The Living City: How CET and Prague turned out to be a life changing time Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was very similar to that at my home university. Most classes entailed a mid-term paper or test and a longer final. There was less daily work though. The work was spread throughout the semester and it was our responsibility to plan our time accordingly. The classes were small which offered much more one on one time with the professor. My largest class had about 15 students in it, so I was able to remain engaged and focused on class work. The grading system was similar to that of an American university. Students often received the grade they deserved according to the effort they put into their work. While no class was an easy A, it was possible to receive very good grades if you were willing to put the time in and earn it.

On-site administration of your program

The administration was very helpful. They were local Czechs that have worked with Americans for years. The know Prague and the American University system very well. They are very aware about the issues Americans will have in Prague and are always available to help us with any of those issues. The ratio of students to administrators was also great. The small groups allowed them to focus on us without distractions. They often exceeded expectations and went above the call of duty to get things done.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The apartments were amazing. The rooms were very large and comfortable. There were three large bedrooms for 6 students with a living room, a dining room/kitchen, and a bathroom. The apartments came fully furnished with beds, sheets, couches, and pots. There was also a washing machine in the apartment which made doing laundry very easy. The best part of my apartment was the balcony. We were able to sit out in the sun and read when the weather got nice. It is located just outside the city center in a residential neighborhood. So, there are local restaurants and stores, which are great to explore. Getting to class was also very easy because we were right above a metro stop and near a main tramline.

While Czech food is not particular good, it is a cosmopolitan city and any style of food is available. Being a word capital, they have a wide range of food at a wide range of prices. From a nice café for a snack or a fancy restaurant for a classy meal, Prague has everything. But during the week, I often stopped at one of the many grocery stores and cooked at the apartment. The kitchen was a great tool and being within a block of two large grocery stores made cooking food very easy at home.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The most memorable cultural experiences were the trips to other Central European cities provided by CET. CET took us to Cesky Krumlov, Budapest, Warsaw, and Krakow. This was by far the best way to explore the region. They provided transportation and lodging and arranged for wonderful cultural experiences. We met with student, professors, and many locals and lived like locals in other countries. We talked about everything from Jewish life to our favorite foods. These were the most informative trips I took because not only did we tour the cities, but we learned about the people that lived there. We argued about the problems in their home cities and what concerned them about the future. It was more than a vacation but a cultural immersion that would have been impossible if I went to these cities by myself.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never felt like I was in an unsafe situation. Prague is safer than most American cities and crime is very low. There are pickpockets, but just being aware of your surroundings makes it easy to avoid any dangerous situations. Common scene is always necessary, but safety is not a concern.

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

The program requires we take a Czech language class. However, Czech is not required for the rest of the program or the city of Prague. Every other class is in English and the class is a basic Czech class. However, it was nice to start learning the local language and be able to order food or ask for directions in the native language. We were able to learn Czech from all the professors and from a Czech buddy that lived in our apartments. While I am far from proficient in Czech, the Czech class helped us immerse ourselves in Czech life. Czechs understand that not many people speak Czech and that it is hard for a foreigner to pick up. They appreciate the effort that you are trying to learn their difficult language. They are willing to work with you until you get what you need. Also since Prague is the hub of tourism, many people in Prague speak English so a prior understanding of Czech is unnecessary.

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• Apartment

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• Local Students
• Americans

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• Americans

• Helpful Staff
• Great roomates
• Travel with CET

• Czech food, all of it
• Small classrooms
• Too many early morning classes