Dobry den, all! This is the final post I am required to write for my semester abroad, however, I am unwilling to commit to it being my last post while in Europe. We still have two weeks of traveling left after all, so I may or may not have time to write another.
For this post I will be advising any future travelers that choose to study in the Czech Republic. I'm sure I have learned a few things in my time over here, so I hope I can translate that into some helpful tips:
Packing
I would suggest bringing enough clothes to last a week or two, but this is all up to the traveler. A lot depends on how much you are willing to wear the same clothes over and over and how much you would like to do laundry. Word of warning: doing laundry can be fairly expensive if you prefer convenience. There is a very nice laundromat nearby the dorms with large washers and dryers that work quickly, but it usually costs around 7-10 USD per trip. The washers provided by the dorms are cheaper (only about 2 USD) but are also very slow, very small, and you only have access to them for 3 hours at a time. I prefer convenience, and I validate the extra costs to making up for all the inexpensive food and drink you can find here. I would definitely advise packing for cold weather. The Czech Republic is a temperate climate but it can still be quite cold even in May. You will likely want some warm weather clothes for nice days or if you plan on traveling south, but you will likely be disappointed if you only prepare for summer weather.
One thing I personally wished I left at home were my sweatpants. Despite some chilly weather I have not felt the need to wear them much. Also, for the most part Europeans dress rather well, so I felt I might stand out a little more than I desired in them. It's a personal choice, though.
Travel
I'm glad I did some research on places I wanted to see before I came to Europe. That way it made decisions on where to travel on weekends and free time much easier once I got here. I wouldn't recommend setting plans in stone before you arrive. Don't be afraid to be somewhat spontaneous in your travel destinations, just be sure to do a little research and make sure it's the right choice before you jump on a plane. That being said, if you've decided to take a big trip, don't wait too long to buy your tickets. Make sure to get them early enough that the prices don't skyrocket on you. In most cases, I prefer a train to a flight. It's usually cheaper and more fun in my opinion. But if you're about speed, flying is the way to go, just be sure to keep an eye on the flight time when you're looking at tickets. Long layovers in out of the way places can drive the prices down, but they can be killers. I would try to avoid them as best as possible. When going on trips definitely try to pack light. You don't want to be lugging a heavy pack all over a city looking for your hostel right after a long flight/ride. It is no dobře.
Something I wish I would have known is how ungodly expensive sunscreen can be in very touristy locales (like Italy). Bring it with you from the states or buy it in Olomouc where its much cheaper.
Of the places I've been so far, I would highly recommend the Cinque Terre in Italy. Rome and Venice are fantastic, too, but can get annoying with all the tourist traps and such. I would recommend spending some extra time in Prague, too. It's a great city and there is a lot to explore there. I'm also going to Budapest and Amsterdam shortly. If they qualify to be put on the highly recommended list I'll be sure to add them.
School
This is one area of the program that I would be interested in seeing updated. Unfortunately, the classes are not integrated with any other students at the University, so there isn't a component of being able to meet other Palacky students in class. The lectures are interesting, however, they could get a bit repetitive after awhile. Be sure to have questions ready at the end of the lectures because the instructors expect them. Czech Language class is difficult to say the least, and I'll leave it at that.
Money
A lot of money is definitely not necessary to have a great time on this trip. I brought about $3000 total and I have been able to do just about everything I have wanted. If you want to be especially cheap, consider touring around the Czech Republic a little more. It's a very inexpensive country in comparison to others in the EU. Be warned: credit and debit cards are not as widely accepted in the Czech Republic as they are in the US. You will probably have to use the ATM at least a few times. My suggestion is to take out as much as you can each time at the ATM to make the best of the $2 service fees. I spent the majority of my money on travel and food, but that is what I set out to do. If your plans involve a lot of shopping be sure to budget for it.
Communication
I had originally planned to purchase a SIM card in the Czech for my iPhone, but in the end I decided I didn't need it. We were able to communicate well enough as a group with WIFI Hotspots and a little bit of preplanning. I wouldn't advise either way though, however, SIM cards purchased in the Czech Republic don't work outside of the Czech Republic. The more you know!
Miscellaneous
My final tip is to be prepared to walk A LOT. Especially on the trips with the program leaders. And while public transportation is pretty good throughout Europe it can be pretty confusing in the bigger cities so oftentimes it is just easier to hoof it wherever you need to go.
Olomouc Top 3
1. Take the bus up to Svatý Kopeček. It's only 20 minutes outside of Olomouc and your tram pass covers the fair. The town resides at the top of a hill and there is a church, a small zoo, and a large forested area with walking paths. The forest is a beautiful place to spend some time exploring and you can get some great views of the countryside.
2. Meet the Erasmus Students. The Erasmus program allows European students to travel and study in another European country for a semester. The best part is that they all speak English because it is usually the common language between host countries and the students. They are from all over Europe and they've been in Olomouc longer than you so getting to know them is a great way to get introduced to the town and have some fun. I got to know some students from France and they invited me to their weekly basketball game, and now I'm proud to call them all friends.
3. Go to the Breweries! There are some awesome brewery/restaurants in Olomouc. St. Wenceslas and Moritz have great food and even better beer. All the Czech beer is good but there's something about being in a local brewery that really makes you feel at home and it may have been the best food I had in the Czech Republic. Wenceslas even offers a beer spa next door to the restaurant if your feeling especially brave.
Hope you enjoyed. See you next time!
Trav
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