Overwhelmed with unfathomable beauty, yet eager to explore more. Exhausted from constant touring, yet grateful for every second spent in motion. Yes, it’s possible to feel these things all at once. It’s especially true when you’ve been living in Prague for three weeks! So, here I am ready for my first week of classes after having spent five hours every day for the past two weeks learning the basics of the Czech language. I know what you’re thinking, sheesh five hours sitting in a classroom every day? Trust me, I thought the same at first but to my pleasant surprise I started looking forward to seeing my classmates and learning about Czech culture every afternoon. Plus, our professor would occasionally take us on little field trips to see wonderful sights and practice our Czech. Our Professor’s name was Lenka, and we all felt she was a spectacular educator so we bought her flowers and even shared a beer with her! We had visited the Lennon Wall, the Astronomical clock and spent some time at a wine festival in Prague 3 (pictured below with a sign made out of corks). Along with class trips, I was fortunate enough to be given guided tours around Pilsen and Pribram a week before starting our Czech courses. 

Pilsen is a city about 37 miles southwest of Prague and it’s where the famous (and delicious) Pilsner Urquell beer was founded. One of the first things you will learn about the Czech Republic is that there is a huge beer culture. What I’ve noticed, however, is that Czech students don’t overdo it the way my American classmates do. American colleges are infamous for their binge-drinking habits and although I do like to drink in social settings, I feel there is a deeper significance to drinking when in the Czech Republic. This feeling of mine was confirmed throughout my tour of Pilsen. Our wonderful guide, Eva, explained how they drink not to get drunk but as a way to bond with one another. Czech people are very proud of their beer and they express this through the numerous bars, beer gardens, and the freedom to walk around their beautiful cities with a beer in hand. You’re not secretive or trying to avoid punishment when drinking in public and you’re not sloppy or falling off your seats because your friends pressured you to have one too many. Rather, you’re enjoying the rich taste of a flavorful beer and the company of good friends. There’s a sense of liberation and connection to one another when drinking here. And, let’s not forget you’re staying warm in this Fall weather with your slight buzz. 

After having spent a day walking around Pilsen, touring their famous brewery, and having lunch at Restaurace Na Splice, which was built in former fermentation cellars, I felt a lot closer to the other students in my program. Along with the breathtaking sights and good beer, one of my favorite things about studying abroad has been the people I’ve met. We all had to deal with the tough adjustments to a different time zone and pace of life when we first got here. And now, we’re constantly working on our Czech, some days more successful than others depending on your server’s mood. As corny as it sounds, we’re all in this together and it makes things a lot easier. My new friends make it hard to miss home when it feels like I’ve known them for years. Maybe its the city’s romantic atmosphere, but I find myself enamored with every aspect of life in Prague. From my friends, who share my same enthusiasm for this place, to the Trdelnik filled with ice cream I have on night walks around Old Town, I can wholeheartedly say I am falling in love with Prague.