A kaleidoscope of cultures at ELTE BTK: a night where the world felt close enough to touch
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There are ordinary Thursdays at university, and then there are Thursdays that feel like the world suddenly decided to stop by for a visit. This year’s , held on 6 November at ELTE BTK, was exactly that: a vivid, flavorful, musical tumble into dozens of cultures, all coexisting under one roof. As an ambassador, I spend a lot of time talking about what makes our university special, but on this day, I didn’t have to say much. The event spoke for itself.
The moment I stepped inside the Faculty Council Hall, there were colours, languages, aromas, and music blended into the kind of joyful chaos that instantly reminds you why studying in an international community is such a privilege. Hosted by the Department of International Affairs in collaboration with HÖK, ISAC, and ESN ELTE, the festival wasn’t just an event: it was a celebration of identity, hospitality, and global curiosity.
The heart of Culture Fest was its international stalls. Tables transformed into little pockets of home by students representing countries from every corner of the globe. Each one offered something unique: a taste, a story, a challenge, or a moment of connection.
The general booth opened the circuit with a crowd-pleaser: bubble tea! Sipping tapioca pearls while admiring delicate calligraphy artworks felt like the perfect warm-up for what was to come.
The Russian table quickly became one of the most entertaining stops. Students dared visitors to take on the famous Russian tongue-twister challenge, and let’s just say that even the bravest participants walked away laughing at their own linguistic gymnastics. To sweeten the struggle, there were delightful pieces of traditional Russian gingerbread, beautifully spiced and impossible to eat just once.
A few steps away, the Hungarian stall offered a nostalgic spread for anyone who has made Budapest their temporary or permanent home. Classic łú˛őĂ°ů´Ç˛ő&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;°ě±đ˛Ô˛âĂ©°ů&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;·Éľ±łŮłó&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;°ů±đ»ĺ&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;´Ç˛Ôľ±´Ç˛Ô˛ő brought that unmistakable rustic charm, while °ŐĂş°ůĂł&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;¸éłÜ»ĺľ± (everyone’s favourite chocolate-coated cottage cheese bar) kept visitors coming back for “just one more.” No event in Hungary is complete without it, after all.
The Japanese booth provided one of the calmest and most elegant tasting experiences of the afternoon. Cups of warm Oolong tea were served with such grace that for a few minutes, the bustling hall felt like a peaceful teahouse. It was a beautiful reminder of how tradition can create tranquility even in the busiest spaces.
From there, we moved to the bold and spirited flavours of Georgia. Their table offered Mchadi, a traditional cornbread, paired with kidney beans and a surprisingly addictive spicy beetroot spread. Georgian cuisine is known for its heartiness, and this station lived up to that reputation. Every bite felt like receiving a warm welcome from the Caucasus.
Not far away, the Dutch stall shared one of the Netherlands’ most iconic treasures: cheese. Simple, rich, and timeless, Dutch cheese never fails—and judging by the crowds around the table, it didn’t disappoint.
And these were only a handful of the countries represented. From Palestine to Pakistan, from Kazakhstan to Cameroon, each table added its own colour to the mosaic. Whether it was food, traditional clothing, music, or conversation, every country offered a doorway into a different way of life.
Then, the stage lineup carried the same energy as the stalls. Music, dance, theatre, and spoken word unfolded in a joyful flow of traditions. One of the most beautiful things about these performances was how easily they brought strangers together, people clapped, cheered, and swayed along even when they didn’t understand the language. It was proof that culture does not need translation; it just needs to be shared.
While the day programme wrapped up at 20:00, Culture Fest didn’t end there. The celebration continued at an afterparty, where students gathered for a Hungarian Culture Quiz followed by hours of karaoke.
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As an ambassador, I am always surrounded by cultural diversity, but there was something especially powerful about seeing it come alive so vividly. Culture Fest wasn’t just about tasting snacks or listening to performances; it was about belonging. It was about learning that someone’s “everyday life” can become someone else’s new fascination. It was about celebrating differences not as gaps to be bridged, but as colours in a shared mural.
What I loved most, though, was the atmosphere of curiosity. Students didn’t just walk from table to table tasting food, they asked questions, exchanged stories, and discovered unexpected similarities between cultures they had never encountered before
If there's one thing I learned from the Kaleidoscope of Cultures at BTK Culture Fest, it’s that internationality is not just an administrative category or a marketing slogan. It’s a living experience created by the students who bring their histories, languages, and traditions with them.
