Newcomers Gab: Annie from Great Britain

- Which part of Hungary are you living now?

Budapest


(all the photos in this article are from Annie's Flickr photostream)

- Why did you choose to come to Hungary ?

I lived in Poland for two years and for Paris for a year after that. When I was choosing my next place I decided I would quite like to try some-where else in Eastern Europe and Budapest was where I got my job.

- For how long have you been living in here?

8 months

- What are you doing/working as now in Hungary?

I work as a teacher in an International School



- What is your impression of Hungary after living here for this duration?

I think that it takes time to feel really familiar with a new place and while I really like the city, Budapest doesn't feel like home just yet. I feel that I am only just starting to get to grips with using some Hungarian and getting the little cultural quirks.

- Was it difficult to arrange your travel to Hungary with all your belongings?

Easy, as this was my third move I have learnt to travel light.

- How did you manage the route, planning, timing, temperature, luggage preparation for your travel during the move?

I flew over with one suitcase and a piece of handluggage, one month before I started work. A couple of friends came with me, which was great as we had a while to explore before I had to start my new job.

-If someone were to come from where you used to live, considering to live in Hungary/Budapest the next time, would you encourage anyone to travel in this way?

Living and working overseas is just as amazing and just as difficult as you would imagine. There are times when everything feels totally alien and there are times that you find yourself connecting with little things that make you feel like you belong. Most days swing between the two. I would encourage anyone to come to Budapest, living here is nothing like being a tourist in the city.

-Did you find any difficulties in accessing to anything during the first month upon arrival?

I was lucky that my work sorted out my apartment and residency permits and stuff like that, but I did have problems getting travel tickets for the metro and trams, there seemed to be hardly any places to buy them from.

-What kind of food/beverage have you tried in Hungary?

Pogacsa, gulyasleves, Bikaver wine, kolbasz....there must be too many others

-Which are the locations that you like the most here that you would recommend?

I love the VII district, which is where I live. There are loads of characters around here and the buildings still bear the marks of the history of the area, which is fantastic and very humbling.
I am also a huge fan of Margit Island, which must be the summer saviour of every-one who lives in and visits Budapest.

Rooftops of the Jewish quarter, originally uploaded by Pinkannie.

-What tips or advices would you want to share with our readers?

Always take a bag with you when you go shopping in Hungary, you hardly ever get given them in shops. Also, Hungarians never expect foreigners to speak Hungarian, so a sweet smile and a kozsonom will go a long way.