As I return to the USA and look back on these past two weeks in Prague, I think what I am most grateful for is the people I shared this experience with. The schedule was busy almost every day, and there were definitely moments where everyone was exhausted, but somehow being together always made things more fun. I genuinely do not think I have laughed this much in such a short amount of time because of all the inside jokes, random moments, and memories we made together. I really hope these friendships continue once we are all back in Pittsburgh.
One of the biggest misconceptions I had before coming here was that the Czech Republic would feel very quiet or reserved all the time. While there are definitely cultural differences, I found Prague to feel incredibly lively, welcoming, and full of history and personality.
My biggest advice for anyone traveling here would be to keep an open mind and fully enjoy the experience. Some of the best moments were not even the planned activities, but simple things like walking around Old Town at night, grabbing ice cream with friends, or wandering through the city with no real plan. Those little moments ended up meaning the most.
Ahoj Prague! I’ll be back one day!
Swanson School of Engineering 