The "Study" in "Study Abroad"

For those of you who are wondering...I actually DO take classes here. It is much more fun to write about adventures and mishaps but I am really enjoying my classes here:

Intensive Czech Language:
Here I learned Czech language and culture. I went for 5 hours a day for two weeks. I definitely learned a lot of the language am now able to hold my own in restaurants, stores, etc. I loved learning about the culture. We often took field-trips to museums, monuments, and even a film. Zuzana, my teacher, is loud and very funny. I loved to listen to her speak about the Czech people: she always said "we." We love it. We need it. We are so funny. Jara Cimrman, was voted the greatest Czech who ever lived. Funny thing is - he's completely fictional. Cimrman influences everything: politics, literature, mathematics, the list goes on. Everyone here knows he is made up but they continue to reference him.
Zuzana also told us about her experiences during the Communist Regime. She says that the hair on her neck still stands up when she hears Russian. All and all I really enjoyed this class because I got such an inside view of the people and culture here. Learning the basics of the language didn't hurt either.

American Literature from European Perspective:
This is probably my favorite class I'm taking - We study American literature and how it influences and has been influenced by European literature, culture, etc. My professor studied literature and politics, just like me (I've naturally decided that I want to be her when I grow up.) She took us to a "secret" cafe. You have to ring a bell and walk up about 6 flights of stairs to get there. During the communist regime writers, artists, and other oppositional figures would gather here.

Comparative Politics & Contemporary Politics:
These are two separate classes that are closely related. We study the transformation of Czechoslovakia and other Central and Eastern European countries in the 20th Century. During this time power was constantly changing hands - it can be difficult to keep track of. Throwing off Nazi and Communist strongholds was only part of the battle: transforming and transitioning has been different throughout Europe.
One of these professors used to be an ambassador, and is always busy traveling to conferences and seminars. He often gets sidetracked in the middle of class planning trips for us. He outlines the country he's speaking about and tells us where to stay and what to do. 2 days here, 1 day here. He was sharing the perfect itinerary of Italy with us one day and claimed that in whatever city he was talking about "you don't even need a hostel, you'll be out anyway and you can just sleep on a park bench and get a ferry in the morning."