Immersive Cultural Experience Focusing on the Arts Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was drawn to this program because it gives you a rare opportunity to conduct an independent study project program as an undergraduate. During this time students conduct fieldwork and engage in immersive cultural research that is of truly their own design and interest. Because of this, the final projects usually move beyond the realm of an analytical paper and take on larger social value to the community and student. For example, the result of my ISP was an exhibition of large-scale drawings resulting from a period of solo travel in the Czech countryside and was displayed in a local café in Prague where our class ritually met.

On-site administration of your program

The staff is very committed and generous. I developed a great relationship with the program leader who wrote me a letter of reccomendation that gave me the opportunity to continue my project and travel after this program ended.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was perhaps the coolest family in Prague! I still keep in touch with them today and had an amazing experience living with them. They welcomed me into their home with great generosity.

The Czech are known for dumplings, sauerkraut, goulash, and beer, but Prague is filled with amazing diverse cuisine. Whenever I meet up with my cohort for a reunion we always seek out Czech food to reminisce.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This program empowered me to think about the value of community relationships as a way of understanding place and site. While I had friends traveling around Europe to a new city every weekend and only grasping the surface level of each place, I was deeply investing my time becoming a resident of Prague by exploring places in my neighborhood, attending cultural events unknown to the average tourists, and growing friendships with actual residents of the city. As an anthropology major, this affected my approach to understanding culture for future research projects.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had few health issues, but I felt supported by the staff and my peers if I were to encounter any. I did not need to plan for any vaccines or special medication before I left.

Prague is a very safe city and I would travel around alone at night on public transit without thinking about it.

The Arts and Social Change program in Prague is a unique opportunity for students to witness first hand how impactful art is for a culture’s politics, history, and community. Rather than learning about Czech culture from afar, students will become a part of it by participating in different aspects of the arts and living in the community. Because of this learning style, years later I still maintain friendships with my fellow students and feel deep gratitude and connection to Prague and the Czech Republic.

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

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Czech is a difficult language to learn but if you put some effort in learning a little bit will get you far. The program will focus on conversational dialogue to aid everyday interactions. That being said, many Czech people speak some English and will help meet you half way in order to avoid miscommunication.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students

• host family
• fellow students
• independent research project

• can't think of anything!

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer