I am beyond excited for this Prague trip. I leave tomorrow, Sunday the 15th, and I could not be any more ready. I think my family is just as excited for me, since my great-grandmother was born and raised in Czechoslovakia. My grandmother has been recounting her mom’s stories to me for the past week or two, and told me to say hi if I happen to run into any relatives. Also, this will be my second trip to Europe this year, as well as my second study abroad this year (and overall). It will definitely be interesting to compare how the Czech Republic is different from Greece, which is where I went earlier this year.
I expect this trip to be a blast of culture in my face – the music, food, customs (especially for Christmas since we’ll be there during holiday season), language, and whatever else Prague has to throw at me. I think I am most excited for the food, because I am 100% a “foodie.” I love trying new things (especially new foods) so I’m really looking forward to the food tour in which we will be taking part during the trip. I also am a massive historical architecture nerd, so I cannot wait to see the Prague Castle, as well as the St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral in Pilsen. The Christmas Markets are another piece I’m looking forward to. It will definitely be interesting to see what kinds of goods are being sold, as that will tell me a lot about Czech culture. Language-wise, I expect to see very little English around the city. When I went to Greece, which is notably more of a common tourist destination, there was a lot less English than I expected, so I’m expecting things to be similar up north.
Another thing I expect to do a lot of is walking, especially outside. The weather is said to be quite cold during this time of year, so that’ll be another factor to prepare for and subsequently deal with. I am used to the cold since Pennsylvania can get very cold during the winters, so I wonder how Prague will compare to what I am used to.
Despite not being a Hospitality major, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to view this trip from a hospitality perspective. The tourism industry is typically a massive part of a country’s economy, which then ties into my major, which is International Relations.
The Predeparture meeting was very helpful in filling in logistical gaps. It was also helpful for understanding how I will record and share what I learn in this course. It set the standard for what is expected of me, and gave me insight as to what to expect from this class. The meeting also (virtually) introduced me to some of my peers. I can’t wait to meet them all on Monday!