Last week, I landed in Prague as part of the Comparative Economics of Central Europe program! I’m Nick Sobolewski, and I just finished my second year at Pitt, studying Economics with minors in French and Political Science. 

I leave in a couple of days for Krakow, Poland, and by now I can confidently say that Prague is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Going into this program, I knew little about Central Europe, but it stood out to me because of my Polish heritage. In addition, the class portion of the program combines most of my academic interests – History, Policy, and Economics.

Coming here, I was excited to learn about Czech and Polish perspectives on global issues like the war in Ukraine and European Union policies, but I was nervous about adjusting to the people and the food. So far, I have been surprised at how welcoming the locals are to tourists and the rich, diverse culture of the city.

On our second day here, we went to a Vietnamese restaurant for a surprisingly great dinner. There, we learned that Czechia has a large Vietnamese population, and Asian restaurants are some of the most popular places to eat in the country.

I still have a lot left to see here in Prague, and I feel like the past week has gone by so quickly. I’m looking forward to soaking up the Czech culture by exploring less touristy spots in the city, going to a football game, and talking with locals at shops and restaurants. Also, I’m excited to hear from the guest lecturers coming to our class this week, who will speak about Czech industries and the country’s relationship with the European Union. I wish I had more time here, but I’m ready to see all that the city has to offer over these next few days before going to Poland!