Switching Gears: Exams, Presentations, and a Quiet Return to the Parliament by Lionel

After weeks of discovering Budapest and enjoying a more relaxed pace, everything suddenly shifted as the exam period arrived. No more wandering around the city or spontaneous outings — instead, I spent most of my time working on projects and preparing for assessments.

A big part of this period was focused on two key IT-related projects: one involving Orchard Core, a CMS framework based on .NET, and the other using AWS, where we explored cloud services, automation, and basic infrastructure setup. These projects were intense, but also very concrete and practical. I felt like I was finally putting into practice what I had only studied in theory before.

Another important event during this time was a group presentation we had to give at ExxonMobil’s offices in Budapest. For one of the optional courses I chose, we were asked to develop a fictional project and present it as if we were pitching it to potential investors. The goal was to be convincing, clear, and professional. It was a challenge, but our presentation went well, and the whole experience felt very realistic — a great simulation of how things might work in a real business environment. It was also a nice change from the usual classroom setting.

Once exams were over, I finally took some time to breathe. I decided to return to a place I had visited during my very first days in Budapest: the Hungarian Parliament. The first time I saw it, it was nighttime and nearly empty. This time, I came during the day, and the contrast was striking — the square was full of people, tourists taking pictures, and the building looked even more impressive in daylight.

I didn’t go there for any particular reason — I just had free time again and wanted to go outside. After spending so much time focused on studies and deadlines, it felt good to be back in the city, without pressure. It wasn’t a special moment, but it was a simple way to mark the end of the exam period and get back to a more balanced routine.