Seattle-Pécs Sister City Association
The programs were diverse: I met Seattle and its surroundings natural treasures such as the Snoqualmie Falls; I hiked on the slopes of Mount Rainier and from its top saw the infamous Mount St Helen. I also got familiar with the area’s vegetation during these tours and during a visit to the Seattle Rose Garden and the Bellevue Botanical Gardens.
In addition to this, my hosts made sure that I familiarize myself with the city and its museums which I truly enjoyed. I took part in a walking tour of Downtown Seattle; the humorous Duck Tour as well as the Underground Tour of Seattle gave me insight to Seattle’s history. Not to be left out, I also attended a Seattle Sounders soccer game. I was introduced to new flavors at the Pike’s Place Market and the entire city’s wonderful panorama revealed itself from the top of the Space Needle observation deck. At Alki Beach I touched, for the first time, the water of the Pacific Ocean. We searched for the traces of Indian (Native American) culture on Bainbridge Island where in addition we also explored the charming Scandinavian style town of Poulsbo.
Seattle is also a business center, many successful company’s headquarters are located there. I’ve got a brief glimpse at the work at Starbucks and at Microsoft headquarters as well as the production of aircrafts at the Boeing Company.
Amazing Seattle
Written by Enikő Pozner
Translated by Marta Boros Horvath
This year I was the fortunate one to be chosen to experience two weeks in our sister city, Seattle. In early spring I read the announcement of the SPSCA's two week study tour in Seattle in the University of Pécs' website. Very excited, I quickly compiled the required material for my application and the following week I turned it in. At that time I didn’t even dream of the incredible experiences that I would be part of in a few months. After clearing away the paperwork and other organizational issues, I received my airplane ticket for what seemed a date far off in the future, but, in fact, arrived very soon. The flight was a bit adventurous, yet I kept wondering what the next two weeks would be like. Professor and Mrs. Kramar greeted me enthusiastically at the airport and the events accelerated from then on. When the first night Maria showed me the program I was amazed at the extent of the plans and all the new experiences that were waiting me. Every morning a member of the Association arrived to the Kramars to be my tour guide for the day. This proved to be a great idea because I got to meet many hospitable, kind people, hear interesting stories and different viewpoints.
Of course there was work besides fun, too: my professional days were very interesting, also, thanks to the Neuro-Oncology Division of the University of Washington; to the Everett Clinic’s kindly child psychiatrist, Zsolt Lorant; to George Marosan plastic surgeon, as well as The Burn Center at Harborview Hospital. On these professional days I have learned a great deal about how the US health care system works, how are patients are cared for and what it is that we (in Hungary) need to improve or just approach differently.
So, at the end of my report I would like to thank my two hosting families, Maria and Zoltan Kramar and Christine and Alex Boldizsar and everyone whom I met during my two weeks stay. Thanks for the kind hospitality, helpfulness, interest in me as well as the incredible organizing work of putting this two weeks of wonderful programs together.
I promise to return for a visit, no doubt about it.
(Enikő Pozner is a recently-graduated medical doctor, currently working on her P.H.D in neurology. She was the 2013 participant in SPSCA's summer student program)