Yes
that's right, you read the title correctly, the evitable happened. "Pack a
carry-on with a few changes of clothes just in case your checked bag gets
lost!" "Don't worry, the chances of you actually losing your luggage
is slim!" Um, Wrongo. Great advice, but Zachary and I were forced to check
our carry-on bags in Omaha from the very start of the trip, so basically we
were doomed from the very beginning. I'm sure that a majority of my friends
back home assumed that I was just beside myself regarding the whole incident,
but I would like to announce that I was as mellow as my character would allow
me to be in a situation such as this, believe it or not!
Upon our
arrival in Prague, after realizing that all we had in our possession in this
foreign country was everything that we had in our backpacks in addition to the
clothes we were wearing (which smelled like airplane and a day’s worth of
travel), we decided that oh well, what was done was done. We put in a missing property claim and
prayed for the best. We then met up with the rest of our travel group for our
transportation courtesy of Sophie's Hostel in Prague. Paige Kristensen, Paige
Phillips, Sheyenne Kiesel, and Jenny Belsan all packed into one shuttle while
Zach and I rode in a separate car. The ride was pretty quiet because a) our
driver didn’t speak great English and b) we definitely didn’t speak any
Czech... yet somehow this is the first thing our driver decides to ask us as a
means for smalltalk. "So tell me, why do all Americans hate Trump?"
You're kidding. Why God why. I physically bit my tongue, chuckled, nodded, and
changed the subject. Once we arrived at the Hostel, we told the other girls
about our awkward drive and they swapped stories of how easy going their driver
was and to say the least, Zach and I took a big fat "L" that
day!
The next
two days in Prague were really just about exploration and testing our limits.
How successful could we be in a completely foreign city where the written
language might as well be equivalent to hieroglyphics? Being bilingual is all
fun and games until you realize that reading and pronouncing everything in a
Spanish accent just simply cannot be applied to the Czech language! So, as one might imagine I basically just
mooched off of everyone else's intuition because I had no idea what was going
on ever, at all. We wandered and weaved through parts of Prague, introduced
ourselves to the public transportation, avoided a pick pocket (credits to my
mom for teaching me to look out for my belongings in unknown areas), and
encountered some interesting people along the way. (Ask for Zach's rendition
regarding the gnome guy). The day we decided to tackle train transportation,
was the day we rode it from early afternoon until late at night. We had one
destination - which was to see the Bone Church in Kutna Hora. Long story short,
we made it to the city but missed the church's hours by about 35 minutes. It
was back to the station we walked, and waited for what seemed like an eternity
for our train back to Prague. Once back in Prague we headed straight for
Burrito Loco, where I will admit I lost my patience with our server who refused
to put pico on my burrito for reasons I'm not going to dive into for your sake,
and ate our authentic as can be, Czech made Tex-Mex burritos. Here it is also
worth mentioning, that on the third day, Zach and I received our luggage all
safe and sound! It was an action packed day that ended quite pleasantly!
Now I’d
like to fast forward to our arrival and settlement in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
It had become apparent very quickly that very different people on this trip
decided to study abroad for very different reasons. I came here to study, learn, and experience differences, and I have been very eager about it from the get-go. I have been blessed
with a wonderful group of friends here that I believe are acting as true
ambassadors of the United States. I’ve been running into a lot of stereotypes
that Americans are often considered stupid. Clearly that’s not true, yet the
small percentage that do act in this manner allow for the broad brush of
prejudice and stereotypes to be painted over everyone. It has also become
apparent that I am traveling with some very high maintenance people. It has
come to the point where I would gladly trade my Wi-Fi access to those without
it because quite frankly, I don’t need it to survive. I have written and
re-written this blog several times
debating on whether or not I should include the type of information that I am
including right now, but I’m supposed to blog my thoughts right? I’ve come to
the realization that not only do I have to cope with the whole culture shock
situation, but also with some of the behaviors in our study abroad group. Some
of the attitudes and behaviors that have been expressed has only motivated a drive for me to experience and gain as much as I possibly
can from this journey.
After the
decision had been made to make the most out of this opportunity, I must admit
that it was all fun and games but as the days continued to fly by the realities
of culture shock had begun to nudge and nip at me. Currently, it’s not exactly
the distance away from home that’s eating at me but rather, it’s the inability
to communicate efficiently. This is where I am going to insert an important
piece of information, so pay attention. What I'm going through here now
regarding the language barrier, is only a small speck of what many immigrants
in the United States go through on the daily for years until they themselves pick up on the English language, which
is by no means easy. I can only hope that for those on this trip here now
including myself, in addition to those in the past, can take home at least an
ounce of understanding on behalf of immigrants at home once they arrive back
home in America. Okay- stepping off of my soapbox.
In
regards to class here, I will openly admit that it’s not what I expected. I
shut down during Czech language class and quit taking notes because I was
beside myself when our professor instructed us to ask questions in Czech. For
reasons unknown to me, Czech grammar was taught prior to Czech pronunciation.
Czech Republic I am confusion! (Remember the ‘America I am confusion’ vine? That
was a reference not intentional bad grammar.) My mouth and mind were simply
just not made for Slavic languages and my biggest weakness is being a
perfectionist. As my roommate Paige Kristensen said: "It's kind of funny when you pronounce everything with a Spanish accent, so I can’t imagine what
you’re going through- but what’s worse is that I’M even doing it, so I try to insert the most American accent I can!” So yeah I think the language is hard
and kudos to all those who are understanding from the get-go! I would be lying
if I said I didn’t envy you!
Another disappointing
reality that I am trying to come to terms with is this: I am actually not in
fact, made of money… which is problematic because I can’t visit every single
city and every single country here and now on nickles and dimes! My big plans
to do the Pope thing during Easter fell through because plane tickets/board cost
mucho dinero, my before I die desire to see the northern lights in Sweden
(substitute for Easter in Rome) got crushed after researching the national park
that almost guarantees the lightshow- is 15 hours away from Stockholm. AND IF
OUR MOOSE SAFARI PLANS FALL THROUGH I WILL RAGE!!!
In regards to history
class, there was a day that my anxiety levels rose. Class was a bit difficult
because the professors speak really quickly with an accent that I’m not quite
yet used to hearing, so I’m extra attentive and soaking it all up, it’s really
no wonder Paige Kristensen turned to me and whispered, “Fav, your pen is going
to spark a fire!” four classes in and I’ve already filled a notebook more than halfway. As
ashamed as I am to admit it because I didn’t want to feel this way so soon, I've realized that things are just different here and culture shock is real people! As the classes go
on however, each lecture is just as fruitful as the last. It is so refreshing to
receive European history from well, Europeans. People who lived through it who have different
perspectives than how I’ve been taught all my life. I would like to include
that nearly every professor has prefaced with, “Thank God, that you nor your
country has ever been and hopefully never will be, occupied by soldiers from
another country.” Tonight it hit me that the histories I’ve grown up learning
about, taking notes over, and studying for the tests with, were the REALITIES
that people lived through on the daily just a short time ago. Words cannot
express what I was feeling after a lecture and movie about Nazi occupation in
Czechoslovakia. It hit me hard, and it reminded me to thank God for all of his
blessings for me, my family, and all those around me for I wouldn't even wish the evils that many Europeans faced throughout history on even my worst enemy.
I’d be lying if I said things are going smoothly here, I’ve
cried three times because I’ve been riding a roller coaster of different
emotions but I know that after I get through all of this culture shock
hullaballoo, I’ll be thriving. If you made it this far reading, congratulations!
INTERLUDE: By the way, I realize that I’ve written a
small novel but it’s my blog and it’s helping me cope! So the important stuff
was written all above, and some extra stuff will be written below! Hopefully
not all of my blogs will be this lengthy!
Here are some negative
European side effects that I am not down with:
Dryer sheets. Where the flip are they at in Globus -> AKA Czech
Republic Walmart.
- Mayo does not exist. Only sometimes. At Globus.
- I WANT TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE I FEEL INCOMPETENT.
- Did Europe never have the D.A.R.E. program in schools? Because all
I inhale is second hand smoke and I have the asthma.
- I would just love for our dorm pod to not reek of weed!
- Cobblestones are not my friend.
- I don’t understand the tram system. And nobody better comment “Fav
it’s so easy all you do is this” like after the whole laundry fiasco.
- Speaking of laundry, I don’t want to talk about that either.
- I can’t work the locks in my dorm. That’s mainly just an operator’s
problem though, but it still upsets me.
Okay so now for all the
things I thoroughly enjoy in no particular order:
- I love dumplings. I love gulash, I love the bread. Beer is also
good here.
- I love the people I’m fortunate enough to travel with!
- The history here is SO rich and I’m on cloud nine.
- McDonald’s here are ‘boujee’ and frankly, I think taste better.
- The architecture and all of the colors are breathtaking.
- The immaculate Catholic churches! Yowzas!
- I HEART KOLACKIES.
- The views are phenomenal.
- All of the cherished memories that I am making with various
friends here are already treasured.
- Getting the opportunity to do this whole thing with Zach is also a
blessing.
Please enjoy a few of these
photos from across the way!
Translating our
order from English menu’s to Czech!
St. Michael’s is my favorite church!
As explained to us, the church was built over a Pagan water spring, and
naturally St. Michael the archangel was chosen for the job of driving out
whatever evils had resided there.
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