Grant Clark, Plus3 SSOE Transfer Plus Czech Republic Summer 2023
With every great experience comes great lessons, and I want to share some of the lessons I learned on my trip with anyone that decides to travel to Prague. My first piece of advice would be to keep an open mind. Although Prague might be an unfamiliar environment, keep your mind open to encountering new experiences. I found that when I allowed myself to be open to new cuisines, new activities, and new customs, I was able to find unexpected avenues of enjoyment! I would also advise that you bring your walking shoes. My friend told me that being in Europe meant that I would be walking a lot, and they weren’t lying. We pretty much walked everywhere. I think one of the days one of the students on the trip walked 8 miles. Be prepared to walk, because if you’re not, you’ll miss out! Another piece of advice I’ll give is to attempt to speak the language. It can be daunting to be surrounded by a foreign language, and for me personally, I didn’t want to try to speak the language and be wrong or sound dumb. Yet, I’ve learned that trying is better than not trying, and that the people there really appreciate the effort! I would also suggest that you take the time to learn the history of Prague and the Czech Republic. The city of Prague is so rich in history, and you can miss the significance of some of what you’re doing and experiencing if you’re not in tune with the history behind it. Lastly, I advise that you slow down every once and a while to reflect. Being in a new environment can be very fast paced. You’re seeing so many new things and your mind is racing with thoughts of curiosity and wonder. It can be easy to be in go-mode and not take the time to intentionally appreciate the moment. I found myself having to take a step back to just think on how awesome the experience was. Life moves fast, and if you’re not intentional about appreciating your experiences, those moments will pass you by.
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