Еlda Spasse, President Of The Diplomatic Spouses Of Budapest

  • 14 Oct 2019 7:20 AM
Еlda Spasse, President Of The Diplomatic Spouses Of Budapest
She is the current President of the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest and was its Charity Coordinator during 2018- 2019. She believes that “All together people can make a difference”.

She graduated for Biology and Chemistry in the University of Tirana. Her hobby has been Fashion Design and she also has a degree as a Fashion Designer.

She has worked for Non-Government and Government institutions.

She has two boys, loves to travel with her family, and is happy to have friends from all over the world and looks forward to new friendships.

 

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived in Budapest in April 2016 because my husband Arian Spasse was appointed as Ambassador of Albania to Hungary. At the beginning I stayed in Budapest for only 2 weeks and enjoyed visiting the city very much with my husband as tourists. I had to stay in Albania with my two boys Endi and Ilian until they finished school.

In August we moved to Budapest and the family was reunited, I was happy to hear from my boys that they loved the country from the first day.

I joined the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest and a year later I joined the Board as Charity Coordinator. In May 2019 I was elected DSB President. I'm very busy as part of the team organising the Diplomatic Fair on Sunday 24 November 2019 at the InterContinental Budapest. It's a great event and the best way to “visit the world in one day”.  All the money raised will be donated to four Hungarian charities.

After the Fair I will be happy to spend time with my family and especially with my son Endi that will visit us in Budapest. Currently he is studying at AUBG in Bulgaria.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
In year 2000 when I was pregnant with my first son, my husband was appointed as diplomat in the Albanian Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was just the two of us moving in and after 4 years we left as a family of four members.

My two boys were born in Sofia. From 2006 to 2012 we lived in the US. My husband was appointed at the Albanian Embassy in Washington DC, another great country to live in.  I have great memories looking back, however, I did have some challenges and often felt home sick.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
When I heard from my husband that we had to move to Hungary, I was so excited and immediately googled to learn more and see how I would fit in. On the first day out in Budapest I was surprised by the beauty of the city, which was much more beautiful than I had ever imagined.

The Albanian Embassy has an amazing view of Heroes Square and we leave close to the Parliament on the riverside.  At night when all the lights turn on the city turns to magic. I love Hungary and I feel blessed to be in this city, surrounded by wonderful people. I often get surprised as to how similar and close our counties are in cuisine and culture.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
So far I have been lucky to have a lot of friends from Albania visit during weekends. Because of Wiz Air offering direct flights, our countries are closer than ever. I have told each of them that they absolutely need to visit the places during day and night.

The absolute musts are Heroes Square, Hunyadi Castel, Basilica, Váci utca from the Pest side, and the Fishermen Bastion on the Buda side. And, of course they have to visit The Parliament, and take a trip along the Danube and Margit Island.  Every place is easily reachable with public transportation and I always recommend buying a day pass ticket.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Duck with side dish.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Cheese, milk, eggs, salami, jam, fruits.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
I would say the one I use every day Köszönöm szépen és Jó napot!

8. What do you miss the most from home?
My family of course, this summer my mother passed away and what I missed most was not being able to be close to her during the past 3 years.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Fashion Design.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Ambassador! But I like being the spouse of the current Albanian Ambassador to Budapest.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Back home, in Golem, a small city in Albania along the Adriatic Sea. It’s my most preferred place. I also loved walking along the seashore very early in the morning and during the sunsets. However, the best part was being able to be with my extended family.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
The next place on my list is Admont Abbey in Austria, the largest monastic library in the world. I want to visit it with my husband and children during the school break.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Favourite band was Bonney M.
Movie: The Champ.
Hobby was doing crochet, embroidery and tailoring. Here in Budapest I discovered a new hobby, hand making and designing jewellery.

14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
Chips

15. Red wine or white?
Both

16. Book or movie?
Movie

17. Morning person or night person?
Night

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Disabled and sick people how to help them have a quality life.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Pest

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Do as much as you can for as long as you can.

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