6 Degrees of Destinations

There is a theory called "Six Degrees of Separation." It is the theory that everyone is a maximum of six steps, or degrees, (by way of introduction) from anyone else in the world. It makes sense, then, that the same would be true in relation to places that people have been.

One of my hesitations about choosing Budapest was the lack of people from my school who have been there in recent years. Back home, on the other hand, I quickly found several connections to people who have been to the city before.

A friend of a friend, a couple from church, a niece of another friend (who actually went to Corvinus University for her semester)... and the list goes on. Living in small-town southern Maine, I was surprised by the number of connections I made in my own community.

Just today, while walking in Portland, I found that one of the street vendors is a descendant of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, the namesake of the school I’ll be attending. (Queue: “It’s a Small World”).

Going through a program, I also have access to an advisor who helps students with questions on paperwork and what to expect from our semester abroad. Through her, I was also able to get in touch with a few people who have already been on the program before I even decided on the location.

This has all come as quite a relief! When I have questions about anything from the safety of an area to the winter climate, I can ask somebody who has experienced it firsthand.

I strongly suggest when planning any time abroad to use these resources! The Internet is a fantastic resource in many ways, but it is also full of contradictions.

My greatest dilemma for a while was whether it was worth trying to pack my winter coat. Online answers about the weather in Budapest ranged from warnings of a “harsh winter” to musings of a “mild winter climate.” Having a fellow Mainer give her opinion made me feel more prepared and better informed.

Knowing that you are speaking to someone with a similar background who has experience in your destination comes with peace of mind. Also, making that call or sending that email is (more often than not) responded to with great enthusiasm and individual focus than you can’t expect to find from just an online forum.