It all started with theses presentations. Stress and excitement, anxiety and confidence, support and interest of our professors, congratulations of classmates, parents and supervisors, and then celebrations and beers at Montmartre Café… It was so great and so touching to see professors and stuff representatives from CEU, Lund and Manchester resting and celebrating with the students. The most numerous Swedish team made not only us feel happy with their presence in Budapest but has also definitely inspired Montmartre waiters, who were trying their best to join five tables in a row at Zrínyi street to place our big MESPOM family together…

…There were evenings at Oliva and Lugas, nights at Szimpla, Cha-cha-cha and Soda Kert, and mornings in 509 and Popper Room… Later on everyone had to pass an intensive course on “How to Put Your Gown on”, which broadly explained how one should fix the hood, how long the collar should go, where the pin should stick to and how to fix the cap right. On its successful completion every MESPOMer was honored the prize of hugging beloved classmates and professors in front of camera flashlights...

It all followed with a gorgeous CEU Graduation Ceremony at Vigszínház accompanied with inspiring speeches of Yehuda Elkana and Carla del Ponte, exciting moments of shaking hands and posing with George Soros, beautiful singing of the choir and solemn traditions of throwing caps in the air… And congratulations… The moment they all strived for within the last two years has finally come…

They say that graduation parties are sad moments in our lives… MESPOM Boat Party became special. Even splendid scenery of Danube banks and romantic spirit of Budapest did not succeed in creating nostalgic aura. The whole Attila Boat with 28 MESPOM graduates, professors, relatives and friends was transformed in a single living organism radiating elation and filling the air with joy and happiness. Jokes and laughter, witty speeches and easy chats, gifts to our dearest professors and funny awards to classmates, delicious Hungarian specialties and excellent wine – everything this had a magnificent uniting power, which joined the hearts…

MESPOM celebration continued with crazy “after-party” dances in the open-air café at Margitsziget, calm and relaxed morning jeges kávé (ice-coffee) at Montmartre, pancakes at famous Palacsintaház, and a bright night at Szimpla and Soda Kert again … We were “saying good-bye” to each other 2 or 3 times, and then meeting again and again, coming to an empty CEU to see our classmates, hugging and kissing and asking one single question: “Are you staying in Europe? If yes, then there is no reason to “say good-bye”… If no, then we will meet soon anyways”… And I believe these were not just the words… But it will be another story.