From Budapest to Shenzhen, My Global Journey in Education and Business
Milán did a lot of homework before traveling to China and was prepared to experience some “culture shock.” After arriving in China and having spent some time studying and living here, he found himself bonding quite well with his Chinese teachers and school friends. There seemed to be no “culture shock” after all. Rather, he was surprised to witness firsthand so much diversity, and as time flew by, he’s discovered there’re similarities as well.
Work, School, China
Markos Milán, from Budapest, Hungary's capital, is an undergraduate majoring in finance and accounting at Budapest Business University. Studying in China is a relatively rare choice among his peer back home. But for Milán, this has been a part of the unique trajectory he’s mapped out for himself before entering college.
Three months before officially being enrolled, Milán began to work as an accounting assistant for an organization in June 2022. “Our (undergraduate) program adopts a dual education approach, enabling students to work while pursuing their studies.” Milán said, adding “I believe gaining practical work experience is crucial in the fields of finance and accounting, which is why I applied for consent from the university to start work before starting school.”
Milán enjoyed interacting with different types of individuals at work. “People are always the most interesting part to me,” he said. And that has led to his idea of studying abroad in China.
“Before I came to China, despite having read many books and acquired some knowledge about China’s geography and history, I am curious about how do Chinese people work on a daily basis. What are their ways of working and thinking? I have to experience all of these by myself.”
In August 2023, Milán was granted a scholarship by the China Scholarships Council (CSC) as part of the China-Hungary Bilateral Cooperation Agreement. Initially, he was enrolled in the IMBA class at Tianjin University. Subsequently, in January 2024, he was granted a two-month exchange with Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, Tianjin University (GTSI).
“While studying in Tianjin University, I learned about GTSI, which is a new school with a strong innovative atmosphere. Furthermore, Shenzhen is known as the core ‘engine’ of the Greater Bay Area. All of these qualities are very appealing to me,” Milán said.
At GTSI, everything is even more unfamiliar to Milán. The school offers primarily science and engineering majors, which have to deal with a huge volume of novel and sophisticated concepts and terminologies, while professors and students are prone to different ways of thinking and share different sets of industry experiences. All of these are outside of Milán’s comfort zone.
“Actually, before coming here, I didn’t even know what ECE (Electronic and Computer Engineering) stands for,” Milán said with a smile. Fortunately, the unfamiliarity didn't create a sense of alienation, and Milán used the word “colorful” to describe his two-month exchange experience.
“GTSI has opened up a new world for me,” he said.
“People are the most valuable part of this journey”
At GTSI, Milán seized every opportunity to communicate with others. To him, the key to the new world is to be forged through extensive communication.
During the two months, in addition to completing the basic courses arranged by the school, he often consulted GTSI faculty for learning methods and book recommendations. He actively sought opportunities in the fields of computer, finance and accounting. Moreover, he’s also enthusiastic for Chinese cultural courses and exchange activities organized by the GTSI Language Corner, as well as short trips in and around Shenzhen to enhance his Chinese proficiency and apprehension of the local history, while at the same time practicing his Chinese-language skills and sharing his linguistic experiences with others.
Milán was able to engage in-depth communication with individuals of different experiences and backgrounds through the GTSI platform. He observed their daily work methods and thinking patterns, learning about how his peer set goals, how they integrate their studies with career plannings, and realize their personal ideals beyond professional pursuits.
With help from GTSI, he was introduced to a Dutch entrepreneur who had started a business in Shenzhen. He listened attentively to the entrepreneur's experiences with the challenges and opportunities in starting a business in the science and technology industry of China. “All of this has provided me with fresh insights for my personal planning,” Milán said. “Communication is my biggest expectation from studying in Shenzhen and has also proved to be my most valuable reward on this journey.”
Culture shock? NO! Discoveries and Immersion? YES!
As a foreigner who has just arrived in China, Milán would have naturally noticed the differences in many aspects between China and Hungary. For example, he said, “Chinese people simply smile or nod as a way of greeting, which is quite different from the firm handshakes and hugs among people in Budapest and Europe at large. Obviously, these are our cultural differences, but I don’t think they are enough to cause the so-called ‘culture shock’.”
Milán had heard of the term “culture shock” before traveling to China. But on arrival, culture shock wasn’t as expected. It was rather a positive feeling, suggesting that there is a lot to discover in China.
As of now, Milán has already spent half a year in China, journeying from Tianjin to Shenzhen. There hasn’t been any feeling of “culture shock”, instead he was warmly welcomed and people here genuinely accept him and respect his cultural background. “What's even more intriguing is that, through my interactions, I found at least as many similarities as differences regarding the way of thinking and how we set our goals for the future.”
At the end of February, Milán concluded his exchange with GTSI and returned to Tianjin University to continue his IMBA program. Reflecting on this experience, he said he had gained unexpected insights and will cherish the friendships formed with his classmates in Shenzhen.
“I’ve asked my GTSI friends to visit Budapest, and I would like to show them around Europe. But I strongly recommend that we spend most of the time exploring Budapest. You have to appreciate its beauty slowly, such as the Budapest Castle Hill. The scenery there changes every day, you never get tired of it.”
When talking about Budapest, Milán seemed to have an abundance of words to share. As he spoke, he listed several “must-taste” dishes from his hometown, including Hungarian broths such as “Husleves” and “Gulyas Soup”, Hungarian cabbage rolls known as “Toltott Kaposzta”, chimney cake called “Kurtoskalacs”, and a traditional fruit spirit with a high alcohol content known as “Palinka”.
When talking about hometown, he certainly demonstrated the same hospitality as the Chinese people, raising awareness that “culture shock” will not necessarily happen due to cultural differences. As we venture into a foreign country with an open, curious, and understanding mind, we will blend into the country in our experience and communication despite any differences. Moreover, our own cultural background will also be deepened and broadened, fostering new possibilities and imaginative insights.