Prague was the Best Decision I Ever Made Past Review
By Amanda J (Psychology, Grand Valley State University) for
AIFS: Prague - Charles University
If you are even considering Prague, GO. I almost went to other, more "traditional" study abroad places, but now that I have been to those other places while studying in Prague, they honestly pale in comparison. Prague has such a different feel and look, but it's an amazing one- I felt like I was living a fairytale. If you're looking to do something a little different, but still not feel TOO much out of your element, Prague is the perfect place. I never knew I could love a city so much.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were very easy- it was easy to forget that I was "studying" abroad. Instructors were helpful. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
AIFS in Prague was the BEST. They were so willing to help with everything, they kept close contact with us, they were always available to answer questions as well as offer activities and suggestions. They were a huge part of the reason why I felt at home in Prague so quickly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorm (Masarykova Kolej) is located very close to the metro, and the stop is 3-5 stops away from the center of Prague. It was clean, and I had no problems using the provided sheets. There were only hot plates to cook food, but it was definitely manageable. |
| * Food: |
Czech food is a bit bland, but there are definitely good things to order (fried cheese!). Grocery stores have a lot of similar foods to US stores, so it's easy to find things you like to make at home. Also, many restaurants serve American/Italian food, so it's not hard to find menu items you'll enjoy. Plus everything is cheap, so I always ordered dessert! (Also, beer is literally cheaper than water...) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our program arranged trips to Austria, Poland, and Moravia (in CZ). They were all wonderful. It is also very easy to travel from Prague, so I made it to various parts of Germany, Hungary, and Croatia. Also, Prague itself always has things to do, and the nightlife is always vibrant, no matter what day of the week it is. On any given night, there are so many places to go. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt safer in Prague than I feel in my current home city, which is much smaller. I had no issues or discomfort exploring different areas, or even walking around at night alone. Transportation is so easy and the city feels compact and manageable. For healthcare, AIFS provided us with an insurance packet, and there is an international doctor right downtown that provides very good care. I did get sick, but I was prescribed medication quickly. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
We had a 2 week intensive Czech language course, and I used key phrases in my everyday life in Prague. English is very common, however, so I didn't improve in Czech. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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