3 minute read
Barbara Szalma: “My diploma can be used anywhere in Europe.“
from MIK // KOR kari újság // 2022
by Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs
Why Hungary, why Pécs?
Actually my grandparents are Hungarians, they moved to Brazil during the 2nd War.
My mum was born there, met my father, and when Brazilian crisis happened, we decided to move to Hungary. My brother was accepted to this faculty in 2015. So he came to Pécs first and studied Civil
Engineer. Then I was currently studying in
Brazil, this is my second degree. When I came , first I wanted to study Communication, Architect was my second choice. But when I arrived to Pollack, everybody was so nice and friendly, so I thought to myself, „Ok, this is the point, I want to stay here”.
What was the most difficult thing when you moved to Hungary? She smiles. The language.
Because you don’t speak Hungarian at all? No, unfortunately not.
Yes, and Hungarians mostly do not speak English... Both of them laugh on this point, I totally understand the difficulties of being able to fit into a cultural era when you can do anything but speak with the locals.
What is your favorite place in Pécs? I really like the city center. I like that is changing all the time, I Like sitting there and just watch the people who pass by. Elder ladies in the morning, who go tod o their shopping in Spar, younger ones in the evening who go to party somewhere.
Do you have a lot of friends here? Yes, but mostly international people.
Where do you live? I live in the dormitory. When we moved to Pécs, we used to live up ont he hill with my family. But when Corona came, we all moved to Budapest, as the dorms were closed too. We styed for the caranteen time in Budapest, I came back to Pécs. My brother started to work there, my parents stayed there with him, but after a while he got a good job in Ireland, so now all of them live in Ireland.
What do you suggest for the future students? They should be open in any situation and stay positive. If you are nice to the locals, they will be nice with you as well. I met a lot of friendly, welcoming people in Pécs. Are you afraid of anything here? Not really, no. I never faced with any kind of atrocity during the past five years. Even if you go alone or with friends to anywhere, this is a safe city.
What kind of new things did you face or meet here? I believe for me was the weather, Brazil is a tropical country so the weather for me was the big challenge to face, also to start a life from zero, I did not know anyone and I did not know the country so was a big challenge.
What kind of programs do you take on with your friends (even professional, or leisure programs)? Normally in the first week of university we have a lot of events with the Erasmus, Stipendium group, I went to all those events, almost every day to make new friends, when I found the group that has the same interesting as me we start to make our own programs, when went dancing, to talk in the square, cinema, sometimes study groups, depending on how busy we were in the university but every weekend we were together.
What is your plan for the future, after your degree? Definitely find a job in Europe, I never erase the possibility to stay in Hungary, but I am looking everywhere in Europe to find a job since PTE is a recognized European university my diploma can be used anywhere in Europe. Right now I am focusing on my Diploma work and then I’ll be looking for a job.
