Studying abroad in Prague was a life-changing experience for me. My day-to-day life in the Czech Republic was significantly different from my life in the U.S. at my home university. I was unsure what to expect my first few days in Prague, but I eventually adjusted and adapted to a new lifestyle.
A Typical Day Studying Abroad in Prague
After waking up, I would eat the closest Czech equivalent to my favorite cereal at home. Honestly, it was delicious -- and I sort of miss it now. Depending on the weather, I would either walk or take the tram to class. I lived in Prague 5, near the border with Prague 1. Anglo-American University was about a 15-minute walk from my apartment, or a 5-10 minute tram ride. Most days, I preferred to walk so that I could take in the beauty of the city for a few extra minutes each morning. I was surprised to learn on my first day of classes how small Anglo-American University was. Coming from a Big Ten school, I was shocked to see that my new college was only one building. However, the school really made me feel like I was studying abroad, since the building was quite fancy for a school and looked like it could be a mansion on the inside. Nearly all of the classes at AAU are 2.5 hours long, but only take place once a week. This took a little getting used to as well, but most of my classes were so hands-on and led by unique professors that the time went by just as quickly as a normal class in the U.S.After classes, I would try to stay active by going to the gym. During my first few weeks abroad, CEA advertised gym memberships in one of their e-newsletters. I ended up joining a gym located in the shopping mall 10 minutes from my apartment. The equipment was all the same, and I enjoyed working out to help stay in shape while eating my way through Europe every weekend!
For dinner, I would try to cook something in my apartment, but I was often tempted by friends to go to a restaurant for dinner! The nights would typically end with hanging out or exploring the Prague nightlife with my new friends.
Talia Stewart is a CEA Alumni Ambassador and went to Prague in Spring 2018.