Just about two weeks prior to the start of my study abroad program, I received an email from the Anglo-American University Student Council. The email included the invitation for their annual ball, along with details like its location, ticket price, and pictures from past years. I was about to start this incredible European adventure and I had already been invited to a ball! How glamorous is that?
The ball took place at the National House of Vinohrady, which is located in Prague 2. My roommates and I had purchased tickets at school a few days earlier and spent the afternoon primping and prepping for the elegant evening. We set out just before 8:00pm, and looked a little out of place walking down cobblestone streets and riding the tram in heels and our ball gowns. That said, upon arriving at the venue, we immediately fit right in. We joined the other AAU students clad in black-tie attire and began to experience all the ball had to offer.
The evening was a wonderful mix of scheduled activities and free time to mingle and dance. The venue was a large hall, donned with beautiful chandeliers and art on the walls. There was a stage with a live band performance, a large dance floor, and many tables. Some highlights of the program for the night were the ballroom dancing lesson, the stand-up comedian show, and the DJ session.
The ball was like nothing I had ever experienced. Its elegance combined with its relaxed atmosphere was the perfect way to end a busy school week and set off the weekend. My roommates and I were among the few CEA study abroad students that decided to attend, and the rest were full-time AAU students, alumni, and faculty members. It was fun to see young people alongside professional adults enjoying a night out together. The ball is an annual event and it is evident that it is one that the AAU community looks forward to each year.
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| My roommate excitedly holding her ticket as we wait for the tram. |
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| A professor and his date dance the night away at the AAU annual ball. |
The ball took place at the National House of Vinohrady, which is located in Prague 2. My roommates and I had purchased tickets at school a few days earlier and spent the afternoon primping and prepping for the elegant evening. We set out just before 8:00pm, and looked a little out of place walking down cobblestone streets and riding the tram in heels and our ball gowns. That said, upon arriving at the venue, we immediately fit right in. We joined the other AAU students clad in black-tie attire and began to experience all the ball had to offer.
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| The red-carpet entrance at the National House of Vinohrady. |
The evening was a wonderful mix of scheduled activities and free time to mingle and dance. The venue was a large hall, donned with beautiful chandeliers and art on the walls. There was a stage with a live band performance, a large dance floor, and many tables. Some highlights of the program for the night were the ballroom dancing lesson, the stand-up comedian show, and the DJ session.
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| A view from the balcony of the classic National House of Vinohrady. |
The ball was like nothing I had ever experienced. Its elegance combined with its relaxed atmosphere was the perfect way to end a busy school week and set off the weekend. My roommates and I were among the few CEA study abroad students that decided to attend, and the rest were full-time AAU students, alumni, and faculty members. It was fun to see young people alongside professional adults enjoying a night out together. The ball is an annual event and it is evident that it is one that the AAU community looks forward to each year.
The AAU community has been very welcoming from the moment I received that email inviting me to the ball. They do a wonderful job of encouraging the study abroad students to assimilate into the school’s culture. Everyday my email inbox is full of announcements, events, and clubs that I am invited to join at AAU. When stepping on campus, posters, handouts, and students themselves are always inviting students to take part in various activities. I feel as though I am genuinely experiencing the life of a student in the Czech Republic – and I’m having a ball!
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| CEA study abroad students pose in front of the AAU backdrop at the ball. |
Eliza J. is the Spring 2017 MOJO Blogger in Prague, Czech Republic. She is currently a Sophomore studying Media Communications at Point Loma Nazarene University.