Let’s Get to Know

Let’s get to know – Dóra Czeglédi-Homonnai, the BCT’s graphic and web designer.

Hi Dora. Wilkommen. So lovely to have you here.

So, can you tell our readers where you are from and what brought you here?

I am from Hungary, and I grew up in a small village near Eger. Budapest was my home for seven years during and after university. I’ve always lived in Hungary, so moving to Basel was a significant change for me.

We moved to Basel in 2019 when my husband received a job offer. It was a busy year for us as we got married, went on a honeymoon and relocated here soon after.

We went with the flow and only realised the full impact of what we did at the end of the year. It was crazy but amazing and worthwhile.

Tell us a bit about your family.

Our family is growing. My husband and I are expecting our first child this spring, in April, to be exact. So we are very excited to see our furry child become a big sister.

Getting here was not an easy road, but we are extremely grateful that we can experience this process.

So, let me introduce my family in order of importance. 😀

Our cat, Cica (Kitty in Hungarian), will be nine years old this year. She is kind and friendly and, on some days, a full-on therapist. We are grateful to have her in our lives.

Our baby is currently busy growing. We will call her Anna, which means God’s grace, which she already is!

My husband, Peter, is a plant protection specialist. He is intelligent, kind and funny.

How do you like to spend your time?

Peter and I love spending time outside hiking, and Switzerland is a perfect place for wandering.

There are many breathtaking mountains, beautiful lakes, small and tidy villages, perfect bike and hike routes. I still can’t get over the colour of the lakes here.

The architecture of Basel and Switzerland is impressive, and I enjoy seeing old houses that have a lot of character and charm.

I wish I could go inside and look around to learn more about them. If there is an event like this here, please let me know.

What’s your favourite thing about Basel?

Basel is a great place to live, and I still can’t believe our friendly neighbourhood is part of the city.

I love seeing tiny flowers in the parks and breathing clean air. It is incredibly peaceful here.

Walking around the small streets feels fantastic, and exploring the historic old town.

The Herbstmesse (autumn fair) is a magical experience, and I’m looking forward to the Fasnacht this year*.

How did you find out about the BCT?

I knew two BCT members from my German class: Amanda and Azura.

We became friends, and Azura mentioned that the BCT was looking for a creative person with my skills. I agreed to find out more, and she connected me to the Co-Chairs.

After a couple of emails and chats, I signed up as a volunteer and, not long afterwards, became a member.

I considered that participating would benefit both sides. The institution could rely on my efforts, and I could practise and improve my skills while getting to know its community.

Hey, that’s me. 😊. You don’t know how happy I am to have you in our group.

So tell me, how do you feel now? And what are your thoughts about your role?

I’ve gained even more than I expected. I love doing creative work and enjoy being part of the BCT team.

As you (Azura) know, things moved fast when I started volunteering.

I created several posters but quickly became involved with BCT’s rebranding project.

It was exciting and delightful to work with the other volunteers. Everyone involved brought their skills to the table, and we made so many beautiful things happen together.

I have creative freedom, and receiving kind and positive feedback has made me feel valued and happy.

Shortly after the successful brand renewal, I started working on the BCT’s new website with two other volunteers. It was a group effort, and I learned a lot from it.

Taking the first steps to have a fresh but recognisable brand was a big thing for all of us.

I am looking forward to improving the website and helping to promote the BCT. Expat families that reside in and around Basel would benefit from knowing about this community.

What are your thoughts about last year and the current one?

2021 was a challenging year for my family and me. We experienced a lot of trauma and loss. However, with God in our life, we were able to find a lot of joy.

First of all, finding out that I am pregnant and experiencing pregnancy was a big blessing last year.

I lost a lot in 2021 but gained even more by the end of the year. However, the best thing was discovering many new good friends in Basel.

As for this year, wow, it will be full of firsts, and I am very excited about all of them.