Last One!!!

After flying in a plane for 9 consecutive hours, flying in a different plane for 2 hours, watching 4 movies, driving 3 hours, I can officially say I am back in Kearney. These past four months have been one crazy adventure and I am so blessed to be able to go. I was so busy the last few weeks that I never had time to update my blog (also, my teacher wanted us to update them again). So here we go.

 

Buda, Buda, Budapest. A group of people and I decided to go to Budapest for our last free weekend and it was a blast! We explored the town for the first part of one day, went shopping, took a tour, tried some ruin bars, and of course, the baths. First off, the ruin bars were so cool!! For those of you who have never heard of them, they are buildings that were turned into bars with a bunch of random junk. It is kind of hard to explain but when you walk in you see lots of mix-matched chairs and tables, tons of rooms, and of course many bars. One of them even had an old car that they converted into a table! I really liked them and I wish the concept would come to America because I think they would be super popular. And lastly, we couldn’t go to Budapest without going to the baths. I was a little skeptical I must admit. I hate real baths because they idea of floating in dirt really does not appeal to me, especially other peoples’ dirt, and also because I am not a huge fan of swimming. However, these were easily my favorite part! They were basically pool sized hot tubs. We stayed in them for around for hours and made some interesting friends.

We got home on a Monday and then had to keep our bags pack because the next day we left for our last school trip which was the Bohemia trip. This was the perfect way to end our trip because it was so chill. We went to two different towns and explored new things. We went to a silver mine in one of them and that was an experience. I learned that I am way too tall for a career in mining… I hit my head more times that day than I have in my life and I am so thankful for my hard hat. Then we went to a “fairy tale” castle, this was finally a castle you would picture in your head when someone says the word castle. It was pretty cool but once inside it looked about the same as all the thousands of other castles we went to. Then we went inside a really old theater which was actually really neat. The way they figured out an efficient scene changing technique was pretty clever and impressive for the era. After that we went on a rafting trip! It was so much fun! There were six of us in our raft and we just got some drinks, and floated down the river. About half way we were able to stop and catch up with the other group for more drinks of course! This was easily my favorite activity we did the entire time!

After all that adventure and excitement I was pretty tired but not done yet. The next day after we returned I packed all four months’ worth of stuff and hopped a train to Prague to find my family! It was so weird to have them see the places I had been many times and see how the viewed the country I had grown to love! After Prague we went to Rome and I finally got to go inside the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum! Both were just spectacular to me but wore me out. So from there we went to Nice, France and that was just perfect. The beach is where my heart will always be. We also got to go check out the real Monte Carlo in Monaco. This might have been my favorite city. We ended our trip in Paris to fly out of. We took a tour and saw Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower! These have been something I have been dying to see for years and I just couldn’t believe it was happening! It was a great way to say goodbye to Europe.

Well, this ends my forced attempt at blogging and sadly I do not see a blogging career in my future. Thank you again to my awesome parents for literally giving me the world with this trip. I totaled 9 countries and countless cities, crossed more off my bucket list, and had the experience of a lifetime. I know I have grown as a person and I am not the same! Thank you to everyone who actually read this blog, it means so much to me that so many of my friends and family supported me on this journey and genuinely cared about what was going on! For those of you I haven’t seen yet I will just have to continue my travels and head your way!! Oh, and for those of you who know me I actually have not had Chipotle yet, and it is killing me J

Nearing the End

This is a lot about my own thoughts and advice to future students! Might not be as exciting as some of my other blogs (since I am sure those are riveting for you!)  but if you wanted to know my thoughts this is the blog for you… if you do not and just want to hear about my last travelling adventures I would wait and read my last blog post after I get back to the states!!! I just got back from an amazing weekend in London (hard to leave that place), and this weekend I am heading to Budapest with some friends! After that we have our last field trip as a group where we explore the Bohemia region. I will then go straight from there to meet my parents and James in Prague where we will go from there to Rome, Nice, and Paris!! After all that travelling I will hop a plane and come back to Kearney!

PACKING AND TRAVELING:

Specifically, what kind of linens did you need to bring?

You do not really need to bring any of your own, unless you would feel more comfortable. The university housing provided us bed sheets, comforter, pillow, and a pillow case. If you want any of your own you can bring them but I wouldn’t recommend it!

What are you glad you packed from home?

I am very glad I brought my own towel and I think I packed my clothes pretty well. The weather here is unpredictable, a lot like Nebraska, so you need to bring a little of everything. Also, when packing clothes bring stuff you can wear many ways or can be worn for any weather! T-shirts, scarves, leggings, and a jacket have been my go to outfits to pack when we go on our little adventures.

What do you wish you had left at home?

I brought a fancy outfit as a just in case outfit and I did not need it. Also, I brought more shoes than I needed to. You need a good pair of walking shoes and then a pair of cute shoes you can wear out, other than that I wouldn’t bring much more.  Tip: pack your bag with everything you think you want/need, then unpack your bag and cut stuff out, do that again. You will realize there are things you do not need that are just taking up a lot of room. Pack light. You won’t regret it.

Do you have any travel tips to pass on (planning advice, safety considerations, guidebooks, train vs bus, etc)?

Just plan out where you want to go and make sure you screen shot your directions. Wifi is hard to come about and if you do not have a data plan here (most of us didn’t) than you will NEED to screen shot them. Also, just do your research. It saves you money and stress, look for cheap flights and keep an eye on them.

What places would you advise future students to see and why?

I am completely in love with Italy. We were able to go there on spring break for the whole week and I would recommend that for any student. Also, take advantage of any weekend or free day you have in Olomouc and go explore. We took a bus up to a nearby town and found some cool woods and churches! It was cheap and a good way to see how people actually live!

SOCIAL LIFE:

How did you meet students from you host country?

You just have to be bold and join in. I met friends from my flat-mate who introduced me to some of her friends who I talk to and hang out with still. Also, I made random friends in the union who I can stop and talk with whenever I want and who have great advice on their home cities, in case you were thinking of making a trip there!

How did you like to spend your free time and why?

I spent my free time with friends, going to the bars or out to eat. We played basketball and explore the many cafes that Olomouc has to offer.

Is there anything you regret not doing more of in your free time?

Not really! I am happy with how I spent my time.

What opportunities for social, recreational and cultural events that the host university or program offered did you like best and why?

We met a bunch of students through our professor because he invited us to join his club’s meeting and they just sat around and talked to us and drank wine! So I really enjoyed that. Also, Olomouc has many different festivals that you have to go to! (Well you are not forced but you will regret it) The May Day festival was by far my favorite. They celebrate way different here than we do in the States. It is called the Burning Witch Festival! Also, one of the clubs here hosts different country nights and each country puts on a show and picks the drink for that night. America night was super fun and it’s a good way to meet other people by going to their parties as well.

What piece of advice would you give to future students regarding their non-academic life while overseas?

Be bold and be NICE. That sounds like common sense but it is not. People live differently than we do in America and you have to respect that. You cannot be loud and obnoxious. They do not think it is funny, usually, and you just need to be polite. Also, step out of the American group. Being in a big pack is very intimidating to people. You will go back to Kearney and the United States with your study abroad group… you do not need to spend only your time with them. There are so many new people out there to meet; my only regret is I didn’t get to meet even more people!

 

SCHOOL WORK:

How did your academic experience at Palacky differ from your US experiences concerning 1) Relations with professors/classroom instruction. 2) Grading. 3) Study habits. 4) Library. Also, what enabled/hindered your successful academic experience?

It is very different than in the USA. At least for our trip it was. We had a different lecturer every day talking about different things. This made it hard to form a relation with any of the teachers besides our two main Czech professors who travel with us. We had to take notes on it and we are turning in those notebooks at the end. For our Czech class and our UNK professor class, that is very similar to classes in the USA. We have those at the same time every week and have quizzes. I study for them but I do not go to the library here because it is very far away from my dorm. There is no real “campus” here, just a bunch of buildings in a city, very different than UNK.

MONEY & COMMUNICATIONS:

How much money in US currency would you recommend students have at their disposal for their whole time overseas?

I would say you will want around $3,000 for travelling and food purposes.

How much money did you have in foreign currency when you left for the program and was it enough?

I had none. I took over cash and just exchanged it in Prague when I got there. For all other money I just withdrew from the ATMs.

How did you manage your money (credit cards, traveler's checks, bank accounts, etc)?

I had my debit card and just withdrew money at ATMs from that.

How and where did you access your money?

There are ATMs everywhere and that is how I got my money out. I also do online banking to make sure I had enough in my account.

How much money did you spend on books, school supplies, food, entertainment, local transportation, travel, toiletries, airfare, laundry?

I am not completely sure but I would say I have spent at this point around $3,000 total. But that includes travelling A LOT. I did extra trips (paid for by myself) to Rome, Pisa, Cinque Terre, London, and Budapest.

How did you communicate with the US?

I FaceTimed my parents and friends, and communicated a lot through Facebook.

What would you recommend to future students (eg: calling card, Skype, set up email account, etc)?

I never switched my cell service to international and I was fine. You just use wifi when you need to communicate and you become self-sufficient when you don’t! I personally did not think it was that big of a deal not to have a phone here and as far as I know only one person out of the 24 of us switched their SIM card over.

Extra Thoughts/Tips/Advice:

1)    I was led to believe that it would rain a TON over here and from past experiences it sounds like it did. However, for my trip here it barely rained at all. No more than any other place and it was hot a lot. I think that makes it hard to give advice for things to pack because it snowed a ton for the 2013 group and it did not snow once for us. So, you just need to pack a little of each kind of clothing.

2)    Make sure to slow down and enjoy your time here. People get so caught up in being here and being there that they do not take the time to enjoy that they are in Europe! Especially on your side trips that you choose to take, it is your money, your time, and your trip. Do what you want when you want and just take some time to relax.

3)    In Prague climb the big hill and get an overview of the city. You can go to Petrin Tower if you want but I didn’t and still had some amazing pictures. It is quite the climb but worth it. Once you get to the top take your time coming back down, enjoy the view and drink some pivo (beer).

4)    In Olomouc, GO TO THE CREPE STAND. It is the best thing to ever be invented. I love crepes and I am sure you will too!

5)    Take time to get to know the two professors that travel with you. They aren’t as scary as you would think J They have a lot of great travel advice so just ask! They love to talk and are super helpful. It is also just good to have two adults who speak Czech fluently and can help you out if you need it!

6)    Take time to yourself. This trip is a great chance to grow as a person. Do not get caught up in always having to be with people. Don’t get me wrong, be social of course, but you can take an afternoon to go for a walk, or to a café by yourself and just take some time to collect your thoughts.

7)    Eat lots of gelato in Italy when you go. It is so much better than any gelato anywhere else! It is creamy and just completely amazing.

8)    Get a souvenir from every place you go. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive but get something! Even if it’s just a post card or a key chain. Also, if you see something and you think you really want it but you want to think about it more. You will probably end up not getting it. It’s hard to leave a store and come back because you do not have that much time. If you think you will regret not getting it then you need to just get it.

9)    Step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Do not just eat at McDonalds and not try new food. You have to try things. If you are unsure about something split it with a friend and try it. I have had some weird food that turned out to be delicious! And I have ordered things that looked super yummy that were not what I was expecting and I did not enjoy them! But you will never regret trying something because at least you can say you tried!

10) HAVE FUN!!! Seems obvious but it needs to be said. Do NOT get caught up in any drama, be nice to everyone, and make some memories! This is an experience of a lifetime and you don’t want those memories tainted by drama and sadness. Let the little things go. Remember where you are, it is EUROPE!!!!!

Wow, that was super long so if you finished the whole post I am impressed! I have completely loved my time here and I am not even close to being ready to leave! I will finish my blogging experience when I am heading back to the States. Despite my love for Europe I miss you all and cannot wait to see each and every one of you when I am back!

We Must Never Forget

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel

 Auschwitz. Hearing the name alone can stir up all sorts of emotions inside of people. You learn about the Holocaust and this name becomes embedded inside of your brain and you can never forget it. We have all seen the pictures of the victims, pictures of the camp, and of the Nazis. But, I can now say I have seen more than just pictures of the camp. I have been there. I have walked where those scared, confused Jews walked. But I wasn’t afraid; there was no danger for me. I tried to put myself in their shoes since I was walking their path but no matter how hard I tried it was unfathomable to me. I knew after the three hour tour was over I would get back onto my fancy bus, put in my headphones of my iPhone, maybe have a snack, and try to get comfortable for the ride home. Unlike the Jews. They were told their only way out was through the chimney and that still gives me chills. My ride to Auschwitz was so different from theirs, I was sitting with my water, my food, my blanket, all my necessities were met, and I was not crowded. I had to stop and think about what their ride was like in comparison, and that is where this experience of a lifetime really began.

We arrive to Auschwitz and the first thing I noticed was a snack bar. To me that just seemed horrible. To me that was a complete symbol of the society we live in today. We have snacks and people trying to profit literally within 1,000 feet from where millions of people were murdered. We go inside and we get our headphones so the tour could begin. We make our way through the camps to the first block that we enter. Here we learned about how the Jews and others arrived to the camp, where they were from, how many were from each country, and more about the selection process. This part was sad but I was in no way prepared for what I would see next.

 

We go upstairs and I see a sign that says no pictures, the tour guide explains that it is to respect the dead, I had no idea what I was about to see. Then I walked into a large room and there is hair. Human hair. Actual human hair that was cut from the people as they were brought into the camp. Literally tons of human hair surrounded me. Some of it was still in braids, just like it was when the person arrived. To me, hair is such a personal thing that this is where I first cried. I couldn’t help myself and neither could most of us. I think this is the moment it became so real. You can see pictures, you can hear stories, you can study the Holocaust but you will never be prepared for that sight. After that we walked and saw the mountains of shoes, again this hit me hard. From there we could see prosthetic legs, crutches, and other devices that the handicapped had, along with eye-glasses, suitcases and hair brushes.

The next part of the tour that cut deep for me was when we went into a different block and saw pictures of the children. Some of the pictures were of children used in the experiments and some were just of the other kids arriving to the camp, no idea the fate that was in store for them. To me, kids are a sign of innocent and happiness and to think that someone could kill that just blows my mind. I had a very hard time looking at the children’s pictures and clothes.

From there we headed to see a little more of the camp. We saw the execution sight, the poles, and the cells. The poles in this picture are more than just some random sticks in the ground. This is where they would break the arms of prisoners by tying them behind their backs and let them dangle there until they were dead. The cells included starvation, standing, and dark cells. All were used for punishment and would lead to death. We then went to the gas chambers and crematorium. In one of the pictures you can see a bunch of cans, this was the poison they used in the gas chambers, each can could kill 700 people, so for every can you see pictured that is 700 deaths and that wasn’t even all of the cans.

We then took our bus over to the second part of the tour, Birkenau. This was the killing center. It was huge, and there were just rows and rows of rectangle buildings where they stayed. About half of them had to be torn down due to diseases and infestations but there were still quite a few standing. We walked in the front and followed the path of the train tracks and began a stimulated death march. We walked from where they had the selection process to the end of the camp where the crematoriums were. At the back there is a memorial that a bunch of countries paid for and put as tribute to the killed. After that we went inside some of the barracks and the “bathroom” areas. Again, as I walked I thought about the Jews doing the same walk I was, except it was a million times worse than mine.

When the tour was over we got back onto the bus and headed home. I know this visit was the one that got me thinking the most. I am still thinking about it, as I type this and as I live my life. I wish everyone could go and see the camps and try to imagine how horrible the Holocaust really was. People have asked me if I would go back again. Honestly, I do not think I could do. Once was enough for me emotionally. Maybe someday I will think different, but for right now once was enough for me to handle. 

Lots of travelling

In exactly 4 weeks I will be back in Kearney, back to work, back to Nebraska, back to the familiar. I can NOT believe how fast time has flown by and it seriously keeps going faster. Since spring break we have gone to Terezin, a day trip to Kromeriz, Ostrava, Krakow, and Auschwitz. In this blog I will talk about all of them except Auschwitz because I believe that deserves its own post!! (Which will be posted within 24 hours of this one)

Terezin is located outside of Prague in the Czech Republic, so it was just a little day trip, on Saturday, April 29th! We saw the sign out front which says, work makes you free. Terezin was used as a propaganda stage for the Germans when the Red Cross came to visit. They made the camp look like a country club and that the Jews were actually happy there. This of course was a lie. Although it was not an extermination camp, it was more of a transition camp, people did die there and the conditions were horrible. The Jews were housed in a tiny room, cramped with 60 people at a time. When the group of us walked into the rooms where they stayed we took up most of the room. I could not imagine fitting 40 more people there. The Germans gave the Jews one pail for their bathroom per room, and emptied it once a week, if that. People were put in cells when they were being punished that would be extremely small, would starve them, or isolate them in the dark. It was also hard to see the administration buildings, where the leaders of the camp lived, in comparison to where the Jews had to live. It was huge, plenty of room, a big lawn, and looked like a mansion. Terezin was very sad and difficult to see but it was nothing compared to Auschwitz.  After visiting the camp we went to the military fortress and went inside the museum there. It was very interesting and I am glad we could go.

On Tuesday of last week we went as a group to a day trip to Kromeriz, Czech Republic which was about an hour outside of Olomouc. When we got there we first went to the palace, which was impressive. The inside was beautifully decorated and full of furniture which looked very expensive to me. The gardens outside of the palace were so beautiful!! I love gardens and I love animals so to me it was perfect. I want those gardens to be my own; sadly I am sure I could never afford it. Then we made our way to the second oldest winery in Moravia. The cellar was so big and held tons (literally) of wine. About 80% of the wine there was white wine, which I was okay with since I am starting to like white wine more than red. After the tour we were able to try about five different wines and they were all pretty delicious to me! I was so glad I could go and see it and experience it.

On Friday we left to make our way to Krakow, Poland but first we made a stop in Ostrava, Czech Republic. When we got there we took a tour of an industrial factory which was quite massive and lots of iron was produced there. Over 3,000 people were employed at this factory at one time. We got to see the big furnace which powered most of the plant. We climbed up to the top and it was one of the easier climbs because we got to take a pretty cool glass elevator about halfway up. Honestly, the plant was not that interesting to me but I got to wear a hard hat so that was fun…

When we got to Krakow the first place we went was the salt mines. This was actually one of the better tours we have gone on, at least in my opinion. We had to walk down a ton of stairs to get to the bottom of the mine. Since it was a salt mine we were able to lick the walls, so of course I did. It was very salty and kind of gross. There were a bunch of statues made of salt that we also got to lick. Then there was a chapel area where concerts are held and wedding ceremonies. I would totally have my wedding there if I could. It took about three hours which was a long time because by the end of it we were all super hungry and had to go find the hostel still. We also got to go to the Krakow castle which was more like a castle that I envision. It had a huge wall around it and even had a dragon den. This was easily one of my favorite castles that we have been to. Krakow was not the city I was expecting, it was more modern and alive than I thought it would be. Also, it is a Pepsi city which made me extremely happy since I do not like Coke at all. I tried a bunch of new food and stepped out of my food comfort zone. I found new stuff that I really liked, you can see pictures below! Overall, Krakow was a pretty great experience.