Dear Prague,
You will always hold a special place in my heart.
In fall of 2002, during the beginnings of the Iraq war and strong global Anti-Americanism, I packed up a couple suit cases and headed off to live and study in Prague, a city I had never been to, and honestly knew very little about. I had little more than a pretty brochure, some travel books and positive encouragement from friends and family urging me to try it out, so I did. Prague sounded incredibly exotic and mysterious, and indeed, it was. Studying abroad in gorgeous Prague was my best stepping stone to becoming a confident and adventurous (but informed) traveler. This opportunity provided me with a safety net of education and camaraderie, which I desperately needed at that naive time in my life. I studied at the University of Economics Prague, a sister school to my college in the states. As most of the classes were taught from a jaded/Eastern European/Cold War-era perspective, I quickly learned an awful lot, especially that there are always a few different sides to each story, and that no country is perfect.
As a very central city in Europe, studying in Prague allowed me access to easily visit multiple countries in Europe, many of which hadn’t even been open to visitors ten years prior. Prague was my base for visiting Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Hungary, Germany and Austria, to name a few. Each new country was delightful in it’s own raw beauty and each new place I visited fed my desire to visit and discover more places in our amazing world.
Studying abroad opened my eyes up wide – from that time on I saw the world on a much more even playing field. America was not the best at everything, as I had been taught for most of my life. (Mind blowing, right?) No country is really better or worse, but each has their own faults and each generation is trying to make the best from their historical implications. The most important lesson I learned though, is no matter what nationality or race you were born into, every single person (at least in their 20s!) wants to be happy, live life to the fullest, and to be loved.
Every single lesson I learned while studying abroad, from dealing with homesickness, to learning how to ask where the bathroom is in another language, to finding the best local pub, to even just taking that scary first step outside to explore a new destination, I now know these lessons were a key building block of confidence for my current life here in Switzerland. And thank God I went through all the sophomoric highs and lows of living abroad on my own before moving here with a baby who I must confidently care for and guide through these uncharted waters of expat existence.
So, with all my heart, I cheers to you, my beautiful Prague. Na Zdraví!
Travel tips:
- Because it was not damaged in WWII, Prague is one of the most intact historical cities and there is so much history in this city.
- Be sure to spend a few days doing and experiencing all the touristy things because they are all remarkable. And please think of me a bit when you walk across Charles Bridge and rub the good luck doggie, such a special place for me.
- Watch out for pick pockets when you view the Astronomical Clock, those buggers are awful there!
- Please enjoy a dinner, or at least some hot chocolate at Cafe Louvre
- If you dare, check out the 5-story club. I’m honestly not even sure I would ever go back to that fire trap though … but what fun that was when I was 20!
- The Mucha Museum is worth checking out, as is the Jewish Quarter
- If you are feeling homesick, visit Bohemia Bagel, for a delightful American-ish bagel and cream cheese.
Other good pages to visit for more information:
http://www.prague-guide.co.uk/?gclid=CLGShbLnn8kCFafnwgod-wIDkA
http://www.prague.eu/en
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/czech-republic/prague
Bella Bon Voyage 