18th February – Day 150

On Tuesday, I returned from my spontaneous visit to Germany. I had some dental issues and needed to see a dentist. However, since it wasn’t classified as a “real” emergency, the Henner health insurance from the ESC didn’t cover the costs. Additionally, Hungary has a different system for dental insurance, so I couldn’t use my European Health Insurance Card.

I started my journey early in the morning from Cologne Central Station and arrived in Szolnok in the evening.

When I got back to the apartment, I was welcomed by new volunteers:
On the 14th and 17th of February, four new volunteers had arrived – three girls from Georgia (Nino, Salome, and Mariam) and one boy from France (Jordan). The Georgian volunteers are here for a short-term stay of two months, except for Mariam, who will stay for only one month. Jordan, on the other hand, is a long-term volunteer and will stay until September.

That evening, they cooked a Georgian dish for all of us – it was delicious!

19th & 20th February – Days 151 & 152

During my visit to Cologne, I caught a cold, so I needed to rest on Wednesday and Thursday.

21st February – Day 153

On Friday, there was a small concert at Szőlőszem in the evening. Since nothing else happened that day, I had more time to rest – but I was generally feeling better again.

22nd February – Day 154

On Saturday, the five of us volunteers took a trip to Budapest. We explored the city and visited:
🏰 Buda Castle and the surrounding district
🏛️ The Parliament
🎭 The Opera House (from the outside)
🌿 Szimpla Kert, the famous ruin bar
🕯️ The Shoes on the Danube Bank, a memorial for the Jews murdered during the Third Reich
🌃 In the evening, we admired the beautifully lit Parliament before heading back home.

23rd February – Day 155

Sunday was a day of rest.

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This week was a mix of returning, meeting new people, and exploring. Despite my cold, it was nice to be back in Szolnok, get to know the new volunteers, and go on a trip to Budapest together. 🏰✨ #ESCExperience #NewVolunteers #BudapestAdventure