Czech Republic: Prague - Politics, Culture, the Arts

Prague was amazing, affordable, unique and fun. With the USAC staff located in Prague, there is 24/7 support for students whether it is an emergency, or you just want to go on a hike and don’t know where. They consistently provide opportunities to explore the city and surrounding natural areas providing many opportunities for adventure. Additionally, they provide crucial info regarding cultural norms such as tipping, acceptable behavior in public, how to use the public transportation, etc. Prague provides a unique experience to live in a true European city that has extremely affordable living as well as food and recreation. With many rivers nearby, hills to explore, and castles to be seen there is always something to do no matter what your hobbies are- Prague has it all!

Going over seas abroad was so scary to me at first. I was very worried that something was going to happen or that i wasn’t going to enjoy myself. I have flight complications getting there and the USAC team communicated with me so well and helped me get everything in order even though i was a day late! The classes were fun and exciting and we went on lots of little walks and trips during class which made my learning expirence much more enjoyable. The housing was ok, the only thing that was kinda of upsetting was that out apartment didn’t have an oven but besides that everything was amazing! I recommend USAC to people who want to study abroad and i was recommended by somone as well. Very good staff very friendly and were always there to help us and make sure we were having the best time we could! Love this program, and i would definitely would go back!

When I left for the airport on a rainy Detroit day, I had only hope and excitement for what was to come. Having just completed my freshman year and never traveled overseas, I had so much to learn. What would it be like going to a country where I knew absolutely nothing and nobody? Although it was slightly terrifying, it is also precisely why I chose to go to Prague. When it comes to study abroad, I highly recommend going out of your comfort zone. I can honestly say I learned so much not just about a new culture but about myself. I have been left with memories I will carry with me forever. If you've ever talked to someone about their experience studying abroad, I'm sure they've shared similar sentiments with you. What other programs don't have is the USAC Prague team. The people that run the program were another highlight of the trip. They gave tours around the city, showing us the best beer gardens and overlooks along the way (The Letna beer garden is a must *pictured below). They had stories of the recent Velvet Revolution and history that they happily shared. The program itself was a huge part of what made the trip so great. I looked through the classes I would be taking while there. A language course and an architectural history course. I knew I wanted to immerse myself in the culture, or at least know how to order at a restaurant. Learning the ever intriguing and complex Czech language ended up being a huge attribute during my time there for both ordering at restaurants and connecting with locals. If you are looking to widen your knowledge on buildings, culture, or just plain life, do not hesitate. Go to Prague, maybe have a beer or two and enjoy the moment with new friends.

On paper, this program didn't look as exciting as some of the bigger study abroad programs, but it turned out to be so much more than I could have ever asked for. Every week USAC staff led cook outs, hikes to castles, kayaking trips, tours, cultural activities, weekends away, a tour of central Europe, and more. There was never a dull moment and I got to explore both Prague and the Czech countryside. I feel like I got know the culture c from local people who are passionate about sharing their lives and culture. The courses were filled with field trips that kept the classes interesting and allowed us to make personal connections with the course material. In my diplomacy course, we visited Prague Castle and met with Czech diplomats. In my Transition from Communism course, we visited Radio Free Europe, Parliament, and other monuments in Prague.
Being in Central Europe was such a unique experience because it is affordable, close to other countries so you can easily visit different countries and cities on short trips, the culture is so vibrant and there is so much to see, do and learn. One of the best and most impactful parts of this program is how knowledgeable and supportive the USAC Prague staff were and I feel very connected to Prague and the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I was completely blessed to study here. The amount of beauty within the city is not comparable, the food, the people, the sites, the history. Everything about Prague was great.
In addition to how beautiful the city is, the price is great too! I was afforded to eat out every single day, with meals usually tallying between $4-8 including drinks! This was a surreal experience for me.
Also the friends I made while abroad are life long friends, we text and keep in contact every time someone travels, seriously I mean it. Friends you make abroad are friends that last a life time!
Let me put it this way, 10/10 EVERYTHING.

Such an amazing location to get to call home for a semester. It was affordable, beautiful and full of so many things to do. My program was incredible. The classes transferred to my home school very well. I only had class two days a week, which gave me time to travel to 19 other countries. This program is very affordable and offers a great deal of programming. We had weekend day trips included (hikes, canoe trips) and those were really fun to go on. I feel like we always had support if we needed it, we lived in a great location and USAC was the perfect way to get to fall in love with Prague. I would do it again for sure.

Jan and the rest of the USAC staff are incredible. The staff spent time leading us on hikes and mountain trips which were incredible and helped understand Czech culture. Prague is a beautiful historic and fun city. Without a doubt, the best time of my life. The Czech Republic is extremely central to the rest of Europe so its easy to get out for the weekend and go around and explore. Would also highly recommend the trip to Vienna and Budapest. Very well instructed.

Sorry about the pun, but that is just the first great thing about being in the Czech Republic. This program was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and I'm sure it will be for you too. The city is absolutely beautiful, full of great food, parks, architecture, easy to use public transportation. The support staff are some of the most fantastic people, Jan and Dasa help make sure everything is going well. I was there for the summer sessions, which meant lots of hikes on the weekends, the Czech countryside is incredibly beautiful. My suggestion is go to the offered excursions they are really fun, informative, and worth your time. One of the best things was the roommates, i was assigned roommates by USAC and we got along super well. Meeting people from all over the U.S. while overseas was also pretty awesome. Prague is also a fairly cheap European city which is fantastic, because eating out doesn't break the bank leaving you more money for weekend travel. It is also easy to get to other countries (like Poland, Austria, Hungry, and Germany) via bus, some of my favorite experiences were these weekend trips.