Prague: Like Having Your Head Explode From a Fatal Case of Hyper-Awesome-itis Past Review

By (Plan II and Comm Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) for

AIFS: Prague - Charles University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This is a ridiculous question. Of course it was worthwhile. Very basically, I met some amazing people who are scattered all over the world now. My social network is huge now. The culture and feeling of the Czech Republic was similar to mine but allowed for growth in a thousand different directions.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The education system was more or less the same as you would find here. Some professors deeply encouraged cultural interaction and devised a lenient workload to accomodate that. Others made you work just as hard as you possible could for the class. Neither was a bad experience and I feel like I gained a great deal.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

All of the coordinators were extremely helpful and knowledgeable and would frequently engage with the students. They were invaluable resources culturally and took care of us very well administratively. Seriously, AIFS Prague did an excellent job of making sure all of my junk was in order and helping me whenever the situation arose.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Masarykova kolej for life. Theres a bar inside the dorm (fantastic) and plenty of social spaces to interact with other students (international and American). Also in a fantastic location for accessing the metro and the rest of the city.

* Food:

All food is easy to acquire and eat. Just make sure to focus on getting enough fresh veggies and fruit as you wont routinely find them at restaurants.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Weekend trips around central Europe were unbeatably. The places are fantastic and the transportation is cheap. Around Prague it was easy to get lost (culturally, not actually lost. And in a positive way) in parks and historic sites. Various festivals (food or music usually) were superb.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I never had any health issues but some friends of mine were quickly set up with doctors for this or that. AIFS also helped cover the costs of medical visits for them.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Nope. Dolla dolla bills. Totally worth it.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Do it. Dont read any more. Just do it. Sign the papers. Buy the tickets. Just go.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Czech and Central European History

Course Department: CUFA HIS 318
Instructor: Petr Svobodny
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The lectures were super boring and I really only took this course to get a history credit for back home. The teacher was intelligent but unapproachable. The history itself was interesting but came across in a distant manner. Not the kind of history you can engage with.
Credit Transfer Issues: Nope.
Course Name/Rating:

Czech Language for Everyday Use Level 1

Course Department: CUFA CZE 102
Instructor: Jana Bischofova
Instruction Language: Czech
Comments: This course was probably the most difficult one I took (and with good reason because I dont speak Czech and its a hard as balls language) but arguably the most gratifying. It made me apply myself and gave me the confidence to speak natively to locals in Prague.
Credit Transfer Issues: No way.
Course Name/Rating:

The Jews of Central Europe

Course Department: CUFA HIS 302
Instructor: Gaelle Vassogne
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Really tough but really great. This was the most historically valuable course to me. Included great connections to the city of Prague and the larger socioreligious landscape of central Europe.
Credit Transfer Issues: Say what? Definitely not.
Course Name/Rating:

From Kafka to Kundera

Course Department: CUFA LIT 309
Instructor: Petr Bilek
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Amazing. Maybe my favorite course. The texts we read were awesome and were linked very well to the culture they were written in. Discussion and papers were a great way to explore the ideas we covered.
Credit Transfer Issues: Nada.
Course Name/Rating:

Alternative Lifestyles, Music, and Literature

Course Department: CUFA SOC 342
Instructor: Daphne Carr
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Amazing incredible wonderful ideas and concepts that got stuck in a classroom. It gave me a great list of things to look up outside of class but I found the class itself tedious and obnoxious at times. I wish I could have liked it more.
Credit Transfer Issues: Nuh-uh.