Lost in History and in Prague

Three weeks done. Only ten left. There is so much to do and so much to experience in those ten weeks. I only have seventy days to catch a glimpse of what it truly means to live on the other side of the world.

This past week's experiences included staring our history classes and taking a little field trip to Prague (which was much more fun than my 4th grade field trip to the Air and Space Museum).

John Lennon wall with my Alpha Phi girls

I have found that I actually really enjoy history classes. When I took AP US History in high school, I thought that history was a subject founded by the devil to punish juniors. However, now that I am actually in a place where the city itself has so much history and I get to experience it firsthand, I really do enjoy it. Our professors, Jan and Martin, are the most knowledgeable people that I have ever met. They will truly be important assets during our journeys this semester. 

Along with getting to take classes in a classroom, we also get to go on four school sponsored field trips throughout these few months. This week was our first one and we went to Prague, Czech Republic, and Dresden, Germany. 

Prague was stunning-even for the second time seeing it. This time, we actually got to tour all of "the things to tour" (Prague Castle, Jewish Ghetto, etc.) The Prague Castle tour and St. Vitus Cathedral was truly awe-inspiring. St. Vitus is just a step below St. Peter's in sheer beauty and magnitude. It's very interesting to me to learn about the lives of all the saints and people that influenced the churches that we go to. For example, St. John of Nepomuk is a saint that I have never heard of before, but there is an entire shrine dedicated to him in this church because of his martyrdom. After the group had enough of the Catholic altars, we went over the the Prague Castle to learn a bit more about the history behind the City of a Hundred Spires. Jan and Martin were extremely helpful throughout this whole trip explaining all of the little details about these places that even the best tour guides would skip over. 

Outside of St. Vitus Cathedral 

The other big thing that we got to see in Prague was the Jewish Ghetto. I did not realize how truly moving it would be. My favorite part and most unexpected part was the cemetery in which they buried their families in. Gravestones were everywhere and not in nice and neat rows. Many were faded and illegible. And, we learned that these people were buried stacked on top of one another. Up to six in one grave. It's one thing to hear stories and read in books, but it is another thing to see it first hand and to honestly witness something like this firsthand. It was an unexpected and disturbing pleasure that I could never forget. 

Along with all of the Prague sights to see, we also took a day trip from our field trip to Dresden, Germany. I was amazed to listen to Jan and Martin speak about the bombing of Dresden at the end of World War II. I had never even heard about this town in my history classes, but it is yet another fascinating city with a plethora of history to back it up. The entire city was essentially in a fireball at the end of the war, and by some miracle, it has been built back up to a metropolis with culture and families and infrastructure. Germany is most definitely a place that I would like to visit again.

Panorama of Dresden

So, overall, I would say that it was a successful weekend. Saw some new things, learned some new things, tried some new things, and now I'm excited to do it all again next week! Na shledanou! 

~"Traveling: It leaves you speechless, then it turns you into a storyteller" `Ibn Battuta~

Kearney, America ---> Rome, Italy ---> Olomouc, Czech Republic

After twelve hours in the air, 6 hours of sitting in airports, and at least an hour of getting lost, we finally made it. I'm trading my house for hostels and dorms, my business classes for Czech language and history classes, and the United States for Europe. But I will never be able to trade the adventures and memories that I will spend the next ninety days making. 

View of Rome feat. me

I had the unique opportunity to travel to Rome with my mom before starting my study abroad experience. I couldn't have asked for anything better. She taught me so much about traveling in my first week in Europe than I ever could have learned through books or websites. We jam-packed our week with the Colosseum and the Forum, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Museums. Not to mention our day trip to the beautiful island of Capri and stopped to grab a pizza in Naples on the way home. I loved every single one of these places. There is so much beauty in Rome and so much history (especially Catholic history) that I am missing out on in Nebraska. More importantly, however, were the nontraditional lessons that I got to learn from my mom. Examples include:

1. Being where you are and seeing what's right in front of you. If I always am planning where I will be going next, I will miss where I am. Sometimes it's better to take a step back and look at the majesty and the beauty of what is right in front of you.

2. Yes, it is possible to get to the train station 10 minutes before you leave, buy a ticket in Italian, find your platform, and board your train.

3, Always order the house specialty. Whether that be wine, pasta, cheesecake, or limoncello. That recipe has been passed down for generations and has been perfected just for YOU to enjoy. Don't always get the same thing and don't be afraid to try something new. 

From the beautiful country of Italy, we "zipped on over" to Prague. From there, I unfortunately had to say good-bye so that I could start my journey of studying abroad in the Czech Republic.

Alpha Phis with view of Prague

Prague was truly a city that is sometimes lost when we look at "major cities in Europe". Many people always think of Paris, London, Madrid, etc. However, Prague's beauty is incomparable. The City of A Thousand Spires is truly just that. Filled with steeples and castles, this city truly glows. We didn't get to experience everything that Prague had to offer (because we will be returning soon!), but we got a taste of the Czech Republic (and it's food...yum!) in the few days we were there!

From Prague, we took a bus to Olomouc, our new home for the next three months. At first, I was very overwhelmed with getting here and realizing that this, truly, was where I would be living for ninety days. Olomouc is a city with approximately 100,000 people with about a quarter of them being college students. Quite the "college town" if you ask me. I am getting the opportunity to experience the Czech Republic from this unexampled city.

During this first week, I feel as if I have been here for months. We finally got to start taking classes (so my brain will not just be filled with Netflix and KRMC item numbers). We get to take a Czech language class, a Holocaust class, and a European history class. So far, we have only had lectures with the Czech language. I have learned how to say "Can I get a beer, please?" and "My name is Molly". More to come on that aspect. We have not started the other two classes quite yet, but I am interested to learn about history though the eyes of our Czech professor. 

Other than classes, we have gotten to know Olomouc. Not only their breweries and restaurants (which have been pristine) but also about the little gems that are hidden in the city. Such as the Minor Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. AKA a marvelous church that was built for pilgrims to come and worship Mary. It truly has been a refuge for many and one of the most divine places I have ever been (I might have cried once or twice). Things like this and more are hidden throughout Olomouc and I am very excited to see what this city truly has to offer.

Minor Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Kearney to Rome to Prague to Olomouc. The list will just keep growing throughout the next few months. I love wandering and experiencing each new place with optimism and an open mind. 

~The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.~ (Proverbs 16:9)