From 'maybe' to 'just going'
Lana initially had no great desire to go abroad. But after attending an information session and hearing stories from others, it began to itch. Yet doubts struck again when she was assigned her fourth choice. "I thought, am I really going to do this? Six months is a long time and I have no idea what that city is all about." With some encouragement from friends and family, she decided to go anyway.
A home away from home
In Budapest, Lana lived with five other international students. Her roommates were from Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium and, quite coincidentally, the Netherlands. "I had a great time there, living with international people is incredibly fun, and because of my Dutch roommate, I still had a bit of a sense of home."
"At first, of course, it took some getting used to living with five strangers, but that feeling went away quickly and then I could really enjoy myself to the fullest."
Beforehand, she did not expect to become such close friends with her roommates. "With almost everyone I became really close in a very short time. We even already planned a reunion and want to go back to Budapest together next year," Lana says, "Sometimes it just felt like I had known them for years."
She was hardly homesick. "I expected to miss home very much, but from the moment I was there it actually went very smoothly." If the feeling did come up for a moment, she quickly helped herself through it. "Then I told myself: I'm still here now, I just have to enjoy it, because before I know it I'll be back home."
A special beginning to her adventure was the moment her mother surprised her with a plane ticket and traveled with her for the first few days. "That was actually really nice, I didn't have to take care of the first things on my own."
Studying in Budapest
Teaching in Budapest was a bit of a switch. Classes were often in the evening, a lot shorter and mainly focused on discussion. "In the Netherlands, you often just listen and make assignments. There, on the contrary, we engaged in conversation." The level was a bit lower than in the Netherlands, giving her more free time.
Lana's favorite subject was about the history of Eastern Europe, where they watched a full-length movie every class that had to do with the history of the Eastern Bloc. "I thought that was really insane! You get to know the country and the culture in a whole different way."
Discovering other cultures
The international atmosphere was one of the best aspects of studying abroad, according to Lana. "I was in class with people from Mexico, China, Tunisia, really from all over the world." One of Lana's courses dealt with the differences between Eastern and Western Europe, which produced some extraordinary and valuable conversations. Lana explains, "Our reality is not necessarily the truth or how everyone sees it. Where we see Budapest as Eastern Europe, they themselves saw it as Western Europe. That really makes you think."
The local culture also took some getting used to. "People on the streets there are much more introverted. They don't smile easily or greet you. At first I thought they were grumpy, but it's just their way. If you speak to them, they actually turn out to be super friendly," says Lana.
"I would 100% do it again."
Growing by just doing
What her time in Budapest brought her? "So much more independence. In the Netherlands, I still live with my mother, and a lot is done for you there. In Budapest, it was my package deal. Doing my own laundry, cooking for myself, shopping."
Her view of the world also changed. "I was always open-minded, but when you've lived abroad yourself, you really understand what it's like to be a 'stranger.' You become more patient and better able to deal with people from other cultures."
For now, Lana wants to finish her studies first. And after that? Those plans are still open. "Before, I thought I would stay in the Netherlands forever, nice and safe. But now I think: the world is open. Maybe I'll do my master's abroad or look for a job there. England seems nice, or Scandinavia. But actually it doesn't matter that much to me. I did learn that: it can be fun anywhere, if you are open to it yourself."