When Sziszi was trying to figure out where to do her master’s degree, Ireland was just one name on a list.
When Sziszi was trying to figure out where to do her master’s degree, Ireland was just one name on a list. London was also right there, tempting her. It was a tough call, a decision that would shape the next part of her life. In the end, Ireland won, but honestly, she almost didn’t make it here at all.
The day she was supposed to fly out was a mess. Packing, saying goodbye to everyone, the whole stress of it just hit her hard. She got so overwhelmed that she nearly missed her flight. Like, almost didn’t get on the plane. But she did, just in time, and landed in a country where she didn’t know a single person. Starting from zero in a new place is scary, especially when you come from somewhere like Hungary and have no idea if you’ll find anyone who even speaks your language.
At first, she felt alone, the weight of the new place was scary. Then, out of pure luck, she met another Hungarian girl. Just hearing someone speak in Hungarian made everything feel like home again and she started to open up. They clicked right away and became friends, and one by one Sziszi started meeting more people.
Her little world began to grow.
She became really close with one of her housemates from all over the world, living together and sharing the whole experience of figuring out life in a new country made things feel normal again. That feeling of being lost at the beginning slowly faded away.
Of course, she still gets homesick. She misses her dog like crazy and just the simple, familiar feeling of being back in Hungary. But even with that, she’s come to love Ireland more.
There are just more opportunities here, the economy is stronger, and she feels safe. It’s a good place to be.
When she’s not studying, handball is her thing. And she’s not just playing for fun; she’s really good. So good that teams back in Hungary sometimes ask her to come back and play, and they actually pay her for it. It’s a nice reminder that no matter where she ends up, she’s still connected to home.
Right now, Sziszi is just living her life here juggling uni, hanging out with friends, and playing the sport she loves. But a big decision is coming up in just four months. She has to choose: stay in Ireland or go back to Hungary. Whatever she picks, her story shows that sometimes the biggest changes start with just one scary, last-minute flight. And having the courage to get on that plane anyway.
