PACKING AND TRAVELING:

Packing for the trip was initially extremely hard for me.  I searched online a lot and found a guide line for packing and made a checklist.  I started off with basic things like, 1 towel, face wash, basic grooming materials, etc.  When packing my clothing I made sure to bring things that I didn’t care to much about.  This was really beneficial l to me because I am planning to leaving most of it in Czech. I made sure to bring many basic layering pieces that I could mix and match, and either dress up or dress down.  I am really happy that I packed a little notebook to write down the little things, and keep different things that we have collected over our travels.  However, I think I could have only brought 1 pair of boots and been okay.  

When it comes to traveling my only suggestion is to do you research ahead of time.  It is best to map out what you would like to do and where you would like to go before you get here.  If you are like our group you are always one the move so theres not a lot of time for research.  I bought a blow up neck pillow, ear plugs, eye mask and passport holder from target before our trip which made bus rides a lot easier.  Also when it comes to planning your trips I would take advantage of Air bnb and the Student Agency.  Both were extremely helpful and spoke English.

SOCIAL LIFE:

To be honest we really didn’t meet to many Czech students.  We made some friends from living in the dorms, but it was hard to meet people.  I spent a lot of my free time exploring the coffee shops and antique stores during the day.  Generally, we went out to the pubs or clubs during the week and traveled away during our free weekends.  My main regret is not documenting the trip better.  You keep track of the events in your blog, but I wish I would have journaled my personal thoughts during the trip better.  My views on many things changed in the duration of the trip.  You learn a lot about culture and yourself especially.

As for social events the Erasmus group threw a party once a week that we usually attended.  They also kept us informed through the Facebook page of things going on in the community.  Most times it overlapped with travels so we were unable to attend.  You have to be social and not afraid to fail to go on a study abroad I believe.  You are going to get lost, you are going to be confused, you are going to fail but you have to be willing to put your self out there and try something new.  Really get to know your group of study abroad students.  Generally at school people stick to people similar to them.  Through this program I have meet some of the most amazing people that without this trip I probably wouldn’t have gotten the privilege.

SCHOOL WORK:

School in Czech is very different from the US.  Be prepared to be confused!  The structure of school is very different especially.  Classrooms are very relaxed, and generally just lecture.  The grading for us was based on our notes, our blog, our Czech final, and then our grades for our main class.  Our study habits while here were probably not the best.  Generally the morning before class I would grab a coffee and cram quick before class.  It was hard because there is always something going on and the internet never worked properly.

MONEY & COMMUNICATIONS:

I had around $4,000 for our trip, and I am cutting it pretty close on money.  However, I traveled on every free weekend that we had, and did lots of shopping.  When it came to managing my money, I put most of it on my debit account and did large amounts of withdraws.  My plane tickets and larger expenses I put on my credit card.  For communication I mainly used my Facebook and email account.  Most people used there imessage to text, but mine didn’t work, so I wouldn’t rely on it.  Listed below is my estimated guess of how much I spent on various things.

Books: $15 on school books, and $100 on various books purchased

Supplies: <$10

Food: $30 a week on groceries, $30 on dining at restaurants

Entertainment: Most was free, other than movies

Local Transportation: $5 per cab ride in Olomouc, usually once or twice a week because the trams close around 11:30 pm

Travel: $20-$40 on travel in Czech by train or bus

Toiletries: <$15, but prepare to have to pay $1 to use the bathroom 

Airfare: $1,200 round trip to Czech, $250 to Spain, $375 to Rome and then Malta

Laundry: $10 per load at the laundry mat (recommend it over the ones at the dorms)

OTHER COMMENTS/TIPS: Anything pertaining to your experience overseas not included above. Example: take rain gear and warm clothes.

My greatest advise is to be open minded about the trip.  Most of it will not go as planned, so you have to be flexible and go-with-the-flow.  It was one of the best decisions that I have ever made, but that doesn’t mean that it was a cake-walk.  Pack a variety of clothes for all seasons, but I wouldn’t bring anything that you would be heartbroken if you lost.  Invest in good walking shoes and a good BIG backpack.  It also wouldn’t hurt to get in shape before you go, you will be on your feet all day most days.  

1. Go hiking in Slovakia!  We spent a majority of our time in big cities, so it was refreshing to be in the woods.  We traveled to Liptovsky Mikulas and said at the hostel Rotunda.  Take bus 13 to Jasna and start your hike!  The whole trip cost about $100.

1. Brno is another great trip and it is just a bus ride away from Olomouc.  While there take the bus to the outside of town and there is a HUGE lake lined with small shops.  Stop at the stand with the “Lucky Bastard” beer, best beer yet.

1. St. Angelo cafe is my favorite in Olomouc. Order the cappuccino with honey and cinnamon, you won’t be disappointed.

1. “The Pub” in Prague is awesome!  Get a large group of you and make a reservation.  You get to pour your own beer, then you race within your table and compete against the rest of the bar.

1. If you go to Rome you HAVE to go to Frigidarium Gelateria.  Hands down best ice cream you will ever eat.

1. Plan ahead and pack accordingly for the American Night at Belmundo.  

1. On your trip to Krakow go to the Cupcake shop by the main square (you will see signs everywhere for it).  Anything you get is delicious. 

1. In Olomouc there is a Jazz Bar not far from the main square.  Great food and you can  Czech out some Czech Music.

1. Take a bus to Holy Hill that is right outside Olomouc.  It is more of a small town feel and just behind it is forrest.

1. Try the Absinth ice cream at the Absintherie in the old square of Prague.  

T R E E S & T E A R S

Alright, I don’t even know where to begin this next blog.  In the past week or so we have visited Terezin and Auschwitz.  We also visited a smaller town in the Czech, but in comparison to the concentration camp visits I feel that is a little irrelevant.  Words can’t describe the lessons I have learned from the classes prior to these trips and the visits.  But, I guess I will give it a go.

T E R E Z I N

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from our Terezin visit.  I knew that it wasn’t a killing factory, but by no means did it make it a spa like what it was presented in the propaganda.  The walk to the camp itself was very humbling.  About a half mile long walk lined with trees and graves to the left leads up to a ghostly front gate.  This gate is trimmed with black and white brick and has the infamous “WORK WILL MAKE YOU FREE” painted.

While we were at Terezin we learned that few people did actually escape.  But, that if you were caught trying to escape they picked your friends to stone you to death.  That to me was extremely frightening.  I can’t imagine what was going through the minds of the people that had to partake in these acts.  The whole experience was very eye opening.. and we were allowed to leave.  When we were there we went into a cell were 600 people were forced to live.  This room was pretty similar in size to my living room.  I just kept thinking while we were there that I would be forced to live with my entire high school and middle school.  This whole trip has taught me so much about gratitude, Auschwitz especially.

S C H I N D L E R

Leading up to Auschwitz we visited the Schindler’s factory.  The night prior I watched it for the first time.  The factory museum really did the holocaust justice, I believe.  The noises that you heard walking through were nothing like I have heard before.  Two parts of the museum really hit me hard.  You had to walk almost a mini maze of Nazi flags, that to me was extremely erie.  Seeing an actual Nazi flag was a little shocking for me.  The sound of bombs dropping while you walk there made me realize my problems are nothing like other people’s struggles.  From there you kept walking through rooms that were dark and all the sudden you turn the corner and it was a white walled room with grey gravel and part of a barbed wire fence.  The whole thing was just very humbling.

A U S C H W I T Z

Our trip from Krakow to Auschwitz was an easy travel.  The 23 of us loaded into our Mercedes bus, continued playing with our iphones and tried to get comfortable to nap.  I just kept thinking while we were on our way that we will get to leave.  How selfish am I that I am upset because I was unable to get comfortable to sleep.  My mind flashed to the cattle cars that they were shipped in and how awful their conditions must have been.    It made me realize all the stupid little things that I have complained about on this trip as well.  The struggles with the internet, or the poor showering conditions of our hostel, my pillow not being as fluffy as mine back home is nothing in comparison to the struggles and hardships that they went through.  And, we got to leave.

Seeing two tons of human hair might have been the single my impacting thing I have ever witnessed.  I can’t even think of something that would way 2 tons, no clue.  But, two tons of human hair is enough to make your stomach drop.  While we were the pots and pans also got me a little teary.  Because you know that they were brought my moms would who worried about providing for their families.  Little did they know exactly how little they would have.  I really enjoyed the trees that were planted by the victims.  They were fertilized with their ashes, and planted with their sweat.  Nice to know that they live on atleast throught that.  I don’t think anybody can really describe their experience to Auschwitz.  I think that is an extremely personal thing and that everybody takes away something different.  But if I have any advise, it is that everybody should visit it at least once in their life.  If you really take it all end I don’t believe that you will walk out the same person that walked in.

E T C.

As I noted earlier we also made a small trip in Czech to visit an estate and a wine cellar.  The wine was extremely good but kinda of creepy and smelly down in the basement.  I am glad that we went, but it was nothing like what I thought it was going to be.  I really enjoyed the trophy room at the palace that we visited.  It reminded me a lot of home, which is creeping up fast everyday.  But, we also stopped on our way to Krakow in Ostrava at the industrial center and at the Salt Mines.  Personally loved the mines and however I could have been okay if we didn’t stop at the industrial center.  I am sure many people on our trip enjoyed it, but it just wasn’t a main topic of interest for myself.  All and all very influential week.  Thank you for reading.