Prague: a fun and rewarding adventure Past Review
By Sara G (Political Science and Government., University of Rochester) for
CIEE: Prague - Central European Studies
My study abroad experience was worthwhile and beyond. I not only learned so much about the Czech Republic in my classes, but I really did feel as though experiencing every day life in Prague was a class in itself. I am so much more independent, have a new interest in EU politics and Central European history, and really feel as though I am a more culturally aware and informed person. I definitely plan on going back to this part of the world as soon as I can.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I think that I learned more out of class and simply experiencing the Czech culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Sometimes I felt as though the administration would treat us like children, but overall, I felt that they were well prepared, knew what they were doing, and treated students respectfully. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived on a street with other CIEE students, but I wish that these people were in the same apartment building. That would have made things more fun, social, etc. But the neighborhood I lived in was fantastic. Close enough to the city center but far away enough so that I could experience a real Czech neighborhood that wasn't infiltrated with Americans. |
| * Food: |
I thought that the food for Czech Republic was way better than I expected. The local cuisine isn't an every day thing, but there are a million restaurants all over Prague that served thing we see in America (pizza, bagels, burgers, pasta, etc.) Also, everything is so cheap that I was able to go out to eat frequently. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The overnight trips outside of Prague put on by CIEE were fantastic. But the weekends in Prague were really the highlights of my trip. The nightlife and cultural attractions around Prague are AMAZING. It's cheap to explore, easy to get around, and most of all, really really fun. Everyone there is looking to be social and have a good time. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Overall, I felt very safe. I felt okay walking around at night alone (even at 3am, walking back to my apartment). I got sick and went to a doctor that CIEE recommended. It's not your primary care office, but it's good and they have everything you would ever need. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30-$50 depending on if I went out to dinner, how much I went out at night during the week, etc. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Set aside a large amount for spending money on weekend trips ($2000+). Flights to and from Prague around Europe are not as cheap as if you were in London or Paris. Otherwise, Prague itself is very cheap because it is not on the Euro and if you are a student on a budget, this is absolutely the place for you. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I had a Czech roommate that I could talk to in Czech (if I wanted to) as well as during my daily interactions with Czech people. Most people that I came into contact with could speak at least minimal English but there were many small stores in my neighborhood that did not speak English (however, this was not crippling in any way) |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you're looking to study in Europe, but don't feel like going to the places that all your friends are going to (Spain, UK, France), come to Prague. It's a fun, cheap, historic city that is a little off the radar but has so much to offer. I also found it to be a challenging country and one that isn't given much attention in the U.S., so I feel as though I learned SO much more than my friends about my abroad country's history, culture, and role in world politics (although maybe that's just a bias opinion). If you're into politics, history or film, I also recommend this place for you. There's also a lot of Jewish history here if you want to explore that. |
