#6- Social Life for the week of May 18

Blog #10
Now...For Some Fun!

My last and final blog post will be about our social lives here in Olomouc! Since we have such tedious hours at school and so much homework, its necessary for us to have some fun too ;). What first struck me as strange when we got here was that the students that attend Palacky University go out to bars and clubs on the week days, rather than the weekends. However, we are so centrally located in the Czech, the students spend their weekends traveling to other countries and going on weekend trips to other places. So, that leaves them and us with no time to go out and enjoy a pivo, except for the week days!

The two main days that we usually go out and have fun are on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Mondays, we go out to a club called 15 Minut, and on Wednesdays we go to a club called Belmondo...only if we have our homework done first! Whats really cool, is that the Erasmus (Study abroad program in Europe) program hosts a "country night" presentation on Tuesdays, where selected countries give a short presentation about their country and their history with some snacks. Then, every Wednesday at Belmondo, the countries that gave a presentation the night before host the party by decorating the club with their flag and drawing their flag on every one's face! This week was American week and we were so excited (despite it also being finals week)!

During the presentation on Tuesday night, there was swing dancing and line dancing with a brief overview of America (think: stereotypes, etc...). Then, on Wednesday we had American night, and dressed up in red, white, and blue and drew the flag on every one's face. We played American music and it was such a fun time! I could tell that everyone liked the American night and had a blast.

The country presentations and themed parties at the club have been such fun and low-stress. Here, we share similarities with those from other countries, where we like to dance, have a drink, and meet other people. I have enjoyed relaxing nights in small pubs with a close group of friends, and I have also enjoyed going to the club and dancing and meeting new people. We have also socialized with many others, in which we go get a kebab or crepe, walk around Olomouc, or get a coffee, and visit.
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In other aspects of social life, we have had some great experiences. The Erasmus program is really helpful in connecting students from different countries, and they have made us feel very welcome! They have hosted get-togethers for us and other students to socialize and it has been so welcomed. They, just like us, are open to meeting new people and want to know more about other countries. The other foreign students have been friendly in getting to know us in social aspects, and I am really thankful for that!

I have had such a great experience studying abroad in Olomouc, that I couldn't imagine my life without coming! I've learned so much, and my 3 months here have shaped the person I am in countless ways. I am so sad to be leaving, but so glad I had the opportunity to learn, meet other people, and travel here!

A coffee date with some friends :)

American night with my roommate, Miriah!

American night at Belmondo

#9- Field Trip 3 for week of 5/11- Kraków & Auschwitz

Poland 

The weekend of May 8, 9, and 10 we took a class field trip to Kraków, Poland and Auschwitz. On Friday and Saturday we were in Kraków and toured things like the castle, treasury and armory, and the salt mine Wieliczka. We got to explore the city center and were able to buy lots of really cool souvenirs right there, as there's a huge market in the middle! Poland is known for its The square is surrounded by some really historical churches and buildings, and some fantastic places to eat. My favorite activity in Kraków was touring the salt mine. It was so cool to see something that had started in the 13th century! The tour guide told us some interesting and funny facts along our 2 hour tour. On Sunday, we drove an hour and toured two of the three camps at Auschwitz: Auschwitz 1 (concentration camp) and Auschwtiz: Birkenau (extermination camp). After touring that, we drove back home to Olomouc.

I could give you all of the statistics in the world about Auschwitz and all that happened there, but it just won't compare to actually standing in the place where over a million people lost their lives under the hand of the Nazi Regime. These people included Jews, Poles, Gypsies, and other nationalities not otherwise considered "the perfect Aryan race". We saw places where prisoners were supposed to sleep (5 to 6 people per bed), places where they were supposed to go to the bathroom (3 latrine buildings for 8,000 people), and places where they were specifically moved to be killed (1 gas chamber that could kill 1,000 people in 20 minutes at one time), amongst many other "living conditions" there. Some of the worst things I heard were how the Nazi's would smash children's heads into a wall to save a bullet, so they didn't have to shoot them; and how they collected the golden molars, glasses, shoes, and hair (7 tons of it bagged and shipped off) of those they killed and imprisoned. The statistics go on, and you start feeling even more and more sick to your stomach.

I stood there on Sunday, in the exact places where all these events took place. And the worst part, was the quote and reminder in one of the buildings that went something like this: we have to remember the past, because if we don't, it will repeat itself. And that is what shook me the most. We have discussed in class and I have thought about it a lot, that our history is repetitive and that something like the Holocaust could happen again, especially with all of the religious and racial hate going on now-a-days. I hope the world learned and is still learning from the Holocaust, so we never have to relive the horrors of WWII and the events leading up to it. The concentration camp Auschwitz and Birkenau were two places that have shaped me and the way I think about humanity, our pasts, and our futures.

Wieliczka Salt Mine

Panorama of the Castle in Kraków, Poland

Cart in which prisoners rode in, Birkenau extermination camp

One of the only gas chambers in Auschwitz still standing

Where they cremated the dead bodies, next to the gas chamber

"Work Makes You Free"

# Personal Choice- Croatia

We're Going to.....CROATIA!

Last weekend, two of my good friends and I had the opportunity to go to Croatia! After hearing from out supervisor that it was absolutely beautiful, and from one of our lecturers that it has "the best beaches in Europe" we decided we just had to go. We planned it on a long weekend and found the perfect flight which was pretty cheap! Early on Friday, May first, in the morning, we set off on our adventure to Split! Along with briefly telling what I did, I will share my feelings and thoughts, and how this trip shaped my view of Croatia, and Europe.

We stayed in Split for 3 nights. We visited Omiš on Saturday, Brač Island: Bol Beach on Sunday, and Diocletian's Palace in Split on Monday. All were unique in their beauty and I made some incredible memories at each place.

My first impression of Croatia when we booked our trip, was that it was going to be really warm because it was far South and we were going to get really great tans! Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. Only after the trip was coming an end did we realize that it is almost exactly across from Nebraska (maybe even the same line of latitude!), and that Nebraska was even having better weather than we were in Split! It just didn't seem fair :)... However, we did get plenty of beach time and the weather on Sunday was really great!

Once arriving, I realized that we were going to need lots of help. Though its not always easy, I learned that asking someone along the road or looking for advice from a stranger isn't always bad when you're lost. There are so many friendly people in this world that are willing to help, and they know the area much better than I do with a map...did I mention I'm useless with a map?! The people at the hostel we were staying at, were some of the most kind people I have ever met. They went above and beyond my expectations, by giving us things to do in the time frame we had, letting us borrow towels for free, and offering up a private room for us when we had booked a 6 person mixed room. They were full of such interesting facts and information about the area and I am so grateful we had the opportunity to meet them! Sometimes, I get the feeling that people in the Czech (and in some of the other places we've traveled in Europe) are not very friendly and that Americans are somewhat of a nuisance to them, but it was refreshing to have such friendly hosts in Croatia. They understood that all we wanted was to learn about Split and Croatia, and they take such pride in their home that they loved sharing with us. They definitely altered my opinion about European people and their attitude towards Americans!

My last learning experience in Croatia was that the history and geography are much more rich than I thought they would be. It was a home to pirates at one time, Dalmatia (Split) might just be the birth place of the Dalmatian breed of dog, and they have hundreds of islands off the coast in the Adriatic Sea. They are also very, very comfortable with their bodies and nudity. These are just a few examples of course!

My short time in Croatia left me wanting to learn more and to visit again! The Croatian people are so kind and understanding; the island of Brač and the city of Split are absolutely gorgeous; and I have learned so much more about Europe. I hope my final remaining trips are as eye opening and amazing as Croatia was!

Omiš boat ride up the river.

Peovica Fotress in Omiš

What Diocletian's Palace looked like when it was built

Bol Beach

#8 Field Trip post 2- Kromeriz!

Field Trip to Kromeriz!

            It seemed a little strange to even me at first that I decided to write my seventh blog post on our half-day field trip to the town and castle of Kromeriz in the Czech Republic. It sounds silly, but this has been one of my favorite class field trips so far, so it is definitely worthy of a blog post! So in this one, I’ll let you know a general idea of what we did, and my thoughts on it all!

            Firstly, an overview of the trip. We left Olomouc at 9 AM on the bus and headed to Kromeriz. It was about an hour-long ride, which was perfect for a little nap.  Once we got there, we started our tour of the Bishops Palace or Chateau and I have to say, it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen! There are some really pretty hedge or bush designs with flowers in the courtyard. Inside the Chateau, it was also really cool to see things like chandeliers made of Bohemian glass, hunting trophies, original marble furniture, some amazing art, and the original bed that the Bishop slept in. Unfortunately, they did not allow us to take pictures, which probably wouldn’t have done it justice anyway! The coolest part to me though, were the libraries. They had about 4 rooms that we were able to see, with some of the oldest books in there (the oldest dates back to the 9^th century)! It was originally made to be a public library, and still is. Martin explained to us that people could still go there and check out a book to read! After seeing the Chateau, we went to the Bishops Garden. It is a huge enclosure and is absolutely beautiful. There are mazes, some bright and gorgeous flowers, fountains, and some really pretty trails to walk on. After walking around the garden, we got some lunch, and headed back to Olomouc! 

            The first thing I liked most about it was that it was only a half of a day. While I would have preferred not to have class when we got back, it was still nice to have it so condensed. We didn’t have to pack anything, we were only gone for 5 hours, and we got to see quite a bit! Another aspect that I liked was that it was a guided tour, and even though the tour guide spoke Czech, we had Martin to translate for us! This made it really nice because then we knew what we were looking at and what things were, as opposed to going to a museum and looking at things with the descriptions being in Czech and German (or any other language besides English). Finally, the aspect I liked the most, was that it was totally different than our other field trips. We have been to plenty of castles, we’ve seen lots of churches, and toured many museums. But this was the first Chateau that we could really see what it looked like back in the time it was used (original furniture, etc.) and that really helped me remember and visualize the history. We also got to see some unique things that haven't been in other castles or museums, like the library and the gardens, which were so interesting to me! 

            Overall, even though it was a half-day trip, it was one of the best ones we’ve been on, in my opinion! The trip was a fun way to learn about the history of the Bishops in the Czech Republic. I definitely recommend the trip to future Czech study abroad groups!

Courtyard in Kromeriz Chateau

A small entrance portion to the Kromeriz Garden

A view overlooking part of the Garden

#5) Daily Life..Blog 6 for the Week of 4/20

"What Exactly Do You Even Do There?!"
I get that all of the time...

My mom has been wondering, my friends all are asking, and my boyfriend is questionable. They all ask what I'm filling my days with, and if I'm doing anything besides hanging out with my friends and going on trips. The answer is...yes, sort of! My sixth blog post is about what I do on an "average" day. 

Since we dont really have a set "schedule" and our weeks never seem to be the same as the one previous, my day-to-day schedule seems to change often. But, for the days that we have class and are in Olomouc, my days are usually pretty busy! Usually, on Mondays-Thursdays, we have class from 3pm-7:30 ish. So, we are free before and after that time. On those days, I find myself doing things I would normally be doing in America, such as grocery shopping, doing my laundry, and trying to work out (that seems to be happening less than it was in America, which was minimal to begin with!). I also run various errands, such as go to the post office, the phone store, and the train station. After class, I usually have some homework from my Czech Language class to do, and often times I'm writing blog posts! My sleeping schedule has not been the best, as I usually stay up watching movies or FaceTiming and sleep in since class isn't until the afternoon. Sometimes at night, usually on Mondays and Wednesdays, we go to the bars for country-themed parties. Some themed parties that we have been to have been Turkey, Italian, African, and others. American night will be sometime in May!

On Fridays and weekends, anything goes. If we're in town on Friday, we have class from 10:30AM until 1:00 in the afternoon. After class, people mostly leave to go various other places for the weekend, or we leave on a field trip. Which brings me to my next point, weekends. I have only been in Olomouc for two weekends, and unfortunately, I dont think I will be again for the rest of my time here. My weekends have been and will be full with field trips and personal trips with friends. For example, we are going to Terezín, Czech Republic with our class this coming Saturday. The next weekend my friends and I are planning a trip to Croatia (still up in the air!), and then we will be with the class on the weekend after in Krakow and Auschwitz, then Budapest, next Bohemia, and then finally Greece! I will be very busy in the next month! However, as much as I love the field trips, its not all fun and games! So yes, we have been doing some very worthwhile things. We have been learning so much every single day, and that has been the best part!

This week's schedule and our lecture topics

I was not so happy about carrying my extremely heavy Globus grocery bag back to our dorms

#10) Personal Excursions: Spring Break

Little Bit'a Italy...
Venice --> Cinque Terre --> Pisa --> Florence --> Rome
There are so many words I could use to sum up this last week that I spent on Spring Break in Italy, but I think I will stick with "amazingly overwhelming". That works, right? We spent our time from Saturday, April 11th through Sunday, April 19th exploring everything Italy had to offer us and I must say, we were never in one spot for long! For an overview, we started out in Venice, then headed to Cinque Terre, next Pisa and Florence, then finished it off with Rome! Phew. Our activities ranged from swimming in the ocean and tanning on the beach, to hiking, to trying some new food, to touring historical sites, and to seeing some amazing buildings, sunsets, and other things! Here are my feelings and thoughts about my past week:

1) We've got it pretty good in the Czech, and even better in the US!

• My first realization of this was when I sat down for lunch, ordered a glass of water and a pizza. The pizza was great (its Italy!) and the water was nice, but when I got my ticket, my heart nearly stopped! This very average and typical lunch cost me 16 euros! That's more than $17. Things like a "sitting fee" and actually paying for water start to add up! I realize that paying for water in Europe is standard, even in the Czech, but it never gets easier forking over 3 dollars for a bottle of water that's for sure! 
• The city (city transportation, bathrooms, etc.) systems are gross. The public bathrooms (that you have to pay for might I add) look like a gorilla was in there, smashing things, throwing it's waste around, and leaving trash everywhere. Busses are crammed, and so hot. And I have yet to find a water fountain! However, it is super convenient that you can get from one side of the city to another without having to drive a car, by using trams and busses. 

2) History is really, really cool.

• It is still so strange for me, to grasp what I'm seeing every day. The Coliseum, Vatican, Leaning Tower...I'm waking up in cities where these things are. The craziest part was learning the significance of these buildings and monuments and the role they played in the history of our world. I just kept thinking to myself...."I am walking where someone died. I am laying on a patch of grass that someone probably laid on 500 years ago. Etc. Etc.". Doesn't that blow your mind? It continues to blow mine. I am in pure amazement and I have loved every single second of soaking up the views, history, and architecture of Italy!

3) I have met some amazing people.

• I got to spend the week with 5 other students, who have taught me so much. Not only have I grown as a person but I have learned so much about other people as well. I have become so close with what seems like every person on our study abroad trip, and even closer with those I spent spring break with! We spent every moment planning, traveling, stressing, and having fun together! This experience has made me a more tolerable and open person and I think it will be absolutely helpful in my professional and personal future.

As you can see, spring break wasn't all fun and games for us, we learned quite a bit too! I absolutely loved our trip and I would recommend Italy to anyone. My favorite part was probably Cinque Terre and getting to spend time on the beach! However, I do enjoy getting to tour historical sites as well, so it was an all around life changing and amazing experience. These moments are near and dear to me, and I treasure my time here in Europe. I can't wait to see what the next 5 weeks have in store!

The Vatican!

Holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa :)

The Coliseum!

#2- Academic Life.

We Actually Have to go to School?! 

I feel I am obligated this week to write about the Academic Life here at Palacky University in Olomouc. The reason I feel this way, is because I keep getting the typical, “do you do ANYTHING besides have fun there?” from anyone and everyone that I talk to at home! So, here’s your proof, people!

Let me start out first by saying how incredible it is to study in buildings built hundreds and hundreds of years ago! The architecture is fantastic, and the views are breathtaking. Some of the buildings, such as the library, dorms, and others were used in connection with the Communist troops in the past. Despite their prior use, the history and buildings themselves are so interesting.

Now about the classes (think topics such as: “CEEC’s and the EU: Economic Dimension”, “Europe’s Internal Borders”, and others like this). They are from 3 pm until about 7:30 pm 3 times a week. On Fridays, classes are from 10:30 am until 1 pm. We usually have an hour and a half lecture, followed by our “Intro to the Czech Language” class for forty-five minutes, and then another hour and a half lecture. Now, I am an education and special education major at UNK. Anyone and everyone can tell you that they are very hands-on classes, there’s not much sitting down, and there are lots of discussions that take place. The dynamic is very different here though, in that a standard class is just a lecture. The professor stands at the front of the room and lectures to the students who take notes, no discussion and no hands-on work. Additionally, I really do not know much about politics or economics, so while I am thankful I’m learning something about these topics, I do which I knew more so I could understand better in class. However, I have found that when I take notes, I am learning so much and I do get interested in the topics!

There you have it mom, I am going to class and learning something! I am so thankful to be here and be able to go to school at Palacky University. It is an incredible experience that I could not find anywhere else!

Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci 

One of the buildings at our school!

Hanging out in the courtyard before class started in the first week.