Study Abroad Experience in Retrospect

I have been back home in the US for 5 days now so I have had a bit of time to re-adjust from life in Europe. While studying in Prague I saw some amazing things and met some amazing people. The city itself was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and its central location in europe made it a good spot to travel around from. While over there I made it to 6 cities in 3 countries. I swam in the Danube river in Vienna, relaxed in a bath house in Budapest, visited Hitler’s eagles nest outside Salzburg, had a liter or four of the Pope’s favorite beer in Munich, visited the Berlin wall in Berlin, and saw some awesome architecture in Dresden. As much as I learned in the classroom I probably learned twice as much just from the experiences I had outside of it. Every train ride was an adventure to be had. I’m not sure if I could pick a favorite place or even a highlight because everything was incredible in its own way. This trip was one of the highlights of my college career and life so far. I learned so much about other people, places and myself!

Prague, Czech Republic

After spending a few weeks in the city of Prague and travelling in the region I can say that I love this city. There is no shortage of things to do and see here, even a short stroll down the street will lead to some awesome view or random monument. The city itself has an incredible history, the locals like to joke that if a building was built in the last 100 years then it is a baby. The fact that it was once a socialist country (until 1989) also gives it a unique vibe. They have obviously embraced capitalism though, you have to pay for everything from using the bathroom to tap water here. We found a restaurant with free WiFi, refills, and ice and our minds were blown! The classes are solid, the School of Economics is a good one so the professors have been good for the most part. As good as the classes have been I’ve probably learned more just from interaction, observation, and travel than anything else. There is so much to do here during the day and night, and Prague is pretty much dead center of Europe so it’s relatively easy to travel elsewhere from here. All in all I have no regrets so far and would tell anyone to study abroad, this program is definitely a good one but at the very least if you can ever get to Prague, even just for a weekend I would say don’t hesitate, go for it!