This month was much like September and October – settling back into the swing of uni, getting to know our classes and the professors, and meeting new people. Ironically most of the friends I was making had also come to Prague for the year, we simply had met before. This just highlights how helpful classes are for making friends. What was different was my familiarity, both with the city and university teaching styles. I felt like I had much more of a routine this time around.
The most significant part of this routine was weekend – with no classes on Monday or Friday, I know had a four day break between classes. Admittedly, I perhaps wasnât being as productive as I should have been in the beginning, but it did give me room to plan trips. And, as the term would inevitably pick up, I would have two days in the week free to dedicate to working. My having a three day work week can be credited to the academic freedom here at the university. Being able to choose from any classes in your faculty as well as some from other faculties means you have much more control over the days you have classes. Youâll sometimes even encounter classes that over a choice between days/times which offers a little more wiggle room. The only issue I had here was balancing clashes and credits. With so many options, it shouldnât be common to have timetable clashes but it does happen, and sometimes itâs between your favourite classes. When this happens, itâs important to remember credits – how many do you need, if you take a more engaging course that has fewer credits, could you find a course to make up for the deficit? I also think itâs important to consider workload too. It can be tempting to try to pack as many credits into one term so that you have fewer classes in another, but make sure you donât jeopardise those classes by doing too much at once.
- Okor Castle
Lovely castle about an hour out from the city centre (roughly). Great for a chill day out, and a nearby park/field if you want a picnic. They give you a fact sheet and allow you to explore and your own pace, just keep in mind that they only open the gate every 15 minutes so you cam; t just leave when youâre done. There are restaurants around but they are not the best so its better to head back to the city centre or bring a lunch. 252 64, OkoĹ
- Bageterie Boulevard
My go to place for lunch after my 9am class. Simple sandwich shop though they are high quality and serve other things such as potato wedges and crepes. Decently priced though maybe more than people may be willing to pay for a sandwich – think subway.
- Art galleries
This is a sneaky promotion for one of my classes âHistory of Art in Bohemiaâ – through this course, youâll be able to visit a wide variety of galleries, often for free, with an expert giving you a tour. An additional bonus of this course is that there is no assignment or exam and attendance isnât mandatory either. On occasion you will have to pay, as the lecturer doesnât have an in with every museum but it is never expensive and he is very considerate. This is a good opportunity to see a lot of Prague as well as learn a little European art history, though you do not need to join this course to do so, though you may not be able to visit as many galleries outside of it.