WLB: Where did you come from?
Nicole: From a Brazilian town with 200 000 inhabitants. Nothing interesting happens there, so Budapest was a huge change for me.
WLB: What’s the story of you coming here?
Nicole: I moved to Hungary a year ago. I started to work for an IT company I found with the aid of the AIESEC organization. Then a Brazilian friend of mine asked me to contribute to this blog, and I instantly fell in love with blogging. Now I feel like I could write more serious articles.
WLB: How would you describe Budapest in five words?
Nicole: Intensity, recreation, multicultural, summer and Sziget!
WLB: Which other European city can be likened to Budapest?
Nicole: I’ve been to several European cities, and I’ve found some similarities, but I’ve never been to one that had the vibe of Budapest.
WLB: How would you describe Budapest’s style?
Nicole: It is young, masculine, and ever-changing.
WLB: What is the first thing that pops into your mind about Budapest?
Nicole: Nightlife. Now that it’s summer and everybody has time to spare, we go out every night. The other thing is that nobody cares too much about their cars, apartments, or the clothes they wear. This is so different at home. Although people are complaining, they don’t really make a fuss about these things.
WLB: What is your favorite spot in Budapest?
Nicole: Margaret Island, I walk there a lot. I also like Szilvuplé, because I can do karaoke there, which I really love. Then there’s Deák Square, Anker't, and basically every single bar with a garden or a terrace.
WLB: Do you work here with Hungarians?
Nicole: I am the only foreigner at the company. I met with my friends through the organization, which really brings people from other countries together.
WLB: How does Budapest inspire you?
Nicole: The most inspiring thing is that every day is different. I have no idea whether that’s constantly characteristic of the city, or I only feel this way because I’m so far from home. One thing’s for sure, Budapest made me more open-minded, I’m more open to experiencing different cultures. I’m lucky because I’m never alone, and all these people around me are from different cultural backgrounds, so there’s no lack of intellectual stimulation.
WLB: Do you like Hungarian cuisine? What is your favorite dish?
Nicole: I love it! My favorite dish is fruit soup, which we don’t have at home. I also like typical Hungarian flavors and spices, though sausage is a bit too much for me. I really miss the Brazilian version of pogácsa, which is softer and has more cheese on the top.
WLB: What do you find the least attractive about Budapest?
Nicole: Well, first of all, I don’t understand why everybody is complaining about the public transport! If you lived in Brazil, you would know what delays, huge crowds and bad quality are all about. The other thing is the language. Mission impossible.
WLB: Have you managed to learn some Hungarian?
Nicole: I do understand conversations more or less, but I’m no expert. My favorite word is egészségedre (bless you), I was so proud when I was able to pronounce it for the first time. My other accomplishment was Harminckettesek tere!
WLB: What would you bring over from Brazil?
Nicole: Good weather in winter! In Brazil, even the winter months are sunshiny, and there’s no need to turn on the heating. I miss my family and my friends, though my parents and siblings came over for a visit a couple months ago. They were amazed by the nightlife.
WLB: What do you think needs to be changed in Budapest?
Nicole: People need to smile a lot more. They shouldn’t take everything so seriously; this attitude only makes problems seem worse.
WLB: What is the topic of your next article?
Nicole: I’ve just finished my article about Sziget, now I want to do a review about summer programs.
WLB: Do you have a favorite of your own articles?
Nicole: Yes! It discusses the questions everybody’s asking about Brazil. A few examples: why have you come so far from such a great country? and how are you dealing with the language?
WLB: What do you think you will miss the most when you go back home?
Nicole: The people I hang out with. There’s always someone who’s up to taking a walk or having a coffee, because they love the city as much as I do!
