In a couple weeks I leave Prague and head back home to California. It is crazy to think I have been here for four months. The time flew by, as I was told it would. It is hard to put in words what this experience has meant to me. I've tried to find the right adjective to place before the word, 'experience,' but each time I write one down, it doesn't fully encompass my feelings. Perhaps this is because there is no single adjective to describe what studying in a foreign country is like.
I can confidently say that studying abroad in Prague were some of the best months of my life. Never did I think I could fall so in love with Prague or grow so much as a person. People always tell you how impactful the experience is going to be, but it is not until you get there that you realize how lucky you are. I realized how privileged I was to be able to live in the city center, travel every weekend, go to an amazing university, and be surrounded by so many like-minded people.
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| Friendships for a lifetime |
As cliche as it is, I changed so much as a person, but in the best way possible. I have always been an independent person, but I now have more confidence and trust more in myself. A year ago I never would have thought I could go to a new city, let alone country, by myself and become so comfortable with my environment and befriend so many amazing people. It was fascinating to go to a school with people from all over the world and compare stories. It made me realize how important being globally aware is.Study abroad will have an impact on the rest of my life. It has taught me to take every opportunity, cherish every moment, and take more risks. You cannot grow as a person if you do not step outside your comfort zone and put yourself out there. As scary as it is, the outcomes are beyond worth it. The only thing I wish I knew before coming to Prague is that it will fly by. My friends and I had a huge list of things we wanted to do and even though we crossed off a good majority of the list, we ran out of time because there is so much to see and do. This experience was a whirlwind and I know I will remember it forever.
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| Me and my city |
Dalia B. is the Fall 2017 MOJO Blogger and international intern in Prague, Czech Republic. She is currently a Junior studying Film & Digital Media at UC Santa Cruz.