Putting the “Study” in “Study Abroad”

Many of you have emailed me asking about my classes. It has come to my attention that I have hardly mentioned my studies which leads me to believe that most of you think I'm barely even studying here! While I do love my program because it emphasizes the “abroad” portion of “study abroad,” I am, in fact, enrolled in five fascinating classes. I thought I could give a brief description of each one so that you know that I am actually doing work here (although I do feel like I am being educated largely by my travels and adventures outside of the classroom).

Elementary Czech. I wrote about it in another post, but I’ll reiterate. It’s a beginner’s Czech course that teaches all of the students how to merely get by in the Czech Republic. Even after just one month of studying Czech, I’m beginning to pick up on basic phrases and I’m able to have simple conversations with people in grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. I’ve never loved learning foreign languages in school, but I’m realizing that I love learning languages when they are directly applicable and useful.

Comprehending the Holocaust: This is the most popular class that UPCES (my program) offers. It goes into great detail about different aspects of the Holocaust, including Germany’s history, the history of Anti-Semitism, Propaganda, and many more subjects. It is fascinating, yet heavy. We watch shorts films that are relevant to each class’ lecture each week and have in depth discussions about articles that we are assigned to read. It is particularly poignant studying this subject while in Prague because of its direct correlation to the catastrophe. I also live in the Jewish Quarter of Prague so I am constantly reminded of what happened here.

In Defiance of Totalitarianism: This is my Art History course for the semester. I thought it would be about the art produced during the Totalitarianism regime, but instead, we've been discussing the philosophical perspectives behind the concept of beauty and madness. After we discuss for about an hour, my professor takes our entire class to see different museums in Prague! It's so cool! Last week, he took us to a HUGE museum that I didn't even know existed and we saw the most incredible works by Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet, Manet, Renoir, and Degas (and more). I was so surprised because these seminal works were on display in such a casual way. The museum itself wasn't that beautiful, and the signs for the galleries didn't imply that these priceless works would be on display, so when we came across them (and so many of them) I was shocked and so excited! We all had others classes afterwards so we just hopped on the tram outside the museum and got back to school. The “nonchalantness” of this museum visit perfectly sums up so many aspects of European culture.

Czechs, Germans, and Jews in Bohemian Lands: This class is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a historical class of the relationships of the aforementioned groups in Bohemian lands. It’s interesting because we learn about the culture struggles between Germans and Czechs and I now am beginning to understand why Czechs show such patriotism and nationalism towards the Czech Republic. They take such pride in their country, language, and culture. In the early 19^th c., the language of Czech was slowly being phased out by Germanic efforts, but the Czechs prevailed, enhanced their language so it could be used in more academic settings and established a culture that could not be overwritten. The class is very interesting and I’m enjoying learning the history of the country I’m living in.

Prague as a Living History: This class is outside of the classroom. It is a walking tour class and every week, we are taken to a different area of Prague while we learn about the history and legends behind that area. A few students give presentations each week. My presentation was on the Old Royal Palace at the Prague Castle. We've visited the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, and The Vyšerhad Castle so far. Although embarking on a 3-hour walking tour can be a bit tiring, it’s incredibly interesting to explore all of the different parts of Prague.

So there it is; now you know that I’m actually studying in Prague! My experience outside of the classroom are enriching and amazing, but my experience of being educated in a foreign classroom is invaluable as well.

Czeching out,

Grace