Prague - Returning Home

My two months in Prague were probably some of the most transformative months I have had over the past year or two. I have been able to learn A LOT about myself as a growing adult and as someone who was physically disconnected from their home and everyone they know. Sometimes it felt like the end would never come and all I wanted to do was go home, other times I wish time would freeze and I could just stay in a few choice moments for as long as I could. Now, reflecting back on my time in Prague, I have the following advice to give to any future travelers.

• Always try to walk if you can. Prague is a walking city and you get to see lots of dogs on your walk (they really like dogs there).
• Don't just be friends with your roommates. There are so many great people coming from other places around the world as well as the local people. Try your best to talk to someone you normally wouldn't. 
• Yes... you are legal to drink, but don't do it all the time. Some of my classmates would go out almost every night and well, it just looked exhausting. The club scene can be pretty active but you can also buy CHEAP drinks at the grocery store and do a night in with your friends. 
• Bring any snacks with you that you REALLY love. I love hot Cheetos. Does anyone in the city carry hot Cheetos? The answer is no :( 
• Go to Sunset Hill. It is this great park near Vinohradska that always brings the prettiest sunsets. 
• Travel to a country on the weekend. There are 3 or 4 within a 4 hour bus ride of you. 
• You don't have to keep in close contact with your friends back home. They are doing there thing and you are doing yours. You will be together again eventually, so don't get distracted trying to keep in touch and just enjoy where you are in the moment
• There are cat cafes and a dog bar! If you are an animal lover, you should definitely go to those. 
• Don't forget to travel to the other cities in the Czech Republic. Brno is supposed to have a beautiful Library. Decin has a beautiful hike and the place where they filmed part of Narnia. Cesky Krumlov is the fairytale city for a reason. 
• Just remember you are in a different place and to treat everything with respect. 
• When people stare, its not weird, it is just a normal thing to do
• Frowning is also normal. The general culture is more negative. 
• Eat Czech food! Its pretty good so step out of your comfort level! 
• Mlovite Anglicky? (mloveeteh anglisky) Do you know English?
• Hesky pez. Muzu si ho pohladit (hesky pez. mudgu see hoe pole-lah-dit)Nice dog, Can I pet it

I hope these tips help! Coming home wasn't too bad of a transition except I would want to say things in Czech lol. Here are some pictures from my snapchat memories of my travels ◡̈  they are really random, sorry.

When in Prague... Get out of Prague

My two months in Prague have been absolutely outstanding. They were transformative and helped me learn a lot about myself and my capabilities as an emerging adult. However, I didn't just stay in Prague! Since the Czech Republic is quite literally in the center of Europe, it was the perfect place to call "home" while I went on casual weekend trips to neighboring counties. The first weekend I went to Germany for a whopping round trip transportation fee of $35 and stayed in a cheap hostel. Another weekend I flew to England and Ireland for $125. My last trip during my stay was to Austria for the same price as Germany. And right now I am writing from Sweden after a $35 plane ticket. Even though Prague was an amazing place to live, I highly suggest traveling around the neighboring countries on long weekends. Some of my classmates went to Hungary, Morocco, Greece, Italy, France and so on and so forth. Here are some pictures in and out of Prague.

Cliffs of Mohor, Galway, Ireland

 Česky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Vienna, Austria

Prague, Czech Republic

Höllviken, Sweden

Copenhagen, Denmark

All the Emotions of Leaving Europe

I'm back in the United States and the culture shock and adjustment of being back is in full effect. The second half of my semester was crazy busy, full of travel, visits from home, and intense language practice. I can definitely say that this entire experience was MORE than worth it. I met more people than I could have ever imagined, made some really long-lasting friendships, forced myself out of my comfort zone by backpacking alone for 3 weeks and with a friend from home for another 3, and really enjoyed my time. This was one of the greatest moves I have made in life.


I left Paris on May 16th, both happy and utterly heartbroken as I embarked on the next adventure - 6 solid weeks of backpacking throughout Europe. I had a plan of the first 17 days going to Lyon, Strasbourg, Fussen, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Dresden and Berlin. My long-time friend Heather from California was meeting me in Berlin to do 24 days throughout Eastern Europe; Prague, Budapest, Zagreb, Mostar, Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvic, Ljubljana, Bled, and Zurich. Although I was nervous to be on my own for the first part of the trip, I immediately made new friends in Lyon, as I was staying with a friend from Paris' family that offered their home to me. It was amazing to be able to integrate into Lyon's lifestyle with locals for a few days. Lyon remains one of my favorite cities - hence why  I visited twice in my time abroad. Backpacking by myself forced me to be comfortable on my own instead of relying on anybody. I made so many connections in the hostels - some I traveled with for a couple days, while some I just spent an afternoon with. Each of these new faces brought a different perspective to my travels and greatly impacted me. I loved being able to broaden my views and take in a wide range of ideas from all over the world. In my time alone, I hiked one of the Alps, drove on the Autoban, visited Mozart's home, went to the original castle that Disney modeled theirs after, ate apfelstrudel and spatzle, spent time in the oldest concentration camp from WWII, watched surfers go at it in the park river in Munich, and climbed more stairs that I can count.


When I arrived in Berlin I couldn't wait for my friend Heather to come. I was a little exhausted, my phone had been having issues, and I was ready for some comfort of home. She ended up missing her connecting flight in Turkey and was delayed 15 hours, but finally arrived (newly-sprained ankle and all). While the mobility was a bit of an issue and we ran into problems here and there, our trip was absolutely fantastic. Eastern Europe is less traversed than the western portion, making it less crowded and cheaper. Heather and I explored the cities on our own, venturing off the beaten path, and discovered a whole new world that we loved. My top favorite place was by far Mostar, Bosnia. The people we came across were incredibly friendly, the food was good, and the scenery was breathtaking. There is a vast contrast between Western and Eastern Mostar due to the Bosnian War of the early 1990s and wreckage is still present with bombed-out buildings and bullet casings found throughout the city. Very few people seemed to be visiting here, so the peaceful aura of the city was very different to what I had experienced in places like Paris and Berlin. This trip together included getting tattoos in Prague (sorry Mom!), relaxing at the thermal baths of Budapest, jumping into a freezing lake/waterfall in Bosnia, meeting a friend I had met on a previous stop in Bern, Switzerland, seeing famous graffiti walls, and bonding with one of my best friends.


Everyone should backpack - and do it alone at least for some time. It sounds crazy and people told me I was out of my mind, and I'll admit that I was scared. But was it worth it? COMPLETELY. I can't stress enough how much I grew in this whole experience - both from studying abroad and from traveling afterwards. This world is huge and there is so much to see, but there is also so many people to cross your path that will open your eyes in a way you didn't know could happen.


I'm already planning my return to these incredible places.

Fussen, Germany. Neuschwanstein Castle.

Fussen, Germany

The most picturesque little city, Strasbourg, France.

One of the best things about backpacking is meeting new people that become lifelong friends.

Munich, Germany

Dresden, Germany

Filbling, Austria, outside of Salzburg. Hiking in The Alps!

In the Astronomical Clock Tower in Prague, Czech Republic

My right hand companion on the second half of this trip - Heather

The Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany

Waterfalls outside of Mostar, Bosnia

The Shoes - Holocaust Memorial in Budapest, Hungary

View from our hostel in Bled, Slovenia just before dusk

View from our hostel in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Bern, Switzerland. I was lucky enough to have a friend I met previously in Nice from here to show us around.

Hanging on the edge in Bled, Slovenia

Our last day - Zurich, Switzerland

The famous Plitvic Lakes Park in Croatia

Oh the places you'll go!

If humans were supposed to stay in one place we would have roots instead of feet.

Over the past year of studying abroad my feet have walked through 35 airplanes and even more airports. Ten countries with numerous cities and sites viewed in each; the soles of my wandering feet have stepped through the same walking paths as the Incas that designed the mysterious Machu Picchu

and the same cobbled walkways as those taken by the Gladiators that fought in the Colosseum of Rome. 

The same marbled walkway that Pericles and other Athenians took to leave offerings and prayers at the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The path that the infamous Berlin Wall once stood as a mocking threat to any that dared try and pass it. 

The streets of Venice, Prague, Barcelona, Reykjavik, and Quito all so drastically different and yet somehow connected by the humbled footprints left by my feet. The Ancient site of the Oracle of Delphi where Alexander the Great ventured to in order to obtain a positive prophecy for his conquests of the then known world.

 The battleground where 300 Spartans and numerous other Greeks fought the Persian invasion of their country at Thermopylae.

The ground where the first Parliament took place in Iceland and the same narrow streets in Quito that are now an UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The romantic and tiny city of Verona where Rome fell in love with Juliet. So many awe-inspiring cities, ancient sites, and wonders of the world. Places that in a normal university year one would never be able to experience.  

May all students have the opportunity to study abroad at least once. Whether it is to discover a country they have always wanted to go to, to learn a new language or improve on one they have learned for years, or even to go someplace they never thought they would want to go.

May all students have the opportunity to live, learn, and love in a new culture. May more students go abroad then those that do not. May the fear of the unknown become extinct and xenophobia be another Greek word that no one understands.

May all university students have the drive to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. May we all go to at least one place we have never been to once a year. May our feet step in the same footprints as the greats, while simultaneously creating a path that someday another person will want to follow.  May we all encompass the brave desire to discover new lands and new people. And more than anything may wanderlust be something that everyone experiences.

Thanks for the Memories Greece

As I sit on a red bench along the river in yet another unknown city where the language spoken around me is as unique as the people I am forced to think back on my study abroad experience. 

View of part of Athens from Mt. Lycabettus

I landed in Reykjavik, Iceland on the second of January and I head back to this same city on my last trip of studying abroad.When I first landed in Reykjavik for a short two hours it was stuck in nearly twenty-four hours of continuous darkness and now as I spend two nights there I will be blessed with twenty-three hours of sunlight.

Home of the first Parliament in Iceland

 I cannot say that these five months changed my entire life, but I can say it changed a portion of my life. Studying abroad has taught me how to live without a cellphone, how to communicate with others that don't speak English, to adapt to constantly changing surroundings, to live out of a back pack for weeks at a time, and that no matter what country you are in a smile can change your day. 

Picture from Meteora Greece

View of Prague

The weather is not always perfect, the plans always change, and people run out of money that's what studying abroad is. 

Taken from the Cinque Terre Hike Italy

It is adapting to the unknown, becoming use to traveling alone and becoming an expert at interpreting train schedules. You leave a part of yourself in every city you visit because it takes something out of you. Traveling is expensive and exhausting but if we don't do it today there won't be time tomorrow. 

View of Rome from above

If you don't see Meteora while you are in Greece

Meteora Greece

or the leaning Tower of Pisa while in Italy when will you ever get another chance?

Pisa Italy

 Studying abroad gives us a break from the monotonous classrooms we will spend more time than we hope to in and throws us out into the world we don't have nearly enough time in.

Enjoying Baklava in Athens

Some of the AIFS students at the Temple of Poseidon

Every city is different, every language has its impact, and every mile traveled another memory. Since I have been in Europe I haven't traveled to a new country every weekend, but I got to know a few very well. Greece has everything from the mountains with monasteries to islands with donkeys and the people are as hopeful in their future as they are proud of their past, 

Donkeys on the island of Hydra Greece

Italy has beaches surround by famous hiking trails, 

Florence Italy

everyone needs to visit Germany to see why Bavaria should be its own kingdom again, 

Fathers day in Munich 

Munich again

Prague has an active night life and free city tour which everyone should take advantage of,

Prague

Hohenwerfen Castle Austria

Austria has some of the nicest people you will ever meet and breath taking views,

More Austria

Spain is more than sangria and live dancing, and finally Iceland well Iceland is my last stop before I head back to the mainland so it will be the hardest to say goodbye to. 

One of many waterfalls in Iceland

My heart breaks that I have to leave Europe behind for a summer of working in my home town, but I don't leave empty handed. I met some of the most flamboyant and unpredictable people while abroad, I've made new life long friends, and reconnected with old friends.  I've watched the sunset from cities I only dreamed I would see and traveled on airlines I didn't know existed. 

Cinque Terre Italy

Sunset over Athens

But the most important thing that I am taking home with me is the memories. There are too many to comb through now, but I know they will always be there in the back of my mind lurking to make their appearance when I need it most. At the end of the day souvenirs take up space, pictures go missing, and the wine you brought back gets enthusiastically drank up, but no one can take your memories because those are there for you to keep the best five months of your life alive. We can't live in the past we have to keep moving forward, but your past is what makes you who you are today and maybe someday sitting on the park bench in Passau, Germany will be the memory you need to get your through another hard patch. So may we all become friends with people who speak different languages and not roll our eyes when a friend returning home from a semester abroad starts another sentence with "while I was abroad."

Saying goodbye to Greece with the Acropolis in the background

Until we meet again Europe.