Jewish Cementary

Dresden, Germany

Prague View

The Good Things in Life

First Impressions

Spent the first weekend in Prague, the Czech Republic and it was amazing!  I could not stop myself from thinking that this entire trip will feel like an endless weekend.  Of course, besides all the fun and new experiences I hope to have, I also hope to learn a lot of history and culture.  I think that will not be hard to do.  I have learned so many things already.

These few days have felt like the longest days because in my mind there is not track of the time.  I have a feeling that losing track of time and even knowing the date will happen often during my stay in this beautiful country.  At the same time I have a feeling that the days will fly by, kind of contradictory.

  

Well, the most appropriate event to start a story is the beginning so here I go.  I speak no Czech, so the best hopes for getting a taxi from the airport in Prague to the hostel were 'just go along with it.'  I was not nervous or scared at all.  It all worked out perfect and we got to the place of stay safe and sound.  The Plus Prague hostel is comfortable and excellent with helping with directions to find places and getting around Prague in general.  I am really good with directions, but still there are a lot of things to learn in a new city where the language is foreign.  We did not get lost, but we did have some difficulties learning how the transportation system worked.  By the third day, we had it figured out!  The first two nights in Prague were very fun nights.  I got to meet some really interesting people.  We will see more of this city later so, I will be more familiar with it.

Getting to Olomouc took more time than I imagined.  It is also a beautiful city and very similar to Prague.  From what I have learned, it is very important historically.  The transportation system is definitely easier to figure out.  Monday was the first day we got a little tour of Palacky University and the town square.  After going from building to building and crossing streets, I hope to know where the classrooms are.  This university is spread in the town.  This is new to me because all the universities I have attended are in one area.  I am excited to start classes already.  Once we get going, the weeks will fly by.  I hope to not forget to take in as much as I can from every experience, big or small, good or bad.  I want to make this opportunity memorable and it has already started to be.

One of the things that I am really interested in learning about is the history of the Holocaust.  Thus, I am excited to visit sites of the concentration camps and learn their story.  By the end of this study abroad semester I want to have a better understanding of the Holocaust and all has to be learned about it.  It’s needless to express how excited I am about visiting all the places we will visit through the program because who wouldn't be! 

Two things that I have loved so far from this country are its cuisine and its diverse architecture.  I am a lover of bread and I think this is one of the best places to be at.  Their bread is really tasty and delicious.  Their pastries look and taste like any other.  With all this bread eating, I will need to walk more and more.  A Czech dish that I had was, beef with dumplings and cranberries.  It is sweet and I fell in love with the dumplings.  They remind me of a very popular bread I had in China, called mantou.  In Olomouc, I have not had the chance to go to a restaurant that has Czech food I’m working on finding one.  However, I have had kebab at a Turkish restaurant.  It is amazing and very cheap!  I really enjoy tasting new foods, it is one thing that I’m not afraid to do.  To me it is a way of experiencing the new culture and learning what is like to be part of it.  Food is one of the best things I enjoy the most about being in a different country.  This week has gone by slow and it feels as if I have been here a month already.  Nonetheless, the next days will keep going by faster and faster and at the end I know one part of me will wish to stay a bit longer.  

Great food!

The price for the day's walk