First Experiences Abroad

Everything familiar is gone.  I was thrown into a new environment of knowing little, if anything.  Upon arriving, I had to travel across Prague by myself due to my sister having class and being unable to meet me.  That small task was stressful to say the least.  Never again will I do that!  Trying to read a foreign language with no previous experience was beyond difficult.

My first thought of Prague was not at all what I was expecting, seeing graffiti everywhere put a sour taste in my mouth of Europe.  I just wasn't a fan but tried to keep an open mind, after all first impressions are often not what someone imagines. That continues to be another challenge when finding places I am uncomfortable.  It easy to become discouraged and avoid accepting and enjoying a new experience.

Finally taking a trip to the old and new town part of Prague was extremely enjoyable.  New and old town is 2 completely different styles of architecture.  New town is home to Wenceslas Square which can be seen in the picture below.

I enjoy old town over the new due to the different style of buildings and during the night old town has its own impressiveness. In the picture below is Our Lady of Tyn which was incredible to see during the evening in the old town part of Prague.  Next to the church is the statue of Jan Hus who was burned at the stake.  This city continues to reveal and immense amount of history.

I was not a huge fan of Prague,  I was looking forward to the trip to Olomouc where the number of people would be significantly smaller.  The time spent so far in Olomouc has been enjoyed.  My comfort level is higher in Olomouc compared to Prague.  The greatest challenges of the trip so far continue to be the language.  I was not imagining the language to be this difficult to pick up on.

Arriving in Olomouc

I was surprised at how much of the communistic society was still visible.  Typical plain apartment style buildings surround the city.  That is another challenge of accepting where I live in Olomouc and by that I refer to living in a simpler society or lifestyle.  It is far from back home where you can see a nicer or fancier lifestyle.  Everything here is plain, common, and average.  I enjoy living here in Olomouc, but the 10 days living here has increased my appreciation of my unrestricted freedom back in Nebraska.  I cannot imagine the government forcing me into an occupation.  I am not one for a person to tell me what to do in the first place.  Appreciation of everything back home has increased immensely.  I may be wrong in saying this but I am beginning to realize how most Americans take simple things for granted.  Even though communism ended in 1989, its effects in my eyes can still be seen. 

Members of the group and I are enjoying the lifestyle here in Olomouc,  several of us have found bars, restaurants, and clubs that we enjoy spending time at.  The food is alright, bland is a word that can describe it quickly.  One thing that does not need changing here is the beer.  The Czech people know exactly what they are doing when it comes to brewing a great pivo!  The Black Stuff a local Irish pub continues to be a favorite of mine.  I met a former Erasmus student, Guy Haydon, who is now an English teacher at Palacký University.  Guy gave us some great inside information on places to visit, as well as helping us navigate Olomouc.  Without these former student providing help, this adjustment would be well over my head.

Picture of some of the group.  We are at the Erasmus party and Finland was the hosting country. 


The next 2 months will fly by and I already know my experience will change my outlook on my life.  I am looking forward to our upcoming trips to Vienna, Venice, Krakow, and Bohemia.  I am eager but nervous at the same time for the Poland trip to visit Auschwitz.  The personal experience I will undergo while visiting is unknown but I look forward to its effect.