Erasmus report Pécs 2017
Sadly, it is the time to saygoodbye to Pécs, to this wonderful year, this routine break of French studies. It is really hard for me to express this extraordinary experience in words. This report will never be good enough to express all the deep feelings I went through during this year.
How could I start this summary?
I could divide my report in the classical three parts: university, social and travel… but it looks like a distorted picture. It is exactly because all these categories were mixed and inseparable that this year was well balanced. Every week gathers friends, studies, discoveries, with a lot of fun.
I will quote some highlights that I really enjoyed discovering and living during this year in Pécs.
Pécs, an international city in the heart of Europe.
Nobody can imagine, when they arrive in this small city in the south of Hungary, that there are many ethnicity groups studying and living together.
It was a big amazing surprise to share the Pharmaceutical English program with people from all over the world.
During this year, I discovered other cultures, even from countries I ignored the existence before. I had the opportunity to study with people from Iran and Israel, to live with girls from Azerbaijan and Serbia, to spend time in the library with Hungarians and Germans, to go to parties with friends from Palestine and Israel in the same time.
Thanks to the “presentation country” organized by ESN group, I noticed that people are really proud of their cultures and identities and, at the same time, open to embrace others’ (especially around food and drinks!).
Pécs, a beautiful and peaceful city.
I really enjoyed spending time in Pécs. I used the possibility to travel around Europe during weekends. Most of the time this attractive city offered very interesting activities and I didn’t want to move. Particularly, I like the Mécsek Mountain which overlooks the city. The beautiful city center is always peaceful and full of people who appreciate this. And of course, there is the lake Orfu, where I was going canoeing.
A University closed to students and very dynamic.
It was a positive difference compared to France. The class counted around twenty students. Teachers were paying close attention to us. They were really helpful, kind and full of understanding (even with my French accent!).
At the beginning of the year, my knowledge of Englishwas very poor, and the university helped me to improve on that. Mr. Jon Marquette was my English teacher and a “mentor”, who was always there to help me with the language, to introduce me to the university and much more.
I was pleasantly surprised to see how students were motived to make a lot of fun at the University. In the Aula, we can enjoy the many exhibitions and students organize this very well.
The international evening was one of the best nights of the year.
Szánto’s Family.
During this year, I lived in Szánto Dormitory, where I shared my bedroom with Nigar from Azerbaijan and my flat with Adrianna from France and Tijana from Serbia. We didn’t choose our roommates, so at times it was not all the time easy to understand every lifestyle and culture. These relationships allowed me to see past the differences and find similarities which built friendships that will last a lifetime.
I liked to discover and to discuss during long time with my roommate about her country and experiences. We had lot of fun living together.
Magyarul egy kicsit beszelek.
I had the opportunity to learn a little bit the Hungarian language. It was very fun to study it. Unfortunately, the language is too difficult and it was hard to speak with native Hungarians. The Hungarian accent is so hard to understand and I had to think during 5 minutes to say a small sentence. I had never been in contact with this language before and I sincerely liked to feel Hungarian culture through this language.
One French friend in Budapest told me one time that Hungarian language sounds like “elfic” language. Now, I cannot hear it without thinking about it.
I heard from Hungarian friends the past story of Hungary and communism. Thanks to them, I realized how much the past can be important for a nation and how it impacts the present. They enable me to change my mind and don’t judge with my French point of view.
Travel through Europe.
Hungary is in the heart of Europe and offers a cheaper lifestyle, I could travel and discover countries where I had never been before. Most of the time with friends, it was an unbelievable experience. I have learnt how to organize trips, to book the cheapest ticket, to manage visits and to have fun.
I had the chance to go to Romania by car, sleep in a dormitory, meet native Romanians and realized that next to me there are poorer countries in Europe. It was a really emotional trip that I will ever remember.
I visited Slovakia, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Croatia, as well. Every trip I felt lucky and admiringly of what I was seeing.
Thank you so much.
I want to thank my University in Bordeaux and my guest University in Pécs to give me the opportunity to live this experience.
I hope that a lot of students could take advantage of this program.
I am feeling so sad to leave this country and this Erasmus year. I deeply except to come back to Pécs.
I grew up thanks to this incredible experience. This year was very intellectually and humanly rich.
Bénédicte Guerin, student in pharmacy from France.