Apply to University of Pannonia! | Hungary

My name is Rodrigo Santos, I am from Cape Verd, a group of islands located in West Africa of the Atlantic Ocean. 🌴 Cape Verd is formed by 10 Islands. I was born on the island of São Vicente, but I spent all my childhood on the island of Santiago.

In 2019 I finished High School and decided to study in Portugal, more specifically in the Azores, to study Informatics. The Azores, approximately 1,500 km west of Lisbon, it's an archipelago consisting of 9 islands, with São Miguel being the main island.

Before talking about Azores, let me give you guys some informations about Cape Verd.

Cape Verd

The country has become a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant music scene, with a population of around 550,000 people and Its official language is Portuguese, but Cape Verdean Creole is widely spoken.

The history of Cape Verde is closely linked to the history of Portuguese exploration and colonization.

In 1951, Cape Verde became an overseas province of Portugal, and in 1975, it gained independence after a long struggle for freedom.

Traditional Food

Cape Verdean cuisine is a fusion of African, Portuguese, and Brazilian influences, and it features a wide range of dishes made with seafood, beans, rice, and various vegetables. Here are some traditional foods of Cape Verde:

1. Cachupa: This is considered the national dish of Cape Verde and is a hearty stew made with corn, beans, vegetables, and meat or fish. There are different versions of Cachupa, and it can be made with different types of beans, meat, or fish.

2. Feijoada: This is a bean stew made with pork, beef, or chicken, and is often served with rice.

3. Pudim de Leite: This is a traditional Cape Verdean dessert, which is a type of sweet flan made with milk, eggs, and caramel.

Cachupa Stew

If one day you go to Cape Verde, I suggest visiting the island of Sal and Boavista, which are the most touristic islands that have everything that summer can offer you.

Azores

With a population around 245,000 people, the Azores are a popular tourist destination, known for their rugged natural beauty, traditional architecture, and unique cuisine. The islands are also an important center for research on marine life, volcanology, and geology 🤓

Touristic Places

These are a few examples of the many famous places in the Azores:

Sete Cidades: Located on the island of São Miguel, Sete Cidades is a picturesque village known for its stunning twin lakes, surrounded by lush green hills.

2. Lagoa do Fogo: Also located on São Miguel, Lagoa do Fogo is a stunning crater lake that offers breathtaking views of the island's rugged landscape.

3. Ilhéu de Vila Franca: is located on the island of São Miguel, in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, on the south coast of the island of São Miguel, in the Azores. It is a small volcanic islet, about 500 meters from the coast of Vila Franca.

4. Pico Island: This island is dominated by the imposing Pico Mountain, the highest point in Portugal, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The island is also known for its vineyards and wineries.

Azorean Activities

1. Hiking: The Azores are known for their stunning landscapes and many hiking trails that offer breathtaking views of the islands. Some of the most popular trails include the Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo trails on São Miguel and the Pico Mountain trail on Pico Island.

2. Whale Watching: The Azores are one of the best places in the world to see whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. There are many whale watching tours available, and visitors may have the chance to see sperm whales, blue whales, humpback whales, and more.

3. Swimming and Diving: With clear waters and diverse marine life, the Azores are a great place for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Visitors can explore shipwrecks, caves, and underwater volcanic formations.

These are just a few examples of the many activities available in the Azores. The islands offer something for every type of traveler, from outdoor enthusiasts to culture lovers.

Traditional food

These are just a few examples of the many delicious traditional dishes of the Azores. The cuisine of the region is diverse and flavorful, reflecting the unique culture and history of the islands.

1. Bolo Lêvedo: This is a sweet bread that is popular throughout the Azores. It is made with flour, sugar, milk, and yeast, and is often toasted and served with butter and jam.

2. Queijadas da Graciosa: These are small, sweet pastries made with cheese, sugar, and eggs. They are a specialty of the island of Graciosa and are often served with coffee or tea.

3. Cozido das Furnas: This is a hearty stew made with beef, pork, chicken, and various vegetables, cooked in pots buried in the volcanic soil of the Furnas Valley on the island of São Miguel. The dish is slow-cooked by the natural heat of the hot springs, giving it a unique flavor.

If I could translate Azores in one word, that would be "Paradise"

Hungary

In 2022, I made a decision that would change my life. I decided to join Erasmus and face my fear and get out of my comfort zone. It wasn't easy, I had a lot of friends encouraging me to sign up and after a lot of stubbornness, I said to myself: "Why not Rodrigo?"

At first I wanted to go to Spain, but unfortunately there were no universities with a partnership for the Informatic course and it was then that my coordinator mentioned Hungary because of a video available on Youtube talking about the University of Pannonia and it's Accommodation's

And again I asked myself "Why not Rodrigo?" xD

I would have to face the language barrier but I had prepared for it for a long time and it was time to put into practice all the time invested in learning English.

I'm not going to lie, there were times I thought about just giving up, even when I was facing the plane but I'm glad I kept moving forward

Then

What can I say to you, that is reading this blog in this moment... raise your head, we are young only once in our lives, when an opportunity like that appears, the only answer is to Accept, Take advantage of it, and have no regrets.

And finally, I would like to say.... sometimes I start to think... I, Rodrigo, I leave a small group of islands for Portugal and now I'm in Hungary. So can you tell me, what can stop you?