Brittney Wasielewski
Education Abroad
Throughout the month of May, I attended the Global May Hungary education abroad along with twenty one other students. During my trip I learned about the culture and history of Hungary and Eastern Europe by lectures, classroom activities and field trips. For the final project, I collaborated with my peers to film and edit a video that reflected on an important aspect of Hungarian culture.
This experience was very transformational for me because I not only reflected upon another culture, but myself as well. I believe that as a whole I gained more knowledge about the political world since my classes focused on the history and politics of Hungary and Central Europe. As an education abroad attendee, I had the chance to witness certain political events in these regions, and was able to form my own opinions and political beliefs. This is especially important in this day and age because there is an increase in political talk among college students, and I found that it is very important to be informed on current issues. Since this class had such a heavy foundation in politics, our professor helped us make connections between current events in the United States and Central Europe, and as a young student in central Ohio it is important to realize how influential of a country the United States is.
Reflecting on such a big topic such as the political parallels of the United States and Central Europe also causes one to reflect on themself. Before this trip, it is safe to say that I did not believe what I did or say would make a huge difference in the world, and I think a majority of people feel that way. I found on this trip though that I couldn’t have been more wrong. Everything you say and do matters, it matters to your friends, your coworkers, your family. Similarly to Central Europe, the United States is currently submerged in political debate, and I realized that it doesn’t matter if I am alone in my beliefs or if there are hundreds of people agreeing with me, I have a duty as a citizen to stand up for what I believe in. I found this to be a common trait in Hungary and Central Europe, in that they might be small but it does not mean they aren’t mighty.
Due to a recent election in Hungary, a vast majority of young adults have been protesting the re-election of the prime minister. In class I learned about the policies and effects of said prime minister, and realized how important it was for some change to happen in Hungary. Unfortunately his re-election had occurred, but those that opposed him are still continuing their protests and making their voices heard. One specific moment I had witnessed was a protest right in front of the Parliament building. The protest was so big they had shut down the building and had tons of officers and security units, but the protesters were not afraid to voice their opinions. Unlike recent years the election was not won with as large of margins as previously, exemplifying the importance of political debate and protest. Recently in the United States, I find that my generation of college students are becoming more involved in protests and politics in general.
Another influential moment on this trip was talking with students and faculty from Hungary about current events in Central Europe and the United States. I had the realization that individuals in these regions know more about American politics than most Americans do. As a history major I felt as though I had a pretty good understanding of both past and current politics, but there were many moments were I was lost. Moments such as this happened often throughout this trip, and I had made the decision to become more informed on current politics. Conversing with said individuals also made me realize the influence that the United States’ political field had on countries even in Central Europe.
Since this trip was a month long, I formed strong relationships with several of the other students. When we had the opportunity to discuss not just politics but any topic, it was very interesting to listen to other people’s experiences and beliefs. Discussions such as these made it evident to me that you may not agree with one’s beliefs, but it is still important to listen and discuss such topics. This coupled with the experience of witnessing the protest, sparked my interest in becoming a more informed and vocal citizen.
Overall, this trip encouraged me to become more focused in politics and becoming a more informed citizen. Due to this I realized that I was interested in a different career path than I had originally intended, making me more excited for my future. Having an awareness of how powerful a protest can be or a simple conversation with someone who had a different experience than you is a valuable workplace and life skill to have. The relationships that I formed on this trip will last a lifetime, and I am thankful for the friends I made and the knowledge that I gained.
