Arriving in Prague!
When I landed, I needed to meet up with Jana, our API Resident Director, in front of Costa Coffee in Terminal 2. I landed in Terminal 1 and was unsure if I should exit the terminal and collect my luggage or if I should transfer to Terminal 2. It seems like a silly detail, but it felt like a big decision at the time. I was afraid if I exited the terminal, I would be unable to enter the airport without going through security. I texted Jana and she advised me that I didn't need to transfer terminals and that the Costa Coffee was outside of the exit to Terminal 2, so I wouldn't really be entering the terminal at all. Phew!
It's a good time to explain what API is and how the program works, because I was still confused about it up until a few days before I left. API, Academic Programs International, is an organization that provides study abroad programs. Through this program, I am enrolled as a student in ECES, East and Central European Studies, which is a study abroad program that provides classes in English, through the Faculty of Arts at Charles University. Both API and ECES provide programming outside of classes and I will try to differentiate between the two. API orientation was two days before students who are enrolled through other study abroad organizations or directly through the university. There are six students enrolled through API, but around 50 enrolled in ECES. I'm glad I enrolled through API because it's nice having Jana and these two days to get to familiarize myself with the city before jumping into ECES's orientation.After meeting up with Jana, we waited for two other students whose planes arrived around the same time as mine. Julianna arrived first and we waited a while for Katelyn, whose checked bag had been left in Amsterdam and needed to file a delayed baggage report (don't fret! her luggage arrived late Saturday night), and then Jana ordered us an Uber to the dorms. Two of the other API students had arrived in the morning and the final student will arrive late Monday night.
Once we arrived at the dorms, we met up with Sasha, the ECES program coordinator, to compete some documentation and get our transportation passes and room keys. I am in a dorm with four single bedrooms and we have a shared kitchen and bathroom. I'll give a tour once I'm done unpacking and rearranging, but picture cold war meets typical U.S. dorms but in a cute, quirky kinda way. Another girl from the API program is in my dorm, but we're still waiting for our other two roommates. The dorms were HOT and I was sweating trying to unpack. We were meeting with Jana at 17:20 (I'm trying to get accustomed to the 24-hour clock) for a walking tour to Prague Castle and dinner, so I decided to unpack another time and take a cold shower instead. I showered, took a short nap, and then got ready to head down to the lobby.
We met up and walked to Prague Castle, which Wikipedia tells me was "built in the 9th century. It is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. The castle was a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia." Jana's facts were awesome, and there was an amazing view of the river and the city center.
 |
| The view from outside Prague Castle |
After showing us around a bit, and pointing out which ATM's to use and avoid, Jana treated us to dinner at U Zavěšenýho Kafe. We all wanted to try traditional Czech cuisine, but weren't in the mood for something super heavy, which the traditional cuisine tends to be. I couldn't make up my mind and decided on fried cheese and roast potatoes, which is a traditional Czech meal, last minute. It was good, but I was definitely more in the mood for a salad, especially because it was still so hot outside.
 |
| At dinner! |
We took the tram a few stops and Jana showed us the way to the Faculty of Arts' Main Building, which is directly across from a bridge, which I'm only letting you know because it's a cool way to walk up to a building, and very close to the river. We then walked to the Old Town Square and saw the oldest functioning astronomical clock. Jana let us know that the clock was a popular tourist attraction back in the good ol' days and the people in power didn't wanted the creator to make a bigger, better clock in another city, so they gouged his eyes out, which is the kind of anecdote I live for, Prague is making a great first impression.
 |
| Old Town Square |
 |
| In front of the astronomical clock |
We then visited the second Faculty of Arts building and Jana gave us a presentation about API's programming, as well as the Czech Republic's history and culture. I learned that the Czech Republic is a young country with a long history, as the country is only 30 years old, but Slavic tribes first arrived between the 5th and 6th centuries. Jana also told us that Czech people say that nothing good has come to them from the east, so they consider themselves Central Europe rather than Eastern Europe, which I think is a fun little fact.
We then headed to the mall for lunch. We all got food from Bagaterie Boulevard, a Czech fast food chain. I got tomato soup, salad, and baguette for only $6.66.
 |
| The mall |
 |
| At lunch! |
After lunch, Jana pointed out a few shops where we can get home goods we didn't bring with us and then headed to Wenceslas Square to take the subway back towards the main Faculty of Arts building. We walked across Charles Bridge, the big one you see in all the pictures, and around Lesser Town.
 |
| Popular photo location next to Charles Bridge, no tourists today because of the rain! |
 |
| On Charles Bridge |
Jana then left us for the day and we headed back to the mall to pick up a few things. Julianna and I went to Primark and then went the wrong way on the metro, but it was only one stop so no biggie. I spent some time unpacking and then Julianna and I got dinner at FATF***, but the actual name doesn't have the asterisks. We decided that the phrase must not translate to Czech very well. We were both starving and practiced how to say "thank you" throughout dinner, but weren't confident enough to actually say it.