Czech Reflections

POSTED BY KYLE

I have been home now for a few weeks and it is amazing to see how much one’s life can change in a matter of hours. In nine hours my life changed from comfortable to “interesting.” There is really no other word that could describe my European life more! I used the word multiple times a day because that was exactly what it was.

Everything around me was different and new. I was sometimes dizzy with all the fresh sites, from beginning to end. In Kuks I saw more shades of green than I had ever seen. In HK (sp?) I met a foreign family that in any other situation I never have been as memorable or would have gotten a chance to meet. In Olomouc I realized not every person is as accommodating as I naively thought. And Prauge, I found out what real tourism was all about. Both the positives and the negatives was what made my experience into what I still remember and will recall for years to come.

Currently, I am working as a nanny and spending time with my friends (making the most of my last summer at GC&SU), who are patient with my recollecting (which is sporadic). I know it does get old always hearing “yeah, when I was in the Czech…” haha! It is funny to see how different memories come up in my everyday life. I knew it would happen, but being displaced for three weeks, I did not know in what capacity it would influence my life now. When someone does not know the English language I am more appreciative of their efforts in trying to communicate. When I go into a bathroom I am grateful for the cleanliness. When I got back to the United States, I went to a theme park …ahhh a roller coaster ride that is was not on a plane.

I loved Europe and I cannot imagine not having that experience; especially with the people I got to share it with. There must have been someone up above who knew this crew would just mesh, without any reason, but for an ultimate purpose. My experience was just not me; it was the four other students and two advisors who made it the trip that I will remember into my adulthood.

My experience would not have meant as much if I could not have discussed it over dinner with the people I was with. You guys helped me value things I did not at first notice. Each one of you added a new perspective to my life and this trip. Gaining perspective was my personal goal on this trip and each one of you helped me in achieving my personal goal. Thank you, I only hope I could offer you something just as valuable in return!

I'll be back!

POSTED BY HETTY

This trip to the Czech Republic will be one of those few great events in my life that I will annoy my children and grandchildren with by always referencing to it: “they had cobble stone in the Czech Republic too”, “the Czech people did this”, “like Joe always says, you've seen one castle-- you've seen 'em all!” (Joe was always making comments like this).

This just goes to say I will always remember the trip, the people I met along the way and the wonderful people I went with. I couldn't have designed a better three weeks, we got the best of every part of the Czech Republic: rural/city, music/theater, history/entertainment, wonderful lectures and even learned some of the language. We also had the best possible guide (they asked him to be mayor of Kuks and he turned them down!).

So thanks to everyone who made this trip possible for me and us....!!!! And thanks for keeping up with the blog -- you rock (yes, you, reading this now). Until next time (oh, yes, I'm going back!) --