Currently there are over 250 CEU alumni living in Poland. About 50 of us have joined together to form the CEU Alumni and Friends Association Poland. If you would like to learn more about us, please read on

The CEU Alumni and Friends Association Poland was established in July 2000. Members of the association include CEU alumni who live in Poland. The association’s mission is to connect alumni for social and professional purposes.

The organizing committee is in charge of organizing events for all its members. The committee’s main task was to create this web page so that people can learn more about the chapter’s activities.

 

Members of the organizing committee:

Holly Bouma (SOC ’99)

Oleh Dyachenko (SOC ’03) – a member of the CEU Alumni Association’s Publications & PR Committee, and he is also our web master.

 

November 18, 2006.

Around 20 alumni gathered at a new bar/restaurant called “Mojito Bar” to sample their variety of mojitos. If you don’t know what a mojito is…it’s a traditional Cuban cocktail which is made with spearmint, rum, sugar, lime and carbonated water. Alumni chatted the night away and enjoyed the Cuban atmosphere.

May 19, 2007.

Our first meeting of 2007 took place at the Harenda Bar in Warsaw.

Around 15 alumni came out on a warm May night to catch up and discuss the upcoming Alumni Forum in June, which Oleh will attend. Alumni also had a chance to share their fondest memories of CEU. Here are some of their replies:

What’s your fondest memory of CEU?

• “My friends, all the people I’ve met. We still keep in contact with each other. We are still close despite borders and nationalities. This made the 2002-2003 year (the last Warsaw year) extremely special.”
• “My fondest memory of CEU? I have many of them. For instance, Dana, a girl from the US and Lena, a girl from Russia, were throwing one of the first home-parties, not far from Staszic Palace. It was All Saints’ Eve, that is Halloween. I didn’t quite know what the occasion was, but my colleagues said I had to invent some funny costume. I made a hat out of paper and tiny hearts which I stuck to my blouse. This was one of the first home-parties and my first Halloween. Many of us were dressed in funny clothes and we danced. There was a feeling of community (almost) and great hopes of a wonderful adventure ahead.”
• “My fondest memory of the CEU is having the chance to meet students from all over the world. I studied at CEU Warsaw, and my roommate and best friend were from Hungary, so I probably learned more Hungarian than students studying in Budapest! Through talking with other students I learned so much about the world and in particular about Central and Eastern European countries. I still keep in contact with many of my colleagues from that year.”
• "I loved the city and Gellert mountain most particularly. I lived there and used to go jogging in the mornings. I remember stretching and having the most beautiful panorama of Buda in front of me. I've been thinking...where else could I find such a beautiful place for jogging? I also liked my flatmate a lot. She was a Hungarian girl who had this wonderful approach towards Poles. I also adored camping on the small piece of sand just in front of Vyszehrad Hill. That was cool! Not too many memories from the university itself."

Here is a list of some annual alumni events/activities. Please feel free to send us your suggestions for other events.

Alumni Affairs Office Website: http://www.ceu.hu/alumni/index.html

AUTUMN

• Before the start of the CEU academic year we’ll have a “Meet and Greet” event with newly accepted CEU students. During this event students can ask alumni for advice regarding their studies and life in Budapest.

• Recruitment activities. During this time we’ll send you a recruitment update so that you can distribute information to anybody who is interested. Please let us know if you would like to become more involved in recruitment (e.g. if you work at a university and you can host a CEU information session). There is also more information on the Alumni Association’s website: http://www.ceu.hu/alumni/recruiters.html

WINTER

• Winter social event.

• In March/April we’ll send you an update about last year’s Alumni Scholarship recipients. If you would like to donate to the Alumni Scholarship Campaign, please visit: http://www.ceu.hu/alumni/waystogive.html

SPRING

• Volunteer or social event. Any suggestions?

• Alumni career mentoring. Spring is the time when current CEU students start thinking about what they want to do after they graduate. At this time we’ll provide you with more information on how to get involved in career mentoring.

• Don’t forget to register for the CEU Reunion/Gala Dinner in June!

SUMMER

• Social event. We’ll discuss issues related to the upcoming Alumni Leadership Forum. After the Forum we’ll send you an update.

If you would like more information about

the CEU Alumni and Friends Association Poland,

or if you would like to join, please contact us.

CEU Alumni & Friends Poland
C/O Holly Bouma
Centre for Social Studies
Nowy Swiat 72
00-330 Warsaw, Poland
Tel: +48 22 828-9700
Or send an e-mail to: hbouma@css.edu.pl