The Maymester experience has left me with new perspectives and understandings, which comes from the highlights and the challenges presented throughout the course of the three weeks in Prague and the Czech Republic. I learned so much through the program itself, but also through everyday life while navigating a new space.
One obstacle present during the program was the language barrier. Going into the abroad experience, I did not speak any Polish or Czech. While many people spoke English, there were some times when it became difficult to communicate or understand. The program helped us by providing students with an introductory Czech lesson at the beginning of our time in the Czech Republic, which enabled us to know basic words we could use in daily life. This was helpful for exchanges in stores and restaurants.
Another challenge I experienced during my time abroad was navigating new spaces in a more literal sense. Once, I was taking a walk around the town area and ended up 2 miles away from our accommodation just as my phone died. This experience was stressful at first, but by looking at maps and trying to retrace my steps, I eventually made it back to the hotel. Experiences like this can be challenging, but they can also serve as reminders that it’s possible to navigate through difficult situations (and reminders to bring a portable charger…).
One of my favorite academic experiences on the trip was hearing from a Czech politician about the historical context and present state of Czech Politics. It was such an interesting lecture, and I learned so much about political systems as a whole, gaining a particular understanding of Central European and Czech politics. After the lecture, many of us still had questions for the lecturer, and he offered to continue the dialogue over lunch with interested students. We went to a local sandwich place and discussed more about Czech politics and current events. This conversation inspired the topic of my final paper, which was about the rise in populist movements in Central Europe.
Another one of my favorite experiences was our visit to Český Krumlov, a beautiful, quaint town in the Czech Republic. I’m so glad that we had the chance to visit this town and experience another area in the Czech Republic. The town was so serene and peaceful, which served as a nice respite from the rest of our program in cities.
Finding a new routine was another component of this trip. We were all in a new place with temporary living arrangements, which made it difficult to find a regular schedule. Nonetheless, I found that I still liked having a morning routine, so I would go for a walk and find a local cafe where I could start the day. This routine helped me to feel prepared for class during the day, while giving me time to reflect on the experiences I was having. I learned that I appreciate a healthy combination of routine and spontaneity.