Antoni Bohdanowicz, Manager, Budapest Exiles RFC

  • 28 Aug 2020 1:10 PM
Antoni Bohdanowicz, Manager, Budapest Exiles RFC
Antoni Bohdanowicz, who followed a Croatioan girl to Budapest is currently working at BP’s GBS Europe office in Budapest. He is neurodiverse person (diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrom at the age of 16) and since then has become a campaigner to improve the situation for other neurodiverse people.

He runs a support group in Poland for over 1,5k neurodiverse people and their families and has featured in talks around Poland, and also in UK about helping and working with neurodiverse people.

In his past he has worked as a sports journalist for national papers/portals and TV stations in Poland, covering football championships and Olympic games. then taking a step into PR and Marketing, which lead him to esports.

When Antoni arrived in Hungary he was in the process of a takeover by Canadian esports company – ESE Entertainment – and he helped them establish a foothold in CEE. Since constant travelling round Europe didn’t allow him to enjoy the city (and family life) enough he ended up taking a job with BP (in BP).

Apart from professional life he is a manager for the expat rugby team – Budapest Exiles RFC , and co-organises a few rugby tournaments around the CEE region (Budapest 7s, Warsaw Rugby Festival).
 

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived around x-mass 2018, moving from Warsaw, Poland. The reason behind my arrival was of course, a girl. But unlike most expats who follow a girl to Budapest, mine is Croatian, and we chose Budapest as a compromise, as somewhere close to Croatia, and not difficult to get to from Poland.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes and no. I’m half English, half Polish and was born in London, but since the age of 9 I lived in Poland. With an English mother I grew up amongst the expat community of Warsaw and was an active member of it until my move to Budapest.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
Card payments. I thought you could pay with a card everywhere. Turns out you need to carry cash on you all the time. Back in Poland you’ll be surprised but even grannies at market places are now equipped with card terminals, so I was surprised when I needed cash to pay for say a sandwich at Nyugati…

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? 
My fiancée has studied here so she is the expert. There’s always a gulyas at Pozsonyi vendeglő in the 13th or Bajai Halászcsárda in the 12th. Depending on how much time we have either a river cruise or just a drive in the car along the Danube and then down to Hero’s Square. There’s also the walk up to the citadel, for some selfies, and once you get tired we recommend Lukács Baths (less crowded) to relax.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Probably gulyás. I also don’t mind lángos, but you have to be picky where you get them or you end up eating something that tastes… actually doesn’t taste at all.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Nando’s extra hot peri peri sauce. Luckily there is a store where I can get it in the 13th.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Hello. Literally makes me giggle every time I leave a shop and to my viszlát I hear “Hello”.

8. What do you miss most from home?
My home is here in Budapest and I love it here. But if I were to choose things I miss from the places I grew up? Fish & chips from UK, and dry sausages from Poland.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I’ve done many things in my life, not sure I need a change now.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
News  journalist. Done that before, and though it can be exciting at times, it doesn’t give you flexibility to plan activities with family and friends. Oh, and you get lots of hate mail.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Poland, to visit my family. But if we talk about my last “proper holiday” that was years ago to South Africa… thank you Covid.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
England. I’d love to travel around the country visiting friends and family, and enjoying fish & chips and ale. It sounds all fun, but we’ll probably end up either in Italy at our friends cottage, or at the Croatian coast.

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
To comment something on facebook. Especially if I disagree with someone. It’s an awful habit.

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Band? Anything from the 60s. Film? Zulu. Hobby? Too many to mention.  

15. Red wine or white?
White. I have developed a taste for Irsay Olivér.

16. Book or movie?
Depends on my mood. Books are great when you commute to work, films are perfect to slowly fall asleep to at night.

17. Morning person or night person?
Morning. I get up at 4-5 am without an alarm clock.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Just social justice all together. I don’t like seeing hypocrisy, and try my best to not be one myself.

19. Buda or Pest side?
I’ve lived in both. Too different to compare. Buda side is like living in the countryside (I’m in the 12th) full of trees and fresh air. Pest is the city, plenty of shops, café’s and bars. If it wasn’t for social distancing, home office and the fact I have 3 adorable little dogs I’d say Pest, but since the situation is different I’d say Buda.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Never listen to motivational mottos. They’re just slogans.  

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