WELCOME & THANK YOU!

While I sent out my final YAGM newsletter, I wanted to do one bonus edition for all those who have generously supported this incredible experience. So many people from my professors, mentors, and role models in academia to my family and friends in Hungary and across the United States have given me so much and I truly cannot put into words how much all of the financial support, check-ins, and best wishes have meant to me!

Below, I have included my travels following the end of my contract in Szarvas. Luckily, my fellow YAGM and dear friend, Braden, traveled with me to Athens, Greece and Istanbul, Türkiye. To close out my year in Europe, my brother, Christian, surprised my mom with a flight to Norway for her birthday week, where we traveled to Bergen and across Norway to Oslo. This for me was one of the most special experiences I have had not just because it is where my moms entire side of the family originated from, but most importantly because I got to experience it with her!

ATHENS, GREECE & INSTANBUL, TÜRKIYE

To kick off my ending travels, Braden and I left Budapest for Athens. We had about three days in Athens so we crammed as much as we could. The first day we toured the city, seeing the Acropolis and other breathtaking architecture, and later experienced the night life. Next, we spent a whole day on a boat tour in the Mediterranean, where we visited some beautiful islands and had a chance to take a dip in the Med! Finally, we had the incredible opportunity to meet up with some of Braden’s relatives, George and Isabel, who live in a suburb of Athens. They treated us to a tasty lunch and shared some great stories about their lives and the history of Greece!

We then departed Athens for Istanbul, Türkiye. Upon entering the city, I was amazed at its enormity and beauty. Istanbul is among some of the largest cities with a population of around 16 million! Moreover, the city is so unique as it is a clash/mixture of culture between the West and East. During the evenings, I watched documentaries specifically focused on the fall of Constantinople and the rise of Sultan Mehmed II.

One of the most special things about this stop was the hostel we stayed at, the Second Home Hostel. The staff was absolutely incredible, providing us with amazing insight into the history of Türkiye, some fun excursions, and impeccable food. In addition, the amount of friendly people we met from all over the world was so much fun. One such individual was Jay who grew up in Peru but now lives in Italy. Jay’s favorite place to visit is Istanbul and we spent each day with him showing us the local favorites and major tourist sites. It was so much fun crushing a bucket of mussels, seeing the grand and breathtaking Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, touring the Asian side of the city, and watching the Euro Championship matches! All in all, I am so happy I got to experience this with Braden!

Braden and I then parted ways as I headed to Bergen, Norway. My mom and I spent a few days here and made the most of them. The first day we went on a boat tour of the stunning Fjords north of Bergen. We then had a walking tour of Bergen, getting to see the rich history and culture of the area. A few interesting facts I learned included that along the coast are numerous fisheries, making Norway the world's largest exporter of salmon. Moreover, in the late 1960’s, Norway discovered one of the largest offshore oil fields in the world, quickly enhancing the wealth of the nation. One big question I had was why Norway is not a part of the European Union? Norway consistently supports the same objectives/interests like that of the EU and U.S. and upon some research I found that the fisheries could play a large role in Norway not wanting to join, yet the tour guide indicated that the oil was the biggest factor.

On the third day, we departed Bergen for Oslo. My fellow YAGM Sara, who has ancestry tied to Norway, told me we just had to take the train. This advice paid off big time as the seven hour ride across Norway was absolutely stunning! Our time in Oslo was filled with great activities. For one whole day we went on a bus tour of the city and a boat tour of the Oslo Fjord. Moreover, the museums were great. The first was the Norwegian Resistance Museum that detailed in a great fashion the strong resistance many Norwegian’s put up against Nazi occupation. What really stood out in the exhibit was the ideological struggle between Fascism and democratic forces in the classroom. Some teachers would alter or ignore Nazi-prescribed content and emphasize democracy. Additionally, at the higher education level, the University in Oslo often fought back, aiding resistance efforts through underground publications. However, the university was eventually shut down and many were arrested, imprisoned, or sent to concentration camps. Finally, just outside the museum is a memorial where 42 Norwegian men were executed for their roles in the resistance.

We also had the chance to visit the Kon-Tiki Museum, which details the exhibition led by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl. This exhibition was based on Thor’s thesis that people from South America might have reached Polynesia before the arrival of Europeans, which was contrary to prevailing academic views of the time. They set sail from Peru in 1947 on a small raft that was constructed to act like one that could have been produced in South America and reached Polynesia after 101 days. We also saw the Fram Museum that displays the epic polar explorations of Norwegian sailors! A few final highlights included a special dinner celebrating my moms birthday, a walk through Frogner Park, and a day at the harbor where we would sauna and jump into the Norwegian sea!

Overall, it was such an incredible opportunity being able to experience a few more countries and create some amazing memories. Once again, thank you for all your support and I wish you all the best!

Sincerely,

Connor JL Moore