The program was opened by Dr. Alán Alpár, Vice-Rector for International Studies. He recalled the beginnings of the Semmelweis International Carnival, emphasizing that it was a good and beautiful thing that the Semmelweis student community was becoming more diverse year after year. He stated that this diversity was significant and encouraged students in the Hungarian, English, and German-language programs alike to take advantage of the opportunity, immerse themselves in each other’s cultures, and converse as much as possible in each other’s languages.
Anushka Rawat, President of the International Semmelweis Students Association (ISSA), and Raphael Feurstein, President of the Deutschsprachige Studentenvertretung Semmelweis (DSVS), welcomed the participants. Imre Richárd Nagy, President of the Students’ Union (HÖK), stressed in his welcome speech that Semmelweis University was much more than just an institution; it was also a multicultural meeting place where every student brought their own language and culture. He underlined that those present were all part of the larger Semmelweis community. Zsófia Sebeszta, President of the Instructor Unprompted Group (IÖCS), pointed out that one of Semmelweis University’s greatest strengths was its diversity, where everyone came from a different background yet formed a single community.
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In addition to new flavors, participants were able to gain an insight into each other’s cultures during the Multicultural Food Festival. This time, desserts took center stage, but of course, students also had the opportunity to sample traditional dishes from each other’s countries. The latter part of the evening was all about entertainment, with local DJs and bands providing a lively atmosphere.
Dániel Magyar, Vice President for Strategy and Finance at HÖK, shares his personal account of the event
This is my fourth time attending the carnival, and it’s interesting to see year after year how the event changes, how the program evolves, and how students’ attitudes shift. The experience always offers something new, while I can follow the carnival’s evolution. The evening was inspiring and interesting. During the opening event, performances by people representing the different countries made for a good start, and the atmosphere gradually built up. My favorite part was the Multicultural Food Festival. I really enjoyed tasting dishes from different countries and chatting with the students about their cultures. I especially liked the crêpes I tasted at the French stand, but I also learned a lot at the Korean stand about their food. I did miss an Italian and American stand, though, because I’m particularly fond of those cultures.
These events give students the chance to meet new people, chat, and get to know other cultures first-hand. It’s not just entertainment, but a real community experience. Here, people from all faculties can come together. That’s what I love most about it: Having fun while meeting both friends and new people. The shared experience itself strengthens the community. International students are eager to showcase their cultures as well as engage in conversation, and they are also open to interaction.
This year’s event was again organized jointly by IÖCS, HÖK, ISSA, and DSVS, and it proved once more that the Semmelweis International Carnival is one of the most significant community events for students.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the organizers for making the event happen. Its high quality and smooth execution clearly reflect the hard work and dedication invested, thanks to which everyone had a truly valuable and lifelong experience.
Anna Donáth, Hanna Patkó
Translation: Dr. Balázs Csizmadia
Photos by Bálint Barta – Semmelweis University
