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.