Prague and My Final Thoughts on Europe

Hello everyone! I just wanted to write a bit about my short time in Prague and then generally summarize what I learned on my summer 2011 study abroad trip. 

Prague is a gorgeous city. It is completely different from Budapest. I thought the two might have a similar vibe since they are both in Eastern Europe, but the Czech Republic has a feel of its own. While Hungary is very supportive of the EU, the Czech Republic under the current leadership of Klaus is not so keen on the EU. The city is very clean, but feels more vibrant than Budapest. With a GDP of about $28,000 per person, you can definitely tell the people are more affluent in the Czech Republic. Also, Prague itself is a very wealthy city. 

We stayed in a Best Western Hotel near the center of town. Our hotel was very modern and right next door to a famous Czech restaurant where we went on Thursday night for traditional food. I had goulash, dumplings with bacon inside, and apple strudel. There was also awesome accordion music and an um pah band! The little accordion playing man played "Home on the Range" for us when he found out we were from Texas. 

When we first got to Prague on Wednesday, we checked in to our hotel and then went on a dinner cruise on the river. It was such a neat way to see the city all lit up at night from the top of our boat. Even with our delayed arrival, we still got to enjoy the food and each others' company on our private boat. The weather was nice and warm too- finally! It was about 70 degrees or warmer the whole time I was there. 

On Thursday we had two appointments in Prague, one of which was at the renowned Charles University. We learned much about the political history of Prague, their reasons for joining the EU, and the EU's reaction to them joining. 

Since I was leaving on Friday morning to go to the airport and fly home a little early, I wanted to do a bit of souvenir shopping. So after our meeting on Thursday afternoon, Linn, Marshall, and I decided to do a bit of shopping and see the city more. We made it for about ten minutes before it just poured down raining on us! We ended up finding a nice cafe to get some tea and relax in for a bit while we waited on the rain to stop. Though our sight-seeing was cut short, we still managed to have fun and get some nice postcards and things. 

I was sad to leave Prague early- there was just so much to do and see there! Everything felt so relaxed and open. I also was a big fan of the tram system! But, coming back to Texas was fantastic! I was excited for the wedding I was going to on Saturday, and for Mexican food, normal water, sunshine, and tons of green vegetables! Thankfully, I got my connecting flight in London's Heathrow and flew out just in time Friday evening before the riots began on Saturday. What a blessing!

While in Europe though, I learned a lot. Not only did I gain so much knowledge on PoliSci and the EU, but on people, cultures, and life in general. I learned to appreciate America more after seeing how things are done (or not ever accomplished) in Europe. I also think I have a better understanding of people- regardless of views, politics, beliefs, or heritage. 

I strongly encourage everyone to take the opportunity to study abroad at some point. It is the best thing to do not only for your resume, but with your time. You will grow so much and learn more about yourself along the way, (e.g. I learned I am definitely an introvert...though I love being with people, they drain me of energy. I need some "me time" to rejuvenate and regain energy I have spent). And don't let money stop you from studying abroad. There are plenty of scholarships available. Also, taking out small student loans isn't a terrible thing, especially if studying abroad will get you into the graduate school program you desire or the internship you really want. 

So, I hope you have enjoyed reading about my happy moments and adventures in Europe! I am not sure what else I will write about, but I hope to blog some more this fall :)

Budapest

When we boarded the boat for Budapest on Sunday morning, I had mixed thoughts of anticipation about the Hungarian city. I basically knew nothing about it other than that their currency, the Forint, is worth less than the dollar at $1 to 187 Ft, they speak Hungarian, a language in its own language family but for some reason grouped with Finnish, and that the city is rather Eastern due tot he Soviet influence and control until 20 years ago. Upon arriving, I had mixed feelings, but now I am a huge fan of this slowly westernizing city. 

Our hotel is quite nice, but on the Buda side of the city and Danube where not as much seems to happen. On our first afternoon here, we took a tour of a Synagogue and Jewish heritage memorial and museum. Pre-WWII, Hungary had one of the world's largest Jewish populations with around 1.3 million. Now, the small country has only about 100,000 Jews with 80% of them living in Budapest. The Synagogue was beautifully reconstructed in the late 1990's after the end of Soviet occupation. Sadly, the Hungarian government made a deal with the Nazis during WWII that ended up turning against them and then with the Soviets after the war. Now this small country is working on rebuilding its economy and making up for 45 lost years of development. You can easily tell what parts of the city are Soviet era construction and what parts are more historic, but in need of attention and renovation. The country's GDP per capita is at about $20,000, but with the recent Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council, much progress towards further economic integration has been initiated and reiterated. 

After the museum and checking in to our hotel on Sunday, we went to a four star group dinner across town. We had to take the underground to get there and quickly learned that Budapest doesn't mess around with their mass transit metros. They stop for much shorter time periods and the doors slam ten times faster than other underground systems in Munich and Vienna. At our scrumptious dinner, a few Passau and Hungarian students joined us. We got to know these students and found out they would be joining us for our lectures on Monday and Tuesday in a joint seminar program at Andrassy University here in Budapest organized through a Passau professor now here in Budapest. 

On Monday morning, we walked through a sketchy part of town to get to the university building. Once we were there though, the area immediately surrounding it was ok, and the building ended up being a palace!! I think we had class in a former dining room or something. The lectures were very interesting and on the Eastern dimension of EU security and foreign policy, the Energy Community, and on the Franco-German relationship in Europe. 

During our lunch break, us girls decided to walk the opposite way of the sketchy area we walked through earlier and came across a wonderful place for lunch called California Coffee Company. Though not true Hungarian food like dinner the night before, it was delicious, convenient, and clean. I had a heavenly strawberry muffin for dessert....so worth it! We also managed to change our Euros for Forint which is the so strange to do because you get 10,000 bills that look like Monopoly money. It is hard to truly grasp how much things cost and what exactly you are spending without a calculator. 

After our break, we went on a field trip to the Botanical Gardens where we learned more about the Danube Strategy and the EU's "bottom-up" program development system as it applies to sustainability projects in Hungary. At these beautiful, once donated, gardens, we learned about the public administration side of the Eu and its influence at the local level. We got to see some development projects such as geothermal heating systems while admiring the gardens. 

That evening, we had true Hungarian goulash at a delicious restaurant recommended to us by the hotel staff. Goulash is basically a savory beef soup with carrots and other small vegetables. I am a huge fan!

This morning we had another lecture here at the Hungarian Ministry of European Affairs where we learned much more about the Danube Strategy of macro-regional governance from Kata who was a student with the Danube Summer Institute a few years back when she was at Passau. The lecture was highly informative and well organized. 

After a brief meeting about our essays with J-Rob, 8 of us went to the area of town known as "fashion street" close to the river where there are lots of shops and restaurants. We had yummy lunch and absolutely delicious ice cream at the Budapest Atrium Cafe outside. We even took the guys into H&M afterwards, haha. There were a few sketchy people around town like a gypsy in the street, but overall, it wasn't creepy at all. We did a little postcard/ tourist shopping before heading back to the hotel. 

After chill time for napping and journal-writing at the hotel, we were supposed to have some sort of political organization meeting tonight at 8, but the meeting turned into another yummy outdoor dinner. We had some very intense conversations at dinner, but I loved getting to know the European students more. 

Some parted ways with us after diner, but unfortunately for them, they missed out on seeing the most amazing castle at night on top of the hill. It is an old Habsburg palace on the Buda side of the city on a hilltop overlooking the Danube. From up top, you could see the whole city all lit up. I loved seeing the beautiful castle all lit up at night too. 

Tomorrow will bring another new language and currency, but I cannot wait for Prague!!