Budapest: an incredibly invigorating city that leaves you speechless. This magnificent region of Eastern Europe is balanced with eye-opening history and extraordinary fun. It's the place you go to when you don't want to grow up -- millennial Disneyland, if you will. No one ever wants to really leave, though. I met three 20-somethings from New Zealand and their next destination, Transylvania (lol), was delayed by two weeks because they were captivated by the fascination Budapest had to offer.
As a part of my study abroad adventures, my friend and I decided to travel to a unique city where we decided on Budapest. During our visit, we explored through the underground caves used in the thick of WWII. Before our caving experience, we were given these ridiculous suits fit to dress a miner digging for gold. Our outfit wasn't complete without a hard helmet and a bright flashlight strapped to it. We were greeted by a large-sized door that was definitely not proportional to what was waiting for us inside. What a tease.
As the group entered the cave, we all walked inside bending our knees and tilting our heads forward in order to fit. The guide led us through the cave, explaining the history behind this underground treasure. She navigated us even further, expecting us to climb through a dark, miniature hole.
To my surprise, we were forced to mount slippery muddy rocks, slide underneath low stones, and crawl through narrow tunnels. We had to contort our bodies in strange forms to successfully maneuver ourselves.
Now, as this being part 2 of my "disability" articles, (see part 1: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-perspective-girl-who-has-disability-part-1), I was scared to death when I realized this excursion wasn't just a walk in the park. Seeing that the others within the group were struggling a bit, a sense of panic ran through me.
In my first article, I explained the first time I understood about my "disability" at five years old, how my fine motor skills and muscular strength on my left side are delayed and depleted caused by a stroke at birth. Fifteen years later, I was challenged with this new experience. At first I tried to conquer this cave with both hands. Physically, it was almost impossible for me to do that. My left side is naturally shorter than my right. If I were to grab onto a rock with my right hand, my left struggled to follow, making me off balance and causing near-death experiences into a black hole even deeper beneath the cave. So, instead, my left side assisted my right hand -- along with the help of the tour guide and the rest of the group.
I felt weak, hurting from the multiple cuts and bruises I sustained. However, something miraculous happened. Halfway through, we had to climb up this narrow, slippery hill made up of mud-covered rocks. Somehow, a burst of energy shot up my spine. I felt invincible at that moment, huffing and puffing my way up while quietly repeating the words "you can do this." I was high on determination and persistence, purely focusing on the trail in front of me. It was a feeling I wasn't familiar with until that moment, but I felt unstoppable. After three hours underneath Hungary, I accomplished something that I never thought I was able to do.
The cave in Budapest is essentially a metaphor for life. We enter life blindly, as there is not much we can see before it begins. Even though some choices we make result in failure and struggle, there is ultimately a light at the end of the tunnel following the obstacles we overcome.
I consider this obstacle a true victory, an experience I will always look back on when I need some confidence and drive. Find your "cave" that keeps you going.
