Overall Experience : Taking a crab out of its shell

Hermit crabs are known for loving their shells and often hiding in them when they get scared.  The only time they leave their shell is when it gets too small and they need a bigger one.  I would not normally refer myself to a crab but before leaving for this trip I definitely had a comfort zone.  I have grown up to be a very family orientated person and kind of a homebody.  Yes, I love to go and hang out with friends and go on trips, but none of these have stretched my comfort zone.  I have always pictured myself as a semi- adventurous person but someone who wanted to open up more to adventure and just did not know how.  This can be difficult when the longest time you have ever spent away from your parents is only a week.  I have loved living in Kearney in my whole life, but I knew that if I did not get out at some point then I would be stuck there for my whole life and would not know anything else.  That is when studying abroad came into mind.  In past years, I have never ever considered the thought but decided to change my ways and give it shot this year.  I had no clue what to expect.  I had never been out of the country or traveled by myself before so I was in for a huge wake up call. 

During this journey I have faced many challenges that have only made me stronger as a person.  Due to never being away from my family for a long time, I struggled with homesickness many times during this trip.  Even though struggling with homesickness was not fun and often made me depressed, I would not change the fact of dealing with it.   I believe this experience has developed me into being a more independent person.  I have learned how to solve and deal with situations on my own and have had to break through communication barriers while doing so.  Along this trip, I have also gained friendships that will not compare to any other type formed.  This trip has forced many of us to push our comfort zones, sort through problems, struggle with communicating, etc.  Because I have not had my family and friends to confide in, I have turned to these new friendships as a source of comfort.  It is hard to explain the difference of friendships that I have gained here and the bond of traveling we all share together.  This study abroad experience has also helped my gain confidence in many different categories.  It has helped me to break out of my shell and be who I really am and has shown me the person that I want to be or remembered as.  Ending this trip, I can now say that I have traveled to just as many countries that I have states.  In three months I have embarked in many plane and train rides, stayed at various hostels, experienced numerous adventures, and traveled to ten different countries.  Before this trip, I had flown on a plane once.  I was terrified to go on the overseas flight and always thought of the worst possibilities.  Now, flying and reading an airport seems like a breeze.  This opportunity has developed a traveling confidence in me.  I am no longer scared to travel the world or even the 50 states.  There are so many opportunities, experiences, confidences in this trip that I have gained.  I would consider the crab to have been taken out of her shell and still living life with the greatest attitude.

Me pictured in the airport before leaving Omaha

Me after first arriving in the Czech

Me pictured in Austria 

Me picturd in Italy

Me pictured in France

Me pictured in Spain

Me pictured in Croatia

Me pictured in Poland

Field Trip #3 - Hrad Bouzov (9)

One day of this past week, we took a short field trip to the castle, Hrad Bouzov.  This was a small medieval style castle that was built in the 14^th century.  During it’s time it was owned by several families and was considered a religious property but was then sold to the state after the war.  When we first arrived at the castle I noticed that it looked different than all the others we have visited.  One thing that I loved about the castle was that it had a distinct moat.  They mentioned that they used to keep bears in the moat to keep others from crossing over.  An interesting fact about the castle was that not all of the objects in it were original or of that time era.  During later years the owners of the castle bought artwork, some of people that were not even in the family or someone they knew.  They did not care who the people in the artwork were or what was in the artwork.  They just bought it to show that they could afford to make it look fancy.  To me this showed how people with power were more worried about materialistic things to show power or rule rather than more important aspects.  Another interesting fact was that only the nobleman or the king was allowed to hunt animals.  It was a favorite pastime but because everything was property of the king or nobleman no one else could partake in the pastime.  Also, if one was caught with a weapon it would be considered a crime.  This shows how much control a ruler could have over all of the decisions and actions made in his kingdom.  Because I have grown up in a democratic country it is hard for me to imagine one person having so much power over all of the rest.

Outside of the Bouzov Castle

Entrance door into the castle

Fireplace in the hunting room of the castle

Field Trip #3 - Poland (8)

Me licking a wall in the Salt Mine

This past weekend we took a trip Krakow, Poland.  I had heard from others that this was one of their favorite trips from the whole semester so I was excited to see what it had to offer.  Before arriving in Krakow, we stopped in its suburb to visit Wieliczka Salt Mine.  This was a salt mine that was built in the 13^th Century.  The mine is now used as a monument to tour, and is still set up how it was during it’s time of use.   Models and statues of objects or people are displayed to show the process of retrieving the salt or objects they used.  The salt mine was literally made out of salt walls and floors (except for the wood they have had to add for support), even some of the sculptures were made out of salt by the previous minors.  Due to the walls being made out of salt, you could lick the wall and it would taste like salt.  Licking the wall may sound gross but it actually tasted pretty good.

                After the salt mine, we continued to our hostel in Krakow.  We had a lot of free time in Krakow so many of us wondered and explored the main square of Old Town Krakow.  They had the biggest square I have seen so far and had so much going on in it.  If you moving out of the way of horse carriages, then you could be sitting on the edge of it at a restaurant table outdoors, or you could be wondering around the middle listening to street performers or watching break dancers.  The square had so much going on during both the day and night.  One night while sitting at one of the side restaurants, a few of us realized how much people get out and do things in Europe rather than back in America where many times people enjoy spending time at their home or another’s rather than going out in the town.  It makes me want to be more adventurous when I get back and learn to go explore things rather than hanging out at houses.

                The last thing we did while in Poland is visit Auschwitz.  I have learned about the Holocaust, WWII, and Auschwitz many different times in History classes but it does not really hit you what it is until you visit there.  I left Poland with a heavy heart yesterday.  We saw so many different aspects of Auschwitz.  We entered some of the buildings that used to be used as the living quarters between 1940-1945.  While walking through these buildings, our group had to walk in a single final line in order to be able to walk and see everything without bumping into other groups or taking up the whole halls.  What is crazy is that a group of 25 had to walk in a single final line but yet the people who were forced to live in the buildings had to share it with approximately 699 others.  Some of the rooms were still set up how they were originally were with stray laying on the ground for beds, or a couple of rooms with blankets, and a few with bunks that they were packed into.  They also had displays of eye glasses, brushes, shoes luggage and even hair from the prisoners.  We were informed that they used to shave everyone’s head, even the women’s, and then they would sell the hair to other countries for them to use to make blankets, cloths, etc.  The Nazis used as much as they could get from the prisoners.  We were taken into one building that was the first original gas chamber and we were explained that the people who were brought to this building knew that they were going to die.  The chamber could kill over 1000 people in 20 minutes.  After the gas chamber they were moved to the next room where the bodies would be cremated.  They mentioned that since human bones do not burn they would have a certain group designated to smash the bones with hammers.  Another disturbing fact is that to save bullets, the Nazis would smash babies and little kids heads against walls to kill them.  The thought of that almost made me puke.

The first original gas chamber 

The crematorium the bodies were brought to after

Shoes of the prisoners

Luggage of the prisoners

Eye glasses of the prisoners

                So many nasty things went on during this time and at these camps that are unimaginable.  It is hard to picture everything that went on or how they were treated that even we are not told about.  It is a challenge for me to think about how humans could do that and treat other humans in such that way.  Or that they could be brainwashed that well to believe that they were doing a good thing.  I cannot even fully describe my emotions after leaving.  You partly feel horrible for what those people went through, but also partly and guiltily feel thankful for your life and how you have been able to live it.  Along with learning the history of the Holocaust and Auschwitz, I believe that Auschwitz can also teach some life lessons.  I think one thing you can take away from this experience is how you treat people overall.  Many times people just judge and assume things about people because of who they hang out with, how they dress, etc.,  but if you think about it because of those thoughts that is how the whole Holocaust and anti-Jews thing got started.  This camp and experience has left such a toll on my heart.  I hope that people learn from these times so that something like this never happens again and history does not repeat itself.

Social Life (6)

                Being so far away, the social life here is something that I rely on to get me through and distract me from my homesickness.  I have met many new people and gained many new friends while on this trip.  One thing that seems to be a struggle is the fact that we all like to group together and hang out altogether.  We love to go to festivals, out to eat, wonder out around the town together, etc.  Many times we run into the problem of finding enough room for all of us to fit in one place together or all of us being too noisy.  Sometimes we choose to spend a relaxing night together by having a movie night and all cuddling together to watch a streamed movie.  Some other nights, we also enjoy going to one of our favorite clubs, 15 Minut or Belmondo, and enjoying a couple drinks and dancing.  As much as we love spending time with each other, we have also enjoyed meeting new people from different countries as well.  While we are here we are connected with a group on campus called Erasmus.  Erasmus is a student exchange program in Europe.  We have had some events joined with them and have been able to meet other students studying abroad from their homes as well.  Many of us also have Erasmus students as flat mates so we are able to see them on the daily and they come hang with us.  Since countries and towns are so close to each other in Europe many students, including us, spend their weekends traveling to new places so most of the social life goes on during the weekdays.  Mondays and Wednesdays are the main days that people get together to hang out.  This is the opposite of the Kearney.  As much as I miss my friends and family in Kearney, I am glad that I have had the opportunity to meet new people from different towns and countries while on this trip.  Going out and having a social life with friends helps make this time go by faster and also helps create many new memories to add to this overall experience.

A group of us with some of our France friends!

A group of us squeezed into a booth for lunch one day!

A group of us at one of our favorite clubs 15 Minut!

Academic Life (2)

So far the academic life here in the Czech Republic is way different for me compared to how it is back in Kearney.  Here we do not start class until 3 in the afternoon and go until 7 at night.  In Kearney, I enroll in morning classes and am often times done by early afternoon.  While here, as a group we are all taking classes involving the Czech Republic’s History.  We start the day off by having a guest lecturer come and teach a lesson on some aspect of the Czech’s history.  We have had a variety of topics taught so far.  Some examples are, Political systems, the European borders, Architecture, Religion, etc.  The next class we have is Czech language.  Czech class is definitely the most fun.  Even though trying to learn a new language is extremely difficult, it is a good upbeat class to have in the middle of two lecture classes.  Learning a new language takes a lot of time and repetition.  Along with learning the new language, we also have to learn the pronunciation of every letter, the different rules to pronunciation, and how to spell the words.  So far the hardest part is learning how to pronounce the words for me.  Our last class of the day is taught by one of our two academic coordinators in the Czech, Martin or Jan.  So far these classes have focused more on Religion, mainly Judaism. 

                The classroom structures of the lectures here are taught way different from the ones I have in Kearney.  The lectures here mainly consist of the teacher standing or sitting in the front of the classroom speaking about the topic, often in a monotone voice.  Sometimes powerpoints are used and sometimes the teachers just talk without any props.  The lectures where the professor just talks are the most difficult for me.  In Kearney, many of my classes are big on classroom involvement, hands on learning, communication and the teachers are energetic about teaching.  Compared to this, my classes here are harder for me to retain the information.  I am definitely a visual and hands on learner so the classes that are more for audio based learners are a challenge for me.  Overall, it has been interesting to learn about a new country’s history and what has molded them into how they are today.

Schedule of classes for one week

Czech language books

Personal Excursions(10) -- Spring Break!!

Before leaving to study abroad I had not traveled much.  Most of my vacations consisted of visiting a boarding state of Nebraska and an occasional farther special trip.  All of these trips of course I accompanied someone else who had already planned it out and had the budget worked out.  This study abroad experience has really tested my comfort zone and traveling skills.  The past two weeks I was gone traveling.  The last week I experienced a spring break for the first time by traveling to three different countries.  I started off spring break by taking a train to Rome.  While in Rome I was able to see and tour Vatican City (St. Peter’s Square, the Museum, the Sixteenth Chapel, and Saint Peter’s Basilica), the Colosseum, The Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.  After Rome we headed to Paris.  We had an interesting start to Paris when it took us three hours just to find our hostel.  Paris kept my feet busy by taking them to the Castle of Versailles, The Eiffel Tower (3 times), the Catacombs, Notre Dame, the Paris Opera House, the Louvre, Pont Des Arts ( the love bridge of locks), and to outside of Napoleon’s hospital and castle.  After Paris wore my feet out, Barcelona decided to take them next.  Barcelona was a whole different scenery.  Everything looked so tropical and peaceful.  We visited La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Christopher Columbus Statue, the boardwalk and obviously the beach.

I learned a lot about traveling during this last week.  Some lessons are, make sure you have the directions to your hostel, make sure you find all of the directions you will need previous to leaving for the day or to the place, make sure you know how you are going transport yourself, make sure you double check the directions of the tram you get on, make sure you double check your flight numbers before confirming a flight so you don’t book the wrong one, and many more.  The most important thing I learned is that is hard to plan and figure out every detail to your trip and you often forget to look thing up and one of the previous will happen to you, but when that does happen you just need to make the best of out the situation and remember it as a good memory to remember always of the trip.

Trevi Fountain in Rome

Colosseum in Rome

Eiffel Tower in Paris

Catacombs in Paris

Beach in Barcelona

La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Cultural Comparisons (5)

While studying in the Czech Republic, Olomouc has become my new European home.  Olomouc is just like my normal home town, it has restaurants, a shopping mall, a post office, a university, a community, transportation, etc.  Although it has many things in common with Kearney and the United States, I have also noticed some significant differences between the two.   Here are five main differences I notice.

1.       Smiling and Loudness                                                            

      It is common for people in the Czech to often have straight faces and not smile often.  They also are very quiet while in all public places. This is often hard for my friends and I to follow along with.  It is normal for us to smile and laugh a lot no matter what setting we are in.  At one of our first lectures we were even told that many Czech people think Americans are fake because they always try to come off as happy.  I personally love to be with friends and laugh and I believe that that is how we should live our lives.  It is definitely a struggle sometimes not to be too loud on trains or the tram or in the store or restaurant.

2.       Bathrooms

To me going to the bathroom is part of your everyday life.  Well most public places in Europe do not like to make it that easy.  Most common places here will make you pay to go to the bathroom.  Common places like gas stations, airports or train stations, park bathrooms will all make you pay to use.  I have definitely learned the lesson the hard way to make sure you plan your bathroom trips accordingly.

3.       Transportation                                                                               

Back home the main form of transportation is driving a car around. The normal thing to do when you turn sixteen and get your license is to get a car or atleast be able to drive a car around for yourself.  Well here in Olomouc the main form of transportation is the tram system.  Not many people own cars and just use the tram system.  The trams are nice and handy that you can just get on anywhere and ride to where you need to go, but you the hardest part is learning the tram times and having to schedule to make things on time by the tram schedule rather than being able to leave whenever in your own car.

4.       Dogs

One thing I love about Olomouc is that you see dogs everywhere!  I love animals so I love seeing the fury characters always walking around with their owners.  The funny thing is that a lot of the time I do not see them in the common places you would think.  I have seen many dogs in airports, grocery stores, malls, the phone store, etc.  The dogs literally can almost go everywhere with their owners.  I have also noticed that the dogs here are a lot calmer here and are trained super well.  Seeing all of the dogs sure do make me miss my at home!

5.       Beverages                                                                            

Well I hate to admit this but the saying that “Beer is cheaper than water in the Czech Republic” is true.  This has been something that has been hard for me to get accustomed too.  For example, when we go out to eat back home I would always order water, one, because it was free and two, just because I like to keep myself hydrated and do not drink a lot of caffeine or anything else.  In Olomouc, if you go to a restaurant and want water you will have to pay about $3.  A normal beer in Olomouc is around $1.  To save money and stay away from other liquids, I have started to carry a water bottle in my purse and just fill it up in sinks or anywhere I can find to keep myself hydrated.