Prague and Its People

After three weeks of intense language preparation and Erfurt crash course adaptation, the University saw fit to give us a 10-day break before the official semester began. So what to do? Why, take a trip of course! That is the easy part; the difficulty came in selecting travel companions, especially since we had only known each other for three weeks. But once Mia from Illinois, Ah-Hyeon from South Korea, and I decided that we liked each other enough to travel together, the next difficult decision was: where do we want to go? I suppose that in the telling of this tale, I should admit that I am not always the greatest at compromising with others when it comes to travel plans, especially after three weeks of making all of the decisions on my own. But in the end, after several last minute changes, we finally decided to spend our hard-earned week break in Prague.

Very early last Saturday morning, we embarked on our little adventure, and arrived in Prague that evening. The hostel was conveniently located near the metro stop, but it quickly became clear that it was not really close to anything else, which meant we got our exercise! Since it was too late to explore that night, we tracked down some dinner and snacks and settled down in our dorm to play some cards, in the middle of which we were unceremoniously moved downstairs to make room for a larger group who had pitched a fit about their accommodations and wanted ours. We ended up in a room with three beds…and the computer, which meant people were coming in and out at all times wanting to use the internet. Thankfully, however, it was only for three nights, and was really not that bad but for the long line for the shower every morning.

In any case, we spent the better part of Sunday exploring the Easter festivals going on in Old Town Square. We enjoyed awesome Czech food, including a pizza thing with ketchup and cheese (sounds like a weird combo, but it was great) and a cylinder of fire-baked dough rolled in cinnamon, sugar, and almonds. More importantly, however, we took full advantage of the cheap Czech shopping in the outdoor stalls, and I spent a small fortune on gifts for friends and family back home (sorry, you will have to find out who got what when I come home in July). Not only was this great fun, but the spirit of the festival was lively and happy, and the weather was nothing but sunshine. I think I actually got sun burnt on this trip…Yay for spring!

Prague certainly had a charm that is so different than all the other places I have thus far experienced. The city was teeming with youth and happiness; even those who were older in years had a youthful spirit and looked out at the world with a smile. The rowdy teenagers in the street, who seem slightly threatening in Erfurt, rather felt full of benign goodwill and sweet curiosity in Prague. Street musicians, instead of simply hawking for a coin or two, smiled with the pleasure of the music they played and reveled in the enjoyment they caused in the passersby. On Charles Bridge, I found myself fascinated by an older woman who quietly danced and swayed to a blind man’s accordion. Even though I knew they were a team and she was not a perfect stranger, I was drawn in by her peaceful and benevolent smile that traced her features with enchanted happiness. In comparison to the harsh and cautiously suspicious manners of many Germans I have met, the Czech people are open, eager to help, apologetic when they accidentally bump into one another, love to practice their English with a stranger, and are ready to smile at all those they meet, even including the annoying tourists. They rejoice in their culture and are enthusiastic when sharing it with others. They are proud of their country and their history, and have every confidence in the legitimacy of that pride. Many of Europe’s hot spots offer great museums and fantastic sights, but I think the Czech Republic’s greatest attraction is its people.