After traveling for numerous weekends in a row, the first two weekends in April allowed me a much needed breather as well as time to appreciate Brno. It had been over a month since I had spent a full week in my new 'hometown' - so the two weekends to explore and appreciate the locals was very important to me. Though they may not have been as jampacked as what I had grown accustomed to on my days off, it was important to me to respect that studying abroad isn't just about touring around a new continent. The real beauty, to me, lies in the opportunity to establish a deep connection with a foreign place and its people, a true home (very far) away from home. My roomie, Janelle, and I primarily took advantage of these two weekends to explore Brno's bustling coffee shop scene. One of my favorite ways to interact with the culture here has been doing this - whenever I have some work to catch up on, I find myself wandering the streets till I stumble upon a café that catches my eye. I'm trying my hardest to not fall into a routine spot and instead continue discovering new spots, new bean, and new baristas to practice my Czech on (with varying degrees of success). The coffee culture here is so strong that even just hanging in these spots and people watching or interacting with the employees helps to give me a stronger feel for the community here. (I also had a lot of fun chilling with Janelle - we've grown super close over the past two months and I'm terribly sad thinking about her leaving in just over two weeks. Who knew having a single room would end up being so upsetting?) I actually did hang out with some local friends though and got coffee with my friend Petr (2 hours of simultaneously making fun of and loving on Czech and American culture had my cheeks hurting from smiling so much) and cider with Janelle and her boss, Tereza. Though it sometimes takes some work to find these connections because of the reserved nature of Czech people. these moments make me appreciate the culture and the people here even more. After a busy week at IBM (photoshop fundamentals certificate, CHECK. skills? still practicing... actually seeing tangible progress in the projects? CHECK, CHECK, CHECK!), it was time for the long Easter weekend. While we had contemplated heading to Greece, we ended up trading one beautiful blue sea view for another and around 3pm I was headed for a long bus ride to Zagreb, Croatia. Though border patrol put us behind schedule about an hour and a half - I made it to our AirBnB long enough to sleep for about 4 hours. Waking up early and exhausted was worth it, though, for our day's destination: the legendary Plitvice Lakes. Heralded as one of the most beautiful parks in Europe and just beginning to gain some notoriety, the lakes had been second on my bucket list for this semester (just behind Bled). Needless to say I was hype. Even Lake Bled had ended up not being totally in nature, so being able to just hike and breathe totally fresh air had me impatient to get off the bus once we arrived. We traversed back and forth down the mountainside and were immediately rewarded with a massive waterfall, easily the size of a Pittsburgh skyscraper. (Or so it seemed... either way, the mist fogging up my glasses didn't bother me in the slightest as the feel of the water and the faint roar of the water made me feel profoundly connected to its beauty.) We made our way along the winding wooden planked walkways (something the park has become known for) through the lower levels of the lakes and every turn afforded a stunning view. Ranging from perfectly still, bright teal pools to clusters of cascading falls intermingling with moss, grasses, and roots, every moment left me speechless and unable to catch my breath. Though I spent plenty of time trying to take photos, soon enough I realized that no camera could capture the glory we were witnessing. During the few hours we spent hiking to the upper lakes I kept returning to a feeling of disbelief at my good fortune to experience such beauty in person. Moreover, I was reminded over and over again about why it is I am incorporating sustainability into my studies and eventual career. Whatever it is that humans did to be so blessed by this incredible planet, I'm not sure, but it's about damn time we respect the amazing gift we've been given and ensure this divine planet is able to thrive as she deserves. Slightly worn out and sunburnt, we returned to the entrance of the park grateful for the day nonetheless. There we caught our bus south to the Dalmatian coastal town of Zadar. Near the end of the ride, I got to talking with the Croatian mother seated next to me as well as her son and daughter across the aisle. She was very open with me about life in Croatia as well as Croatia's painful history. The crazy wars and suffering that happened as recently as the 1990s shocked me. Though I knew abstractly of Europe's recent history, her stories of living through the war as Yugoslavia broke up reminded me how ignorant I truly am in regards to global history. Though history is so often branded among young people as irrelevant ancient knowledge, it has been truly enlightening during my time here to meet people who actually lived through these significant parts of history. I have always taken for granted the "boring" landscape of America without war, massive political upheaval, etc. so it's a reality check meeting people here who have lived through war, or communism, or a number of other intense experiences. This is what has shown me how truly important history is, even though it may not seem relevant to me as an individual, these things have had massive impacts on individuals throughout the world who deserve our empathy and respect in understanding. Our conversation quickly became more lighthearted when her ten year old son cut in, and soon I was talking about school, languages, sports, and even chess with him and her teenage daughter. The whole family was incredibly sweet and immediately endeared me to the country. I was sad to leave them when I disembarked from the bus, and promptly decided to run back on and get their email... I figured, why not? These sort of connections are my favorite part of traveling and I'm excited to feel that a piece of Croatia will now always be in my heart because of these individuals. Afterwards, we trekked through the quiet beach town streets to reach our residence for the weekend. The salmon pink AirBnB was located in an enchanting part of town where the back streets zigged and zagged with no rhyme or reason, lined on each side by colorful houses adorned with shutters, clotheslines, and a plethora of houseplants. Yet again, I was reminded of the eclectic streets of Saigon and I couldn't help but feel warm inside considering all the people inhabiting the radiant village. I began to notice a pattern amongst Croatians when our host treated us with the same friendliness as the family I met on the bus. We fell asleep rather quickly and woke up ready for some time on the beach the following day. To reach the shore, we followed a gorgeous trail high on a cliff along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. To the west we enjoyed a view of the island part of Zadar, to the north the sea seemed to stretch on endlessly to the horizon. After taking our time to appreciate the flora along the vista, we claimed a spot on a pebbly beach and hung out enjoying the sun and the breeze for a while. After returning to the apartment to make dinner, we planned to head into Old Town and check out some sights. First we talked for a while with our host, her father, and ended up playing soccer with her son and his friend. The openness of them all only furthered my developing affection for the country. I was thankful to be making these individual connections which I had had trouble discovering in many of the other places we have been. Eventually, we headed north on the peninsula to peruse the (strangely smooth..) cobblestoned streets of Old Town and admire the sunset at the oddity that is the Zadar Sea Organ. Opened in 2005, these concrete steps along the ocean were intended as experimental architecture to create a way of communicating with nature. When sea wind blows through the holes featured in the structure, a beautiful, if random, symphony of deep, organic music is created. Thinking of the noise as the sea 'talking' to me helped me feel even more bonded to the Earth as I watched the blinding sun sink below the waves. As I sat there reflecting, a large wave suddenly splashed all over me - though the water was pretty chilly I couldn't help but laugh as it accentuated my appreciation for consciously working toward a connection with the world around you. It may not have really been the sea saying 'hi', but combined with everything else going on, it sure felt like it. We explored the charmingly narrow streets some more before heading back and prepping to check out the next morning. As Abby, Rachael, and Rebecca continued home, I paused for a few minutes of solo thoughtfulness on a dock on the sea. As I watched the moon over the waves, heard some locals singing on the coast behind me, and noticed the flickering lights of the island town on the horizon, I couldn't help but get quite choked up. Though I'm an international studies major back home, I had forgotten many of the actual reasons I had fallen in love with intercultural relationships and developed a passion for global mindedness since being in Vietnam. Considering the beautiful people and places I had met and seen in Croatia and reflecting on such experiences throughout the entirety of my study abroad brought me to tears. Not sure who's dock that actually was, but it certainly holds a special meaning to this American now. The next day, we were sad to leave the kind family at our AirBnB. We spent the rest of the day wandering around to check out more of the city's churches and streets and finally two large gardens near the end of Old Town. I was struck by a strong feeling of nostalgia there as the beautiful landscaping immediately made me think of Mom and Dad (in case anyone didn't know, these two awesome people got their Master Gardener certificates recently! Any gardens and landscaping I see here always reminds me of them and memories outside in our yard.) The sense of peace provided by this oasis made me want to stay forever. Unfortunately, it was time for our bus back to Zagreb way too soon, and we were saying goodbye to our seaside paradise. After meeting yet another wonderful AirBnB host with a classic Croatian deameanor, we had another short night of sleep before catching our bus at 6:15 am the next day. Though I was incredibly sad to leave Croatia and the people I had fallen so in love with in just a few days, I was overwhelmed by the comfort and feeling of home I got when we crossed the Czech border. Brno truly feels like home lately and after our lovely Easter vacation, I was ready for another week full of internship duties, homework, coffee, and appreciating this awesome city. Faith xo
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It's absolutely mindblowing as I write this post how recent these adventures feel... but then realizing that they were all the way in March, which seems forever ago. Anyway. On to the final recap of March! On Monday, Janelle, Dan, and I ate dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant downtown - my first time, finally, trying out the city's extensive Viet cuisine options. (Because of the influence of communism here as well as that in the south Asian country, many Czech citizens are actually Vietnamese immigrants. It's compelling yet strange for me to see the intersection of my international experiences so frequently!) Though dinner out is typically a pretty commonplace occurrence, having my first taste of pho since being in 'Nam three years ago (no, Redifer dining hall pho does NOT count) was... blissful. Ask my dinner pals - I was on the verge of tears at its authenticity. Though the spring rolls didn't have quite the same flashback effect, the meal started the week on a rather good note. Throughout the week, I was thankful to have a lot of interactions with more international students through my globalization class. The course, which quickly became my favorite early in the semester, incorporates discussion and interpersonal learning with both Czech and international students. On Wednesday night, my classmates and I joined each other at a traditional Czech restaurant in town and I loved getting to talk to new and old friends on a less formal basis. Also, my group for this class (me, a French student named Eliott, and a Czech student named Pavlina) met up on Thursday to talk Brexit - and ended up talking about basically everything but. Our conversation moved so naturally and freely, we ended up primarily discussing languages. It was enlightening to hear such candor from non-native English speakers, with Elliot describing English as beautiful at one point because "it is the language of music, movies, stories, and everything else the whole world loves." Being in Europe has both grown my appreciation for languages and my disappointment at not being multilingual myself. While having English as my first language is in many ways a blessing, I have found myself often resenting the privilege it allows me and the arrogance and ignorance that often accompanies it. By the end of our discussion, I already felt much closer to both of them and was feeling grateful for the insight I gained. Too quickly, though, we had to leave - it was time for our bus to Ljubljana! (Pronounced L-yoo-buhl-yawn-uh; it's hard, I know!) Though often overlooked by European tourists, Slovenia had actually been the number one place on my bucket-list to visit while here. One of my dear friends from PSU, Tatiana, is proudly Slovenian and has been commonly known to sing the country's praises every chance she gets (rightly so, I would soon find out!). In particular, the romantic and richly historic Lake Bled has been on my mind since she first showed me pictures of the location during freshman year. For this reason, I would always respond with the same answer when anyone here asked where I was hoping to travel this semester - Slovenia, Slovenia, Slovenia. It felt surreal to finally be happening! On our way to our stopover in Vienna, our bus was unfortunately delayed causing us to miss the connector to Slovenia. Though this caused some initial stress, the folks at our hostel were incredibly gracious and set us up in their other hotel - a much nicer place at no extra charge, and a lot closer to the bus station (where we now would arrive at 4am!) It was a very different experience than we had had at hostels so far and we were all thankful for the restoration of faith. The five of us (Abby, Alex, Janelle, Rachael, and I) caught a few winks of sleep and started our day at a pleasant cafe right along the edge of the water. Afterward, as we began to stroll closer to city center, we all were breath-taken by the picturesque town and immediately began to fall in love. The Ljubljanica river flows directly through the center of town and was lined by bright green willows, blossoming apple trees, and a multitude of small footbridges. (One of the bridges, Dragon Bridge, is flanked by two dragon sculptures that supposedly wave their tails at virgins crossing the bridge... Curious myths seem to be another commonality among European countries!) The shops along each bank combined Central European/Slavic vibes with an Italian village feel and opened up to patio seating areas where smiling Slovenians sipped their coffee and tea. After briefly meeting up with Alex's friend, Anja, who studies in Ljubljana, we took advantage of the sunshine by biking to our AirBnB outside the city limits. Awarded the honor of European Green Capital in 2016, Ljubljana boasts an impressive bike share program: for only 1 euro, we acquired a week long subscription. This included free bike rentals for up to 1 hour at a time, with easy access to return terminals (typically every 100 meters or so). It ended up being one of our favorite parts of the weekend to get outside and have some exercise other than walking! Add the friendly nature of the townspeople as well as their own dedication to biking, and we felt that much more an honorary part of the community. (I also enjoyed the ride to our AirBnB for a rather peculiar reason... Though so far removed from my time in Vietnam, the wind through my hair and the moonlight lighting our way through the suburbs felt distinctly reminiscent of motorbiking through district 7 with my host sister, Nancy. The number of times I've noticed such connections remind me of the divine connection we all share throughout this world despite any amount of distance between us.) Once we had dropped our bags, we circled around to city center again and linked up with Alex and Anja at the city's "odprta kuhna" or open kitchen. This event that springs to life every Friday through the spring and summer features over thirty some vendors, each with different international dishes, delectable Slovenian wine, and souvenirs. Of course I had to find a Slovenian dish (despite passing a multitude of tempting street taco booths) and settled upon a stand's "Slovenian sandwich," or their take on sarma - a traditional dish with pork, cabbage, beans, and horseradish. Then, Anja and two of her Slovenian friends, Ana and Vesna, led us to the Ljubljana "beach," which is really a patch of terraced grass just at the river bend. I truly felt as though I could have spent forever there. Somehow, everything about the entire city felt indescribably serene and beautiful. It was also great fun to hang out with the locals, and to hear them gush over how much they love their country. We then hiked up to the Ljubljana castle and the walk was yet another representation of a storybook town. It still blows my mind that places like this are so commonplace to those who call them home, and it reminds me of how incredible it is to think of the individual lives taking place in the cities we may only see bits and pieces of. The next morning had a very early start and it was difficult for any of us to stay awake on the bus ride to Bled. After about an hour nap (that felt more like a second) we were walking down a hill to the water's edge... and I was truly giddy with excitement. Seeing the island for the first time felt surreal; not only was it a pinch-me moment because of all the pictures I had seen, but also to finally experience a place that meant so much to someone who means so much to me! (Seriously. S/O to Tatiana for my Slovenia obsession, because it rocks.) We sipped some cappuccinos at a café along the water's edge and I ended up sitting a little bit away from the group for a moment to just take everything in. The smooth, dark water with its peaceful island, surrounded by pine covered hills against the majestic backdrop of the Julian Alps - not to mention the Bled Castle nestled atop a cliff above the lake. It felt like I had jumped into a painting. Something about the awe I felt here was very different than the wonder I had experienced thus far in our travels. I had been spending time in city after city, and craving time in nature more than I realized. Bled's allure was an intense reminder of the importance of understanding the earth's beauty while globetrotting, as well as the peoples'. Soon, we hopped on a boat to the island to experience the church up close. It felt as though we were in a world of miniatures - the small piece of land included a café, the church and tower, and a picturesque trail around the perimeter. Inside the cathedral, there is a "wishing bell," which I of course rang for luck before climbing the many stairs to the top of the clock tower. Slovenian tradition claims that if a groom is able to carry his new bride to the top, they will have a happy marriage. (Possibly having to do with the historical dedication of the island to Živa, the goddess of love?) The combination of the nature just beginning to bloom, sticky sweet homemade potica (a traditional Slovenian walnut cake), old-world-esque architecture, and the island's enchanting heritage infused the very air around us with a fairytale whimsy. Sadly, our time on the island only lasted an hour before our boat's return slot and not long after, we were boarding the bus back to Ljubljana. We spent the evening at outside seating right along the edge of the water: great views, great pizza, and great company. We rode our bikes for the last time the next morning to the bus - and all were bummed to leave them behind. :( Though my muscles ached and I wished to spend more time in Ljubljana as soon as we got off of the bus in Brno, I was so thankful for the few days I was able to spend in the mesmerizing country of Slovenia. Not only did I make some wonderfully kind friends and admire the astounding beauty nature has to offer, but I also came to understand some of the importance culture and heritage play in peoples' lives. Though I have always loved making Belgian gullettes at Christmas or chowing down on Polish haluski every now and again, my family hasn't had such a powerful connection with our roots - I was never quite able to understand when my friends, like Tatiana, spoke of their ancestry with such reverence. Being in Slovenia though reminded me of T in so many ways - from the fierce passion and intelligence in the Slovenians I met, to the kindness everyone on the street greeted us with, to the inherent beauty and playfulness of the country itself. Where we are from and the culture we inherit truly can shape our lives, and I'm grateful for the chance to have been and continue to be shaped by so many while I'm abroad. Faith xo Following a rather overwhelming weekend in Berlin, it was back to the normal grind. On Tuesday the 19, I had a virtual interview for a Special Living Option for my RA position this upcoming semester at Penn State. Though Google Hangouts ended up giving us some technical difficulties, it was great to be reminded of Happy Valley and how excited I am to start my time as an RA. Thinking about returning to State is definitely strange though... It feels as though the world exists in two separate planes now and I'm still working on figuring out how to return to PA living after this life changing semester. This week also marked the beginning of an online Corporate Social Responsibility course. After meeting with the professor, an awesome guy from Portland State University who actually served as an adviser to Bill Clinton, it was awesome to return to my business roots and dive into challenging case studies. On Friday, Dan, Rachael, Abby, Rebecca (another American), and I left for one of the trips I was most looking forward to. After obsessively listening to George Ezra's 'Budapest' with Dad when it first came out five years ago, I was pumped to finally discover the dazzling Hungarian capital. On the bus ride there I sat next to a young Kazakhstani woman who I had a great conversation with about travel, the English language, and what it was like to live at the intersection of Europe, Russia, and Asia. Her kindness was only the beginning of such friendly interactions that weekend! Immediately upon arriving in Budapest, we checked out the legendary Great Market Hall. Its small walkways and smiling vendors flashed me right back to Vietnamese night markets, despite everything else being so different. We stopped for some Hungarian sausage and appreciated the warm smiles from nearly every Hungarian local we saw. After dinner, we walked to our AirBnB and almost melted at its perfectly 'European' quaintness. After taking a quick breather, the five of us packed up and headed to our first destination: the Szechenyi Thermal Baths. Though it took us about twenty minutes to navigate through the maze of the baths, we finally found our way outside and all had to pause a minute to just take it in. The grand yellow buildings surrounded steaming baths all filled with people relaxing amidst the beautiful fountains. We sat in the main bath for awhile before heading to the other large outdoor pool, this one even warmer and featuring cool fountains spraying almost the entire surface. (Mom you would have been in heaven.) Though it wasn't the most mind blowing experience I've had on our travels, it was a nice change of pace to simply hang out with each other and enjoy one another's company. Plus, the people watching was exceptional - the draw of the baths truly affects every kind of person and witnessing so many languages and personalities was an absolute treat. Directly outside of the baths, we saw the Vajdahunyad Castle lit up across the road and decided to check it out. The gates had been left open and it was amazing to see the winding gardens at night. The beautiful combination of masonry and landscaping immediately made me think of mom and dad (a lot of places in Budapest had me thinking of home!) We stopped at a bar on the way home for sandwiches and ciders. Our waitress, yet another example of Hungarian hospitality, wished us to "have a good appétit," and we most certainly did. Rather worn out, we knocked out quickly at our AirBnB and woke up early the next day to make the most of our only full day in the city. After having a delectably rich peanut butter banana "Budapest Bagel" (the first time I've found PB in Europe - definitely an unexpected pleasure) we were off to Buda Castle, the first on our long list of must-see's. A long walk led to an overlook high above the Danube, extending far down the banks for an extraordinary view of the other side of the city. Here, we were provided our first perspective of the legendary Hungarian Parliament building and the Szechenyi Chain Bridge. For me, this vista was certainly a highlight. As I explained in my Prague blog, these sort of views lie near and dear to my heart because of how eye opening they are in terms of putting people and their relationships to the world into perspective. (Not sure how best to explain it... Mainly just recognizing one's smallness yet the importance of the individual to the beauty of each place. If that makes sense..?) The end of the river walk led through more cobblestoned streets to Matthias Church and the close by Fisherman's Bastion. The blocky, white, fairytale-esque structure served as an interesting contrast to typical historical structures we had been visiting. After looking up its significance later on, it was fascinating to learn that the building was actually constructed in the early 1900's and designed to "feel like history rather than be history." We then strolled through the streets leading down to the Danube to cross the Chain Bridge. Despite the spectacular panoramic river views on the bridge, the highlight for me was actually walking there. Exploring the quiet roads and charming alleyways helped me feel very much like a local and provided more of an intimate look at the city; my personal favorite way to experience a new place. On the other side of the river, we made our way to St. Stephen's Basilica and the lively square in front of it. With a famed Gelarto Rosa cone in hand (chocolate raspberry + white chocolate lavender = unbeatable combo) we sat on the church's stairs basking in the sun and listening to accordion music and multilingual conversations filling the air. After a particularly beautiful song (featured in the following video), I asked the street musician about his music (which I found out he wrote himself!) and ended up learning about his passion for children's education around the world as well. He asked me about charities for education in America, the likes of which he donates proceeds from his street performances to. The square provided a captivating microcosm of Hungarian friendliness, diversity, and spirit. Heading toward our last stops on our condensed tour of Budapest, we meandered along the Danube, appreciating the breeze and beautiful views. The first stop was the Holocaust memorial "Shoes on the Danube." This poignant monument features metal shoes facing the river often filled with flowers, candies, and other gifts from visitors. It pays homage to the 20,000 Jews who were taken from the Budapest ghetto and shot into the river in 1944 and 45, just before the liberation of Budapest. The victims were instructed to take off their shoes and leave their valuables in them before being killed. The reflective spot allowed me to consider just how much of history is obscured in American teachings: the history I've always learned focuses on only a few countries and leaves out places such as Budapest - I never even realized the atrocities that had been committed here as well. While of course it would be difficult to teach a comprehensive global history, the things I've learned here make me wonder, who is it that decides what deserves to be taught and not? How does the western historical narrative affect the erasure of countries and people deemed less "noteworthy" than places such as the UK, Russia, and China for example? I also felt a nausea here similar to what I experience at the Berlin Wall. Though less common, I witnessed a few people posing with the shoes, working hard to get the perfect Insta shot. Some people's insensitivity to history and commitment to appearances continues to amaze and disappoint me amidst all the beauty I'm discovering in people here. After some quiet thoughtfulness at the tribute, we continued our walk until finally we were right beside the parliament building. Its grandeur truly needed to be appreciated from this close up perspective, the architecture rendered me speechless and wishing to go inside. Due to limited time, though, we were soon catching a tram back to check out of our AirBnB, and further exploration would be left to the hope of returning one day. Our last stop in Budapest was to visit the iconic ruin bars the city is now famous for. We sought out two highly recommended locations Szimpla Kert and Ellato Kert. Though we just walked through because they were both too packed to find a seat, the eclectic salvaged vibe gave us an intersting look at Budapest's young and hip crowd. Eventually, we ended up sipping some wine and cider at a different bar until having to leave to catch our bus home to Brno. We talked about our rose/bud/thorns of studying abroad, and while looking around at my friends I started to realize how deeply grateful I was for our experiences together so far. On our way to the bus station, we encountered two locals who helped us gather our bearings and talked to us about tourists and locals on our way there. Their warmth was a perfect way to close out the weekend in what had quickly become my favorite place I'd visited so far. The quirky, laidback, and good natured vibe of the whole city made me sad to be leaving so soon. After arriving back in Brno at 4am that morning, I got some sleep before meeting up with a Russian student I had recently befriended. Karina, a St. Petersburg native, also serves as her dorm's international student representative and we met a week or two before at our meeting. Her super sweet demeanor immediately reminded of one of my best friends from home, Abra, and we agreed to meet up for coffee at some point the week after. We grabbed a quick bite to eat then took our coffee to go and walked around the grounds of Castle Spilberk and the city's main square. Our conversation ranged from languages, to schoolwork, to the current issues between Russia and the US, and a million things in between. At the end of our discussion, we realized how silly such issues between our two countries are and how so much could be helped by simple conversations and a commitment to understanding and learning from one another. Our time together reminded me of why I loved intercultural relationships, and we've since become regular coffee buddies. Who knows? Maybe one day she'll also be a great guide to St. Petersburg! Though it's hard to quite put a finger on why, this week had certainly been one of my favorites of my time abroad. My one complaint of traveling and falling in love with so many new cities, though, is my inability to spend a whole semester abroad in each one. Maybe taking more than four years to graduate wouldn't be such a bad idea after all? Faith xo Hello all! I'm finally back for another catch-up post: this time Berlin is on the table. (Catching up is the general theme of my life; a spontaneous two hour phone call with my roommate back home, writing 44 pages in my journal this weekend to recap everything... you know, the usual.) So here goes the recap of the week of March 10-17! During the week I had my week-long art history intensive that I'm using to fulfill general credits back at PSU. I ended up being way more fascinated by the lectures than I expected, and am hoping to put some of my knowledge to the test at museums when I head to France and Italy in May! After a long solo trip to Prague to collect my missing wallet on the 12th and an overwhelming lack of sleep (from the combo of the previous weekend and the early train ride) I was feeling very under the weather later in the week. Thank god for Emergen - C packets to perk me up in time for our midnight departure to Berlin on Thursday evening. During a stopover in Prague, I found myself overcome with a sense of pride looking back on the past month. We were waiting at the main bus station, Florenc, where only a few short weeks before I felt like throwing up from nerves before heading to Brno. This time, I was leading my group of friends there as I was the only one who had been there prior to that evening. Soon enough we were boarding, and nine long hours later, we stretched our aching legs on German ground for the first time. (Country number 3!) We hit up a small café where I got to practice my limited German vocabulary - I've taken to learning a few phrases in each city we visit both out of cultural respect and appreciation and to forge a connection with the locals. In Germany, these included "Allo" (hello, pretty easy to learn), "Ich merchta" (I would like), and "Danke" (thank you, of course!). Afterward we began to wander through the city in order to catch some of the sights we had planned out beforehand. First we visited the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a spot dedicated to the 11 victims of the terrorist truck driver attack on a Christmas market in 2016. At first we weren't even sure what the memorial was for - it was striking to me to realize both how quickly we forget as well as how easily such attacks blur together - but its meaning was amplified upon entering the building. The walls are completely built from stained glass squares, for a surreal kaleidoscopic effect when you walk inside. The sunshine glimmering through the bright blue accented by occasional splashes of color paid a beautiful homage to the people whose lives had been affected and showed a more simply beautiful gratitude to religion compared to the churches we have grown accustomed to in Europe. Strolling along the River Spree afterward, we soon came upon the official residence of Angela Merkel (cue my geek out session and subsequent contemplation of jumping the fence to get past security...) and the Victory Column. The staggeringly massive tower strikes a stark contrast to the busy roundabout it inhabits. As we grew closer, we learned that the many large pock marks and cracks were leftover from WWII when Hitler had his troops arbitrarily move the entire statue to its current location - a feat unimaginably difficult and cruel based on its scale. It was my first taste of the intense trauma Berlin has endured and foreshadowed the queasiness I would feel at our proximity to other relics of the war. Afterward we passed the Reichstag, the Soviet War Memorial (Tiergarten), and finally the Brandenburg Tor. Seeing the Brandenburg - such an icon of history books and travel guides - was truly surreal, but sadly didn't last longer than a quick walk-by. Following lunch, we made our way through the soggy, cold streets to visit Checkpoint Charlie. After seeing 'The Bridge of Spies' a few years ago (amazing movie, 10/10 recommend. Plus it's got Tom Hanks, so where can you go wrong?) I became interested in the spot's significance that often is overlooked in high school history classes. It was sobering to see the point and consider how many people had passed through there as well as the division it symbolized. What shocked and frustrated me more than the rain or the pricey museum tickets, though, was the disregard of visitors for the gravity of what had occurred there. The appallingly commercialized tourism hub boasted people taking pictures with the guards (in some cases, wearing their costume hats and posing with their hands thrown in the air) and smiling near remnants of the wall. While I wished for more solemnity through which to appreciate the trauma etched into the city's memory there, we were already being swept away to check in to our hostel. There were a few issues with our hostel, but more on that later as they ended up getting worse Saturday night... Saturday morning we left early for Charlottenburg Palace, the crown jewel of Berlin. Though it was a far trek out of the city, the splendor of the halls and the seemingly never ending collection of waiting rooms, meeting rooms, and bed rooms was absolutely stunning. As my first "real" experience with a European palace I was certainly not disappointed. One room in particular was stunning - the walls were lined with over 2,000 pieces of porcelain from Lady Charlotte's collection. Overall, the museum's focus on Lady Charlotte, and her legacy, rather than her husband was a refreshing change from typically male dominated history. Feeling like a few princesses wandering through the castle could only last so long, though. Soon we were heading to East Berlin to meet up with the rest of our group at the East Side Gallery. This stretch of over 1000 meters of the Berlin Wall has since been turned into an open air gallery with unique murals by artists from all over the world. (One of my favorites? Simply the words, "How's God? She's black.") By this time, the atmosphere had been overtaken by a thick fog and relentless icy drizzle - a fitting mood for the longest left standing expanse of the Berlin Wall. Dedicated to its vibrant street art now, it felt incomprehensible that standing in front of us was the Berlin Wall. To imagine that just over 30 years ago, families stood here separated from one another and innocent people died trying to cross into better lives - the contrast was contradictorily heartbreaking and uplifting. There seemed no repurposing more fitting than a gallery, a celebration of individuality, creativity, and joy of the human spirit, to wave a metaphoric middle finger at the rule that divided the city into separate spheres of suffering for so long. To shake off the chill, we discovered a local taco joint which served as another awesome reminder of Berlin's current embrace of diversity. The native Mexican family's bright shop and mouth watering food set to a soundtrack of uptempo Latin music (all still in the East side!) brought the perfect close to the symbolism of the day. While grabbing some drinks afterward to reflect on the weekend, we ended up getting some bad news... One of our friends had gone back to the hostel early to discover our lockbox broken into and four laptops stolen. While the ensuing chaos and one hour of sleep dampened our spirits, the half of us headed to Dresden the next day did our best to stay positive. Dresden ended up being the perfect place to spend the next day - its easygoing vibe and happenstance beautiful weather helped to cheer us up while allowing us some restful tourism rather than the stress of always being on the go. After moseying around, we landed on the banks of the Elbe river simply soaking up the sun and people watching. As we sat, I found time to reflect on the joy I have experienced as a constant throughout my European adventures. The vast differences you can find in places so close in proximity never ceases to amaze me. Yet, just as stunning and bewildering are the similarities in beauty, history, and the unique rewards of digging deep into each new location's culture. It's crazy to think with each passing week how quickly I'll be headed back to America. While I certainly miss home a lot, I'm not sure I'm ready to call it quits on diving into this continent anytime soon. Faith xo As I'm writing this, I now have three weeks of adventures to update you all on. We'll start out with the second week of March (how was that so long ago already?!) when I had my first venture to Prague. (Fair warning! This blog is yet another long one! I think this might just be the norm now as my blog is tending to serve as my journal too. Thanks for the patience :) ) The week began as most here do, classes and internships and lots of craziness while in Brno. At IBM this week I finally completed my first Project Management certificate, which was promptly displayed on my LinkedIn with pride, and at long last received my id badge. It seems silly, but having these initial stages of the internship finally completed helped me feel a lot more confident in my place there and eased some of the 'imposter syndrome' I had been experiencing. After my weekly routine of classes and internship work, we departed for Prague on the afternoon of Thursday the 7th. When we first arrived, I felt a sense of what I had when I first landed in Prague a month beforehand. The main train station (or hlavni nadrazi in Czech) was swarming with people and certainly contrasted greatly to the more peaceful hub bub we have grown accustomed to in Brno. After gaining our bearings, we ate at a traditional Czech restaurant close by where I FINALLY had my first taste of traditional Czech dumplings (knedlik) and potato pancakes. Afterward, we hit up a grocery store and made quite a hike to the apartment we were staying in for the weekend. We began the next day at Petrin Tower, a lookout spot reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower, that provides an awesome view of Prague. Our shaky legs after the long climb up the metal structure swaying in the strong winds were totally worth it. The sweeping city seemed to stretch for miles and the striking birds eye view of Charles Bridge made me feel incredibly small, but in a good, reflective way. (I've found overlooks to be one of my favorite things to check out while here. There's something intensely humbling to me imagining all the thousands of people going about their days amongst the sprawling buildings of a whole city...) Afterward we headed down through a beautiful grove of trees and relished in the sun peeking from the clouds before stopping at a cafe for lunch. (Finding random tiny cafes has also become a personal favorite... Best way to practice some Czech and appreciate the locals in my opinion.) Next was one of my favorite sights of Prague: the John Lennon Wall. The secluded wall's history began with a portrait of Lennon following his assassination in 1980, and since has continuously evolved with new paintings, poems, quotes, and other symbols of love and peace. Its story in relation to communism in the Czech Republic and the resilience it represents felt especially powerful with all the other aspects influencing our visit: the sun was shining brightly, a student with a guitar and harmonica was playing Beatles' hits in front of it, and the bubbly crowd near the wall was bursting with conversations in many different languages. What was particularly beautiful was the kindness between all the people; if someone bumped into someone else there were no mean looks, just apologies in two different tongues. When someone and their significant other needed a picture taken, a random person from another country would offer with laughs and smiles at the language barrier. I honestly hadn't expected to be so impacted by the site since I had never been a Beatles superfan, but the human connection and warmth I saw there filled me with an indescribable feeling. Next we trekked to the Prague castle and met up with our friend Janelle who had arrived a day later than us due to her internship hours. (Side note update - Janelle is also my new roommate! Janelle, who is originally from Colorado and also in the Czechmates program, was looking for an apartment but ended up not finding any reasonably priced flats. Since I had never been assigned a roommate, she has now taken up residence in my extra bed. Our time so far is working out great and I'm happy to have someone to rant to/laugh with/and just generally hang out. Don't worry though, Ellie, you'll always be the OG roomie :) ) The castle/cathedral was absolutely breathtaking especially with the sunlight shining in from the massive stained glass windows. The resulting rainbow patterns on centuries old stone made me ponder the worship that has occurred in the magnificent location for decades - the historical dedication to religion in Europe is truly mindblowing and mysteriously beautiful to me and has given me another thing to reflect on with each cathedral we visit. Before returning to our apartment, we walked to the Charles Bridge to cross it before the thunderstorms slated for the next day. Looking out at the Vltava next to gigantic statues with the wind whipping hair into my face was certainly an experience, though I didn't fully appreciate its beauty until Saturday evening. Afterward, we cooked a family dinner and headed out to try out a recommendation for a bar called Vzorkovna. The underground bar boasted many themed rooms connected by tunnels. We eventually settled in front of the live music stage and enjoyed people watching the local crowd and band. Saturday, we explored Old Town - arguably the most touristy area - and visited Old Town Square, the astronomical clock, and the Church of Our Lady before Tyn. We had planned on checking out Jewish Quarter afterward, but we unfortunately missed most of the sights there due to Shabbat. Instead, Janelle, Abby, Rachael, and I strolled along the Vltava River and popped into the Klementinum for a minute before reuniting with the rest of the group (My full visit to the Klementinum won't be till June with the fam, I certainly couldn't see the whole thing with our limited time that day!) That night, the four of us plus Alex and Dan headed to a cafe/bar for some group bonding and strolled randomly through the city afterward. The comparison of Prague streets at night to Brno's was crazy, and it was amazing to watch and listen to so many people wandering the streets chatting in their native languages (or yelling or singing, depending on their varying states of drunkenness!). Finally we landed again at Charles Bridge - seeing it at night redeemed its striking qualities. Alex and I both agreed it was quite possibly one of the most beautiful things we had ever seen. Somehow the brightly lit up Prague Castle in the background of the staggering bridge put our time in Prague into perspective and left us both speechless. Unfortunately the night ended a little poorly with me dropping my wallet on the bus... I tried not to let it get me down the next day and fortunately it all ended up working out. (After multiple emails and phone calls, the department of transportation successfully returned it to me the following Tuesday, luckily with everything still inside!) Our final day in Prague was spent checking out lots of history. In the morning, Janelle, Alex, Dan, and I visited the renowned Museum of Communism while our lesser history buff companions checked out the local shopping scene. For what felt like the millionth time in Prague I found myself utterly speechless again. The first half of the museum was enlightening to see general life under communism in the Czech Republic, but none of it compared to the second half of the exhibit. Signified by a transition to black walls and striking displays, this section went in detail of communist human rights violations and the cruel realities Czech people faced each day. Multiple times I felt as though I might cry or throw up - in particular, one description of hangings (designed to make the victim suffer for almost ten minutes before dying) forced me to stop and attempt to regain control of my own breathing. The unbelievable realities that you never learn of in American history classes utterly perplexed and disheartened me and strongly reminded me of my visit to the War Remnants Museum in Saigon three years ago (https://faithinvietnam.weebly.com/home/happy-late-independence-day-from-across-the-pacific). Besides leaving me feeling reflective of the Czech peoples' experiences, I also left feeling much more empathy toward the perceived coldness of Czech people to Americans/English speakers today. Many felt left for the Soviets by the Allies and clearly they suffered from this neglect. While Czech personalities have taken some getting used to, I found myself approaching these differences with a heightened understanding after what I learned. Afterward, we wandered around for some time and passed through St. Wenceslas Square (or Vaclavske Namesti) on our way to the train station at the end of the day. While there, we encountered the memorial to Jan Palach and Jan Zajic, the two students whose self immolations in 1969 served as a call to action for students against Soviet rule. The memorial set against the modern day bustling backdrop of the square provided another sobering reminder of Czech resilience and I vowed to keep the two brave young men in mind during the rest of my time interacting with Czech culture. Soon, we were back at hlavni nadrazi waiting for our train home and ready to begin another busy week. As two teenagers played a piano tucked into the corner of the station, I stepped away from our group's conversation to observe the people going by. After so much reflection and revelation, I appreciated the moment of quiet to just watch - couples embracing, families parting, friends reuniting with shrieks and tears - it was a powerful moment to witness how far Prague has come. Sometimes this important human aspect of travel can be easy to forget amongst the sightseeing and restaurant touring. At the end of the day, though, I find myself most appreciating the people in each new place and coming to a better understanding of their stories. Most important is the realization of how they are all different but yet at their core, all the same. Till next time... I have two more weeks of catch up, so hopefully this week will have lots of posts! Sorry for the length yet again :) Faith xo DISCLOSURE: This post was originally written about a week ago, but with everything that happened throughout the last few weeks I was unable to finish and post it!! Sorry for the wait and also for the past tense of this post!! :) And so begins week four... Hold up. How is this semester almost already a quarter of the way over? It feels like just yesterday I was sitting terrified in my dorm room in Kounicova, sure the semester would never be over. Now suddenly, Brno feels more like home every day. Time surely is a strange thing. Anyway. On to the weekly recap! While this week's adventures may have been less extravagant than the last's, they certainly were filled with no less memorable moments and joy. Monday was back to the daily grind. After sleeping in a little to recover from post-Vienna exhaustion, I was off to my first Czech language class and environmental history lecture. My Czech course and notoriously quirky professor, Jan, exceeded all of my expectations - the hour and forty minute period was filled with a nonstop stream of Czech (English was only used for necessary introductions) and kept me on my toes the whole time. While some moments felt intimidating (I required about four blank stares in response to Jan incessantly asking "opakujte," pronounced aw-puh-kwee-tay, to understand he was telling me to repeat after him), by the end of the course I felt much more confident in my ability going forward. While I still don't know much more than enough to get by, the active learning we used helped me apply what I had learned and feel capable to progress throughout the semester. Jan's teaching along with my desire to show respect for the Czech language have thus far afforded me many more understanding smiles and appreciation from the people I encounter. In some cases, it has even led to connections with locals attempting to teach me some more Czech - laughing all the while at my inability to pronounce their triple consonants. (As Professor Elavsky so aptly put it our first week, "Could I buy a damn vowel, please?") Tuesday and Wednesday saw me back at IBM where I'm starting to feel a little less out of place each day. There are definitely still moments, while surrounded by rapid Czech and immersed in project planning, that I feel very in over my head. These times, though, put much more emphasis on the kindness I've been shown from coworkers like Katerina and Jaro, which I appreciate even more then. Jaro, especially, has helped welcome me into the ranks -- making it that much more exciting to find out she has family in Pittsburgh! I've already promised her (along with many other Europeans who wish to come to America one day) a grand tour of my hometown if she visits. My projects are still in the process of taking off, but I'm excited by the feeling I've had of finally knowing where to go from here. Project planning is still very much in the making but I feel a little more confident each day. (Seems to be the theme for much of the study abroad experience overall!) Unfortunately, Thursday saw me in less of an optimistic state. I ended up spending the day in bed after what I believe was a bout of painful food poisoning early that morning. Luckily, plenty of rest and a bland diet helped me feel a lot better the next day, and by Saturday night I was eating out at a Thai restaurant with friends. Earlier on Saturday, I had ventured to Špilberk castle with Abby, Rachael, and Dan (another member of the Czechmates program). The fortress sits atop a high hill in Brno and provides a beautiful backdrop to the city when lit up every night. After walking around a WWI exhibit inside and viewing the city from one of the turrets, we were all still a little confused about the history of the castle specifically. Still, the display was incredible in its focus on specific soldiers from Brno and it was powerful to see the war from individual perspectives on the opposite side of what we've been taught in America. The WWI exhibit was only one of many parts of the castle, and we hope to come back at some point to check out the rest. In particular, once it's a little warmer I hope to return to visit the Gregor Mendel pea garden. It was actually at Špilberk that Mendel grew the peas for his legendary genetics research and while it comes at an extra cost, I'm very determined to see it before I leave! Of this week, though, Sunday was by far the most exciting day. Around 9:30 am, I hopped on a bus with Abby, Rachael, and two of our other friends Connor (from Wisconsin) and Jos (originally from the UK but now living in France) to make a quick hour long jaunt north-east to the historic town of Olomouc. Dan was supposed to join us but ended up missing the bus... It ended up being the running joke of the day and he met up with us a few hours later after catching the 12:30 bus instead. When we first arrived in Olomouc, a slight panic set in to be completely honest. The bus stop was pretty far out of town and none of us really knew exactly how to proceed (especially with limited cell data and access to Google). After some quick thinking, though, we made our way to the city center and picked up a tourism map to begin our day. We trekked all over for hours seeing cathedrals, historic villas, many fountains and columns (these are a common sight around Europe and are usually dedicated to victims of the plague), a beautifully done art musuem, and a peaceful walking area along the river. We ended the day bar hopping and having deep conversations over cider and wine. By the end of the day, it felt so natural hanging out with everyone and we collectively agreed that the day included some of the most joyful moments we've felt. Maybe it's just something in the air here...? As I'm finishing up this post, it's been almost two weeks since Olomouc and I have lots more to update you all on! I want to apologize yet again for how inconsistent my posting here is - in attempts to experience each moment to the fullest here it certainly is leaving me with less and less time to keep up with things such as blogging and journaling. My friends and I keep using the phrase "we'll sleep when we're dead" to remind ourselves to keep running on empty... we're only here for a few more months so there's certainly no time to lose. Hopefully I can keep that mindset alive for the rest of the afternoon and finish up the next post, even though you might get tired of my ramblings! Thanks for the patience and sticking around, more exciting adventures to come! Faith xo When I signed off last Monday, I was just beginning my internship duties and classes and didn't really have any idea what I was getting into. I had successfully ridden a tram by myself a few times and was starting to order my meals in Czech with confidence. All in all, my brain was spinning from the multitude of changes but also thriving with growth and excitement. While I'm still not too much further on my Czech, a lot has happened in the week since that has only solidified my evolving appreciation for Czech culture and the study abroad experience as a whole! Let's begin on Tuesday, where we left off. Tuesday marked my first full day of internship duties. I worked 9-4 in the office which was a new experience for me; until this point I had only worked full days at Walmart, which didn't give me too much of a peek inside my where I want to be in 5-10 years. The morning was slow as my manager, Kristy, and I worked with tech services to get my Mac set up (even tech companies like IBM have computer problems!). At lunch, I thoroughly enjoyed talking and laughing with my whole team after they asked to sit with me. I haven't interacted with too many Czech citizens because of the highly involved international student network here, so I appreciate being able to learn about their culture at work. Czech people are often branded as being cold and rude because of the hard shell they developed from the Cold War and Soviet influences. However, connecting with my coworkers has shown me that this is certainly not the case once you put forth the effort to get to know Czechs. Though they may remain reserved and always possess a flair for sarcasm, I have found the Czech people to be warm and caring once given a chance to open up. In fact, my second full day on Wednesday fell upon a colleague, Hana's (pronounced Hawn-kuh), birthday and I learned a new tradition I'd like to take home. Rather than blowing out their own candles to make a wish, the person whose birthday it is is greeted by a line of friends. Each friend kisses both of the birthday girl or boy's cheeks and describes their wish for them in the coming year. As I watched, I could see my coworkers' immense love and respect for one another and appreciated it that much more considering typical Czech stereotypes. At work this week, I also found out more about the projects I will actually be completing. Overwhelmed is an understatement! I definitely have a lot of work ahead of me, which while slightly daunting, is extremely exciting. I have been assigned numerous trainings, including one through which I will earn a certificate in project management, and have two official projects to complete over the next three months. First, I will be teaming up with the volunteering committee alongside Jaro (pronounced Yar-kuh) and Kristy to create displays of IBM's outreach initiatives throughout the Brno campus. Through this work, I will help to communicate IBM's commitment to social impact both to employees and clients, and hopefully encourage an even wider spread involvement. Secondly, under my other manager Zlatica (pronounced Zhlawt-kuh), I will be working on the IBM museum currently in place on the campus. While the exhibit is already fully furnished, my job includes creating a guided tour for it in whatever format I deem most appropriate. In order to complete both of these assignments, I will be using project management methods to create project definitions, schedules, etc. and will be fully in charge of how they play out. Like I said... a little nerve wracking! Although I'm still unsure of exactly how to start, I'm eager to get working because of the ability these jobs give me to apply the theory I've learned in my classes this semester. (Shout out to Ron John!!! Best management professor out there.) Thursday marked my first two classes which I'm already ready to get started on. While homework and exams are stressful, I've found myself missing some of the structure of assignments and actually enjoyed attending lecture. My globalization class with Professor Elavsky (the head of my program) is especially compelling. The discussion based class and topics we will address already are reminding me of why I chose a GLIS major at Penn State! The rest of the day was spent at a cafe, enjoying a moccacino and catching up on work with a friend. After our class together on Thursdays we're planning on finding a new cafe every week - I'm so ready for all the new coffees to try. (Anna and Adam you would be proud! I've already had two shots of espresso and typically drink my coffee with little to no sugar here :)) Now for the really exciting part... My friends and I have no class or work on Fridays, so this weekend we left Brno around 8 am to head to Vienna by train. (Did any of you guess it from the hints?) Yeah, you read that right. Just a casual weekend trip to Vienna. Austria. A whole different country, just for 3 days. Europe is awesome... Alex, the guy from my program I mentioned in the last blog, had spent a month studying in Vienna a year or two ago and is almost fluent in German. This meant we were very lucky to get a great tour guide/translator for free! After arriving around 9 am, we ate at our first traditional Viennese "thinking spot", Cafe Pruckel. Fun fact, all traditional Viennese cafes are protected as UNESCO world heritage sites. These locations were where great minds such as Sigmund Freud and even Mozart would come to work and discuss with other thinkers. It was here that the concept of doing work in cafes, rather than just eating there, originated. Following a tasty (if expensive! the Euro has a higher value than USD making Viennese purchases a little pricey) breakfast, we wandered to the city's center, Stephansplatz, a bustling and vibrant shopping center complete with its namesake, the grand gothic cathedral, St. Stephen's. Though we just stepped inside for a few minutes, the interior of St. Stephen's was breathtaking and a great preview of what was to come in the city's majestic churches. The rest of the day was filled with coffee and some more sightseeing, primarily from walking around the city and checking out whatever seemed interesting. On Friday alone, we ended up walking over 10 miles with our heavy backpacks the whole time - traveling really helps get your steps in! The day ended at our hostel (the first of many stays in these, I'm sure) where we were pleasantly surprised by a house cat and complimentary fruit. On Saturday, we hit up another Viennese classic, Aida cafe, for strudel and danish to fuel our adventures. Afterward, we wandered some more and tried out a traditional Austrian wiener stand and the famous Cafe Central. Though I didn't eat anything at the luxurious restaurant, it was worth it to just experience the gorgeous inside. Finally we had reached my request on the day's itinerary: in a by locals - for tourists map, I had found a description of a hidden network of courtyards tucked into the buildings near city center. We set out unsure if we would find them, but with some close observation, discovered the entrance in an alleyway that looked fresh off of a Hollywood set. I fell in love with the secluded, romantic spot immediately and decided it was my favorite place we had seen. I couldn't stop imagining the Austrian locals who lived in the flats above; the courtyards' secrecy was a perfect way to feel an intimacy with the city you don't get from hot tourist traps. I hope to make this a tradition now, and find such a feeling in each place I visit while here. The next morning, we woke up early to attend a Sunday morning service at St. Augustina church, the oldest one in Vienna, built in 1367. There was truly nothing that could have prepared me for what I would witness -- the beauty of the worship was beyond compare. Though the church itself was less extravagant than the others we had seen, it was awe inspiring in a more understated way. Despite not understanding German, I listened for the inflection in the preacher's voice and realized the ways in which our voices can move us beyond language barriers. My favorite part was the music. I felt as though I were in a concert hall with the swelling violins and clear operatic tones, and was nearly brought to tears when I thought about the beauty of such dedication to and love for God. Though I myself have never been deeply religious, this experience brought the power of faith into a clarity for me that is hard to explain. Alex explained afterward that the sermon was talking about living through love in spite of everything, and I couldn't have imagined a better message to have been listening to without even knowing it. Following the service, we walked to Belvedere Palace, the past home of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (whose eventual assassination would later be infamously cited as the start of WWII). You would think after a weekend of constant amazement that I would have gotten used to it, but even here I was awestruck. As we wandered the grounds my excitement grew for when we would return in the spring and be able to see the gardens in full bloom. Afterward, it was almost time to catch our train home, so we made our way to the train station sadly saying goodbye to the sights and sounds of Vienna. Though we were only there for three days, I was moved by how rapidly I had been growing accustomed to the city and how much I had already felt attached when we departed. Lucky for me, it's only a 4 euro (round trip!) train ride away and I have 3 more months to return. This morning, I could have used a breather after the long weekend but was once again up and running in Brno. Despite the bags under my eyes, this weekend was unquestionably worth it. The breathless feeling of witnessing a new place and the warmth of the Viennese people when I stumbled over my attempts at German reminded me once again of why it is I fell in love with traveling when I first landed in Vietnam almost three years ago. While my bank account and sleep schedule may suffer a little... I'm already looking ahead to the next place I'll experience. Watch out world :) Faith xo P.S. To everyone back home - while in Vienna I was struck by the number of times I saw something and wished I could have one of you be there to see it. So many things I am seeing make me think of one of you specifically who would appreciate it, and it makes me smile to think of you all and to remember how universal the joys of travel are. Glad I get to share with you virtually, but just know you're certainly not forgotten amidst my busy-ness! Hi everyone! And welcome back!! Whew sorry for the long absence,,, this first week (or 10 days really) has been absolutely surreal. Orientation is over, though, and I'm beginning to settle into a routine so updates will hopefully be more frequent. Shoutout to all my grandparents - I've been told you've been eagerly checking in so I dedicate this very late and thus very long post to your patience! I can't wait to tell you about everything that has happened so far. Let's start from the beginning, shall we? On February 7th, Mom, Dad, and Anna drove me to the Pittsburgh airport around 11 am. There, we met up with Adam and they all suffered through airport security to come eat lunch with me and say goodbye at my gate. Pittsburgh is the first airport in the nation to bring back allowances for non passengers to come through security - it seemed we were all on the fence about whether this was a good idea or not. While I was thankful for the company at the airport Chik-fil-A, it also made saying goodbye that much harder. I noticed an airport employee laugh a little while they passed us all crying at my gate and felt like I was in a movie. After waving to each other the whole way down the terminal, that was it. I was on my own. My two hour flight to JFK airport left shortly after, and after a quick layover, I was off on a Finnair flight to Helsinki over international waters. Though I got lucky with a window seat and no one beside me, the 10 hour flight left me achy and in desperate need of a shower nonetheless. In the midst of this flight I had my first actual realization of the journey upon which I was embarking. When I looked out of the window somewhere over Iceland, I saw a small cluster of lights - the first international town I had seen on this trip. While leaving home had been terrifying and difficult, this moment reminded me of why I decided to study abroad in the first place. Though it seems obvious, to me there is something soberingly powerful about removing yourself from your own experiences enough to realize there are people living beautiful, different lives all over the world. After rushing through the Helsinki airport (tiny but very quaint- and filled with beautiful Scandinavian people who made me feel a little self conscious about my greasy hair!) and customs agents, I made it to my gate just in time for boarding. I didn't even have time to consider what was actually happening before I was on the plane: the moment had finally come and in a few short hours I would be in the Czech Republic. Fast forward a few hours and I was boarding a bus at the Vaclav Havel airport in Prague, nervously awaiting Brno. Though I tried to stay awake on the bus, my long flights got the better of me and I woke up in Brno three hours later. A fellow Erasmus student (the international network here at Masaryk University) picked me up and whisked me away on a tram to my dorm where I began to unpack. And panic a little... Suddenly I was unable to avoid that I was here and all by myself, I wasn't sure how to navigate this new place or react to my own cluelessness. After a phone call home I went to sleep, scared but hopeful in starting the next day's adventure. Midday Saturday, I went next door to introduce myself to my neighbors. (The dorms here share a bathroom between two rooms and I had heard them speaking English on Friday night.) To my surprise, the girl who opened the door already knew who I was. It turned out my neighbors, who I soon learned were named Abby and Rachael, were from Juniata College in PA and had flown over with a boy from my program, Alex. They invited me to brunch and I was immediately grateful for their company. All of them are very kind and easily welcomed me despite me being the only one from Penn State. Later that night, we met up with another guy from my program, Dan, and some people they knew from Brno to go to a popular bar/cafe called Skog Urban Hub. Over infectious laughter and drinks a little strong for my unaccustomed taste, I bonded with my soon to be classmates and warmed to the city greatly. This past week has led to the formation of even closer relationships with them, and I continuously find myself surprised at how rapidly friendships can blossom. The next day, orientation began. After quite a roundabout trek to the city's other main dormitory, we grabbed lunch and joined a city tour. Beyond seeing some gorgeous architecture and views, I was amazed at the level of diversity among the students. Somehow, I hadn't been prepared for so many international students from places other than America. I soon realized my friends from JC and I were actually in the minority. We quickly befriended a girl from Hong Kong, Carrie, and talked about culture and our studies with people from Italy, Slovakia, England, Australia, Korea, Mexico, and too many more places to remember. While these conversations were incredibly enlightening and fascinating (not to mention just great, fun discussions!) I started to feel a sense of guilt about my language. It felt as though us Americans were the only ones who didn't know much about other countries' geography or speak another language - it gave me a reality check into my privilege of being a native speaker of the global language of business and to come from the "most powerful" country in the world. This epiphany has led to many thought provoking conversations and I have truly felt grateful this past week to have people from all over the world be understanding, curious, and eager to help me learn about their cultures as well. Monday brought the beginning of more practical orientation activities. The ensuing days included lots of presentations, scheduling, tram ticket and bank account set ups, and other less exciting (but very necessary) things. One thing I have learned over the past week is how strong the influence of social activities is on student life here. Due to the lower drinking age and wide variety of bars, cafes, and restaurants, even our procedural orientation activities were balanced with a pub crawl on Tuesday and a club party on Wednesday. While meeting so many people and enjoying myself was incredibly fun, I've realized I'm certainly not used to the work hard-play hard culture! Many Czechs and other Europeans regularly stay out until 6am... I think I might stick to my bedtime of 2am at the latest though. The rest of the week was filled with Survival Czech Language courses, onboarding at my internship, and some sightseeing. Although my Czech vocabulary is still limited to the few random terms we were introduced to (jablko: apple, nemocnice: hospital, and my personal favorite zmrzlina: ice cream, among others) I have become much better at reading the letters and using the correct sounds for the Czech alphabet. While I often don't know what I'm saying, I've found myself sitting on trams or walking down the streets reading signs to myself. Practice makes perfect, I guess! The other day I also had my first full interaction in Czech with a pastry vendor across the street from my dorm! Though it was only a few shaky sentences, from her warm smile I could tell she appreciated the effort and I felt proud of the progress I'd made. While I may not need to know Czech for longer than the few short months I'm here, I'm eager to learn as much as I can to show empathy and respect to the native citizens and hopefully to create more meaningful relationships with the Czech people. Thursday morning I went to my internship at the IBM Central Europe Client Innovation Center in Technologicky Park. Though I ended up walking over 12 miles and got thoroughly lost, I was eventually introduced to my three managers, Kristyna, Zlatka, and Martin and felt very reassured by their friendliness. This morning (Monday), I returned for a few hours and was eagerly welcomed into the group. At lunch, I sat in the very modern feeling common area with other employees and chatted about everything from Czech food, to their love of coffee, to dogs (of course!). This IBM employs over 4,000 people and represents over 90 different nationalities; I am already eager to start my work and meet and learn from so many new people! Last but not least, jumping back to Saturday for sightseeing... My American friends and I had met a Swiss student, Felix, at orientation and he offered to take us to brunch and the highest point in Brno. After discovering an adorable cafe, we climbed to the top of Old Town Hall or Stara Radnice. Constructed by Anton Pilgram, the beautiful tower boasts heavy wood beams and a famous bent turret (this "mistake" was rumored to be made by the architect because of what he felt were too low of wages!). From the tower's vantage point, we could see all across the historic red rooftops of Brno and watch the many people crisscrossing the streets below. It was truly a perfect way to end my first week, adding a new perspective overlooking the beautiful opportunities and adventures awaiting me in this city... If you've stuck with me this long, I owe you a pivo (or beer) the next time I see you!! I apologize for such a long and late post but hope that the wait was worth it. It truly feels as though I am discovering new things not only about the Czech Republic but myself every day, and I can't wait to continue sharing this journey with you all. I think from here on out I may try and update in shorter bursts more frequently... I'll try not to subject you to as long of a read after this! Until then, dekui (thanks) for reading! Nazdravi (cheers) and na shledanou (goodbye)!! Faith xo Welcome to my blog!
(I'm guessing that if you're here you probably know who I am, but if you don't feel free to head on over to the 'About' tab to get acquainted. Otherwise, we'll get started!) Today is the second to last day of January 2019 and the eighth to last day of my time left in the US. This spring semester, I will be living and studying for about five months in Brno, Czech Republic (or Czechia to the locals). While there, I will be taking classes at Masaryk University, completing a marketing internship at IBM to supplement my business major, and traveling within and outside of the country to experience and learn about as many cultures as I can. It's wild to think about the whirlwind of the past year and how quickly it feels I've gotten here. Just last February, I was setting up my first meetings with study abroad advisers to discuss which programs and countries I might apply to. Fast forward six months to my first meeting with Professor Elavsky (the mastermind behind the program; check out more at www.czechmates.org ), and another six months until now. After what felt like endless planning and more email chains than I ever dreamed of, I am ready to embark in one short week to head to Europe for the first time. As for right now that's all from me... I should probably stop procrastinating my packing and actually get to it! Looking forward to keeping in touch with you all throughout this journey. See you soon! Faith xo |