Published: 11 November 2025
The Danube Divide: How Three Days in Budapest Changed My View of Work, Life, and London's Rush
In this article, Samuel Rai, Final Year International Tourism and Hospitality Management Student & Career Coach, shares his experience of an educational trip to Budapest which took place in October.
Travel changes you. As a final-year International Hospitality Management student and Career Coach, I thought I understood the global landscape. I was wrong.
A three-day educational trip to Budapest, Hungary, through our module rewired my perspective on career, global employability, and life's pace.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my lecturers, Erika Pall and Blerton Hyseni, who went above and beyond to organise this trip.
Professional Insights: Beyond the Classroom
At the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, I witnessed more than a luxury hotel; I saw the intricate clockwork of excellence. The management demonstration revealed that seamless service stems not from opulence alone, but from crystal-clear communication and radical interdependence between departments.
This wasn't just hospitality theory; it was living proof that successful enterprises thrive when teams are both skilled and genuinely connected.
The learning continued at Metropolitan University, where I transitioned from student to coach. Sharing insights about our university's employability services while observing their traditional academic approach highlighted an important truth: the relentless urgency we embrace in London is culturally specific, not universal.
"This wasn't just hospitality theory; it was living proof that successful enterprises thrive when teams are both skilled and genuinely connected."
Samuel Rai, Final Year International Tourism and Hospitality Management Student
Personal Transformation Through Challenge
As an international student from Nepal, the trip presented personal challenges. Navigating a foreign city with language barriers and adapting to schedule changes forged a new kind of confidence. Each obstacle became a practical lesson in ‘adaptability’, skills I can now apply to any professional setting.
Cultural experiences at St. Stephen's Basilica and the Opera House revealed how history and local context shape business practices. Seeing how local enterprises support tourism demonstrated the interconnectedness of culture and commerce.
The Benefits of Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
This experience embodies the power of WIL: bridging academic theory with professional practice and turning passive learners into active professionals. This trip allowed me to apply my hospitality management theory to a five-star operation, and I gained practical insights no textbook can provide
If you are a fellow student considering international opportunities: take the leap. It is a chance for you to enhance your skills and gain confidence in the fact that you can embark on any journey, anywhere in the world, and thrive.