Study abroad in Prague - Navigating Prague

by George Garrelts, senior, Management Information Systems

Today was an excellent full day in Prague, and we did several different activities! I woke up this morning and had a superb Czech breakfast with my new travel colleagues before embarking on a long day. At 9:30 am, our fantastic travel guide (Allie) met us in our hotel lobby to take us to the U.S. embassy in Prague.

After navigating the metro system, we arrived at the U.S. embassy to meet the economic officer, Ben Lazarus. Mr. Lazarus taught us much about his profession and the different missions he has completed as a United States Diplomat. He explained the process of becoming a U.S. diplomat and his position as an economic officer. Mr. Lazarus also gave us some insight regarding international business. He discussed topics regarding supply chain, renewable energy issues, and more. He guided us through a renewable energy and power plants case study activity he was currently working on involving multiple countries like the U.S., Czech Republic, and France. , and Mr. Lazarus opened my eyes to different business scenarios, which I had never fully considered. After the case study activity, we explored the U.S. embassy’s beautiful gardens and took pictures of the eye-catching views of Prague. (attached below).

Next, we met with a tour guide named Hanka. We saw many different sights of Prague while navigating through the city on foot. In particular, we navigated through various city landmarks such as the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, the Astronomical Clock, and more! It was such a privilege to meet her as she gave us an insider insight into all aspects of everything to know about Prague and its landmarks. One thing I found most interesting was regarding Czech behavior and interaction. She said: “If a server asks you how you are doing, say “bad” because boasting about how good your mood is may cause the Czech citizen to feel more upset.” It opened my eyes to a different perspective, considering Americans mostly always reply “good” to that question even if we are not good.

Another thing I found interesting was when she told us about the controversy regarding “The Marian Column” religious building in the old town square. It is intriguing how two churches switched their religious affiliation—one from Catholic to Protestant and the other Protestant to Catholic—even though the two churches are right across from each other in the old town square. Hanka was a lovely tour director, and I am beyond satisfied with the information I have learned from her today! I also taught my new friends more about the velvet revolution after sightseeing and navigating through the area of Wenceslas square. They were very appreciative of the latest information I shared with them!

Lastly, we finished off the day paddle boating during the golden hours in the afternoon along the Vltava river. It was such a great ending to the first day, and I enjoyed the excellent bonding time I spent with my new friends abroad! I am beyond satisfied with my decision to go on this trip!

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• Study Abroad