What began as a small gathering has grown into a lasting tradition. Instead of lectures and deadlines, right after the mid-term examination week, students found themselves in a relaxed space for creativity, discussion, and community. For one evening, the campus transformed into a space where art and conversation flowed as freely as the wine. The college marked the fifth annual wine and art event with the highest turnout thus far.

The event was organized by the Student Advisory Council (SAC), with the key support and a presentation from wine journalist and our college professor, Robert Smyth. Attendees had the opportunity to sample four carefully selected wines, two red and two white wines. An engaging presentation preceded the blind tasting, during which the atmosphere quickly became lively as guests tried to guess the wines they were tasting.

The evening’s selection of white wines offered both familiarity and discovery. The Irsai Olivér, a Hungarian cross known for its intensely aromatic profile, stood out with its floral and fruity character. Featuring pronounced aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, as well as floral perfume, followed by a soft, light palate, creating an easy-drinking style. In contrast, the Olaszrizling presented a more subtle and versatile expression. Widely grown across Central Europe, it reflected its terroir with delicate flavors of pear, apple, and white flowers, balanced by a fresh acidity. Together, the two wines highlighted the diversity of white varieties, giving participants a chance to compare both vibrant aromatics and more restrained elegance.

The red wines brought a deeper, more complex dimension to the tasting. Kadarka, a historic variety with roots in the Balkans, offered a lighter, more delicate profile, marked by its vibrant acidity. Its aromatic character stood out with notes of rose hip, raspberry, and spices, creating a lively and slightly zesty palate. In contrast, Cabernet Franc provided a more structured and full-bodied experience. It revealed layers of red and black fruit alongside subtle hints of tobacco and graphite. With its balanced tannins and refined acidity, it added an elegant depth to the evening’s selection, highlighting the contrast between lighter and more robust red styles.

As the evening progressed, the focus gradually shifted from tasting to visual expression, introducing the art portion of the event. Inspired by themes of Easter and spring, the students’ works were filled with soft colors and a vibrant sense of renewal, reflecting the season’s atmosphere. With the guidance and support of the art professors, students were given the opportunity not only to unwrap their creativity but also to contribute to the McDaniel community by donating selected pieces to the SAC. These artworks will then be featured in the art sale, adding a meaningful dimension to the event by combining creativity with a sense of contribution.

More than just an evening of wine and art, the event created a space for connection, creativity, and shared experience. As it continues to grow each year, it remains a highlight of campus life — one that students will likely look forward to long after this fifth edition.

For those who may have missed this event, there is no need to worry; the SAC still has several exciting programs planned for the second half of the semester. Among them is a brand-new Shark Tank–style event, offering business-minded students the chance to test their ideas and skills in a simulation inspired by the well-known show. In addition, a poetry competition will provide a platform for creative expression, while an upcoming charity event for Mother’s Day aims to support single mothers in need. The Council looks forward to seeing many familiar McDaniel faces at these events, as it continues to foster a strong and welcoming sense of community on campus.

Pictures by Krisztina Géczi

The post A night of canvas and Cabernet: the fifth annual Art & Wine Night appeared first on McDaniel College Budapest.

At a college where stepping into the building means encountering dozens of nationalities, celebrating our diversity is not just important — it’s essential. Before COVID-19, International Day was an annual tradition that brought the whole community together. This semester, however, the Student Advisory Council (SAC) reintroduced the event with a fresh touch. Students from the BSM (Budapest Semester in Mathematics), Pre-Med, and the four-year McDaniel Budapest program had the opportunity to connect beyond their fields of study, meet new faces, and, most importantly, have a blast.

The evening kicked off with an engaging presentation by our own Levente Laknerfi, who introduced the audience to the rich history of Zwack Unicum, Hungary’s iconic herbal liqueur. The legacy of Zwack Unicum holds special significance for McDaniel, as Sándor Zwack, heir to the Zwack family, is one of the college’s distinguished alumni. The session concluded with a tasting of three different varieties of Unicum, allowing participants to experience the tradition firsthand.

Without further ado, the evening continued with a captivating performance by the Igraj Kolo dance group from Érd. Dedicated to preserving and celebrating local Croatian ethnic traditions, the ensemble serves as an active guardian of its cultural heritage. In a dynamic fifteen-minute performance, the dancers mesmerized an audience of 120 attendees, taking the stage in beautifully detailed traditional attire. The rhythmic footwork, vibrant costumes, and powerful choreography drew enthusiastic cheers, with many in the crowd capturing the moment on their phones. This highlight of the evening was made possible thanks to Adriána Marton, Coordinator of Academic Affairs and a proud member of the dance group, whose efforts helped bring this remarkable cultural experience to campus.

The SAC deliberately built anticipation for the food. About an hour into the event, peer mentors began serving the delicious dishes brought by attendees, representing cuisines from around the world. As organizers, some of us were amazed that the food barely fit on the tables winding around the room. From Hungarian rétes (strudel) filled with poppy seeds and cherry to everyone’s favorite Persian sweet infused with rose water, the tables were overflowing with desserts and main dishes from China, Greece, and America, basically every corner of the globe, bringing International Day to its true focal point. Those who brought a home-cooked dish were exempt from the entrance fee. Each dish was automatically entered into a food competition, with the winner decided by student votes. By the end of the night, after the votes were counted, there was a tie between a traditional Hungarian fánk (donut) and the previously mentioned Persian sweet; the two lucky winners received a Zwack Unicum jacket.

The night wrapped up with more dancing and a fun Kahoot quiz created by Levente Lassú, featuring tricky trivia questions about our countries and their neighbors. Julius Hendricks won the game because of his outstanding knowledge of world history and geography. The friendly competition brought plenty of laughter and a final burst of energy to close the evening.

If you couldn’t join us this time, don’t worry — the SAC has many more events planned for the semester. From charity initiatives and pub crawls to poetry competitions and a Shark Tank–style simulation, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved. Be sure to look out for our popular Art & Wine Night with Professor Robert Smyth, which will take place in the newly renovated art wing. This impressive art wing project, brought to life by the College, reflects Zsófia Görömbei’s creativity and strong design vision. The result is a bright, welcoming space with a wonderful atmosphere, perfect for future gatherings. To stay up to date, follow our Instagram account or feel free to reach out to the SAC presidents, Anna Segesvári and Krisztina Géczi, via email.

Instagram: @mcdanielbudapest

Email: sac@mcdaniel.hu

Photos by FJ, Instagram: miles4med

The post Reviving an old tradition: the return of International Day appeared first on McDaniel College Budapest.

Thanksgiving is a moment in the year when we pause, breathe, and remind ourselves of the power of gratitude. The American holiday dates back hundreds of years and remains highly cherished, with family at its center. Here at McDaniel, our small community offers a second family to its students.

In 2024, Kristóf Kócs and Nicholas Trunecz, then presidents of the Student Advisory Council (SAC), had the bright idea to celebrate this American holiday in our American college in the heart of Europe. As their successors, Anna Segesvári and I were fortunate enough to organize the Second Annual Thanksgiving Gala. This celebration has grown into one of the biggest and most popular events at the college, welcoming around 100 people. It is an evening where students, professors, and alumni can meet new faces and get to know one another outside the classroom. Each semester, we have a dozen to two dozen American Study Abroad students from our main campus in Westminster, Maryland, as well as from Gettysburg College. For them, the gala is more than an evening filled with laughter; it is a way to reconnect with their American traditions while abroad and to share the holiday with friends in the absence of their families.

Preparations for the event begin a month in advance. The dedication, planning, and countless hours of work of the SAC are woven into every detail of the evening. The decorations for the auditorium are carefully designed and set up just a day before Thanksgiving. The peer mentors are especially proud of the cardboard turkey they crafted last year, which allows participants to write their thankful notes on its feathers.

The Gala offers the attendees a wide variety of traditional Thanksgiving food, such as turkey with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The spirit of collaboration is visible from start to finish. The SAC works with staff members in ticket sales, a pre-med student serves as the photographer, and our talented student, Deniz Yeni, takes on the DJ-ing. A great addition this year was the karaoke; of course, people were shy at first, but once they warmed up, more and more joined in. The emotional highlight of the night was when Dean Frenyó joined Gettysburg student Elliot Wakefield in singing My Way by Frank Sinatra.

Stepping outside of our tiny college, the idea of gratitude celebrations exists in many countries. “In total, at least 13 countries have their own versions of Thanksgiving or similar harvest festivals, including Canada, Liberia, Germany, Japan, Grenada, Brazil, Korea, China, Ghana, India (South), Barbados, Malaysia, and more” (primarybeginnings, 2014). Interestingly, Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving in October, yet their holiday closely resembles that of the United States. In China, a form of Thanksgiving takes place in mid-August during a three-day feast called the Chung Chiu Moon Festival. “Family and friends share mooncakes… to signify unity and peace to come” (primarybeginnings, 2014).

I believe gratitude is important, no matter where we are from and no matter how we express it. Multicultural communities are rich but complex. Gratitude matters even more in multicultural environments because it is a universal language, we all understand. Everyone knows what it feels like to be appreciated and to appreciate those around you. Feeling seen and valued becomes especially meaningful when you are far from home or navigating a new culture. Gratitude acknowledges contributions that come because of someone’s culture, not despite it. That recognition forms the foundation of our community. The essence of Thanksgiving reminds us that gratitude is not passive; it is active. It is a choice we make every day to recognize the good, to appreciate the people in our lives, and to contribute something positive to the spaces we share. This gala is a celebration of that choice.

Photos by FJ & Ali György

FJ’s Instagram: miles4med

The post A new tradition at McDaniel: The Thanksgiving Gala appeared first on McDaniel College Budapest.

Preceding the start of the 2025 spring semester for the McDaniel Budapest campus, study abroad students participated in a mandatory week of Orientation to become acclimated to their new, unfamiliar surroundings. I spoke with four students about their experience, starting with their favorite part of the first week:
Third year student, Graphic Design major, Art History and Cinema minor Kate Heard said, “I really liked that we got to hit major landmarks within the first week and did it together as a group while also learning how to use the public transportation.” Second year student and Psychology major Serenity Moseley-Few agreed. Locations like Arena Mall for shopping, the Hungarian Parliament, and eventually Heroes’ Square, Városliget and the Hungarian Agricultural Museum, Fisherman’s Basin, and more were all visited within the first week and accumulated in the form of a site-seeing scavenger hunt on the final day.
Third year student and Philosophy major Jasmine Artis said, “Meeting all the peer mentors and doing activities with them was really fun. They were nice and engaging.” Second year student, Communications major, Isabelle Diffendall agreed, saying, “The dynamic between SAC (Student Advisory Council) Co-Presidents Kristof Kocs and Nicholas Trunecz, and the Peer Mentors, was entertaining to see.” Kristof and Nicholas, along with the mentors, encouraged questions about Hungarian sites, practices, and culture and answered them with kindness and understanding.

While traveling to a foreign country and being in a different environment can be exciting, it can also be difficult. Jasmine expressed, “There wasn’t enough downtime to settle in when we arrived, and activities were scheduled early without time to truly rest.” Isabelle mentioned that the directions for travel were a bit difficult to follow without help from the mentors and Serenity agreed saying, “We would arrive at a location and at the end, we were left with no directions on how to get back to our apartments.”

Along with traveling around the city with peer mentors, study abroad students were required to attend informational sessions led by Director of Academic and Student Affairs Professor Matthew Adamson, Director of Academic and Institutional Development Professor Christopher Cox, and peer mentors.
Current staff, students, and faculty members share an interest in wanting an insider’s opinion about what this part of the program is like for students. All four students agreed that improving the residency permit process would be the most helpful thing to do. All international students are required to complete a residence permit application. This application is then used by the Immigration Office to officially issue students their residence permits which take a few weeks to arrive. It is used to justify the legal stay of the resident along with their valid travel document. Kate admitted that it was stressful, “I was in the first group to go as it seemed that those helping may have been unsure of what to do so it was a very long process.”
Isabelle commented on the processes once arriving at the Immigration Office the following day, “Almost everyone had something wrong with their documents.” Serenity agreed, saying, “I was one of the last people to go because something was wrong with the pictures of my documents.” Jasmine also wished the process was smoother for all involved, including those helping.
There is quite a small staff here at the McDaniel Budapest campus, but they have proven to be a dedicated team that works hard to provide a safe and inviting environment for the study abroad students. All the interviewed students agreed that though things may have started rocky, everything worked out in the end, leaving them with good stories to tell.
After a week of traveling, attending info sessions, and adjusting, these students were able to give some advice to those who want to study abroad at the Budapest campus in the future. “For the first week of orientation, make sure all your important documents are in one folder, digitally and physically, and always bring them with you,” advised Kate and the others agreed. Though bed linens are provided, Isabelle suggested bringing your own if you prefer certain textures. “Bring your own washcloths if you prefer to bathe with those,” Jasmine added, “Also if you enjoy a particular brand [of cosmetics, snacks, etcetera] from home, bring it with you.”

Serenity encouraged students to stay true to their personal style. “Don’t stress too much about wearing sweatpants. The dress code here is like being at home. Just don’t wear pajamas.” Kate also added, “Bring more cash than you think you need. Cash is better to have here and there is typically an international fee each time a credit or debit card is used.”
While there may have been a few stumbles throughout this week, there was charm that could not be replicated. These four first time international travellers have made it through their first week here in Budapest and they are looking forward to experiencing more of the city, culture, and changes.

Pictures by Amiya Daye

The post Settling in appeared first on McDaniel College Budapest.