It is day seven here in Olomouc and I'm still adjusting to my new home in the Czech Republic. The beginning of my study abroad adventure was anything but smooth, but that's all part of the experience. My two friends, Emily and Louie, and I all flew out of Omaha together on Thursday morning. We landed in Atlanta on time and good condition, but our flight from Atlanta to Paris was delayed. This caused us to miss our flight from Paris to the Czech Republic. Language barriers made it a little more difficult to reschedule a flight, but overall the airport staff were accommodating which helped ease the stress of the situation. I learned that it is important to always pack your most valuable items in your carry-on bag just in case! We finally arrived in Prague, but unfortunately our luggage did not. Emily and I were lucky enough to receive out luggage that night, but poor Louie had to wait until Monday to get his.
I spent the weekend in Prague which was breathtakingly beautiful. I also got to enjoy my first drink as the legal drinking age in the Czech Republic is 18. I was also surprised that Emily, Louie, and I never got carded at the bars. It seems that Americans emphasize a specific age more than Europeans.
We met someone from Texas and two people from El Salvador in our hostel that were just as fun as they were informative. They worked for an airline and told us some good travel places to book weekend trips through. They also took us out on the town. We went to an underground bar that was probably my favorite. There was stone on all of the walls and it was a really unique atmosphere. We also went to a five story club which was a lot of fun. There is certainly a more vibrant nightlife in Europe than there is in Nebraska.
For lunch on Saturday Emily, Louie, Jordan, and I went to a cute little pasta place. They cooked the pasta right in front of us, but the cook didn't understand English so we all just winged our orders. I tried to order spaghetti sauce and ended up with something similar enough. The sauce had bacon in it which was actually delicious. There was a place upstairs to eat and the decor of the restaurant was cool. The railings were noodles and there were pictures on the wall of the owner buying fresh produce at a local grocery store. I could barely even eat half, but I noticed Europeans don't use to-go boxes so unfortunately it went to waste. Europeans also don’t seem to get orders "to go" at restaurants. Overall they seem to eat at a slower pace than Americans. This has caused me to block out more time for lunch and dinner on my daily schedule. The best part of this meal was that it was a little over four American dollars.
My favorite part of Prague was the architecture. The buildings were colorful and full of history. The cobblestone streets, although they're not as fun to walk on, were also beautiful. After a fun weekend in Prague, the group headed to Olomouc on Sunday.
Monday morning we had orientation bright and early, which I will admit I had a hard time waking up for. However, it was an incredibly informative and enjoyable day. I was given my tram pass, which frightened me as I have never really used public transportation. However, I have grown to love the tram. It is incredibly convenient to be able to hop on public transportation, so it came as no surprise that most people in Olomouc don’t own cars. The tram will definitely be a part of my daily life as it takes me to school, the grocery store, and into the city for meals and exploration.
We continued with orientation on Tuesday and Wednesday, but started class on Thursday. Our regular schedule will consist of class Monday-Thursday 3pm-7:15pm and class on Friday from 10:30am-3pm. I’m really content with this schedule, as having class at 3pm allows me to get up and explore the city before class starts. I planned on using the “gym” in our dorm before class also, however it is smaller than my dorm room and only has two machines. Because of this, I decided to just run outside which has given me the opportunity to explore even more of the city. Walking around the city is also good exercise and I have noticed that the locals always seem to bring their fuzzy friends with them on walks. As an animal lover, I enjoy getting to see dozens of dogs a day. They even get to ride the tram!
Every day in Olomouc is different and exciting. The staff from Palacky University are incredibly helpful and educational. They planned both a welcome party and a bar crawl for myself and the 22 other UNK students on the trip. They know how to impress the college crowd! The great thing about Olomouc is even if there is nothing planned for the day, I can simply ride the tram to the city and walk around. I’ve explored the city every day and it still feels like I’m living in a town that belongs in a fairy tale. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to study abroad and plan on making the most out of everyday here in Olomouc!
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