來自布拉格的問候（一）

I』ve finally arrived in Prague! Traveling here was not terrible, especially compared to my flights to China (hello 13-hour flights). I lost my water bottle after arriving in Munich and was a little pressed for time during my layover there because the German version of TSA made me take everything out of my backpack and show it to them, BUT everything ended well and I made it to the Czech Republic. The first thing I noticed after getting to the airport was that I didn』t have to go through an immigration line because I got my passport stamped in Germany, which is also considered part of the Schengen territory. I almost went back through the exit because I thought I had made a mistake.

There were a ton of CIEE kids waiting at the airport for taxis and everyone looked absolutely exhausted. I』ve been on my share of international flights, and they』re all grueling, but it』s especially tough when you』re faced with 50 people who will eventually become friends with right after getting off the plane. I got placed in the dorm so program coordinators sent me on a cab to the city – of course I had my nose glued to the window the whole time, but for the first leg of the trip, there really wasn』t much to see. But once we got to the city and within sight of the Vltava River, it was gorgeous. Way too warm, but the buildings were tall and exactly what they looked like on Google images and there were cobblestone streets everywhere. There was also a lot of graffiti everywhere, which was really interesting (something I definitely didn』t expect). I didn』t feel immediately at home and I didn』t fall in love with the city upon first glance, but I liked that Prague was both beautiful and unpretentious at the same time.

I got placed in a dorm in the neighborhood of Vyšehrad, which is a castle on top of a hill (built in the 10th century) that overlooks all of Prague. The CIEE study center is also up there – and fun fact, so is the grave of Antonín Leopold Dvořák. The dorm rooms are significantly nicer than the ones at Northwestern, with gigantic windows and real furniture and a sink in the room. It』s definitely comfortable with high ceilings and tiled floors. Being in the dorm allowed me to meet a lot of people really quickly, which was both intimidating and a good thing, I think, because being in a new country is always intimidating and it』s a lot less scary with someone there with you to share the cluelessness. Hopefully after this week we』ll get out of the dorm bubble a little more and get more immersed in Czech culture, because ultimately that』s what studying abroad is about.

Jet lag was really terrible for a little bit, but I think my body is finally getting adjusted. I was hungry today at the right times, so I think it』ll be okay. Most of the week has been spent at orientation with the other students here, and we learned the basics about public transportation in Prague as well as health procedures, etc. It』s a little frustrating to have to sit in a classroom when we could be out exploring the city, but the program has to teach us how to be responsible about living here first. Next week, we start intensive Czech lessons. My very limited Czech vocabulary current consists of: dobrý den (good day), prosím (please), and děkuji (thank you). And of course, 「ahoj,」 which means 「hi」 and is pronounced like ahoy (we all use this with great gusto).

There is absolutely a huge drinking culture here (it is true, beer is cheaper than water and you can get a great Czech beer for about $1 USD or 24 Czech crowns). I』ve never met a beer I liked until I came to Prague and I can attest to the smoothness and deliciousness of the beer here. The beers go along really well with Czech food, which mostly consists of potatoes, meat and dumplings (usually made from bread). Czechs don』t drink to get drunk (like Americans do), but they drink to enjoy the taste, which I really appreciate.

One of my favorite things to do here in Prague is taking walks. Last night, a few other girls and I went up to the castle wall near our dorm (about a 10 minute stroll) after we finished dinner, just to check out the study center. While we were up there, we walked along the edge of the wall and were able to see Prague lit up at night. It was amazing and beautiful, and it was hard to believe that I was really here, in this richly cultured, historic city with so much character. I think it』ll be a moment that will remain in my mind for a long time.

The last four days have really just been about stepping out of my comfort zone by a huge gap – talking to people I most likely never would have become friends with at Northwestern, taking the public transportation and getting a little bit lost, not worrying about classes and internships and academic things, and just really living every single moment and being present in every single memory I make here. It』s not easy, but it』s certainly exciting and challenging!