STEP Post-Project Reflection
In the Spring semester of 2019, I studied abroad at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. This past semester allowed me to completely immerse myself into a new culture, language, and way of life. I gained so much out of this trip that I wasn’t expecting, and I am so unbelievably grateful I had the opportunity to have an experience like this.
Studying in Prague was truly an experience I will never forget. There is no better way to learn about and understand a certain way of life until you live it. I always knew that I grew up in a ‘bubble’ so absorbed in my own world and only truly aware of life in the United States, therefore I was expecting to experience some culture shock. I really didn’t know much about the Czech Republic at all until I had the chance to live there. By simply studying in Prague, I was able to learn so much about the history of the country and culture I was living in for so long.
While completing my STEP project, I could appreciate the myriad of historic places to see in Europe. The Czech Republic is such a central location in Europe which provides people the chance to travel to other countries so easily and so cheap. I was able to go to Austria or Germany in no more than four hours by bus or train for less than $40. Flights were super inexpensive and quick as well which allowed me to experience so much more than I thought I would. I learned a different sense of independence because I had to figure out living on my own, traveling on my own, budgeting on my own, and so much more. I was able to work on my time management skills as well throughout the four months. Another thing that I found the best way to immerse myself into the Czech culture was by learning how to speak Czech. I took a two-week intensive Czech language course when I first arrived and absolutely loved it. I was taught a variety of words and sayings that would help me communicate and survive throughout the semester. After the course was completed, I continued my learning and took the second level Czech language course throughout the semester. At the end of this course, I was able to go to a Czech restaurant and completely speak Czech from the moment I walked in the door to the time I left. Now that was pretty cool.
Many interactions throughout my STEP signature project helped me grasp a new perspective on life in the Czech Republic. Faculty of Arts, Charles University was an amazing school to attend. This school is a very prestigious University in the country with beautiful buildings and very intelligent professors. I was able to share a building with and walk the same halls as Czech students my age which helped me gain a stronger idea of what the culture was like. All of my professors were extremely helpful in making sure we had the best experience possible by giving us recommendations on places to visit or taking us to their favorite spot in the city, or even letting us know what events are coming up that we should check out. I felt so lucky that I had the chance to be a student at Charles University.
One of my professors would take us on different day trips. We spent a class at Vysehrad fortress which is a beautiful site with a great view of the city. It was built in the 10th century and contains a Church and a Cemetery which contains the remains of various famous people from Czech history such as writers, actors, and scientists. She also took us to see a play which was performed in Czech to help us with our understanding of the language. During our unit on food and restaurants, we went out to her favorite local Czech spot to practice our language in real life. It was a great experience learning with professors so passionate about teaching.
The third-party program that I went through was so great and provided many optional excursions for their students. One optional trip which I took advantage of was a weekend in Krakow, Poland. I can confidently say that this weekend was one of the highlights of my semester. The weekend started with a heavy and emotional full day in Auschwitz concentration camp followed by Birkenau. This day was one I will never forget and is a visit everyone should experience. The rest of the weekend was spent touring and exploring Krakow as well as a visit in the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Why this trip was so amazing was because our tour guide, Eva, was incredible. She made the weekend so personal and impactful and told us stories that sparked interesting conversation. There were many other opportunities like this trip offered throughout the semester including day trips and tours throughout the city we were living in.
I am so grateful to have had this experience living and studying abroad in Europe. Looking back, it’s so cool to reflect on how much I’ve learned this past semester. I learned a great deal about alternative cultures, the Czech language, the history of the Czech Republic and so many other countries in Europe. I learned how to travel on my own and how to interact with so many types of people. Most importantly, this semester taught me so much about myself. I learned how to be more independent, open minded, and outgoing. I’ve interacted with so many different types of people and cultures that gave me a new perspective on the world. I am currently studying hospitality management at The Ohio State University. One thing that I’ve learned from my studies is that hospitality is everywhere. Most of all, the hospitality industry is all about talking to people, meeting people, and helping people from all over the world. I can confidently say that this semester helped me towards my future. I can’t wait to go back to Prague and visit my second home again soon!
