By Kristof Kocs
Unique beverages, delicious foods, good cheer, and a true sense of community — perhaps this is how we could best describe this year’s annual International Day at McDaniel College Budapest, which was organized by the SAC on Thursday, May 8. With over a dozen nationalities represented, the event drew a much larger audience than expected, and the nearly 60 participants quickly turned it into a lively celebration of cultural diversity and unity. The overriding theme was clear: cultivating curiosity and respect for one another’s cultures.
Due to the windy and rainy weather conditions, the event was held in the college’s grand Auditorium (Room 100) – for the first time since 2019 – offering a nostalgic reminder to the predecessor of International Days, the once-highly successful “International Dinners.” Similar to previous years, the organizers welcomed students from all programs at the institution, including the four-year BA, Pre-Med/Pre-Vet, and BSM programs, therefore increasing the diversity of the represented countries. In addition to the United States and Hungary, attendees represented (among others) the United Kingdom, Romania, France, Greece, Namibia, Nigeria, Venezuela, Russia, Turkey, and Palestine, and there were even students from Nepal and Myanmar.
The event’s main highlight was undoubtedly the free presentation and tasting session hosted by Zwack Unicum, a distinguished and historic Hungarian spirits producer. This occasion provided a unique opportunity for students to learn about one of Hungary’s most successful and historic liqueur companies. Participants also had the chance to sample five distinctive flavors of Zwack’s flagship brand, Unicum: besides the classic version, attendees could enjoy the coffee, orange, plum, and premium varieties. The idea to organize such an extracurricular activity at the International Day first came up in March, when one of our students, Levente Laknerfi, who works at Zwack Unicum, approached SAC to share details about this exciting opportunity. The organizers quickly embraced the initiative and immediately began collaborating with Levente to coordinate the event. “It was a great experience working with SAC to bring this event to my fellow students,” Levente remarked. He also expressed his hope to make this tasting session an annual tradition for International Days, promising that next year’s event “will keep the high standards” that were set this year.
Zwack’s close relationship with McDaniel College Budapest added an extra layer of significance to this collaboration. The company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sándor Zwack, is an alumnus of the college, while students enrolled in Professor Robert Smyth’s popular “From Garden to Table” gastro-journalism course have also previously visited the Zwack factory in Budapest. Although Dean Frenyó had invited Sándor Zwack to the event, he was unable to attend, due to other commitments. Nonetheless, he sent his best wishes to those present.
Following the tasting and presentation, the event entered its second phase: a relaxed, picnic-style gathering, that transformed the auditorium into an informal and lively atmosphere. Many attendees brought special dishes from their own cultures, such as Greek moussaka, American blueberry muffins, Hungarian palacsinta (pancakes) with homemade jam, túrógombóc (cottage cheese dumplings), and German pastries. In addition, the organizers ordered pizza, ensuring a laid-back culinary experience for all attendees. SAC members also acknowledged that next year, they plan to prepare even more food options in order to better meet the growing level of interest.
Participants overwhelmingly shared a positive feedback when asked by our student newspaper. A Study Abroad student, Amiya Daye, commented: “Although I wasn’t there the entire time, I saw that it was lively, and everyone seemed excited to share cultural experiences with their friends and even strangers.” Freshman art student Lilla Sándor described the event as “really enjoyable and entertaining.” Levente Laknerfi also emphasized the significance of the occasion, stating, “It was a unique opportunity not only to learn about cultural diversity but to experience it firsthand.” This enthusiasm was reflected in the large number of students who participated in the Kahoot game, featuring fun facts about various nations. Many students also enjoyed the selfie wall, which was created by the Art Club under the leadership of Alexa Bandura.
The International Day also marked the SAC’s final major program of the semester, making it especially gratifying to see such a large turnout, shared unanimously by several organizers with our newspaper. Indeed, this event not only signaled the conclusion of the semester, but also brought the academic year to a close, serving as a positive example of the increasingly vibrant student community that has been building since 2024.
Photos by Krisztina Géczi, Anna Horváth, and Kristof Kocs
