Montauk: The End

Ahhh...My first post-abroad vacation. I've been joking that its a vacation from my last four months of vacation, but it was awesome to relax on the beach with my family. We headed out on Sunday morning to a condo we rented at the Surf Club in Montauk. Within an hour of arriving, all 6 of us were asleep on the beach.

Complete with wetsuits and newly rented boards, we headed to Ditch Plains to learn how to surf. Learning anything among peers can be competitive. Multiply that by 10 and that's the competition between siblings. Our instructor showed us the technique on how to get on the board, and got us into the water as soon as possible. I was hooked from that first wave. Cutting through the water, wind in my salty hair. I collapsed into the water before I hit the sand.

My family and I spent time lounging by the beach and pool, bonfires (with s'mores, of course), and exploring the town of Montauk.One of the highlights of the vacation occurred at John's Pancake House on Wednesday morning. I was midway through my strawberry pancakes when I look to my left, and see... Jerry Seinfeld. IN. PERSON. Mets hat. Gray t-shirt. He was having breakfast with Colin Quinn right next to us. On the way out we had to say hello. (Meaning my dad said hello with his star-struck family behind him.) "Hey Jerry from Queens, good to see ya, big fans! Hey Colin, how's the show going? (Long Story Short) We've been meaning to get in and see it." They were friendly and thanked us, encouraging us to see the show. (Jerry directed it, Colin starred).

We couldn't believe our luck. We spent the rest of the day lounging around the Surf Club. Inspired by the morning's events the girls all decided that since it was a rainy night, we should go and see "Long Story Short" as it was playing in the Summer Series in Montauk. It was a hilarious commentary on the evolution or lack thereof in societies across the world.

The weather wasn't great the last two days, which was fine considering we got the opportunity to explore the towns of Sag Harbor and East Hampton. I was sad to leave Montauk especially because it meant that we would all continue on to summer work and this "real world" people speak of.

Summer Reading List

I used to dread summer reading all through elementary school until the end of high school, always saving it until the last minute, sometimes avoiding it all together. I never would have guessed that I would be making a reading list on my own for summer. I really don't know if I'll be able to read them all, but after asking friends, family, and other travelers about some of their favorite books here is my summer reading list:

1. Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
2. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
3. Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
5. 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel García
6. Boy in Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
7. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
8. The Journey to the East by Herman Hesse
9. Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut

*Please let me know if you have other recommendations!

Na Shledanou Praha!

It's ironic that there has been so much talk lately about the end of the world as my study abroad world just came to an end. I've been living in a dream these past few months and saying goodbye seemed impossible. Friday May 20th had been hanging above our heads for months, becoming more apparent in the past few weeks.

AIFS held a farewell jazz cruise on the Vltava, where we all listened to jazz and celebrated our time in Prague. It was a typical Wednesday, which means everyone was excited to go out. This was the beginning of the end I think because while it was a fun party, I couldn't help but get a little nostalgic. Since then I'd been feeling like a tourist, trying to see all of the things in the city that I hadn't yet seen. There was not a dull moment in the last week, as nobody wanted to waste a moment of time.

My sister Christine came to visit, which was a happy distraction from the inevitable. I loved showing her around all of the tourist spots. It was funny to think that she was seeing it all for the first time, while I was trying to permanently imprint these last moments into my memory.

We have a bar in the basement of our dorm, so the whole group decided to meet there on Friday night. I was deeply touched looking around the room and seeing people that were strangers just a few months ago. We snapped photos, played foozeball & darts, and, of course, cried. All it took was for one of my friends to give me a look, and we would be crying. Sometimes it was someone I wasn't necessarily close with, but I realized that these people have been my life for the past months. They are my classmates, roommates, and friends. They have been my lifeline as we have been on this crazy adventure, and the camaraderie has been one of the best things about this experience. I keep expecting to see them around every corner. The goodbye was filled with hugs, tears, and promises to keep in touch.

Quite a few of us kept blogs throughout the experience, but we agreed not to read each other's until after the semester ends. So, this is for you:

To My Superhero Friends:
I cannot imagine my experience without you. Our semester will always hold a very special place in my heart and in my memory; I will remember all of you in the fondest way possible. I realize that we will forever be bonded by our experience in enchanting Praha and various places around Europe. I have a soundtrack worth of songs that will always remind me of you. I hope to remember forever the first time I saw the castle, the first time I saw Charles Bridge at night, and I will of course always remember the people who were at my side. Na zdraví!

PS. we left without completing the Prague-t List, so we will certainly have to return someday.

What I've Really Been Doing (Second Edition)

Currently finishing my study abroad program in Prague. Here's what I did in March, April, and May in Prague, Vienna, Krakow, Frankfurt, and Dubrovnik.

I do not own this song either. and I am sure Ben Lee wouldn't mind, since I love his song so much I wanted to use it. He'd think I have great taste.

Paris, France

Ah, spring in Paris! After checking into our hostel, we went straight to the Eiffel Tower. The park was filled with people laying out and picnicking with the wonderful view of the tower. We posed for pictures and walked under it. I didn't feel compelled to walk up, so instead we walked around to get all views of the great monument. It was strange to finally be there; I didn't know exactly what I expected everything to look like, but seeing it, actually being there, was surreal.

Later that day we went to the Louvre. Christine and I walked around two of the many departments. We saw the Greek, Roman, and Egyptian work. The Italian paintings were obviously my favorite. The huge halls are filled with paintings of all sizes, except the wall with the Mona Lisa; that wall was bare besides the smiling lady. There were "No Camera" signs everywhere, but everyone took photos anyway.

The next day we took an open-top, hop-on hop-off bus tour. This is probably the most touristy thing I've done in the past four months but it was honestly a great way to see the city. Paris is huge and very spread out, so the bus tour allowed us to see things we may not have made it to on our own: Notre Dame, Grand Palais, Champs de Mars, and Musee d'Orsay. I especially loved the grandness of the Champs Elysees-Etoile, where we stopped to have lunch.

I absolutely loved Montmartre. The hill looked like a garage sale with many people selling trinkets, furniture, and art. I loved browsing through all of the old records and vintage clothes. It was here in Montmartre where Christine and I we indulged ourselves our first French crepes (nutella for her, banana and chocolate for me). It was beautiful and shady with an amazing view of the city.

On our last night we went for a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. We had yet to see it at night, and hundreds of people had the same idea as we did. It was a wonderful night to be surrounded by people from all over the world. Drinking wine and eating sandwiches we watched as every hour the Tower would begin to sparkle and the crowd would ooh and ahh. It was the perfect Parisian night in my opinion, and was very sorry to leave the next day.

What I've Really Been Doing..

There is a lot that I cannot write about or explain about my experience studying abroad. Here's what I did in February & March 2011, in Prague, Moravia, Budapest, and Dublin. More to come!




I do not own the song; obviously. So please don't sue me. I hope Rusted Root doesn't mind.

Full Circle: I'm a Tourist Again

In my last weeks in Prague I've been busy bustling around the city, seeing the sights before my departure. It's funny to act like a tourist again. Suddenly I would take my camera everywhere, snapping photos of everything I see. The warm weather has been a welcoming atmosphere for being outside, so here's what I've been doing:

The Vyšehrad

An old fortress of the city. Such a different view of the city - so lush and green!

Charles Bridge
The views as seen from a paddle boat and from the bank of the Vltava river. This is definitely one of the things I will most most about Prague.

Bohemian Glass Factory

I was quite impressed by the glass blowing and molding. We were able to see most of the steps in the process.

Troja Chateau
Such a beautiful chateau surrounded by gorgeous gardens.

Lennon Wall

I finally wrote on the wall! I wrote a Sikh prayer for peace.












Old Town
Walked through Old Town Square for the last time. Its filled with tourists now, but the awesome buildings look more beautiful than ever.

I'm getting quite sad to be saying goodbye to Prague, but the past few weeks have been some of the best of the semester. I'm leaving with such mixed feelings: this city has been my home, yet I don't know if or when I will ever return. Oh, how I will miss Prague!

Public Transportation

In the US my public transportation experience is limited to the Long Island Railroad and the occasional NYC subway. The public transportation system Prague has been very important to my stay here, connecting me to wherever I need to go. It took a while to master: off getting on the wrong tram, getting out at the wrong metro station, or occasionally missing the stop all together. I've jogged a few blocks to make a tram, missed connecting trams and I've had to wait 30 minutes for the next night-tram, but I realize that the public transportation is one of the things that makes this city so great, since learning the lines, I haven't been really lost.

The experiences on public transit have been interesting. When we first arrived we Americans were the loudest and largest group wherever we went, which made many of us crammed into one metro car pretty obvious. I've narrowed down my three most interesting experiences to three:

1. An elderly woman (not the lady in the photo) sat across from me and all of the sudden, she smiled at me. This doesn't happen often, especially with the elderly, so you can imagine my surprise when she began speaking to me (in Czech of course). Luckily, I was able to respond with "Nerozumím, mluvíte anglicky?" which means "I don't understand, do you speak English?" Most people shake their heads and continue on at this point, but she made my day when she started laughing and says "Oh of course. I just wanted to say you look just like Kate Middleton. Just like her! Isn't it funny how some people look just like other people?"

2. This is more of a metro-station occurrence, but as I am going to the transfer escalator I am standing behind a woman and her daughter who looks about 5 years old. She turns around, blowing spit bubbles, and winks right at me. I smiled and winked back. She winked again. It was one of those deliberate, I-just-learned-this-today winks, and I have to say, she has international cuteness down pat.

3. A group of my friends were out one night, already running late to catch the last metro home we decided to cut our losses and get food for our wait for the first night tram home. After we all got our food I realized that we had 4 minutes to make the metro, a much easier ride than the tram. I announced this and at once, everyone was in motion. We are all concentrating so hard on making it, all with different strategies: Vicky and Evan are leading the pack, with David and I close behind (we could have been first, but our technique of eating while running slowed us down). Amanda and Hannah are taking up the rear, as cross-country star John sprints by them checking himself out in the reflective paneling all the while. This happened quite a while ago, maybe in February, but it goes down in our memory as the ultimate victory when we all stepped on that metro just in time.

*Photos by the amazingly talented in fields of photography & Czech impersonations, Oliver Rew.

The People You See at Lucerna on a Friday Night

Person Dancing on Stage: I'm not talking about that mob of people trying to squish on the stage, there are only a few of these specific people who are on stage because they think that they are such a good dancer that they are blessing you with the privileged to watch them. They have the most room around them because nobody wants to catch a rogue elbow off the dancer, flailing despite their obvious concentration. This person wants attention, telling them they have good moves would make their night, though they do expect people to say this to them.

Stag Party: This is the group that you dread running into. Mob mentality ensues as they are a large group of men who are really excited to be here. They are obnoxious, they yell, they pump in to you. The only people that hate them more than you are the bouncers.

The Girl's Girl: Every girl-power anthem speaks to her. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is somewhat of a spiritual experience. "Wanna Be" is exactly how she sees her life, friends, party. She lets her drink spill everywhere as she dances to "Barbie Girl." 80's & 90's night is perfect for her, though Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, and Rihanna will cut it at any other club or party.

Person Dancing on Balcony: The balcony is not to be confused with the stage. Off to the side, darker, and a place where nobody else dances, this person wants to get noticed, but actually has some shame in busting a move on the stage.

Kids in Sneakers: I have no problem with the footwear except that many of these people think its okay to drop tons of glass on the floor. Judging by his footwear, he is probably American, so he's probably not used to cleaning up after himself or being very responsible at a bar or club. I'm glad you're feet are protected, but us ladies in flats and heels must beware; you could end our night and possibly send us to the hospital.

Coach Check Ladies: Skinny ladies who efficiently keep the coat-line moving, even when it seems like a mob. They are still Czech, so they are not the friendliest people you will ever meet, but they will gladly tell you where the secret, guaranteed-empty, other bathroom is. These are good ladies.

Prague Bucket List

After my first tour of Prague, I was overwhelmed with the amount of things I wanted to do while I was here. After almost everything our guides, faculty, and professors say, my friends and I give each other the "Let's Do That" look. Here is a collection of what I'd like to do before I leave Prague in May. I'll detail the list as I czech things off!

Prague-et List (in somewhat of a particular order)
1. Watch the sunrise on Charles Bridge.
2. Establish a “spot”: the Globe Cafe in Karlovo Namesti. The English book store is loved by most travelers, with its happy hour specials, trivia Wednesdays, and that delicious "colonel panini," this is our spot.
3. See the ballet: (2/20) We went to see Coppelia at the National Theater. It was such a spectacular theater and the music was wonderful. The highlights of the show were the miscellaneous character that had no purpose (that I could see) except to interrupt other dances with his amazing skills. He was so jolly and very impressive. The second highlight was when my entire row developed the giggles during the 7 closings/openings of the curtain during the bows. We could not believe it happened so many times and we are still wondering if we'd still be there if the clapping had continued.
4. Go on a boat ride on the Vltava: (5/11) This worked out nicely as AIFS planned a jazz boat cruise our farewell party. This was honestly one of my favorite nights in Prague so far: surrounded by my new friends, the warm spring air, and the beautiful views. I don't know if this would have been possible without the AIFS staff, so a big "thank you" to all of them!
5. Put feet in skin-eating fish tanks.
6. See a show at the black-light theater: (3/10) Seeing "The Legends of Magic Prague" was by far one of the weirdest experiences here. I was unfamiliar with the legends and was surprised by the huge lizards and Cheshire cat.
7. Get checked by the metro security - and pass!: (2/24) on my way to the train station. Very thrilling to feel like such a local.
8. Navigate the night tram: (2/23) The metros stop running at midnight, and the tram system is already confusing without subtracting 75% of the trams. This mastering of the night tram was especially exciting because it consisted of a prompt departure from the club, a transfer at another station, and finally being dropped off in front of our building. I usually measure my days in "little victories" but this was definitely a big one. On normal nights, the most important thing is to know what time the tram leaves. They only come every half-hour so it requires some planning ahead.
9. Navigate the day tram: (the month of March): the day tram is easier to navigate than the night tram, therefore the "mastering" of it necessitates more than a few successes. I've gotten quite comfortable hoping on and off trams, confident that I will get to my destination.
10. Write on the Lennon Wall: (5/1) I know things get covered up rather quickly here, but I was happy to leave my mark with Christine!
11. Go to the 5 story night club(Karlovy Lazne): (2/19) Everything I imagined. Different themes on every floor, so we could choose which music we wanted to dance to. It was really crowded and people would get lost and reappear regularly.
12. Visit the Museum of Communism: (2/12) The most interesting part of the museum was the film on the Velvet Revolution. This was a period in which many Czechs (many students) protested against communism in the center of Prague. After only a few days of this revolution the regime fell. Though it was ultimately the success that led to Vaclav Havel's presidency, the footage of the beaten and killed will always stay with me.
13. Speak Czech while shopping: (2/11) I was only shopping for vitamins at the pharmacy (not to be confused with a drug store) but I was able to tell the attendant what I was looking for and then tell her which out of the large range of vitamins I wanted. This was one of my proudest moments yet - after only a few Czech classes!
14. Go Paddle Boating on the Vltava: (4/27) A bright sunny day called for this adventure. It's easy, cheap, and most importantly, leisurely. I got to see the Charles Bridge from a whole new perspective.
15. Have a picnic at the Metronome: (5/4) We braved the Czech deli to make the sandwiches, and navigated through the park until we got to one of the most beautiful lookout points of Prague. I enjoyed my sandwich and chips in the spring sun - what a perfect day!
16. Visit the Prague Castle at night.
17. Learn more about Z: (4/17) I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with our guide Z while in Poland. He told me all about his schooling, his wife, his favorite places and books. He says things like "I thought it would be important to learn about Jewish history, so I did." Z also loves Sacher tort and honey cake. He and his Hannishka were some of the few to be married in a church (St. Nicholas Church) during the communist regime and they celebrated their 40th anniversary in April.
18. Make a Czech friend
19. Find a decent Thai place: (5/3) Lemon Leaf in Karlovo Namesti is absolutely delicious. A bit pricey, but my goodness did that pad thai taste wonderful.
20. Go to the keg bar: (2/11) This bar has taps at each table, allowing each person as well as each table to keep track of how much beer they drink. The bar allows for competition and while there is no definitive winner, it provides a great place to start the night. There are three of them in Prague and all of them are fantastic - as long as you go with a lively group.


*Please feel free to comment and leave ideas!

Family & Frankfurt

Midway through the semester when the novelty had worn off I was feeling the normal homesickness. Not that I really wanted to come home, but I missed normal downtime with family and friends. The cure? One train ticket to Frankfurt, Germany, to visit my cousin Chris & his wife, Sonia, and absolutely adorable daughters Emilia & Abby. This was my first solo travel experience, and of course it came with a few mishaps.

I printed my ticket and unlike Budapest, went to the correct station. I boarded and got comfortable. Everything was going smoothly until I got to Dresden, where I had this uneasy feeling that I should get off with the dozens of people who were doing so. My ticket didn't say anything about transferring so I stayed on. When the ticketing assistant came to check my ticket again, she told me I should have gotten off but I would have to wait until the train stopped at Berlin to transfer. No Big Deal. Except that I had no way to tell Chris that I would be late. In our hopefully mutual excitement we hadn't exchanged our European numbers. Oops. If I hadn't known that Frankfurt was the transportation center of Germany, the size of the train station would have showed me. I wandered around keeping my eyes up for the 6 foot something Chris, with no luck. I finally went to the entrance and was ready to give up - right as I heard a whistle. Sonia was there to save me from the train station and take me home!

I was greeted warmly by Emilia & Abby, who I hadn't seen in ages. I was surprised Abby came right to me, but I figured she was just following in her big sister's excitement. The first question I was asked: Did you bring your bathing suit? Of course I made another amateur mistake. I've traveled with my father enough to learn that the opportunity to swim can come up anywhere, and I will always take it. To be held up by lack of attire should never be the reason to not swim.

Oh, how nice it was nice to be at a home, even if it wasn't mine. I ate like a queen (3 meals a day), called home from their land-line, and learned German from Emelia (schmetterling, hund, heis). Emilia and I spent most of the time at home playing pick-up sticks or watching iCarly. I was so relaxed, not worrying about plans, catching the metro, or class. I got a tour of downtown Frankfurt including where Chris plays and coaches.

One of my favorite moments of the trip was on Saturday night. Emilia stayed up late and watched Star Wars with Chris and I. (It played all weekend, I watched it twice). I've only seen bits and pieces of whichever part of the series this was. Chris and Emilia followed along quite well. It was of course in German so I was lost, but the action scenes were entertaining, and I knew most of the main characters. Finally, after an especially long, apparently funny dialogue, I turned to Chris and Emilia and reminded them "You know I can't understand any of this right? So even when Chris explains, it doesn't help me at all. I hope you realize I've been sitting here for an hour, not knowing what's going on." Emilia laughed like this was the funniest thing she had ever heard. I'm glad that at her young age, she could appreciate the language barrier and actually find it as hilarious as I did.

My trip home went without a hitch, besides the fact that I didn't want to leave. Chris & Sonia are getting ready to move to the United States, so I was so glad that I got to see their home and life in Germany before that happens. Rojik houses tend to be warm and welcoming, but it was especially nice to feel family when I am so far from home.

And now: for the jungle-gym extrodinaire, EMILIA ROJIK!

Český Krumlov

Just back from my short trip to the village of Český Krumlov. This tiny Southern Bohemian village is a UNESCO site, meaning that the foundation keeps the village historically preserved. The center of town is surrounded by a stream where one can see paddle boaters and rafters enjoying themselves.

The castle here is known for being rather large for such a small town, but its beauty and history extends to the 13th century. The stunning castle used to have a moat surrounding it for protection, but now that it has dried up, brown bears live there to protect the it. The theater attached to the castle was impressive for many reasons. It is one of only two Baroque theaters in the world and stands strong among the architecture of the town.

The nightlife in Český Krumlov was surprising. Our hostel had live music all night, and we even went to the "Horror Bar," which has a haunting tomb-like atmosphere. It was nice to be in such a small village where we didn't have to navigate metros and trams, and when Vicky & I accidentally left the key to our room with our friend, we just walked back to the bar to get it. NBD.

The following day we woke up to go on a hike outside of town. I was looking forward to this, excited to be spending so much time outdoors. Our pace was steady and most of the journey upwards was fun. By mile 3 I was feeling the pain, as the incline got steeper and the terrain got rockier. The flat parts were few and far between, and each time I was sure that it would be the end. When we finally got to the top, the view of the Sudetenland was beautiful. The rolling hills and yellow fields of flowers surrounded us: the hike was worth it. There was (of course) a pub at the top, and the "victory fries" helped to prepare for my journey down.

I am so happy that I was able to see Český Krumlov and the surrounding Sudetenland on such a beautiful bright weekend. The Czechs are incredibly proud of this area of their country and I am glad I was able to see it in my last weeks here!

Dubrovnik, I'll See You In My Dreams

My girlfriends and I had planned our trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia back in February, and have dreamed about it since. Thursday morning rolled around much quicker than I thought it would, but I couldn't wait to get on that plane. One of the owners of the Backpackers Hostel picked us up at the airport. Bless him for putting up with our giggling and picture taking. As we drove along the winding coastline, he pointed out the views and even stopped at an especially beautiful view to allow us to get out. He picked oregano, rosemary, and even salvia up from the ground to let us smell. The hostel was very cozy, Milka made breakfast and dinner every day while her sons supplied the touring and advice. (Her husband supplied the endless toasts at each meal).

I could not wait to get to the seaside and we walked toward the water just before sunrise. As we walked down the hill we could see the sun's reflection on the water and the view was absolutely breathtaking. We were officially on vacation. It was a nice evening to sit around with the girlfriends who I had made here in Prague, in the very place we had been looking forward to going.

We had declared Friday a beach day. We had met some great people at our hostel and our group of 4 grew into 7 as we headed through Old Town and to the beach. I tend to get excited when it comes to swimming and I was wading in the water before most of the group had even put their things down. The water was cold, but the clearest I have ever seen. I was able to see the bottom even when I couldn't stand, so I floated and splashed around with my friends. The shoreline was compiled of little pebbles instead of sand, so we could lay on the beach with our feet in the water without towels. I got in and out of the water, collected pebbles & sea glass, and talked & laughed with my new friends until an eerie fog rolled in. We saw it coming from the distance and I imagined a pirate ship coming in with it. Milka, the owner/manager/cook/mom of the hostel cooked a huge dinner of mashed potatoes with cod, seafood risotto, and tons of bread. The table was crowded as we all talk about our day, travels, books, and even sang a song or two.

The hostel offered a pseudo-wine tour on Saturday for a good price, so after our homemade breakfast we packed into the van and set out. The first stop was the botanical garden where there are plants from all over the world. The aroma of the flowers and the humming of the bees made this one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. It was sunny and warm and had the most beautiful view of the ocean. We continued our wine tasting at a seaside restaurant and a family-run winery.

One of the highlights was meeting "Indijan," a farmer sent to exile during the Communist regime. Upon his return he decided he was sick of being "screwed" and started the first self-serve wine shop. He now sat on the roadside wearing an old hat and green crocs, laughing and joking with his neighbors. We weren't going to make it all the way home before the sunset, so our guide stopped at a small cove where we could watch the sun go down. I was walking through the water and suddenly something was coming towards me - I screamed when I realized it was an octopus heading my way. I can't remember the last time I moved so fast - if ever. When I was a safe distance away our guide stuck his hands in and grabbed it. Before I knew it I was holding the octopus outside the water, trying not to drop it as its legs wrapped around my hands and arms.

On our last day we took a ferry to the island of Lokrum. The island is filled with peacocks and lookout points to the Adriatic. Maybe two of the seven of us had proper footwear for the walking on rocks (no, I was not one of the two prepared). The best part was a salt lake on the island. Again I waded in without waiting for anybody. We were the only ones there and it seemed like a made-up place with the cave and cliffs. Before I knew it I was scaling the surrounding cliffs to jump in. They were not extremelyhigh, but there was something so special about jumping into that glassy clear water with your new friends cheering you on. A few of us swam into the cave, where the water was so deep those who tried could hardly reach the bottom. In here we found a starfish, unlike I had ever seen. It was a bright red color and looked like a cartoon. It was really awesome to hold, as if it had been there for us to find. We spent the rest of the day laying in the sun and hiking around the island taking in the view, but when I got into bed that night, I couldn't stop thinking about that lake.

On our last night we went to Copacabana Beach. Our group had grown to 10 at this point and we sat in a circle, drinking our wine and talking and laughing. There was a unique camaraderie between the group that had formed. We knew it would be our final hours together before we all left to go our separate ways (Prague, Paris, Bari, Split...). We stayed as late as we could and walked slowly back to our hostel, exchanging contact information and promises to keep in touch. The trip was amazing for so many different ways. I was in paradise with some of the most wonderful people: Dubrovnik, Croatia was unforgettable.

Patience & A Sense of Humor

These are what my dad says are the keys to traveling. Though I've had my woes, today was an especially interesting day of travel. My weekend in Dubrovnik, Croatia was so wonderful that I have to write about it when I have a bit more time. Please note that this in NO WAY tainted my weekend, just made it a little more interesting.

We set our alarms for 4:30 am to leave enough time to get to our 6:25 am flight. Our friend knocks on our door and tells us the cabs are here. I am pretty sure that I am still sleeping, but immediately, we are all in action. Like a scene from a movie, our already messy room turns into chaos, leaving the "pack whatever is around you and we'll sort it later" plan to commence. We made it, mentally noting things possibly left behind (count so far: 3 things.)

It was towards the end of that first flight that I had a realization: I never got the e-mail that my friends did about their flight change. Their change had eliminated the original layover, so within minutes of landing from our first of three connecting flights, they were on their second. I had expected to be with them, but was unable to change my flight since I had checked my bag (amateur mistake, I know). Therefore, today I spent 7 hours haunting the departures terminal at the Zagreb Airport, alone.

I had enough room to sleep relatively comfortably, enough battery in my computer to watch a movie, and enough Kuna to buy a sandwich & a Coke, so I realize I didn't have it so bad. The toughest part was seeing the earlier and more direct flights to Prague depart knowing I could not be on them. I took the whole debacle as a sign that I shouldn't have left the paradise of Dubrovnik, but you may have to wait a few days for those details...

Auschwitz

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
-George Santayana

Auschwitz I was the first camp, initially holding Soviet POWs, gypsies, and some Jews. The barracks of this camp have been transformed into exhibitions, each dedicated to a specific area. It was heartbreaking to realize that the rooms that I was walking through, looking at photographs and reading personal stories, once housed hundreds of people at a time. It was quite confusing for my mind to process the terrible quotes of the Nazi party on the wall right next to stories of bravery and will of the Polish people, women, Jews, etc. Some stories stuck out in my head: the Polish brothers who escaped capture, only to be executed for helping reassemble the Polish army. The female doctor who tried to hide a fellow prisoner from Dr. Mandel.

The toughest part of Auschwitz I was walking through "the yard." It was between blocks 10 and 11 that thousands were killed against the wall. I think you could have known the evil that had happened there without the descriptive sign. Chills crept down my back as I walked to the wall that now has tons of flowers and memorial candles with inscriptions in all different languages. I walked again through the saying "Arbeit macht frei" to continue to Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

The bus was quiet as we approached the gates. The railroad tracks, the walls, the barbed wire - it was all eerily how I had imagined. I could practically see the trains coming in with hundreds of passengers at a time from all over Europe. I could see exactly where they were separated into men & women. And where some were randomly selected to be killed immediately.

We walked along the train tracks to where the gas chamber once was. It is only a pile of rubble now since the Nazis tried to destroy any evidence that it was an extermination camp. We learned of a bunch of Hungarian women who revolted right outside of it, refusing to be herded like cattle. I cannot describe to you the feeling of standing where thousands have before me.

Visiting the inside of the Barracks was terrible. Before we entered the small building we learned that about 1000 people lived in each. I entered, but hesitated. Flat, triple bunk beds lined the walls. I don't know if I can really describe the feeling of the room - again I saw the people that had once inhabited the building. To see the inside of one, realize the gravity of the living conditions, and exit to see hundreds more just like it was absolutely chilling.

Many signs throughout both camps reminded visitors to be silent and remain respectful, but they weren't needed. Even after boarding the bus and heading back "home," all of us were quiet as we reflected. My mind wandered to the "what if and why not and who's to say?" I certainly left Auschwitz with more questions than answers, but the experience is not something that I will soon forget.

Krakow, Poland

I had no expectations for Krakow. I knew almost nothing about the city before I visited, other than that the people there were some of the most affected by World War II. This was one of the trips that AIFS planned for us, and I had always considered it to be towards the end, and I cannot believe that it has already come and gone.

One of my favorite monuments was dedicated to man's best friend. While walking in a park, the dog's owner had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital where he died. His dog waited for him in the park for one year, given food and water by the locals, until one of the usual park-goes took him home. I was also very impressed to visit the Medieval University where Copernicus studied, the castle, and of course, many churches. I've seen a lot of churches in the last few months and St. Mary's in Krakow was definitely one of my favorites. Intricately detailed and deeply colored for such a church, I couldn't help just looking around it all. (Unfortunately cameras were not permitted inside).

There was a huge Easter festival where I bought souvenirs and candy. It was here that I tried my first Polish cuisine, Pierogis, and to my surpise, I actually liked the spinach filled boiled dumpling.

I loved learning about the legends of the city. Firstly, there is the legend of the dragon that lived in the river and often ate animals and humans. There are dragon toys and figurines everywhere to remind the locals and visitors to beware. Also, it is believed that one of Shiva's 7 magic stones landed in Krakow, along with Delhi, Delphi, Jerusalem, Mecca, Rome and Velehrad. Z told us to stand as close as we could to the spot to get as much good energy as possible because we would be traveling to hell, also known as Auschwitz, the following day.

Spring in Vienna, Austria

Hitting the halfway-point in the program is exciting but draining. The much appreciated warm weather brings midterms and readjustments, so our program trip to Vienna, Austria came at the perfect time.

The bus ride was long, and made longer by a weird stop at "Excalibur City," a medieval themed park/tourist attraction. The day wasn't looking good after John slammed his face on the trampoline and most of the bus felt sick, needless to say, we were all anxious to arrive and we did so around 4pm. We checked into the hotel and since it was so nice I opened the window to look outside. Before I knew it there were heads sticking out of most windows laughing and waving to each other. Our spirits picked up.
Our guides, Z and Jana, brought us downtown to show us around. We took photos with statues of Mozart and ate the famous "Sacher" cake.

For dinner we had the largest portions of schnitzel I've ever seen. Jana had told us about the portions: "I don't think any of the girls could finish one, maybe some of you boys." My whole table split their portions with each other and we still couldn't finish them. (Oliver claims to have eaten all but 2 fries but I can't seem to find an eye-witness).

On Saturday we took a more extended tour of Vienna. Z told us about the legends and famous stories including places where Mozart and Mark Twain visited. I could feel a difference in the group now, maybe because we hadn't all been traveling together since Munich, but there was definitely a different dynamic to the group this time. The tour was long because we all wanted to stop and take photos of everything, even the trees and flowers innocently blooming along the trees and parks. The weather was beautiful so some of us rented bikes to see the rest of the city. There were bike paths everywhere and tons of parks to explore. We had a map to tell us where to go and I'd be lying if I said we didn't sing some Sound of Music tunes. It was such a fun way to see the city and enjoy the perfect weather.


Before our bus trip back home we stopped at the Schonbrunn Palace, summer home to Franz Joseph and Elisabeth. The museum provided us with an audio tour which described all of the rooms and paintings including those of Maria Theresa and Marie Antoinette. The best part of the palace was definitely the grounds. There was a massive garden with fountains and flowers. I trekked up to the top of the hill where another building stood. There I had a whole view of Vienna and could imagine the Hapsburgs living and ruling there.


From the moment I saw the city I knew I wasn't going to have enough time there. It is the only place where I've felt this way, and even though I saw it all, I wanted to stay longer and enjoy it. The ride back to Prague seemed even longer, interupted only by another stop to "Excalibur City."

(Shoutout to the Bachman family - can't believe I missed you!)