My childhood bedroom window looked out on… our garden, with a large spruce and a small shed at the back. It often had a cat sitting on the windowsill, whether ours or one of the neighbours’. I grew up in a fairly small town, similar in area to Maastricht, but with half the population. Back then, I couldn’t wait to leave – I thought it was dull. Now, I can appreciate what a safe and nice place it was to grow up. There were lots of clubs and activities for young people.
When was the last time you did something for the first time? This summer, I climbed a mountain in the Alps for the first time. It was incredible – firstly because I made it to the top. It didn’t involve any actual climbing, but the hike up was very steep. And secondly because it was a beautiful day, the high peaks still capped with snow. I love mountains. There weren’t any where I grew up, but there are some near Budapest, where I lived for three years.
"Sometimes I’m so tired that scrolling feels like all I can manage"
I don’t need to limit my screen time. Actually, I do… My boyfriend often reminds me to spend less time on my phone. It’s not that bad, I don’t spend eight hours per day on it, but there are days when I’m so tired that scrolling feels like all I can manage. Not that it helps – it just leaves me feeling even more drained. I mostly watch videos of puppies or other cute animals on Instagram and TikTok. I’m easily entertained.
What’s the hardest part of love? At first, we clashed a lot. We clicked but didn’t always agree. That’s exactly when you shouldn’t give up, but instead try to see the reasoning behind the other person’s perspective. Why does he think that way? That’s how you truly get to know and understand each other, but it takes effort to dig deeper.
Cats or dogs? Dogs, for now, but I love cats too. I grew up with both, as well as a few chickens and a pig. It was normal in our town – nearly everyone had several animals. Now I have a border collie, Rosita. We adopted her from a shelter three years ago.
"It’s taken a lot of therapy, but I now understand better why he was like that"
I tell my mother everything. I try to. As a teenager, I didn’t tell her anything, but at some point, I realised that if I wanted an adult relationship with her, I needed to share what was going on in my life. We’re close now; I call her at least once per week. My father died when I was a teenager, but I’d already had almost no contact with him for a few years. My parents separated when I was eleven, which was mostly a relief. Our family dynamic and their relationship were unhealthy. My father drank and became aggressive. It’s taken a lot of therapy, but I now understand better why he was like that, and I’ve let go of my anger towards him. I don’t necessarily miss him, but I do feel the loss of never having really known him.
Pet peeve? Slow people. I’m a fast walker and take a quick, pragmatic approach to most things. If I do something, I give it my all.
The last book I read was… Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I thought it was brilliant. It’s set in a dystopian world where people are completely conditioned to fit into a caste system. It made me think about how we sometimes unconsciously condition ourselves and our children. There’s a fine line between nurturing and influencing.
"There’s an old noble family also called Bátori"
I’m named after… no one, I think. All I know is that my father picked my name, and my mother picked my brother’s name. He’s four years older than me. Our surname, Bátori, is a traditional Hungarian name. There’s an old noble family with the same name, but I don’t know if I’m related to them.
Favourite music? I stay true to my roots – Hungarian alternative music. My boyfriend and I met five years ago at a concert by the band 30Y. We’re going to another one of their concerts this Christmas. I listen to music a lot. Sometimes I don’t feel quite right but can’t pinpoint why. Music brings certain emotions to the surface, making it easier to understand what I’m feeling.
What are the upsides and downsides of doing a PhD? I’d been trying to get a PhD position for a while – working in academia is my dream. I love getting to immerse myself in my research, on self-study and the role of technology in it, every day. I enjoy discovering new things. The downside is the self-doubt. I give it my all, but is that enough?
In ten years… I’ll be working in academia and living on a small farm with my boyfriend and a bunch of rescue dogs, perhaps in the South Limburg hills or the Ardennes. I don’t want children. I can see many roles for myself in life, but motherhood isn’t one of them. I hope I’ll have a good work-life balance and will still be discovering new things through travel and reading.