Balanced life for a bright future

Why did you choose the International Relations programme?
I studied Computer Science for my bachelor’s degree, and I wanted to do something different. I liked the idea of the International Relations programme because it makes you more aware of what is going on globally. I love politics, in my opinion this is the right way to start a career. Maybe I would be able to do something good for my country. It’s a bit messy right now in Nigeria, but I think it is possible to make it well organized and straighten things out. My short term goals are obviously to finish my studies and to find a good job. If I manage to find a job in Europe, I don’t mind staying here to gain valuable work experience. But later on, I’m planning to go home to Nigeria. After all, I came here to learn and to take that knowledge home to develop my country, impact the people there, and to pass on my perspective and experiences to my society.

Was it difficult to find a place to stay in Pécs?
I came directly from Cyprus, since I was living and studying there for four years. My plane arrived at night, so I spent a night at a hotel in Budapest, and I came to Pécs by train on the next day. My admission officers prepared the accommodation for me before I arrived. When I came, they’ve organized a mentor to help me guide through the whole process of moving in. Everything was so easy, no stress at all. I live at the dormitory, we’re like a family. That makes it more interesting, I can make a lot of friends, try different foods. I’ve been to every party place in Pécs, including Est Café, Trafik, Nappali, Cooltour Café and so on. We try to keep everything balanced since we have a lot of classes to attend, so we have fun, while not forgetting about our studies.

What made you choose Pécs?
My brother and his friends are studying in England, some of my friends are studying in Germany and The Netherlands and they all had positive experiences. I wanted to go somewhere else. I was admitted to Szeged and Budapest, but I liked Pécs from what I’d heard, so I wanted to come here to see it for myself. I used to live in Lagos, the biggest city –and the former capital- of Nigeria and compared to that, everything was calm and quiet. I have to say, I didn’t regret my choice.

What possibilities are there for university studies in your country?
There are 200 million people living in Nigeria. Compared to that huge population, the number of universities is fairly small. The really good ones are private universities, which are only available for the rich people. Since 60% of the country is living in poverty, studying at a university is like a privilege.

How do you think about the standard of the degree you study at the University of Pécs?

The teaching method here is very nice, the lectures are interactive. The professor doesn’t just stand and speak: we are always involved in different activities during a course. We have the chance to make decisions, discover new things, share our views, give presentations and to learn what we’re trained for by actually doing it. It gives me a lot of confidence. I’m certain that it will be quite helpful for my professional career in the future.

Was it hard to get used to the cold winters in Hungary?
I did a BA programme in Computer Sciences in Cyprus. The weather was really hot in the summer and cold in the winter there, or that was what I had thought before I got here. And then, I experienced the real cold here in Hungary. Sometimes, I would just stay in the dorm, but once I got outside, it was really, really, really cold. For example, I didn’t have appropriate shoes for the weather, so I had to buy a pair of very warm boots to survive. It was extremely cold this year in January, and the streets were slippery, it was crazy. I almost fell one time, but I was lucky and managed to avoid it. But I’ve got myself prepared this year, bring it on, winter!

Please tell me your honest opinion about Hungarian dishes.
The cuisine of the Nigerian region where I’m from uses a lot of spices which are very different from the ones used here in Hungary. I’ve tried a few dishes, which are similar to what we eat at home. I like Goulash soup for example. I also ate stuffed cabbage, which is filled with rice and meat, and I love rice, so it was really delicious. Generally speaking, I love Hungarian cuisine. I have a lot of friends here who cook for us at the dorm, that way we can try different meals, desserts and cakes. Even pálinka, which I also tasted. It’s deadly.

Do you cook?

Most of the time I cook dishes which don’t require a lot of time to prepare. I live with friends who are very good cooks, so when it comes to doing Nigerian dishes they’re the ones who prepare it. I was really surprised how easy to get all ingredients needed for Nigerian dishes in the shops of Pécs and there’s also an African shop in Budapest.

What would you advise to other international students thinking about studying here?
One thing: don’t be afraid! It seems hard to live in another country, possibly alone. Just take the step. You would be surprised to see how easy it is to get along. Come and you will make new friends. I don’t regret coming here at all, it’s a nice, calm country with good people. If you respect yourself, others will respect you, too. People are very kind and grateful here, everybody is saying thank you all the time, even for the smallest things. I was not used to that. Pécs is a lovely city, it’s perfect for university studies. If you want to concentrate on learning, you can easily find a place where no one will ever disturb you.

Szabolcs Szerletics

Photo: Szabolcs Csortos