One of the best things about CEU is that it is quite difficult here to be alone (unless you want to). Even if you have not yet met new friends during rich with events orientation week, CEU student clubs can be a perfect option for all newcomers to find somebody who shares your interests. It seems that this year more and more people at CEU become interesting not only in sightseeing in the city of Budapest but also in exploring picturesque Hungarian nature hiking in the hills. In order to understand what made CEU Magyarnaut Hiking Club so popular just within the first month of the studies, CEU Weekly asked one of the founders of the club, Shane Markowitz, to tell us more about the start of hiking season 2012/2013 at CEU:
Maryna Shevtsova (MS): Hello, Shane. Please, tell us how this wonderful idea about having a hiking club in CEU came to your mind?
Shane Markowitz (S.M.): Well, a group of students in my department at CEU had already been going on occasional hikes last year. So I thought - why not share these with the entire CEU community, certainly there must be a much broader interest in hiking and exploring the Hungarian countryside. I then teamed up with Brendan Duprey and Vija Pakalkaitė who have also organized hiking events in the past, and everything just took off from there. It has been a terrific experience so far, and I am looking forward to the upcoming year.
MS: How long have you been practicing hiking and what's so special in hiking for you?
S.M.: I occasionally went hiking earlier, but hiking particularly became special for me during the two years of my life that I spent in Switzerland beginning in 2009. In Switzerland, hiking is one of the top national activities and with the scenery of the Alps all around, it was never possible to be outdoors enough. Now what I came to love about hiking: I must say that in an age when cities are increasingly becoming the center of modern society, hiking offers the perfect opportunity to escape the ordinary routine - even if for a short few moments - and reflect on life. Beyond the quiet moments amidst the unimaginably stunning creations of Earth and the bonding with friends, there is always something unexpected that happens that makes every trip a joyful, memorable, and mesmerizing experience. There is the opportunity to become a part of an unexpected festival in a rural town, learn about the history of a region, or meet fellow hikers. For me, it is always a sad moment when I breathe in that last fresh mountainside air before a return to the city, but it is always good to know that more outings are yet to come. And the moments always remain with us in our memories, pictures, and travel writings.MS: How can somebody become a member of hiking club? Is any special preparation needed for it?
S.M.: To become a member, a prospective candidate must first show a certificate of proof that they climbed Mount Everest. (laughing) Ok, I am just joking. We accept any members - beginners and experts, as we organize both easy and more difficult hikes. In fact, most of our hikes are fairly easy given the lack of large mountains in Hungary, but we still have a really great time. The best way to join would be to become a member of our facebook page. Prospective Magyarnauters (the name of our club) could also email me, and I will ensure that they are placed on a mailing list for upcoming events. We hope many more people in the CEU community will be encouraged to join. Our events are a great way to exercise, socialize with friends, and explore the beautiful countryside of Hungary.
MS: What are CEU hiking clubs plans for fall term?
S.M.: The highlights of our fall schedule will include the Rám-szakadék canyon in the Pilis hills, the highest peak of the Gerecse Mountains, a visit to one of the highest points of Hungary in the Mátra, and a camping trip near Szentendre. As the colors of autumn are coming soon, this should provide a nice bonus feature to many of these hikes. We will also host some hikes closer to Budapest, so that we can get to know the surroundings of our own city too. Finally, we hope to begin planning some more challenging multiple-day camping trips in Austria, Romania, and Slovakia for the winter break and spring time.
MS: Thank you, Shane. Wishing to CEU hiking club more and more challenging and exciting hikes in 2012/2013!
Photos by Natalia Mileszyk
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