Our Last Day in Budapest!

Before I start a recap of today's events, I feel compelled to thank the people who have raised and guided this group of students. It is truly a special group. I witnessed countless kind acts and new friendships form and deepen as everyone was always invited to join in with one another's activities. Thank you! As the parent of two sons who traveled abroad, I hope you will ask your son, daughter, niece, nephew, sibling, friend about their experience in Hungary. We have hundreds (probably thousands) of photos and memories to share. Be prepared for the trip home from the airport; I found this time to be especially filled with all the things my sons experienced while abroad. Thank you for making this opportunity available to your children. They did great navigating a new city, language, culture, and country!

I also want to thank the students for making the jobs of program assistant and faculty member a fantastic experience! We had PERFECT attendance at all classes and events! Wow! Thankfully, I'm packing up ALL of the COVID tests I brought along as we all stayed healthy with the exception of a few colds which are to be expected in January. I know the next 2-3 years "on the Hill" will be enriched by seeing these students and attending their concerts, plays, sporting event, etc. Hopefully we can gather a group to cheer on Roxanne when she is on the pitching mound (or circle?!) this spring. I hope to get plenty of visits at the Academic Success Center!

On to our day...

First up--the FINAL! This is the last day students will be traveling to McDaniel College which housed our classroom for the month. McDaniel College was once the Jewish School for the Deaf and is now the site of one of the twelve Holocaust Memorials in Budapest. This particular memorial is for the Jewish victims of forced labor. Here is a photo of McDaniel College and the memorial after a relatively rare snowfall we experienced. It was a nice classroom away from home this month. 

The afternoon was spent eating lunches, packing, shopping, and getting in one last walk or experience in Budapest. 

One of the things I know I will miss about Budapest and our stay in the city is the incredible view just steps from our hotel.

The evening consisted of an all you can eat buffet at Trofea Grill on Kiraly Street. It was definitely a bittersweet time of enjoying good company, but also having to say goodbye to our wonderful guides/mentors--Emese, Bence, Akos, Nikita and Mariam (not pictured). The thoughtfulness and group comradery was on full display tonight as Ben shared the results of his "Most Likely to..." poll and the students gave our guides/mentors as well as Adam and I gifts we'll cherish. 

I just couldn't resist sharing a few photos that I think sum up our wonderful experience together! 

Tonight, we'll be boarding a bus at 3:50 am to catch our flight back to the United States!  See you all soon!