Ahoj, from Praha 2!
Two days ago marked the beginning of our program! We all arrived in Prague at various times. For some, the journey in was relatively smooth with fun layovers in Norway, but, for others, there were passport worries and troubles with taxi drivers. (A word of wisdom for those who don’t know– be sure to call a taxi driver from a specific company when arriving in Prague, because the regulation of drivers here is different than in the United States, so some will be sassy and try to charge more than they should!) All arrived safely, though, and most had the chance to begin to settle in before heading to a tasty dinner at Restaurace U Fausta, which CET provided for us. It was a great opportunity to catch up and share stories of summer and travel experiences.
All smiles at the welcome dinner: Francesca, Lena, Zoe, Olivia, Cari, Evan, Teddy, Caroline, Theresa, Helen, Katie, and Ken
Teddy, Nicki, Cari, and Brandon chatting at U Fausta
Carls dining with the Czech buddies: Zdenek, Denis, Rachel, Kristina, Alp, Jeremy, Austin, and Barbora
Austin and the tiny strudel spoon!
Each apartment is unique, but they are all spacious and equipped with kitchenettes, washing machines, and living rooms. Perhaps the best part is our great location: we are within walking distance to many restaurants and shops. Additionally, nearly every apartment has a Czech host; they are all very fun and friendly, and they have helped us with small daily activities, such as grocery shopping.
Since Thursday was a day for settling in and dealing with jet lag, Friday was the first real day we had to acclimate to our new surroundings. At 11 am, we all met for orientation, which started with a brief tour of the area we live in as we headed to our CET school building, as well as an explanation of the metro system here in Prague. The school building itself is cozy, with a couple of classrooms, a library, a small kitchen, and a sitting room. It should be a nice place to study!
After the orientation, Ken brought us to the gym so we could set up our memberships. There are various classes we can participate in as part of our membership, and the man who runs the gym is a former body builder who knew Arnold Schwarzenegger! As we left he said, “Hasta la vista!”
For the remainder of Friday, we had the chance to walk around the city at our leisure. Some went out to lunch and then to Charles Bridge, while others cooked in their apartments together. A few of us went shopping for school supplies together. While the prices are great, it is a still a bit of challenge to figure out which product you want to buy, what the features of an item are exactly, and whether or not you’re reading the price tags correctly. However, it’s still a fun and interesting experience.
In the evening, a few of the girls went to explore Old Town Square. One of the highlights was seeing a fire twirler! Katie took several shots–see for yourself!
A night shot of Charles Bridge. Credit to Katie
Rachel walking around in Old Town. Credit to Katie
A clock tower. Credit to Katie
Today (Saturday) was a free day for us. Many of us went down to the Vlatva River to do paddle boating; it cost about 350 kc for one hour, which is about $15. The weather was beautiful, so there were many people on the water, in addition to ducks and swans. It was a unique vantage point from which to view the architecture of the city.
A view along the Vlatva River. Credit to Brandon
Swan! Credit to Katie
A view of the boaters and scenery. Credit to Brandon
Katie and Helen. Credit to Brandon
Rachel, Mary, and Cari. Credit to Brandon
In addition to the boating, some people went to an all-you-can-eat chocolate museum, where they were able to see a chocolate making demonstration (and eat the results, of course!). Finally, the day wrapped up with a big group hang out. We have several events to look forward to this week: our scavenger hunt tomorrow, the start of classes, a final exam (!?), and a ballet! Safe to say, we are off to a busy and exciting start!
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