Breaking News: Erasmus students have been spotted at CEU! Alexander Minbaev interviewed one of them.

Alexander Minbaev (AM): Hello, Shelley, please tell us shortly about yourself and your academic background

Shelley Oberer (SO): Hello. I’m an Erasmus student at the CEU for 2 semesters. I actually study at Regensburg University in Germany, Bavaria, but I’m from Switzerland. I do my Master in the East-West European Studies in Regensburg and one of my two majors is History; and I’m mainly doing History courses at the CEU. My second major is European law and I applied for doing some things in the legal are, maybe it will be Human rights and Archives

AM: What did make you to take part in Erasmus exchange and why CEU?

SO: In January 2012, in the frame of a course called “ Underground Culture and Daily life in the Eastern Block” I took back in my home University (Universität Regensburg), a related exercise “Researching Cold War (Media)” was included, which was an Archival excursion to Budapest. Besides doing research at the OSA (Open Society Archives) and some field trips in Budapest, we also had joint seminars with Professor Marsha Siefert’s course: “Biography and Oral History”. I liked the course a lot and the interactive teaching style that encouraged students to discuss with each other and exchange their ideas/thoughts impressed me.

AM: And you decided to visit Budapest once again, this time as an Erasmus student, didn’t you?

SO: Absolutely. This very positive experience, combined with the fact that the topic of my master thesis is related to the region, as well as that the OSA, hence a perfect research possibility, is basically just around the corner finally led me to the decision to take the opportunity of the existing Erasmus partnership between my home University and the CEU history department. I am very happy I did make this decision, because on the one hand I got to know great people from all over the world, an on the other of course I learn a lot. Last but not least, being surrounded by the Hungarian language, culture etc. is also of help to improve my Hungarian.

AM: Are you studying Hungarian? Is it necessary for your research or, probably, for something else?

SO: Yes, I take Hungarian here at the CEU. First of all, for personal reasons as my father is from Hungarian minority in Slovakia. Moreover, as for I live in Hungary now, I would like to know at least a few words in order to offer coffee or something like this. It is also important for my master thesis if I speak a bit of language.

AM: Being an Erasmus student, how much freedom, regarding classes and assignments, do you have?

SO: I’m more or less free, but of course a certain amount of classes should be from the History department and whenever possible be somehow related to my Master thesis. However, it depends on your own activity and your own professor.  I would say that I’m really lucky to have some freedom in choosing my courses. I profit from this chance by, for example taking one course from the Gender Studies department, which is rather something new for me.

AM: Tell us about your personal experience: meeting new people, making friends.  Do you feel that you are in the community?

SO: The major thing about the CEU is that it is really international. You have a chance to discuss the issues in the field with people coming from different countries. I find this very important, especially for history, for example, discussions about the Cold War period. My personal experience with meeting new people and making friends was great.  Here, at CEU I met many interesting, amazing people, with whom I spend a lot of time going to ballet, cinema, drinks, but also meeting up for a cup of coffee and discussing university issues. I feel as a part of the community and I’m happy to be in this community.

AM: Thank you very much, Shelley. I wish you to have amazing yet productive time here at the CEU.