Week 2 started off terribly. I got food poisoning and felt awful for three days straight—Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I’m not exactly sure what caused it. Maybe it was something I ate over the weekend that didn’t sit right. Whatever it was, it hit me hard. I couldn’t eat much at all, and I spent most of those days lying in bed, drinking water, and trying to get some sleep. My stomach hurt, I felt weak, and I didn’t even have the energy to leave my apartment. Being sick at home is bad enough, but being sick in a different country where you don’t speak the language well just makes it worse.
By Thursday, I finally started to feel a little bit better. I was still tired, but at least I could eat again and walk around without feeling dizzy. That was lucky, because my friends and I had already planned a weekend trip to Budapest, and I really didn’t want to cancel. I decided to go for it, hoping that I’d feel stronger by the time we got there.
The train ride to Budapest took a few hours, and it was nice to just sit and look out the window. When we got to the city, I could tell right away that it was going to be a fun trip. Budapest has such a cool energy—big old buildings, colorful lights at night, and a river that splits the city in half. It was busy and lively, but also easy to walk around and explore.
We spent a lot of time in the shopping district, going in and out of stores and little markets. There were a bunch of souvenir shops, clothing stores, and cute cafés. It was fun just wandering around with my friends, buying small things and trying snacks we’d never seen before. We also stopped for coffee and cake a few times when we got tired. It felt good to be out again after being stuck inside all week.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was visiting the castle area. We walked up to the very top of a hill and saw the old buildings and towers. The view was absolutely amazing—you could see the river, all the bridges, and the city stretched out in every direction. We took a ton of pictures and just stood there for a while taking it all in. It felt really peaceful and quiet up there, even though the city below was so busy.
We also went to the thermal baths, which were amazing to walk around. The building was really old and beautiful, with big archways and columns. We stayed there for a long time, just talking and chilling. It helped me feel fully recovered from being sick and gave me a chance to recharge.
On Sunday, we went to the Budapest Zoo. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it ended up being one of the best parts of the trip. The zoo was really big, and we saw so many animals—giraffes, elephants, penguins, monkeys, and more. My friends and I joked around and took pictures like little kids. It was a perfect low-key way to wrap up the weekend before heading back to Prague.
Coming back to work on Monday wasn’t easy. I had a lot of stuff to catch up on, especially after missing a few days the week before. I had to finish a report, fix some budget numbers, and double-check tax info for one of our clients. It was a lot, but I managed to get it all done within the work day. I did it, and it felt good to check it all off my list.
I’m still trying to figure out how to balance work with everything else going on. Working 9 to 5, especially with time zone differences, can be tiring. Some days I feel like I’m just glued to my laptop. I’ve started setting a few rules for myself—like making time for a walk every day, even if I’m busy. It’s not perfect, but it helps.
Even though the week started off really badly, it ended on a very high note. The trip to Budapest reminded me why I wanted to do this in the first place—to explore new places, make good memories with friends, and experience things that I’ve never done before. I’m learning how to handle the many ups and downs, and every week I feel a little more confident living and working abroad.