I Wouldn't Trade This For Anything—Despite Some Ups and Downs.

Studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic with CET Academic Programs was definitely one of the best decisions I have made in my entire life. I loved being immersed in the country's rich history and culture, and I was thankful for CET's support while I became more acclimated to life in the city.

Coming here as a political science major, I found that many of the classes helped me to fulfill requirements and expose me to new topics I had never approached back in the US. I found all of my classes very interesting and engaging, though they were definitely less rigorous than my classes at my home institution. All of my classes were made up of 5-12 CET students, taught in English (except for Czech—that was a good mix of the two languages), and held at the CET Academic Center in the city center (Prague 1). We used the city of Prague itself as our classroom too; we would often visit sites of cultural and historical significance during our class time. Our learning expanded beyond the city limits as well, as CET arranged for both day trips (Lidice and Terezín were particularly impactful) as well as longer excursions (the academic travel seminars to Poland, Austria, and Hungary were incredibly enriching). The professors at CET are excellent, and you can really tell that they enjoy working with the students.

The program coordinators who work in the Prague office are amazing as well—kind, considerate, and always willing to help ensure you make the most of your experience. I just wish the office had been better prepared to handle COVID-19 cases. When I tested positive mid-way through the semester, there seemed to be no game plan whatsoever. Where do my roommates go while I quarantine? Do I stay in my apartment even? Do I need to get a PCR test? Can I go out in public with a mask, or do I need to isolate completely? Everyone seemed to have different answers, and I was disappointed that there was no comprehensive plan.

CET's housing, overall, was lacking. We were promised apartments in the city center, but in actuality, we were placed further out in the Nusle neighborhood of Prague 4 and had a ~22-minute tram ride commute to the Academic Center. The apartment complex itself was adequate, but it certainly did not match the photos of the spacious apartments boasting lots of natural light that CET posted on their website. Perhaps those apartments were reserved for the FAMU students up in the Vinohrady neighborhood in Prague 2? The building, mostly reserved for just CET students, would be out of hot water at least once a month, the laundry machines broke on multiple occasions, and we had issues with the wifi almost every single day. Despite this, I did enjoy living in the same complex as all of my friends and classmates. We formed a community of our own, often asking each other for advice on where to buy certain items or if we could borrow things from each other. I also loved that CET assigned local Czech students to live with us in our apartments. They helped us adjust to life in the city by teaching us how to navigate public transportation, shop for groceries, and aid us with our Czech.

Prague is such a beautiful city, and CET made it very easy for us to get around. Transportation passes that allowed us unlimited access to the tram, bus, and metro systems were included with the cost of the program. Prague's public transportation was efficient, very clean, and safe. Definitely better than anything in the States! I also found myself loving all of the cafés, restaurants, and bars throughout the city. Compared the US, everything here was very affordable. Prague is certainly a more budget-friendly destination. It also is a great jumping-off point to explore other countries in Europe due to its central location.

As I mentioned earlier, all of our classes were very small because CET Prague is a smaller program overall. We had about 40 students in total, and while I liked the more intimate classroom setting with less people, I sometimes felt that the social dynamics of the program were clique-y and exclusionary.

Despite some of the bumps along the way, I really enjoyed my time abroad with CET. I made memories that will last me a lifetime, and I hope that I can return to Prague someday soon.