Language Issues

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Dobry den!

For those of you who have never studied Czech language, dobry den means hello! Since arriving to this new country, I have realized what it is like to be completely unaware of what anyone around you is saying. Although this blog is about language issues, I wouldn’t say the “issue” is an awful one.

In America, I am always used to having the advantage of being bilingual. Speaking Spanish and English has been a blessing for me, as I can understand what the majority of people in my community are saying. Here, it is a different story because being bilingual doesn’t help me. We go around town on a tram system trying to figure out what the monitor is saying so we don’t take the wrong tram to a different location. It is also quite an adventure trying to find a place to eat and attempting to read all the menu choices that are written in Czech. At first, it was a bit overwhelming to feel clueless about anything that was being written or said but now it is actually fun to try to figure out what I am reading on signs, menus, and anywhere else. To our advantage, one of the classes we are taking while studying abroad is our Czech language class. Our professor is a sweet woman who has lots of patience as we slowly start to learn how to pronounce different Czech words. Our professor has us individually take a stab at what phrases mean and how they are pronounced. It is a struggle trying to learn a third language for me but I am having fun doing so along with my classmates! Here is my handy dandy textbook that will be helping me throughout my time in the Czech Republic.

This past weekend we took a day trip to Dresden, Germany. A short two and a half hour train ride took us to another country where a totally different language is spoken. Not only have I had to deal with being confused with Czech language but also German language. Luckily, several German natives actually spoke English quite well and I was able to successfully order a meal and enjoy my time at the Lutheran church and an amazing museum.

The language barrier is a challenge that I enjoy taking on. Remember to stay tuned because there will be many more blogs to come!

Different languages written on the John Lennon Wall in Prague 

Personal Excursions

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I have been pretty excited to write my first blog since arriving to the Czech Republic. It has been quite a transition coming to a place where I have never been, don't know anyone closely, and do not speak the native language. On Sunday night I was able to settle into my dorm and meet the people I would be sharing a room with. I am able to live with people from Mexico, Poland, and Ireland. They are all studying abroad here in Olomouc as well. It's interesting for me to think that I would have never guessed I would be doing this now. The living and my form of transportation is also different. Instead of being able to drive my car, I simply take the tram to any destination I am looking for. Even though it is quite a change from everything in America, I have been eager to explore what is my new home for a couple of months. 

My first personal excursion was with my newfound friend and roommate Kara. Before our first day of classes on Thursday, we decided to wander through the city of Olomouc. We were able to easily find a beautiful park close to the dorms we are staying in. Here you could find people relaxing while sitting on the benches, taking their dogs for a walk, or going for a nice, refreshing jog. The park was somewhere that we found beautiful scenery and tranquility. It was so peaceful and so nice to take a small stroll through. I wanted to share a picture of one of the views from the park. It's a small glimpse of the beautiful scenery we were able to see. 

Here is another picture of me feeling happy and grateful that I am in a new country that is quite amazing. I am eager to find new spots that I will enjoy and keep in my memories forever. Remember to stay tuned as I will be sharing lots from my new experiences and adventures for the next couple of months.