Prague is Awesome Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Though the workload was less than at PC in relation to nightly preparation and required reading and/or written assignments, the courses still offered plenty of challenge and stimulation. The five courses I took were certainly more interesting than most I've taken at PC (due mostly to the foreign/local professors teaching subject matter they have lived and experienced. Class sizes were mostly intimate and smaller, ranging from straight lecture to straight discussion. All teachers new your name and were involved in your studies. The grades came mostly through midterms and finals, with attendance, small projects, and discussion leadership also assessed. Textbooks were replaced by handy course readers condensing the semester into one inexpensive binder rather than multiple overpriced books. The presence of classmates from all over America and Europe was extremely valuable, fascinating, and helpful in gaining multi-faceted viewpoints on all kinds of subject matter.

On-site administration of your program

AIFS and their staff both in the US and in Prague were absolutely great. From my adviser in the Connecticut office, to the program director in Prague, and everyone in between were so good to my peers and I. The Prague staff were available in the office located right in the heart of downtown 5 days a week and by cell phone if necessary 24/7. They really stressed the cultural component of living and studying in Prague and the Czech Republic and offered numerous cultural immersion activities ranging from weekend trips to day-walks. Though the office computers and resources were outdated, their printers were of great help for class papers. The staff were friendly and willing to help with problems ranging from Visa applications to asking directions in the Czech language to learning how to say "I don't speak much Czech, but you have pretty eyes." in the host language. They did everything right and made the experience so much more enjoyable and easier. They learned all our names and ensured almost daily that we were enjoying ourselves in Prague.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The Masarykova Kolej dorm, located in the Dejvicka neighborhood of Prague is a gigantic 5 story communist era building serving as a hotel in some wings and a dorm to students both international and local of various universities in Prague. The rooms and hallways and lobby were not the most appealing, being uniformly painted white with only the most basic kitchen/bathroom facilities in each room. I lived in a double with a friend from PC, attached to another double of AIFS students and we shared a shower stall, 2 bath sinks, a toilet, a mini fridge, a table, a kitchen sink, and a 2 burner stove top. The room itself had a desk, shelves, and beds for each student. The AIFS Prague program grew increasingly close to each other due to the bonding opportunity of Masarykova. All were bonded by the uniform rooms, short walks down hallways to visit one another, the basement student pub that had a pool table, big screen, studying tables, and cheap beers, and the walks to downtown together to go to class or out and about. It was 4 metro stops from the downtown, not a bad commute at all and in the Dejvicka neighborhood. The surrounding was very college/working class oriented with plenty of corner stores, restaurants, bars, a butcher, and a KFC. I wouldn't live anywhere else after Masarykova, especially because the students living in apartments around Prague were rarely associated with. <br /><br /> See above for an in-depth description. As far as necessary items to settle in my roommate and I needed to purchase all our own cookware (plates, pots, pans, silverware) to get by on our daily cooking meal plan. Not too bad for getting 4 months of use out of them. Our bedding was provided for and could be washed every 10 days if desired. The staff was friendly enough but mostly we minded our own business and were scolded by security guards for being obnoxiously loud only a few times. Again, the basement pub provided an easy relaxing atmosphere on weeknights if clubbing seemed to be too much.

With my own money and the preloaded debit card from AIFS that was recharged with $260/month I mostly shopped and cooked for myself. The grocery stores were incredibly cheap and easily located either in the underground Mustek metro stop or a short walk from another stop. My staples were pasta, chicken breast, pork chops, cereal, lunch meat, bananas, peanutbutter, milk, apple juice, orange juice and beer. To add to the bare minimum my roommate and I would split garlic, olive oil, pepper, salt, steaks, etc. Yes other students were quite creative and adventurous in their cooking experiences, but I chose the easy fixings and survived happily and with more money to spend out probably. I did dine out with some frequency to taste the Prague experience, trying boar, duck, rabbit, goulash, and all sorts of Bohemian greatness. Try the "Circle Restaurant" a short walk from the Kolej for a close bargain. The food stands lining Wenceslass Square are delicious at any tome of day, from 9am on the way to class to 6am on the way back from a nightclub. Try the Smazeny Syr. There are a number of expat restaurants as well ranging from chinese to american to italian to KFC. I was never hungry. Try everything,

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Go on the Prague walks offered by Z. Go to Moravia, Krakow, and Vienna. All were spectacular and AIFS offers allllll kinds of cultural activities included in your program fees. For a ticket I paid $5 for I witnessed the crowning of the Czech soccer league champion, I saw cheerleaders at a hockey game, and they offered all kinds of orchestra shows, theater, plays, and the works. Also, day trips to castles, towns, or churches close by to Prague. The end of the year AIFS party was the time of my life.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Prague's only threat was petty theft and pick-pocketting. Keep wallet in front pocket and don't carry much more than you'll need. I never felt in any particular danger throughout the 4 months and numerous late nights spent in Prague. The only trouble comes from strip-club employees sometimes relentlessly recruiting Americans to their establishments. Simply ignore them, say no, or more exciting... befriend them! My friend and I heard incredible life stories from Andy of Cameroon and his co-worker from the Ivory Coast both looking to get to New York one day. After 2 months, walking around at 4am seems 100% safer than the Clubbies to 7-11 walk around PC. Seriously, no issues to report. Other European cities I cannot vouch for, and Barcelona proved to be the most uncomfortable. There were also no health problems to report, bring as many OTC drugs as allowed though, from advil to sudafed because in my search for a scar cream I found no pharmacist that spoke English and there are no CVS's or Walgreens, only apothecaries which turned out to be tricky.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Local Students
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• Americans