I’ve been back in my beautiful Oregon state for over a week now and I’m still recovering from jet lag. I haven’t had consistent sleep yet. However, I am so glad to be back. I’ve been spending a lot of time catching up with family and friends, which is why I haven’t posted yet.

So, what happened during my final weeks in Prague? Well, I got well and explored a lot of areas in Prague I hadn’t yet, partied with friends, and finished my classes. Some of the main highlights from those last few weeks were seeing Postmodern Jukebox live with my close friends and my home group Christmas party. I miss them a lot already. I’m so glad I got to spend a lot of time with them before I left.

I did get to experience a few Czech Christmas celebrations before I left. Surprisingly, there is no Santa Clause in Czech Republic. Rather, they say baby Jesus is coming to visit and give them gifts. This is especially odd since Czech Republic is one of the most agnostic countries in the world, but I think this is mainly from tradition.

Another Christmas celebration is Saint Nicholas Day on December 5th. On this day, locals dress up as Saint Nicholas, demons, and angels to visit local homes. Each of these three characters will knock on the door and ask for the parents. Saint Nicholas will then go through his book and ask the parents if the children have been good this year. If they have, they’ll get candy from the angel. If they haven’t, they get potatoes and coal from the demon. Demons carry around bags to pretend to throw the children in and take them away from their families. In previous years, the demons used to take naughty children out of their homes and walk them around the block for the full effect. These demon costumes can be very grotesque and really scare children. It’s a bit… scarring.

Besides the traditional Christmas markets, Czechs also celebrate Christmas by buying and eating carp on Christmas day. There are huge tanks full of carp at the markets that Czechs can either purchase live or dead for the dinner. If they buy them alive, they usually keep the fish in their bathtubs until Christmas day. It’s also lucky to keep a scale from your Christmas carp in your wallet until the next year. But that tradition sounds a little fishy to me. 😀

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Overall, I had an unforgettable experience. I loved the people I’ve met and the places I’ve seen. Although I’m definitely done traveling for now, I know I’ll travel back to Europe again soon. I’ve got to visit and catch up with the friends I’ve made, as well as explore new places!

Thank you all for your kind comments, wishes, prayers, and blessings throughout this journey. I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog as much as I’ve had. ❤

Below are all of the pictures with my ISA program. They all came out recently, and I thought it would nice to post them and reflect on my time with them. Enjoy!

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I didn’t mean to make this a double post like last time, but I became quite sick. I had to sleep a lot, and then suddenly it was next week. Soooo… here we are.

I did see a doctor today and was given some antibiotics. I should be better in the next few days. I don’t want to spend my last week in Prague sick, especially with all of the amazing Christmas markets popping up. I haven’t visited many of them yet and I really want to explore before I leave for the states.

Since I was quite sick last week and stayed in Prague the week before, not a lot has happened recently. I haven’t traveled out of the country and I don’t plan to travel much since I have finals next week. That doesn’t mean I won’t continue to make memories though. I’ve really taken the time recently to connect with local friends and I plan to continue to do so for the rest of my time here.

I was able to see a Prague Christmas market earlier with my friend Rae. We had a pleasant time seeing local creations and buying a few Czech souvenirs. Ryan and I also explored local life that Saturday. We visited a nearby Saturday market and had a few homemade Czech treats. Everything was so good!

I also explored Prague Zoo that weekend. It’s apparently one of the best zoos in the world. It was quite vast and their feline exhibits were very impressive. The zoo has a very successful tiger breeding program. Two years ago, they bred one of the most critically endangered tigers, the Malaysian tigers. They were very cute! Unfortunately, a lot of the neat exhibits were closed off due to the cold weather. I did get to ride up the chairlift though! It was a very unique experience. I would definitely visit this zoo again in the summer.

That week, I was also able to visit the Communist Museum with Ryan and Honza (an ISA staff member). I learned some very interesting facts, such as the Stalin Monument. It was HUGE and was called the “meat line” by Czechs because the locals went to the statue to collect food for their family. It was eventually destroyed when the Communist Party released information about Stalin’s actions. The Czechs didn’t want to glorify him, so they destroyed the statue. The exhibit was interesting and well-thought-out. It even had some footage from the Velvet Revolution, which was very powerful to watch.

Then, I became sick and I had to slow down a lot. I rested a bunch so I could perform with my choir for the Christmas Concert. Thankfully, I was able to sing with them! And perform my solo! We also had the pleasure to sing with a Czech blind choir. They were amazing and very fun to rehearse and perform with. Ryan and Ari were able to come and support me. All of it was in Czech, but it was so much fun. It’s an experience I won’t ever forget.

Enjoy pictures from these past two weeks! I may have to do another double post since my school studies are becoming demanding. We’ll see! Love you all! I can’t wait to see you all in person soon. ❤

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I have less than 25 days in Prague. It’s such an odd thought. I feel ready, but it also feels kind of sudden. My time here doesn’t feel short though. I’m looking forward to heading back home and spending time with familiar faces. But to think it’s this close… it doesn’t feel real. Leaving here will be difficult. I want to make the most of my last month here.

This last week, I said goodbye to pastor John from my home group. He’s traveling to China for five months and I likely won’t ever see him again. I’m planning to follow his journey through Facebook though. Home group won’t feel the same this week, but we’re so excited to see him spread God’s love abroad.

I also traveled to Vienna this weekend with my program. We only stayed one night, but it was wonderful! I especially loved the Christmas Markets and celebrating the festive season with the locals. We all had a wonderful time.

Here’s a few observations I made throughout my time in Vienna:

• Austrians LOVE their horses. Horse carriages to Vienna are like gondolas in Venice. They have a horse show in the Hofburg Palace almost every day. They’re very proud of their equestrian background.
• The Hapsburg ancestry is very prominent throughout the city, especially in the Hofburg Palace.
• Vienna’s main attraction is apparently the Ferris Wheel? It’s one of the oldest ones in the world. I saw it, but it wasn’t very impressive. I thought the Hofburg Palace was more of Vienna’s trademark, but I guess not.
• There’s an “era mismatch” throughout the city. Most buildings look like a certain era, but were only built with a certain style because of what that era represents (Gothic Style = Catholicism).
• Vienna was bombed multiple times, so there’s a lot of reconstruction. Because of this, there are a lot of ads placed on prominent buildings to collect money for development. Vienna has been joked as the “expensive Prague.”

Yesterday in particular was a very special day in Czech Republic. It marked the 30th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, where Czech Republic won it’s independence. It’s called the Velvet Revolution because the Czechs were completely nonviolent throughout the time and the process was as smooth as silk. There were lots of people holding peaceful demonstrations in remembrance of the event and to discuss current political proceedings. One of the main topics discussed was global warming.

Not only was I so grateful to be celebrating this momentous event with the locals, but I was also blessed to show my friend Rachel from George Fox around the city. She was visiting that day and I introduced to her the Czech culture and sights while we walked around. It was so refreshing to see a friend from my home university. We had a great time!

We also saw the “Iliad” while she visited with some of my international friends. Theaters were an integral part in aiding the Velvet Revolution, so it was fitting to celebrate the day at the theater. It was a great show.

Please enjoy my pictures from this last week. I’m planning to explore Prague more before I leave this gorgeous city for a long while. Man I’m gonna miss it. ❤

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Fall felt very short here in Czech Republic, especially with all of the Christmas decorations and shops popping up. Since Thanksgiving is strictly an American holiday, it jumps from Halloween right into Christmas. It feels odd seeing all of the Christmas ornaments, it reminds me that I only have a few more weeks left in Europe. I can’t wait to go home, but it will definitely be bittersweet leaving this wonderful city. I’ve made my own home and community here.

This last week, I received free tickets from my program to see the classic Czech ballet “Valmont.” The dancers were incredible, but the story itself was… interesting. It’s basically about two lovers who have a bet to see who can corrupt two other lovers within a certain time frame. Both lovers are successful in corrupting, but then they both explicitly cheat on each other. Then everyone dies in the end? There was a lot of angst throughout the show, but it was fun. I met a new friend named Elaine and we hung out after the show.

My program also provided tickets to a tour of the Cold War Museum, which is set in an old bunker below a hotel. It was neat, but with sixteen of us it was very cramped! I really enjoyed going into the an old tunnel used for hotel guests to escape the shelter. It still works too!

My highlight of this week though was definitely my trip to Dresden with Ari. It was so nice to stroll along the Christmas shops and meet the locals. Besides seeing a few churches along the way, Ari and I also bought tickets to go inside the Dresden Castle. There were multiple exhibits, including the Green Vault, that contained probably the most interesting pieces I’ve seen on my travels yet. We also met Max from Dortmund while viewing the exhibits! We all really connected throughout our time in the castle and he decided to join us for the rest of the Dresden trip.

While walking with him, I learned more about German culture. According to Max, Germans are very punctual and play by the rules. For example, Ari and I jaywalked across the street, and Max physically tensed up and grunted before following us. He said that crossing before the light “felt wrong.” Man, he would not survive in Italy.

Germans are also perfectionists. If they feel like they can’t get something done the “right” way, they likely won’t do it. This is starkly different from America’s scrappy culture.

Max also mentioned the “invisible wall” between East and West Germans. Even with the wall down, the different lifestyles and mindsets are still very prominent within the areas. It was very interesting to learn about.

Next weekend, I’m headed to Vienna for more Christmas markets! Enjoy my Prague and Dresden pictures. I’ve really loved living in Europe.

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Visiting an English-speaking country was very refreshing. Ordering a sandwich was suddenly easy. I could even read street signs and historical inscriptions! It felt like I was closer to home. It just didn’t feel as foreign.

Though, you could definitely tell it wasn’t America. The most obvious signs were the British accents and that people drove on the wrong side of the road. Also, their vernacular was very different. For instance:

• “Tube” = Subway
• “Coach” = Bus
• “Leads” = Wires
• “Chips” = Fries

The word “love” was also widely used. Either in “sorry love,” “hello love,” or “lovely day.” Also the word “fancy” such as “Fancy an ice cream?” I love their sayings and vocabulary. It just made my day.

As expected, it was very cloudy and rainy in London. To stay warm and dry, Ryan and I went to inside attractions, bought the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour, and saw multiple performances.

We saw all of London on the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour, but the only attractions we really explored were the Tower of London and the British Museum. The Tower of London was definitely my favorite. The history of the castle was very interesting, including how high status prisoners were treated and the exotic zoo kept in one of the towers. It was really cool. We didn’t wait in line to see the crown jewels because we had other plans, but we did see the old crowns without their jewels.

Another one of my favorite moments in London was meeting some of the cast members from “Six: The Musical.” It was nominated for Best Musical this year, and the show did not disappoint. It was so fun! I totally geeked out when I met a few of them in person, especially my favorite cast member. And I got their signatures!! It was quite a surreal moment.

Ryan and I also geeked out when we got to pose for the 9 3/4 platform. It was definitely worth the wait. Both of us were very giddy afterwards. We also really enjoyed watching “A Comedy About A Bank Robbery.” Their acting, the sets, and the songs were incredible! I never laughed so hard at a play before.

Here are a few other observations I had about London and British culture:

• Londoners are NOT afraid to cross the street. They’re like Portlanders but with umbrellas.
• The British are very to the point and open to talking about any topic in public. Really anything.
• Theater is a HUGE aspect of London’s culture.
• Lots of monarch history represented. Multiple buildings, streets, and even their currency reference their past monarchs.
• Definitely Oregon weather in London. Does sunlight even exist?
• Double-decker buses!
• Old phone booths!
• The buildings didn’t really have sharp corners, but rounded ones with windows and platforms. They were sooooooo cute!

Enjoy these pictures of my adventures! This next weekend, I’m mainly staying in Prague but I’ll also be taking a day trip to Dresden. Expect more travel stories soon!

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It finally feels like fall in the Czech Republic. Not only are the leaves turning red and yellow, but the cold air now cuts through you like a knife. It’s supposed to snow in a few weeks too. This country has very unpredictable weather. It reminds me of home.

My trip to Italy this last weekend was long, but also short. I guess time is like that. We spent two days in Milan, one day in Florence, and three days in Rome. It was incredible. I was able to see Michelangelo’s “David” and “Creation of Adam.” Touring the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel was also extraordinary. It’s difficult to articulate how surreal it was seeing original artwork and structures that you’ve known about your whole life. Each piece and place was unique and nothing like I expected.

Like in Budapest, I had the opportunity to connect with a local. Ryan’s uncle GB is a Roman, and he showed us the night life of the city with his family. We attended a local dinner and dance event, ate the acclaimed “best gelato in the city,” and saw a local jazz funk band. We had a great time.

Based off of my conversations with GB and my own observations throughout Italy, here is what I learned about Italian culture:

• Italians are not afraid to stare. Even more so than Czechs! That took some getting used to.
• The attitude in Milan is very similar to New York. People walk quickly, speak to the point, and aren’t afraid to push past you. I think it has to do with Milan being one of the world’s top fashion sites. It’s a bustling city.
• There are sooooooo many churches. And statues. And paintings. Art is everywhere. It’s beautiful, but it can be a lot.
• The sidewalks are very slim in Rome. I feared for my life a few times.
• Never take a step backwards when you step out into traffic. You must be assertive with Italian drivers. Otherwise, you could get really hurt.
• Italians have this theory about wine. They claim it’s very good for digestion. So, another glass please!
• Strikes are fairly common in Italy. Sometimes for very serious reasons, but most times to get a three-day weekend. (That’s what GB told me!)
• Vatican City is another country that’s ruled by the Pope. So, I technically visited two countries this last week.
• Public transport drivers are very nice. They wait for passengers to step on for several minutes. We predicted that that was why the buses and trams were usually late.
• If you get a kiss on the cheek, it means you’re apart of the Italian family! GB’s wife accepted Beza and I into his family, and suddenly we had a lot of family members. (Family could be by blood, but in Italy, “family” usually meant who you knew well. A lot of neighbors and community members are considered family.)
• Italian cured ham, cheese, and supplì are AMAZING.
• Also, gelato. Gelato is incredible. I had so much gelato while I was there. It was so worth it.

I won’t be back in Prague much longer. In a couple days, I’ll be on my way to London. I can’t wait! Look forward to wet, cold pictures of me next to great England landmarks soon.

For now though, enjoy these pictures of my wonderful Italian journey.

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Believe it or not, I actually planned to combine both last week’s post and this week’s post. I felt a little behind, and though it’d be best to do to two posts instead of separate ones.

That being said, it’s been a while. Fall has finally arrived in the Czech Republic. The leaves are turning golden and the sun isn’t out as often. It is still 67 degrees here though, which is nice.

Last weekend, I traveled to Berlin with my program. I met some incredible people, saw some fantastic sights, and tasted some amazing food. Here is what I mainly noticed while in the city:

• There are a lot of Turks. Berlin has the largest population of Turks outside of Turkey. This means the Turkish restaurants are authentic. And good.
• Haribo is founded in Germany, which means the Haribo gummy bears are AMAZING. You can actually taste the difference!
• There are so many cranes in Berlin. The city has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times; there is always something to fix. Many Europeans joke the city will never stop being rebuilt. And, I think they may be right.
• Their public transportation system is terrible. Just awful. Mainly due to the Berlin wall, there are only a handful of buses and trains available to ride.
• This year is the 30th Anniversary of the Berlin Wall fall. The Festival of Lights shows were all oriented around this monumental event. It was really powerful. For the first time, I felt proud to be an American. I was so proud of the American involvement that led to the fall of the wall. Seeing what it meant to the Germans through the festival… there are no words.
• German curry-wurst is sooooooooooo gooooooood.
• Germans still feel guilty about their Jewish history. A lot of the locals strongly respect the Jewish memorial and grave sites. If they see anyone disrespecting these areas, they’ll shout out and rebuke them.
• There’s some kind of cult around the green “walk” light in East Berlin. Not sure why, it’s just a thing.

Here are the pictures from that weekend. It was a really great time, I would definitely go back. We barely touched what the city has to offer.

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For this last weekend, I decided to stay in Prague. I’ve been traveling every weekend, and I needed some time to myself before I go off and travel again.

This past week, I finally found a community choir to join! Adventist Brethren Church welcomed me into their community. They even let me sing with them during service and invited me to perform in their Christmas concert! I can’t wait! Even though the rehearsals are in Czech, as I’m the only foreigner in the ensemble, the language of musical is universal. I’ve been able to follow along fairly well by watching the conductor and the other singers. It’s been great to be a part of a musical community again.

My program also hosted a trip up to Petrin Tower this weekend. It’s one of the highest points in Prague, and there are some gorgeous views from the top of the tower. We were lucky it was sunny when we climbed up. The sights were breathtaking.

I also explored more of Prague with my girlfriends, Beza and Ari. I ventured in the Vyšehrad Fortress with Beza, wandering through the beautiful St. Paul and Peter Cathedral. Ari and I hiked around Park Sarka, taking in the beautiful green hills and forests throughout Prague 6. It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend.

Here are some pictures from my life in Prague. I love all of the friends I’ve made, people I’ve met, and events I’ve attended while here.

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I’m headed to Italy this weekend with Ryan and Beza. It’ll be during our fall break, so I’ll be in Italy about six days. Lots of traveling, but it’ll be lots of fun. 🙂

You know, I really like exploring new countries with a local.

This past weekend in Budapest, Ryan and I were fortunate to be connected with Emeshea. She’s a family friend who grew up in Hungary and has been living there for a few years now. She not only hosted us for the weekend, but also gave us a tour on Saturday. We had a great time!

Here are the main things I noticed and learned about while in Hungary. Surprisingly, Hungarian culture is pretty similar to Czech culture:

• Hungarians really like the their long titles. They’re soooo long!
• The public transportation system is just as great, if not better, than Czech Republic (don’t tell that to Czechs though)
• Locals also don’t smile
• There is a LOT of tourism near the gorgeous river running through the city
• Hungarians are also not a huge fans of Russians because of their Soviet history. They have a whole park dedicated to Communist propaganda!
• Homelessness is actually illegal in Hungary. So, the streets were very clean
• Hungarian crepes and goulash are REALLY good
• Budapest is much open and greener than Prague
• Not as much graffiti in the city as in Prague

Honestly, I think this trip to Budapest has been my favorite so far. It was a bit longer, so we were able to relax and just enjoy the city without rushing from one tourist attraction to another. Another reason I really enjoyed Budapest was Margaret Island. The musical fountain was magical, and I loved the vast green park. It made me feel like I was home. I really miss my Oregon trees. ❤

Please enjoy these photos, Hungary is a gorgeous country. I’m heading to Berlin this weekend with my program, so look forward to pictures from Germany.

Thank you all your continued support and prayers. I can’t wait to see you all in America soon. ❤

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Fall has definitely arrived in the Czech Republic, but it’s partially different from fall in Oregon. Instead of it being rainy and cold, here in Prague it’s mainly just windy. Winds were recorded up to 56 miles per hour a few days ago. But it’s really not that cold. Yesterday it was 67 degrees. It’s actually pretty nice.

A lot has happened since my last blog post, including culture shock and accidentally staying in Belgium another day. I’ve also gotten quite sick recently. It’s currently flu season in Prague, and a lot of students sniffle, sneeze, and nap in class. Since attendance is strictly enforced, students are only allowed to leave if they receive a note from their doctor. Do you know how intimidating that is? I don’t even know where the hospitals are, the process of scheduling an appointment, or even if the doctors speak English. So, a lot of students just drug up and go to class.

Even so, I have really enjoyed my marketing class here. I’ve already made a few connections and am learning a lot about Czech research materials. It’s been a fun process. I also like my marketing team. They’re pretty great.

Besides school, I’ve also quite enjoyed my church’s young adult group. I’ve never really experienced a church family before, but I think I’ve found one here. It’s been awesome.

The group has also been helpful with processing culture shock. It really hit me last week when I met women missionaries who spoke about their time living here. Although Czechs are more open if you start speaking Czech, the locals often reject foreigners who can’t speak the language perfectly. It’s a very closed, cold culture. Even if you ask how to say something in Czech, they won’t help. A few of the missionaries have even given up on learning the language because of the discouraging atmosphere. Their stories really impacted me and I became quite disheartened.

Thankfully, my home group has helped me realize that these struggles aren’t uncommon. Even themselves, Europeans, Africans, and Asians, have felt how difficult it is to assimilate to Czech culture. Meeting with them weekly has really been a blessing.

Last weekend, I also traveled to Brussels with Ryan, Sharada, and Margo. We had a wonderful time! The Belgian waffles, chocolate, and fries were AMAZING. Their classic Belgian dishes were also delectable. Even though it rained on us a few times, we all enjoyed ourselves.

The main surprise that occurred while in Brussels was on the last day. We all got up very early to catch our morning flight, but when security looked at my boarding pass, they said my flight wasn’t until that evening. Oops! I booked the wrong flight!

As my friends flew back to Prague, I took a train to Bruges, another Belgian town. I met a few friends and saw some very interesting sights. Unfortunately, I took a train to the wrong airport that evening and had to take an Uber to the correct airport. It was very stressful, but I made it in time for my flight home.

Overall, I still love being in Europe. I’ve already planned future trips to England, Poland, and Italy. I’m making a lot of new friends and eating a lot of good new food.

I can’t believe it’s only been three weeks. Although I can’t wait to be back in America with my friends and family, I’m looking forward to all of these future adventures, laughs, and tastes.

Enjoy these pictures from last week. I’m sorry for posting late, I’m just resting up as much as I can before my trip to Budapest today. 🙂

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School at VSE started, I began to attend church, and I suddenly know a lot more Europeans. What can I say? It’s been a very good week.

I’ve quickly learned that starting a conversation in Czech makes the locals much more open to speaking with you, even at school. Common phrases such as “Ahoy! (Hello!)” and “Dobrý Den! (Good day!)” can really go a long way.

Besides basic Czech, here are a few other school lessons and highlights from this week:

• Common courtesies can be quite different. When I met my German friend Matthias, he stood VERY close to me. So close it was even a bit much for my comfort zone. But, standing that close isn’t seen as an intrusion in Germany. You’re simply just making your presence known.
• Running an international business isn’t as unique as I thought. It’s still critical to maintain coherent structure and standards, and to have a local business representative when expanding into a new area. The main difference is culture. I’m looking forward to learn more about different countries’ cultures through my program.
• I LOVE my marketing class! In it, we are all given different business problems to solve for one prominent beer company in town. We present our group solutions in class, and the professor chooses three groups to present in front of the company itself. I want that sooooooooooo much. I want to win. I can’t wait to meet the company this week and begin the project!

Other highlights that happened this week:

• I joined Prague Christian Fellowship (PCF) and their Tuesday Home Group. The young adults group meets for dinner and discusses different aspects of the Bible each week. So far, I love this group! I’ve already met with a few of them outside of our weekly meetings. Currently, the group consists of two Indians, two Africans, one Swiss, and one Tico (Costa Rican). It’s awesome hearing about their home cultures, faiths, and experiences in Prague.
• I met with my Veritas Christian mentor and the other Veritas mentee. They’re very nice and I’m looking forward to growing in my faith with them.
• I went with Sharada and Masha (another one of my roommates) to the Prague Jewish Grounds. The Jewish Museum and Cemetery were quite impactful.
• I traveled with my program to Český Krumlov, a city known for its baroque buildings and panoramic views. It was quite beautiful, but there were a ton of tourists. It’s a very hyped-up city, but honestly, I still like Kutna Hora better.
• I traveled with Margo (new school friend), Sharada, and Ryan to Karlovy Vary. The city is known as spa central. It has naturally-occurring hot springs that you can taste. It’s actually pretty delicious. It was a beautiful city. There weren’t many tourists and there were local musicians playing on the streets. It was a quite peaceful day.

Enjoy these photos from this week’s adventures. Next weekend, I’m going to Belgium for chocolate and waffles. Yum!

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Thanks for all of your continued support throughout this trip. Your prayers and messages are greatly appreciated. I miss you all, I hope you’re doing well. ❤