. semester is not for my career: it’s Is there anything you’ve learned here I don’t like it when it’s too big; for concerning me. in Hungary that you will never forget? example, BME has hundreds of Erasmus students. That is too many. What can you get to know better A general impression of people and about yourself while being here? also how this university welcomed us. It Thank you for answering my was such a warm welcome. They questions; thank you for your For sure, you get to know yourself much organised so much stu ƪ . I was in availability. better. You can make close friendships summer school here; I arrived two which are di ƪ erent from the friendships weeks earlier, and it was incredible. Lujza Szopkó
27 Moving around Budapest If you arrive in Budapest by plane, it is With your pass you can use all public good to know that Budapest is one of transport, including buses, trams, the cities whose centre is easily trolleys, the metro, suburban and long- reachable from the airport by bus at a distance trains and the Danube boat bargain. Consider taking a shuttle bus service, within the limits of Budapest. as the taxi service costs much more (a At Þ rst sight, the map of Budapest may nice fare is 6000 HUF), and thus you seem complicated, but during your stay could pay six times more than for the you will explore it, and you will easily shuttle bus ticket (450 HUF). reach the hubs of social life and parties.
First of all, if you travel without valid tickets or passes, you will be Þ ned on It is good to know that on public transport (called BKK). Tickets work days you can also are always checked in the underground use the BKK boat service which means that you don’t have to pay and often on trams and buses. The best for the taxi after a long party. For BKK deal is to buy a student monthly pass on the Danube with your updates check: http://www.bkk.hu/en/ (3,450 HUF) or a 3-month pass (10,350 passes. It is so much fun. main-page/news/ HUF). Remember to show your student Don’t miss it! card at the ticket o Ư ce for the student Moreover, you can discover the city not discount. (The fares above are the only by public transport, but also by reduced ones.) It is good to know that bike! The system of MOL Bubi bike on work days you can also use the BKK You will remember important tra Ư c rental was launched in 2014. Currently boat service on the Danube with your junctions, like Deák Square or Blaha it is operating with 1,150 bikes at 90 passes. It is so much fun. Don’t miss it! Lujza Square, in a few days. Fortunately, access points. You can purchase a This way, you can avoid paying a fortune the Budapest Public Transport quarterly or semi-annual pass for 7,800 for Danube cruise ships. Company also o ƪ ers night services, and 12,500 HUF, respectively, and you can use Bubis anytime and anywhere in the city. This way you do not have to buy a bike for your stay and struggle to sell it when you leave. Thanks to this service, you can preserve your healthy lifestyle and discover the city in a funnier way than by public transport. (Find out more on the MOL Bubi bike- sharing system at https://molbubi.bkk. hu/dijszabas.php. Switch to English in the upper right-hand corner.)
As you can see, Budapest is truly a passenger-friendly capital, and it is up to you how you live with the numerous possibilities. Travel and enjoy your journey during the semester!
Lilla Berényi Tünde Szeles, Zoltán Major
28 Budapest: Ten things you mustbefore see you leave
Budapest is a marvellous city where you cannot be bored, as it o ƪ ers many events and programmes you should see. There are some that you mustn’t miss. Make sure you have been to all the following places before you leave.
1. The Buda Castle area 3. Elizabeth Lookout Tower We can say that the most breath-taking view of the Danube Don’t hesitate to take a long walk to Budapest’s highest peak, and of the whole city is from the Castle Hill. If you walk the Elizabeth Lookout Tower on János-hegy [John’s Hill]. around the oldest part of Budapest, you may feel that you are From here you can have a stunning view of the whole city and in a di ƪ erent period and place with small Baroque buildings the surrounding hills on a clear day. If you feel you’ve walked and gorgeous sights, such as Matthias Church, the far too much and you are exhausted, take “Libeg į” (a Fishermen’s Bastion and the Royal Palace. panorama skilift working all-year round) to descend to town. Or alternatively, walk to the Fogas (Cogwheel Railway), which 2. Cruise on the Danube on a public takes you close to Széll Kálmán Square (M2). transport boat 4. Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden Instead of jolting on the bus every day, at least once you must The zoo in the heart of the city celebrated its 150th try the Danube boat service, part of the public transport anniversary in 2016. It is among the world’s oldest zoos – network. While riding the boat, you can explore the capital the animals are not that old, though. It gives home for more from a special perspective. With a BKK pass, the boats are than 1,000 species of animals, such as the common available free of extra charge on working days. brushtail possum, the Patagonian cavy, the red-necked Further information and timetables: http://www.bkk.hu/ wallaby, the ru ƪ ed lemur, and you can amaze at the cute en/timetables/ koalas as well.
29 Opening hours vary in the year. Check them before you go: http://www.zoobudapest.com/en Address: 6-12 Állatkerti körút, 1146 Budapest Student’s ticket (with ISIC): 1,900 HUF
5. Memento Park Budapest You can get a picture of 20th-century Hungarian history if you visit Memento Park, which is located in South Buda, in the 22nd district. Here you can Þ nd the biggest Stalin and Lenin statues in Hungary. 45-minute-long English-speaking guided tours are o ƪ ered in the Park. Direct shuttle from Deák Square daily: departure at 11 am, arrival at Memento Park at 11.30 am Departure from Memento Park at 1 pm, arrival at Deák Square at 1.30 pm
30 Make an online reservation on the Park’s website in darkness are also o ƪ ered. Do not hesitate to visit the advance to get a signi Þ cant reduction in the prices: http:// exhibition, as foreign language guidance is also available. www.mementopark.hu/?lang=en Address: 16-20 Kis Rókus Street, 1024 Budapest Web: http://www.lathatatlan.hu/en/ 6. The Central Market Hall In 2013, CNN chose the Great Market Hall of Budapest the 8. For those who dare... – Exit games most beautiful market in Europe. The Great Market Hall Budapest is full of challenging, world-famous exit games provides you with the best Hungarian ß avours, such as where you and your fellows can work as a team. All you have lángos, goulash, sweet and chilli paprika, stu ƪ ed cabbage to do is to get yourselves locked into a labyrinth of shadowy and di ƪ erent kinds of sausages. What makes the market rooms by total foreigners and break out by solving logic more unique is the so-called Hungarikum Street in the puzzles and tasks. Logikamra would be an excellent choice if basement with all kinds of iconic Hungarian goods, such as you want to spend more than an hour in a cellar with your bottles of pálinka and Tokaji aszú wines, Pick salami, Gyulai friends trying to get out. You can choose between two and Csabai sausage and Zsolnay porcelain. di ƪ erent sets of rooms called WonderGround and Team Address: 1-3 Vámház körút, 1093 Budapest (M4 F įvám tér) Börtön (Team Prison). All you have to do is to go or eventually Hours: Mon: 6 am – 5 pm, Tue-Fri: 6 am – 6 pm, Sat: 6 am – 3 pm crawl through eight rooms, open about 30 di ƪ erent locks and solve more than 40 puzzles. What is more, you have only 80 7. The Invisible Exhibition minutes to get out, so hurry up. It is a special exhibition, founded and run by the Association Address: 50 Murányi Street, 1078 Budapest of the Blind with the purpose of showing what life is like Web: http://logikamra.hu/en/, other exit game places: http:// without sight, even if just for a few hours. Dinners and wine exitgames.hu/?language=English tastings in complete 9. Gozsdu Udvar (Gozsdu Yard) Gozsdu Udvar is a place between Király Street and Dob Street, and consists of seven four-storied buildings with six courtyards. It is known as a meeting point of gastronomy, culture and entertainment, as it is full of cafés, restaurants, galleries and luxury shops. This central part of the city is worth a visit, especially in the evening. Entry from 13 Király Street or 16 Dob Street (M2 Deák Square / Astoria) 10. SPArty Almost every weekend Széchenyi and Lukács thermal spas oƪ er unforgettable events where you can take part at a fancy party and, in addition to this, you can experience Hungarian bath culture. Prepare yourself for delicious cocktails, music, visual e ƪ ects and, last but not least, the many people around you with whom you can dance in the pool as well. Web: http://www.bathsbudapest.com/budapest-bath-parties Lukács Thermal Bath parties: 11, 18, 25 February, 4, 11, 18 and 25 March 2017 Addresses Lukács: 25-29 Frankel Leó Street, 1023 Budapest (Margit híd Bus 9, 109, Tram 4, 6, 17 and 19) Széchenyi: 9-11 Állatkerti körút (M1 Széchenyi fürd į)
Other thermal baths are also worth a visit, including Rudas Thermal Bath or the art nouveau style Gellért Thermal Bath.
Boglárka Ilenczfalvi-Szász Orsolya Szeles, János Szeles, Zoltán Major
31 Special programmesin spring and summer 2017 Budapest always o ƪ ers a great variety of entertainment will perform a concert with 60 musicians at Papp László throughout the year, and so will it during the spring and Sportaréna on 1 June. Zimmer has composed music for more summer of 2017! Let me list a few upcoming events in than 150 Þ lms. The concert itself will be divided into two Budapest so that you will not miss out on the topmost parts: in the Þ rst part you will hear his classic works, such as concerts, festivals or cultural hits of the season. the soundtracks of The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean and Gladiator; while in the second part you can enjoy the music of Inception and The Dark Knight Trilogy. Budapest Spring Festival See more on this at http://www.budapestarena.hu/ – 31 March - 23 April programs/all/3 The Budapest Spring Festival is the largest festival of classical and traditional arts in Hungary. It is an annually returning Belvárosi Fesztivál (BelFeszt) event to celebrate spring and culture. Internationally – 3-5 June acclaimed stars of opera, classical music, jazz, world music, dance and folk music feature together with Hungarian artists BelFeszt (“Downtown Festival”) is held every year. It is a free and ensembles in a uniquely dense kaleidoscope of programs. music festival in the area of Erzsébet tér and the Basilica. Museums and galleries join the Festival with the Budapest Art Besides pop and rock, you can enjoy jazz, folk music, dance Week, inviting the public to over 70 exhibitions of classical shows, fashion shows and Þ lm screenings. When BelFeszt and contemporary art at 60 venues. Several events of the starts, all Hungarians know summer has arrived! Do – not – 2017 Spring Festival will be devoted to the homage of 20th- miss – it ! :) century Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály, who died 50 See more on this at http://visitbudapest.travel/budapest- years ago. The concerts and the performances will give you a events/belvarosi-fesztival/ good chance to experience some of the most renowned concert venues of Europe, such as the Palace of Arts (MÜPA), the Concert Hall of the Liszt Academy of Music, the Józsefvárosi Sörfesztivál - Beer Hungarian State Opera and the Vigadó Concert Hall. Festival right at Mikszáth Square - June See more at http://www.bsf.hu/events In the heart of Budapest, in front of Sophianum, the Beer Festival of Józsefváros (Josephtown) takes places every Cirque du Soleil – 12-14 May summer with lots and lots of beer specialities: handmade If you adore fantasy or just need a magical experience, Cirque beers, international and exotic beer specialities, food made du Soleil, the Canadian entertaining company of worldwide with beer, etc. The festival lasts for three days, thus you’ll fame, will enchant you in the world of Varekai (“anywhere” in have plenty of time to try out some new tastes and celebrate Romanian), a charming forest on the top of a volcano which is the end of the exams. Cheers! inhabited by magical creatures. The artists try to Þ nd their Check the event here: http://visitbudapest.travel/budapest- way to Varekai, no matter what it takes. And you? If you’ve events/ become excited, you just need to Þ nd your way to Papp László Sports Arena on one of these dates and let yourself be carried away! 17th FINA World Masters Championship See more on this event at http://www.budapestarena.hu/ (Aquatics) – 14-30 July programs/all/3 Hungary has always been good at water sports, which is proven by the fact that we are the 6th among the 11 Hans Zimmer – 1 June 2017 countries producing the best competitive swimmers. What is German composer Hans Zimmer, winner of Oscar, Grammy more, we have Katinka Hosszú, the best all-around female and Golden Globe awards, is returning to Europe again and swimmer on Earth right now! Therefore, 2017 is an important
32 year for us, and you’ve absolutely picked the right time to come to Budapest because you will experience something very special with all the locals together. The 17th FINA World I think that future Erasmus students should Masters Championship will be held in Budapest and learn a few words in Hungarian because it’s Balatonfüred (a city at Lake Balaton). This is going to be the really useful. A few words, tej for milk, for biggest sports event Hungary has ever hosted in history! The example, or bocsi (sorry), köszi (thanks), puszi competitions will take place at four locations, one of which is our beloved Margaret Island. Over 3,000 athletes will line up (kisses). They should have internet access on their just some steps away from you. So if you are into sports and phone so that they could use it for translation in big sports events, do come and cheer with us for your and shops or the pharmacy, for instance. our heroes! See more on this event at http://masters. Þ na-budapest2017. com/en (Agata from Poland, studying psychology) Tünde Szeles Gergely A. Fekete
33 Explore the hidden treasuresof Budapest If you have already visited all the sell their goods at a higher price if they entrance was blocked with a concrete beautiful sights in Budapest see you can pay for them. wall. Only in 1991 was it reopened and recommended in your guide book, from Address: 156 Nagyk įrösi út, 1194 returned to the Pauline monks. Heroes’ Square to Széchenyi Spa, and Budapest would like to discover some hidden https://www.facebook.com/Ecseri- Otthonka Pub - A pub that places where locals go, just keep on Bolhapiac-190123934356267/ resembles a Hungarian reading. Budapest is full of secret places Open: Mon-Fri: 8 am – 4 pm, Sat: 6 am – oƪ the beaten path: all you have to do is 3 pm, Sun: 6 am – 1 pm; free entrance grandmother’s kitchen to look around a bit more carefully to Otthonka (meaning “housecoat” in marvel at the city’s hidden treasures. The Cave Church – A Hungarian) is a recently opened pub in chapel inside Gellért Hill the centre of Budapest, close to Füvészkert (Botanical Sophianum. It is furnished with the garden) (“Sziklatemplom”) same kitchen cupboards we love and we If you have already visited the majestic are used to at our grandmothers’. Lace If you wish to spend a while in a calm St. Stephen’s Cathedral or the splendid fabric, pálinka and cottage cheese green environment, Füvészkert is the Matthias Church, and you are still eager dumplings wait for the ones who would proper place for you. It is the oldest to see something unique and sacred, like to spend a pleasant evening in a botanical garden in Hungary, you should head to Gellért Hill, where place that evokes memories of our established in 1771 by the forerunner you can notice from Gellért Square a beloved grandparents. of PPCU and Eötvös Loránd University. cross and an opening into the hill. Here Address: 23 Szentkirályi utca, 1088 It is still maintained by Eötvös Loránd you can enter the so called Cave Budapest University. The garden has more than Church, functioning as a chapel. It was Open: Mon-Fri: 12 pm – 2 am, Sat: 2 pm 200 endangered plants, such as the founded in 1926 by Pauline monks, but – 2 am, closed on Sunday 150-year-old gingko trees. There is also after World War II the monks were a palm house full of tropical and arrested and sentenced to death by the Boglárka Ilenczfalvi-Szász subtropical plants and another communist regime. In 1951, the chapel’s Boglárka Ilenczfalvi-Szász greenhouse, the Victoria House with giant water lilies (Victoria amazonica). If you long for tranquillity, Füvészkert is a romantic and peaceful place to walk around and forget about problems. Address: 25 Illés utca, 1083 Budapest (M3 Klinikák) Open until 31 March: 9 am-4 pm; longer hours in spring and summer Student ticket: 400 HUF Ecseri Flea Market If you are looking for some retro stu ƪ and do not regret getting up early, visit Ecseri Market, one of Central Europe’s largest ß ea markets. Here you can Þ nd nearly everything: bric-a-brac, art treasures, antique furniture and also communist relics. Prepare yourself in advance to bargain: mongers will try to
34 Escapeto the green!
almost a must to rent a funny four- King Béla IV of Hungary, who vowed to wheel bike, in Hungarian dedicate her to God if God helped him “bringóhintó,” or an electric scooter. to liberate his kingdom from the Other funny programmes include Mongol invasion (1241-42). Since the visiting the Japanese Garden, the country survived, three-year-old Water Tower (both towards the Margaret was transferred to the northern tip of the island) and the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin of the Petting Zoo (Margitszigeti Dominicans founded by her parents on Vadaspark). In summer do not miss the island. Margaret spent the rest
If you want to feel far away from the hustle and bustle of city life and spend a couple of hours just relaxing on the green oasis of Budapest, Margaret Island is waiting for you! Imagine a 2.5 km long and 500m wide green island lying in the middle of the Danube between Margaret Bridge and Árpád Bridge, close to the city centre, where you have plenty of choices how to spend a free morning or afternoon during your stay in Budapest. Apart from a couple of hotels and sport facilities, there are no buildings on the island: it is a huge park with promenades and benches.
What to do? the Musical Fountain (close to the of her life there, dedicating herself Margaret Island is a great place to chill southern tip). Let me also recommend entirely to God. She died on the island out and have a picnic. If you feel like the shows on the island’s open-air at the age of 27 in 1270; the remains of doing sports either alone or with stages during late spring and summer: the Dominican Convent can still be friends, the island o ƪ ers various the Margitszigeti Szabadtéri Színpad seen; the place of her tomb is marked possibilities: the popular rubber-coated (Margaret Island Open-air Stage), by a red marble slab. running track measuring 5.35 Víztorony (Water Tower) and the ruins kilometres (3.33 miles), green Þ elds of the Dominican Convent. How to get there? where you can play ball games, a track- Trams 4 and 6 have stops on Margaret and- Þ elds centre and tennis courts. If Back in time… Bridge, from where you can walk onto all these were not enough, the island Besides all the above, Margaret Island the island. If you come from the has an aquatic park called Palatinus (the is famous for its fascinating history. In northern end of the island, largest open-air swimming complex in the Middle Ages the island was called via Árpád Bridge, take just a couple Budapest) and the adjacent Alfréd the Island of Rabbits simply because it steps and you can Þ nd yourself in the Hajós National Swimming Complex. was full of rabbits, and therefore Japanese Garden. served as a royal hunting reserve. The Apart from sport facilities, the island present name was given later, in the Tünde Szeles offers other options as well: it is honour of Saint Margaret, daughter of János Szeles
35 Scenic hiking spotsin Budapest To chill out, escape occasionally from Another favourite hiking spot is János- destination where you can take the noisy, busy city to the peaceful wild hegy [John’s Hill], especially if splendid walks in the shade of oak and for a refreshment. It doesn’t even approached by Libeg į (chairlift), a Þ r trees. Take Bus 11 from Batthyány require hours of travelling to Þ nd scenic skilift working around the year. Take Square to the last stop, then walk. I areas, as the Buda hills abound in Bus 291 from Nyugati Station to the de Þ nitely suggest that you climb exciting and ravishing hiking spots. Zugliget Libeg į stop. I recommend Kecske-hegy [Goat Hill]; it is a perfect Libeg į for those who would skip place to forget about city life, as it Believe it or not, you will find climbing the hill, otherwise take bus oƪ ers visitors panoramic views over fantastic green areas in no time from 21A from Széll Kálmán Square to the hills to the west. If you continue the hustle and bustle of Budapest. Normafa, from where you can reach your journey on the pleasant forest Such a place is Sas-hegy [Eagle Hill], the same spot with a 30-minute walk. path, you get to Lion’s Rock, which, located above BAH-csomópont [the The 528-metre high John’s Hill is the like a huge real-life feline, guards the junction point of Budaörsi Road, highest point of Budapest, which is tourist path and the 11-metre long Alkotás Street and Hegyalja Road], topped by Erzsébet Lookout Tower, a Lion’s Cave. If you are already on the easy to reach by Bus 8E from Astoria, neo-Romanesque building of 23.5 signed blue trail, don’t miss out on or Trams 17 and 61 from Széll Kálmán metres, adding 100 extra stairs to your Árpád Lookout Tower on top of the Square. It is a unique plant-reserve, walk. It was named after Empress 376-metre high Látó-hegy [Seer Hill]. a{living museum so to say, where you Elizabeth, the wife of Emperor and King You can get a magni Þ cent view of the can walk through an 850 meter-long Francis Joseph, who visited this place in Danube and the southern and western path, all the while enjoying the 1882. Relax and enjoy the beautiful slopes of the Buda hills. gorgeous view of the city. There is view from the top of Budapest. a{permanent exhibition for those Dávid Demeter interested in plant reservation, which Hármashatár-hegy [Three-Border Zoltán Major is also worth a visit. Hill] is also a popular hiking
36 Interview with Mariagrazia from Italy I met Mariagrazia, a 25-year-old girl from Sardinia (Italy). She is in her more difficult, still I like it. Teachers third year at university studying educational science. She also loves to are very open-minded. I am taking a work with children, so we had a great chat in a café at Kálvin Square on course on gender roles and another on the psychology of aggression, and a Friday afternoon. I was really curious what she would say about her the teachers are great. In the impressions and experiences here in Hungary. meantime, I am improving my English because it was really weak, but not Why did you choose Hungary as your No, not yet, but I want to. I have seen only this. I live with people from Erasmus destination? a lot of pictures about a small town every country, and when we have with a lot of colourful houses. I dinner and we are talking about First I chose Hungary because it is cannot remember the name because politics. We compare, for instance, inexpensive. I wanted to go to London it is too difficult, probably Italian politics with the Turkish and or Sweden, but they are too expensive. Szentendre. We are planning with one Chinese situation. It is amazing to see After that I chose Budapest, and I‘m of my friends to go there soon. In all the different viewpoints in real glad I did because I am sure that it is the Budapest I like pretty much life. All of a sudden, I am talking best country to have this kind of everything. So, the city is really about Chinese politics with a real experience. Here I have a great beautiful, I like the ruin pubs, Chinese person. It is really something university with great psychology something that we do not have in everybody should try once. It classes. I have also parties all the time Italy, so it counts as exotic. I like the changes you. whenever I want them, and I can travel, university. It is like a church, it is very too. So, I do not regret it. Basically, I impressive and huge. Do you think your Erasmus knew nothing about Hungary. I heard experience will help you to gain social only people saying that Hungarian What do you think about the teachers skills or to be more independent people were rude. Yes, I know... and the courses? when returning to Italy? Stereotypes. And that the language is really di Ư cult, and I was a little bit The psychology Yes, of course, I will scared, but all my classes are in English, courses are the In Budapest I like be more independent so it is not a problem. To be honest, I best. They are pretty much everything. because I have never did not know much, I only saw pictures seminars. It is So, the city is really lived alone before. I of Budapest on Google. I knew a little not like in Italy beautiful, I like the ruin could not cook bit of history, about communism, but where you have before and now I nothing more. to learn the pubs, something that we can. Lots of book and pass do not have in Italy, so it di ƪ erent dishes, Have you tried any Hungarian dishes? oral exams. counts as exotic. I like the like Spanish food. If yes, how did you like them? Here we have to And yes, to give a lot of university. It is like a socialize more Yes, I have tried goulash, and I love it! presentations, church, it is very impressive easily, for sure. I Really, it is like an addiction. I am really submit a lot of and huge. have lots of critical about food because for me essays, but the friends here and Italian food is the best, so it is really teachers help it is a bit scary di Ư cult to get used to this kind of you. It is really because I know di ƪ erent food, but I like it. different and I like it. It is more that I have to go back home and I will difficult because I have to spend a lot miss my friends. Some of them will be Have you already found places you like of time preparing my presentations, still my friends I am sure, but it will be in Budapest? Or have you travelled and if the presentation is not good, sad. We are already sad now thinking of around anywhere in Hungary? then you have to do it again, so it is the time when this whole thing is over.
37 Any unforgettable memories? Interview with I have a lot of funny stories like about the first week. We met buddies and from Armenia all the Erasmus students, and we Arpine played a game in which we had to go around the city to take pictures at Arpine is from Armenia, studying history at Khachatur Abovyan some points, and we had to ask Armenian State Pedagogical University and currently doing her strangers to date us or to marry us. It research on Armenian communities in Transylvania. She is happy to was really, really fun and really stupid. I asked someone to marry me be in Piliscsaba for a semester because it is a quiet place where she and this poor guy looked at can focus on her studies.
Arpine, how was your reception in Catholic universities in Europe. I even I will be more Hungary? asked my Hungarian contact whether there is a dress code or not. independent because I This year we had Hungarian students have never lived alone at the Armenian State Pedagogical What had you heard about Hungary before. I could not cook University in Yerevan participating in before you came here? a Þ eld trip in March 2016, organised before and now I can. by my university. We became friends I had learnt a few things about Hungary Lots of di ƪ erent dishes, with them. I was happy to meet them in the context of world history. Also, like Spanish food. And again and to see the country where one of my relatives has already been to they live. They were waiting for me at Budapest. Of course, he told me that I yes, to socialize more the airport when I arrived in Hungary. would love being here. Moreover, I had easily, for sure. already seen a picture of the How do you like Hungary so far? Parliament, which for me is the most beautiful building of Eastern Europe. It It seems to be a very nice country. I is impressive, indeed. me like I was crazy. And this is have only been to Budapest, something I will never try at home. Székesfehérvár and Piliscsaba so far. What do you think is the main I{am too shy to do it, but here you can Budapest is really like an imperial di ƪ erence between Hungarians and be different. capital; it is truly impressive. The Armenians? Hungarian people are What advice would you give to a all di ƪ erent, but I’m I knew that PPCU I think we have future Erasmus student? sure they are many similarities hospitable and nice. It was one of the oldest considering As for the university, it is really well- is interesting to universities in history. What organised, including Neptun. I like the experience the Hungary, and it also about the university very much. Regarding Hungarian way of life people? They are people: I am a stranger here, and if you and culture, and also has a high reputation di ƪ erent. take the Þ rst step, they talk to you, the language, which among Catholic Interestingly, but they never take the Þ rst step. It is really one of the universities in Europe. Hungarians look can be di ƪ erent, of course, it depends. most di Ư cult ones in all di ƪ erent in I meet people who talk to me and the world. appearance. people who do not. It is so di ƪ erent I{mean, for example, from Italy. What did you know about Pázmány Armenians usually have black hair before coming to Hungary? and dark eyes, and we all have Thank you, Mariagrazia, for sharing characteristic noses. Both nations your impressions with us. I knew that PPCU was one of the are hospitable. I Þ nd Hungarians oldest universities in Hungary, and it helpful. Even if they speak little Boglárka Ilenczfalvi-Szász also has a high reputation among English, they are willing to help you.
38 What was the most surprising thing You participate in the Armenian exactly. They also ask me a few words in that you’ve experienced? Studies programme of PPCU. How do Armenian. I answer with great pleasure, you think you can contribute to the of course. I went to Kolozsvár [present-day Cluj, work of this programme? Romania] last week, and it was I want to go to Szeged and fascinating. It was as if I hadn’t even Esztergom and Pécs and Lake left Hungary. There are a lot of I{think this Balaton. Maybe a trip to people in Transylvania who speak academic cooperation is Vienna and Prague. Next week Hungarian. It reminded me of the important because the relations I am going to Pozsony situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. [present-day Bratislava, Every time I was roaming the streets between our countries cannot Slovakia]. This is all for now. I of Kolozsvár, I played the game of remain so cold forever. Maybe have been quite busy lately. trying to overhear conversations and this program can be the Þ rst Also, I am going to Kolozsvár to finding out who is Hungarian and who continue my research again in a is Romanian. It was also interesting step and a small contribution. month. But, first of all, my aim and good to see that the is to learn Hungarian. Transylvanian flag is raised on the Parliament in Budapest. I am happy to be among the very first Armenian students taking part in this Dániel Gazdik What about the Armenians in programme. Also, it is interesting to Transylvania? learn the history of your homeland from another point of view. It is not I haven’t had any I went to Szamosújvár [present-day the same as learning Armenian Gherla, Romania] to look for history at home. International problems with the public Armenians. [They moved to lecturers can reveal interesting transport, but before I got Transylvania mainly during the 17th– issues of your country that you didn’t a{student card, public 18th centuries, but there was a know before. transport was very expensive signi Þ cant number of Armenian communities in the region before that Currently Hungary and Armenia do for me. Now that I have one, it as well.] They are aware of their not have diplomatic relations. Do you is not a problem anymore, it is Armenian ancestry and keep their think this programme can help create very comfortable. I’m used to traditions, but they don’t speak diplomatic links between the two Armenian. However, there is a nice countries? travelling and I always check Armenian Catholic church in that town. how to get to the destination. Armenians have deep roots in I think this academic cooperation is I{was in Pozsony [present-day Transylvania. The people in important because the relations Bratislava, Slovakia] last Szamosújvár were nice, and they were between our countries cannot remain happy to learn that I am Armenian. so cold forever. Maybe this program can week, and I had no problems They even asked me to translate a few be the Þ rst step and a small with getting there and sentences from Armenian into English contribution. Even in the immigration returning to my place here. which can be found in the church. oƯ ce, I was welcomed so warmly that I I{live in the dormitory in was surprised. Whenever I tell What is the topic of your research somebody that I am from Armenia, they Piliscsaba, called Iosephinum; exactly? always give me a big smile. it is great and very comfortable. It is about Armenian communities in That’s interesting. Do you think most Transylvania and the problems of of the Hungarians know where preserving their identity in the 17th and Armenia is? 18th centuries. I really should learn (Marine from Armenia, Hungarian because the 19th-century Yes, I do think they know and they are studying history) sources I need to work with are all interested in Armenia. Even if they written in Hungarian. don’t know, they ask me where it is
39 a country that never Discoverceases to amaze you
To be able to get to know a country and cages longing for freedom? Let me the mentality of its residents, you recommend you a special place to visit. should be more than an average tourist The bear farm in Veresegyháza o ƪ ers a who visits its tourist attractions and home for bears, wolves, coaties and tries out a few dishes in expensive raccoons in a natural area, where there restaurants. You spend your whole are lots of caves, two lakes that provide semester here, so I suppose you do not fresh water for drinking, Þ shing and want to be an outsider in this country, playing, and also a forest. Here, not but be a part of it and explore it just like only can you meet bears in a natural a local. Here are some ideas to include environment, but also you can feed in your discovery trips. Get your them with their favourite honey. Take a backpack and boots, and be prepared picture with a real Winnie-The-Pooh! for a life-long experience! From Nyugati Railway Station (M3) take Siófok, Lake Balaton a train to Vác, get o ƪ at Ivacs; add a for some relaxation after the exam http://wikitravel.org/en/Si%C3%B3fok 30-minute walk. period, you can Þ nd it in this peaceful environment. Plan for two or three I am sure you have already heard about Tengerszem Nature days, visit the Sárospatak Castle as well. Lake Balaton, Hungarians’ favourite Preserve, Sárospatak vacation resort. But it is not only worth From Keleti Railway Station (M2) take a visiting during summer. In a sunny http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ train to Miskolc (two hours), change to a spring morning, get on a train at the tengerszem-nature-preserve train to Sárospatak (another 90 minutes); Déli Railway Station (M2), and after a add a 30 minute walk to the site. 90-minute trip you arrive in Siófok, Would you like to discover a place where you can spend a wonderful, where you can feel as if you had fallen I hope you Þ nd these locations worth memorable day. Siófok boasts the into a fantasy world? In the mountains adding to your bucket list. Remember, you longest beach of all around the lake, outside Sárospatak you can Þ nd a only live once, and this is the semester for and its port is the busiest. Hire a bike, breath-taking location. Long time ago you to discover a new country and to get and cycle in the city! In spring, it is not there was a mine here, but now the to places you have never seen before. overcrowded, you can enjoy its deep gorge is Þ lled with water, and it is Make these months memorable. beautiful landscape, and if you are surrounded by towering rock walls. The brave enough, you can hang your legs dense forest makes the place green and Eszter Majtényi into the water. At lunchtime just walk to isolated. If you long Boglárka Ilenczfalvi-Szász, János Szeles a nearby restaurant next to the shore, and try out a local dish, fried hake with French fries. You can end your day with watching the breath-taking sunset from the shore of central Europe’s largest freshwater lake. Bear Farm, Veresegyháza http://www.medveotthon.hu/ -- English version available
Are you an animal lover? Are you opposed to zoos with animals in small
40 A country of revolutions
Some of the bank holidays may 15 March interrupt your everyday routine while you are studying in Hungary. There On this day we commemorate the are several public holidays in success of the 1848 Revolution. At that Hungary, some of them church time, the Kingdom of Hungary was holidays (Easter, Pentecost, All Saints ruled by the Habsburg dynasty as part Day and Christmas), some others of the Habsburg Empire. A series of international memorial days (New reform parliaments were pushing social Year’s Day, Labour Day), and yet and economic reforms between 1825 and 1848, but Emperor and King Ferdinand V, an incompetent monarch, frustrated much of this reform zeal. The Revolution was led by two interrelated groups of public Þ gures. The Þ rst one was an aristocratic-gentry movement, heralded by István Széchenyi 1 and Lajos Kossuth 2, while the other branch of the revolutionary movement was catalysed by young patriotic writers, poets and lawyers, Sándor Pet įÞ 3 being the most famous among them.
The leaders of the Revolution are among the most well-known Þ gures of Hungarian history. Count István Széchenyi, once a bohemian traveller, was fascinated by the economy and society of Britain. He not only urged social and economic progress with words, but he also brought immense Þ nancial sacri Þ ces for reform. His endowments would make a long list; others national holidays celebrating let me mention here just a few of historical events (15 March, 20 August them: the Academy of Sciences, the and 23 October). Two of the three Casino, the Chain Bridge (the Þ rst national holidays pay tribute to bridge to connect the twin cities of revolutions. This article will explain Pest and Buda), steam ships on Lake why Hungarians have a day off on Balaton and horse-breeding. Many of these days, why they would stay at Széchenyi’s political ideas were in home or go out to celebrate, and why opposition to the other political flags are raised. The following brief pioneer of the era, Lajos Kossuth, who historical survey will also give you a later in 1849 became governor of an sense of our revolutionary spirit. already independent nation.
41 The Revolution at Pest-Buda started with peaceful demonstrations and ended without any bloodshed on 15 {March 1848. The protesting groups of university students, rural workers, peasants and merchants demanded social and economic reforms and a higher autonomy for Hungary within the Habsburg Monarchy. Those demands were listed in the famous lea ß et, the Twelve Points. The Revolution achieved many of the reformist political demands in the short run, but the upcoming War of Independence was suppressed by the Russian and Austrian armies in August 1849.
23 October
Another holiday of ours is also in connection with Russian oppression. On 23 October we commemorate the events of 1956. After the Second World War, Hungary became part of the communist bloc, led by the Soviet Union. One hundred years after the 1848 Þ ght for freedom, Hungarians faced another cruel and unjust regime. Communist party leader Mátyás Rákosi, a most loyal disciple and servant of Stalin, and his secret police created a climate of terror and mistrust. The whole country was threatened by the feared “black cars”, the dreaded vehicles of the secret police which came randomly, were supported by the simmering population of the unexpectedly, and took away everybody who was charged capital. When demonstrations started on 23 October 1956 with posing a threat to the regime. to demand the freedom of the press, the leadership ended up using armed forces to silence and annihilate the A minister of the regime, Imre Nagy 4, appeared critical to protesters. But many of the army changed sides and joined the excesses of the communist party; his reform attempts the civil population, and the demonstration quickly escalated into a large-scale uprising. The leaders of the regime ß ed to Moscow, a new government headed by Imre Nagy was set up, and the ruthless secret service was dismissed. However, without foreign support the uprising was hopeless. Soviet tanks entered again and occupied the streets of Budapest in less than two weeks. The pro- Muscovite regime returned to power.
These events have shaped Hungarian national identity; we are proud of them, and therefore we commemorate the known and anonymous heroes of the revolutions. The dates and chronology of the two uprisings are taught in Hungarian public schools, and many public rituals are associated with them. National holidays provide occasions to remember the freedom which was fought with bravery in the history of a{country with a rich revolutionary tradition.
Richárd Fodor Rebeka Bozó
1 István Széchenyi: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Istvan-Grof-Szechenyi 2 Lajos Kossuth: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lajos-Kossuth 3 Sándor Pet įÞ : https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sandor-Peto Þ 4 Imre Nagy: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Imre-Nagy
42 Basic Hungarianfor your everyday life When you are abroad, it is always a What a luck! One word is enough for when you don’t have time for a long special experience to communicate with lots of situations. answer, and you just want to be the locals in their mother tongue. We can polite with your friend, and ask always better understand a country’s Hogy vagy? (Haw-j vah-j)=“How are what’s up. In this case the answer will culture and people’s way of thinking you doing?” be only a few words. through their language. Hungarian is one of the relatively di Ư cult languages to This is used to actually enquire about Mennyi az id į? (Man-yee aw-z id-err) learn, but for those who like challenges it the situation of your partner in talk, =“What time is it?” is a good one to accomplish. Contrary to not simply a greeting. Let me draw all expectations, it is easy to acquire the your attention to a cultural specialty. Is your phone low on battery, but you basics. Let me help you to learn some When you ask a person “Hogy vagy?”, need to know what time it is? Then, this useful phrases that you can use in your don’t be surprised if you get a long, is the question you will need. Don’t be everyday communication. I’m sure your detailed answer about the person’s shy to ask a stranger, they will willingly Hungarian friends and acquaintances will life. It is a perfect way to start help you. appreciate your new knowledge. a{conversation, but if you want to get Mennyibe kerül? (Men-yee-beh ker-ool) =“How much is it?”
Are you in a shop or in a restaurant, and would you like to know how much the thing is that you would like to buy? Ask the shop assistant or the waiter “Mennyibe kerül?”, and you will get the information about the price.
Kérek egy sört! (Keh-rack e-j sher-t!) =“I would like a beer.”
Finally, let’s learn one of the most frequently used phrases by students. After a long day, you deserve a bit of relaxation with your friends. Let’s go to a bar and drink a beer. Tell the waiter that you would like a beer in Hungarian, and you will impress everybody with your excellent Hungarian.
Now, you know lots of useful Szia! (See-yaw)=“Hello!” a{short answer, this is expressions in Hungarian, try them in not the question you should ask. your everyday life. You will see how Let’s start by learning one of the most happy the people around you will be useful Hungarian expressions, which is Mi újság? (Me ooh-y-shaarg) about your new knowledge. Enjoy being pronounced just like English “See ya!”. =“What’s up?” in the limelight! :) Interesting coincidence, isn’t it? You can use it both when you greet a It is a similar question to “Hogy Eszter Majtényi friend and when you say goodbye. vagy?”, but this is the one you need Tünde Szeles
43 In the land of food-lovers Are you a person who loves to eat? Loves spicy and meaty food? Is not averse to greasy meals? Can eat three courses and even a big bowl of dessert afterwards? Then we have good news for you: you will be in love with Hungarian cuisine! In this article we are going to present you what specialities Hungarian cuisine has, what in ß uences it has had, and what food you must try while you are staying in Hungary.
The Þ rst thing that comes to foreigners’ mind when they think of Hungarian cuisine is paprika. Yes, paprika is our most important spice, we love it! We use both the sweet and the hot versions, and it usually makes every dish taste better. Besides paprika, to ß avour our food we use a lot of onions, pepper, and sour cream. Most Hungarians cannot imagine their lives without potatoes, cabbage, noodles, and meat. We also love our soups, not to mention our desserts, which
44 immediately make our mouth worth trying, but we would like to give water just by mentioning their name. you just a brief overview of the unmissable meals. If you like starters, Hungarian cuisine has been greatly you should try pancakes à la in ß uenced by our history and other Hortobágy. They are normal pancakes nations who moved to or occupied our Þ lled with chicken paprikash and country. One of our national dishes, the covered with sour cream. Having said meat stew, called gulyás (goulash), can that, it is a must to try out chicken be traced back to the early Magyars’ paprikash itself, a tasty cream and eating habits, a nomad group who came paprika based chicken stew with a to live in the Carpathian Basin around special type of noodles. You shouldn’t 895 AD. During the reign of King miss the famous Þ sherman’s soup Matthias (1458-1490) both culture and from Szeged or the incredibly food were in their prime. His wife, delicious sausages from Gyula and Beatrice, who came from Italy, Csaba. If you like street food, you introduced new ingredients, such as should have a taste of lángos, which is sweet chestnut, garlic, onion, nutmeg fried dough covered with garlic or with and the use of fruits in cooked dishes. sour cream and cheese. Do not worry, When the Ottomans invaded Hungary sweet tooth, we have got something in the 16th century, they brought their for you as well: you must try the cooking customs with them, including chimney cake (kürt įskalács), which is a paprika, stu ƪ ed peppers, eggplants, sweet spiral pull-apart bread rolled in and co ƪ ee. Later, in the Austro- cinnamon, sugar, cocoa, nuts, or Hungarian Empire various cakes and coconut ß akes. pastries were introduced into Hungarian cuisine. Bon appétit! Jó étvágyat!
We could go on and on until the cows Erika Kucséber come home about all Hungarian dishes Tünde Szeles, Zoltán Major, Tamás Tóth
45 Hungarian food specialities: Collect them! When you arrive, tick the food/drink you are planning to taste. When you are leaving, tick the ones you have tasted.
Find a pronunciation guide plus explanations on YouTube: “33 Hungarian Foods The Whole World Should Know And Love” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZbtE8Hs03U
Andrea Ágnes Reményi Tünde Szeles, János Szeles
46 Planned Tasted Your notes on what this food could be 1. Lángos 2. Gulyás (gulyásleves) 3. Palacsinta (hortobágyi palacsinta) 4. Pörkölt 5. Gesztenyepüré 6. Halászlé 7. Kürt įskalács 8. Dobostorta 9. Töltött káposzta 10. Meggyleves 11. Rétes 12. Tokaji aszú 13. Paprikás csirke 14. Töltött paprika 15. Túrós csusza 16. Ki ß i 17. Pogácsa 18. Körözött 19. Bejgli 20. Madártej 21. Flódni 22. Rántott sajt 23. Túrógombóc 24. Túró Rudi 25. Rakott krumpli 26. Szilvásgombóc 27. Somlói galuska 28. Kakaós csiga 29. Hurka, kolbász 30. Lecsó 31. Szaloncukor 32. Nokedli 33. Paprika
47 Two Hungarian spring traditions Busójárás volunteers who pass their tradition of the girls of the village of marriage-age (The coming of the Busó) mask carving from father to son. and poured the content of the bucket on them in order to help them preserve Busójárás (Booshaw-yah-rush) is Busójárás is a must see while you are their chastity. probably one of the most well-known here in Hungary. It is not only us who carnivals in Hungary due to its say so. Check out the UNESCO By now, the tradition has changed a lot, ß amboyance. Legend has it that the Representative List of Intangible but the gist of locsolkodás remained the Croatian citizens of Mohács (a town in Cultural Heritage of Humanity, where same. On Eastern Monday (17 April in South Hungary, 200 kilometres from the tradition of Busójárás was inscribed 2017), women of all age wait for Budapest) scared o ƪ the invading in 2009: http://www.unesco.org/ sprinklers, while decorating eggs with Ottoman army by wearing grotesque culture/ich/en/lists ß ower motifs. When lads arrive at the masks and big woolly cloaks. Another house, they are requested by story claims that the Busó wanted to chase only the winter away. But, according to some locals, the feast is an occasion to pay homage to the Battle of Mohács (1526), in which the Ottoman army in ß icted a crushing defeat on the Hungarian forces. However it was, Busójárás is celebrated every year to entertain people coming from all over the country. In 2017 it will be held between 23 and 28 February.
The Mohács festivities, featuring odd wooden masks, last for six days and include folk music, dancing and parading - in other words, a lot of things that an Erasmus student should experience while in Hungary. For example, as you are getting familiar with Hungarian traditional culture, you should start the feast with some folklore dancing. To boost your mood, women to cite a nice poem, which allows pálinka (fruit brandy) or mulled wine Locsolkodás them to sprinkle the ladies with (optional) tasting is strongly advisable. (Sprinkling) perfume. What they usually get in return Besides tasting beverages, let’s not is either a beautifully decorated egg forget about eating either. Not only can The so-called locsolkodás is a (often chocolate egg) or a shot of you have your favourite Hungarian Hungarian Easter custom which is pálinka. Although this tradition is on the soups and donuts, but you can also try a rooted in eastern Slavic culture and in decline in cities, there are still a few typical Croatian bean-soup which will pagan fertility rituals. A long time ago, brave men, mainly in the countryside, de Þ nitely blow your mind. If you want after breakfast on Eastern Monday, the who take the trouble to roam the streets to feel like a local, you can choose from young village folks used to take a of their cities or villages all day long. the wide range of masks available at bucket of ice cold water. Then, instead the festival to help the Busó chase the of pouring it on themselves while Dániel Gazdik winter away. All of them are made by recording it on video, they looked for Tünde Szeles, Tamás Tóth
48 Interview with Julia Bovingfrom Germany I met Julia Boving, who studies political and social I am really uncertain because I’ve met some really unfriendly science in Würzburg, Germany, for an interview. Hungarians, but I think they were unfriendly only because we She {spent the autumn semester of 2016 at Pázmány. couldn’t communicate, and I was a little bit upset because I She was kind to answer my questions. thought that we could have handled it with gestures and miming. But I’ve also met some really nice people who First of all, what was your main reason for going couldn’t speak English; still we could communicate with each on {Erasmus? other. For example, at the hairdresser’s. But unfortunately, I don’t know so many Hungarians. To live abroad and to get to know Hungary. I was curious about what a post-communist country is like. I chose Are you with Erasmus students mostly? Budapest because a friend of mine recommended it to me, and I was eager to come here. I arrived in the middle of Yes, but I’m trying to get in touch with Hungarians as well. August because I wanted to go to the Sziget Festival for one Actually, it is not so easy. It would be cool to have also day. Probably I am going to spend here only this semester, Hungarian friends to ask them questions about Hungary and but I hope to Þ nd an internship in Budapest so I can spend to speak with them in Hungarian. I didn’t speak any more time here. Hungarian before coming here, but now I have Hungarian lessons at the university. What did you know about Hungary before coming here? And what do you think about the Hungarian Not very much, I’m afraid. I knew that during WWII it was university system? Germany’s ally; then it was occupied by the Soviets. So I knew something about the historical background. I knew lángos. I don’t know so much about it, but what I really miss is the And also that you are part of the European Union, but you discussion in the classes. I’ve tried to ask one of my don’t have the Euro as your currency. teachers to start a discussion by raising a question which the students could discuss, but it didn’t What was the biggest surprise for work so well. And that’s my experience you when you arrived in Hungary? The Hummus Bar! also in my other classes. There is no debate culture, so to say. At the same The Hummus Bar! Because I’m Because I’m vegetarian, time the classes are well organized, the vegetarian, I really like to go there. I{really like to go there. lecturers speak more or less good And I like the A38 boat too; I had And I like the A38 boat English and the topics are interesting. never been on something like this I{have three classes on politics. before. I miss German bread, though. too; I had never been on But that is not a complaint. I really something like this before. Are you interested in Hungarian like being here. politics too? Did the Hungarian political situation That’s good to hear. Have you in ß uence your choice? visited the Hungarian countryside or any other city apart from Budapest? Yes, I chose Budapest because I did not know so much about Central European states. I’d also heard that Budapest is a I haven’t visited the countryside yet, but I really want to. But very-very beautiful city with lots of things to do. Not the I’ve been to a country city, Pécs, and it was completely least I was also motivated by politics, since I have been di ƪ erent from Budapest. I enjoyed it, since it was calmer; it’s interested in what Orbán is doing in the European Union a beautiful city. against the refugees. I wanted to know what people think about it and how people handle this kind of democracy, which What do you think about Hungarian people? may not be a democracy anymore.
49 Do you think it is a good solution that Germany cannot leave those people where they are. They see Europe welcomes refugees? through the television, and they see that we have everything they need, so they want to come here, of course. I think when Angela Merkel made that decision, there were Welcoming the people is a temporary solution for a short no other solutions; it was necessary to welcome everybody, period. The war has to be ended so that refugees could even if there are so many radicalized people among them - I again live in their own countries. I’ve talked to a lot of don’t mean terrorists, but radicals. Now there are a lot of refugees who wanted to come to Germany; they really want people who take part in right-wing movements saying that it to go back to their countries once the war is over. So while was bad what Merkel did, but at that time it was the best they are in Germany, we have to do our best for them with decision she could make. There are so many volunteers the international community. helping with those people, trying to integrate them, and I think it’s working. But I also think it only works if the other I see that you are really interested in politics. What do you states of the European Union agree on taking some people want to do after university? into their countries too. We cannot take all of them, since we don’t have enough space. Now I am doing my masters. I’m really interested in security policies and war management, con ß ict resolution and in the Don’t you think that it could be a problem if these situation of African states. Maybe I would like to work with an people keep coming and the number of Europeans NGO, but I haven’t made up my mind yet. continues to decrease? I am sure that you are going to Þ gure it out. Thank you for It could be a problem. I can’t foresee the future; I don’t know your availability and good luck for the rest of your how di ƪ erent governments will handle this situation. It Erasmus semester! depends on the countries and on the people. I think it won’t be easy, and there have to be some regulations. Yet we Lilla Berényi
Zoltán Major
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Pázmány Péter Catholic University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
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Published by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Pázmány Péter Catholic University Published by the Dean, Dr. György Fodor Editor: Dr. Andrea Ágnes Reményi Second reader: Dr. Tamás Karáth Photo editors: Tünde Szeles & Boglárka Ilenczfalvi-Szász Graphic design and layout: Kapitány Ltd. Printed by Duna-Mix Ltd.