I Have Arrived!

Twenty hours, four airports, and a wild taxi ride later, and I finally arrived safely and extremely exhausted in Prague!! The journey to get here started in Charlotte, then Raleigh, DC, Frankfort, and then Prague. Thank goodness I have the most wonderful travel buddy and now roommate, Kimberly!  It is so nice having a familiar face in this very foreign place. Leaving home and saying goodbyes was harder than I anticipated, but arriving in Prague (though is overwhelming at times) has been far more exciting that I originally planned. All in all, I am ready for the adventures to begin!

Our 8 hour plane ride from DC to Frankfort was probably the most cozy I have ever been on a plane. Not only was it the most GIGANTIC plane I have ever stepped foot on, but it was nearly empty! Hello whole rows to ourselves!!

(9 seats across, with 2 aisles!)

Even though we got to stretch out our bodies and get some rest, seeing the sun set and the sun rise while sitting on the same plane, plus all the extra traveling sure did wear us out! By the time it was 8pm in Prague, the bed was calling my name so loudly, I stopped being able to hear anything else (including the 15 loud people right outside my room). I slept good and hard until the next thing that I heard was my blaring alarm clock 12 hours later.

Our room is pretty hilarious. It is really nice, but we have four beds, three girls, and very LITTLE storage space. There is a closet that is enough to hold my socks, shoes and jackets, and a little nightstand that contains my books, but everything else has remained in my suitcase. We are in the overflow room, so we have been place on the guys hall. This wouldn’t be bad, but in order to shower or get to the bathroom we have to walk down the stairs and through the common room.  It’s slightly embarrassing when all you have is a robe and a small towel.

(My room plus my roomies)

My first full day in Prague was packed with meeting new faces, learning the metro and tram systems, touring the Prague Institute (my new school), shopping for groceries, and eating at fun restaurants. This day has literally felt like the length of 3 days combined. I can barely remember the things that happened this morning!

The Institute is such a unique and wonderful place to be learning. It is located just a block from the beautiful Old Town Square, and is tucked into a little alleyway that opens up to a beautiful courtyard.

(A corner of Old Town Square)

(NC State flag directed us to the Institute)

In just the short time I have been here, I have already fallen in love with this city. It is hard not to be enamored by the magical walkways, the vast range of architecture, the dazzling lights at night, the quaint shops and restaurants! Each turn opens up to a new street lined with countless beautiful buildings that I can't wait to explore. 

One of the most interesting and challenging things so far is the language barrier. For some reason, I didn’t expect it to be such a big deal to not know the language. I often times catch myself just staring at road signs, menus, and store names thinking that all the sudden a light will go off and I will magically know what I am reading. The light never goes off! It is a very different language with lots of long words that all look the same. There are often many letters with strange accents, and several consonants in a row. It is hard to remember directions to places because the sound of the words often don’t sound the way I think they should be spelled. I am excited to learn some key phrases, because about all I know now is hello and thank you- dobrý den and děkuji. I keep wanting to say common Spanish phrases and words and I keep having to stop myself. I need to get it into my head that just because they speak another language, does NOT mean it is Spanish!


Another shocker about being here is the weather. It is cold, CoLd, COLD! I knew it was going to be a harsher winter than the winters I am used to, but it is silly how bone chilling cold it is! I am seriously considering investing in a ski mask to protect my head from freezing off, and in goggles to prevent the buckets of tears from streaming down my face! I woke up this morning to find the thermometer reading 3⋅F, with a high of 18. Leaving 65 degree sun shine and short wearing weather for frozen puddles and icy breath will take some adjusting. Thank goodness the BEAUTIFUL scenery is the perfect distraction from the cold air!!  


Today I also woke up excitedly for our first day of class! Four of us skipped our way to school, chasing pigeons and singing songs. By no means do I think I will always be this chipper to start class early in the morning, but this was definitely the most exciting first day of class I have has for a while! Probably since middle school!

(Outside the Institute on our first day of class!)

FUN FACT: With their noses, elephants can pick up a dime that is laying flat on the ground. They also do the majority of their communication at a frequency that is lower than what humans can hear.