Prague and Me

I loved studying abroad with AIFS in Prague. Classes were offered through Charles University, which included a two-week Czech immersion course before we began our semester classes. It was really helpful to go through the basic vocabulary and grammar structure as soon as we got to the country, but my favorite part about that class? I could see Prague Castle from my window.
Being away from my home university and the pressures of extracurricular activities freed up my time to enjoy the city. One of my favorite things to do, which prompted by an assignment for my literature class to "make a coffeehouse your regular spot," was to order an apple tart and cappuccino at Kavarna Slavia, the cafe across the street from Narodni Divadlo (National Theater). While going to a restaurant by myself in the middle of the day was something I would never do at home, I felt liberated to experience the litany of activities that Prague had to offer.
While the housing offered by AIFS was by no means fit for a king, I was generally satisfied with the building. But due to rumors of the washing machine shredding clothes, I would make a 14-stop tram trek across the city every other Tuesday with my clothes in plastic bags to do my laundry safely. The most difficult part of the living situation was the less-than-adequate "kitchen," which included a mini-fridge, two hot plates, and any kitchen supplies that were left over from other residents. As a vegetarian, I really could have used a better kitchen to prepare my meals, as I found myself reboiling leftover pasta because I couldn't heat it any other way. Otherwise, it was useful living in a building that wasn't totally occupied with students - when my siblings came to visit, they were able to stay in a room on the floor above me.
The staff at AIFS was really friendly and helpful. I loved taking trips with AIFS, especially because they planned trips to places I probably wouldn't have considered traveling to otherwise, like Brno in the Eastern region of the Czech Republic and Krakow, Poland. Our program included a lot of free opportunities for day trips, walking tours, and cultural events in and around the city, though tickets were limited and you had to sign up at the program office before they ran out. They were able to recommend anything from apartment services to restaurants in the city and were so dedicated to getting to know students on a personal level. These things definitely made me appreciate going to a smaller, more personalized program such as AIFS Prague.
I have already recommended this program to several friends and will continue to recommend it. While Prague on its own has so much to offer to students, AIFS only enhanced its amazing opportunities.