Ben Funk
How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
Prague, the only NYU study abroad site in Eastern Europe, offers students the unique opportunity to experience life in the Czech Republic.
There are a few things you need to know before making the move to the city known as Praha.
The above-ground trams criss-crossing through intersections do not yield to pedestrians — in other words, don't act like you're in New York. You'll get run over if you don't pay attention.
Though the trams and metros run on the honor system, you'll learn the hard way just what happens when you try to ride for free. The penalty is usually a payment of 700 koruna (about $40) to the undercover official who catches you.
Soon enough, you'll learn a few more cardinal rules. Wednesdays are for Cross Club, a smoky, crowded labyrinth of a bar made up almost entirely of car parts and shifting gears. Amidst the pierced patrons, electronica music and the smell of pot (it's legal in Prague in small amounts), Cross is just one of the ex-pat hot spots where crowds of college kids and Czechs alike convene to enjoy the late-night-turned-early-morning hours.
On any given night, Bar Americka in Vinohrady is home to a group of NYU students, playing foosball or pool and chatting over a beer.
The faculty, many of whom are professors at Prague's Charles University, make class time as hands-on as possible and are generally understanding of students' desires to spend more time exploring and less time studying.
As far as living arrangements go, every building has its perks. Machova, the most "dorm-like" option, is the closest to campus, but also the most cramped. Slezska, a bit farther away, is a roomier option. Osadni, all the way on the other side of the river, is certainly a trek to class, but the rooms are massive. The residents of Jaurisova never complained about their accommodations, but you'll get lost trying to find the place.
No matter where you live in Prague, try to get out of the NYU bubble and make friends with Czech residents. Don't miss the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in life abroad.
