Figuring out the streets and public transport in a new city is never easy, especially in one where you haven’t learned the language yet. Everyone seems to exactly where they are going at all times, no Apple or Google Maps are needed. Maybe they are just akin to the routines that take them along the same routes, or maybe the city is just easy to navigate when you’ve spent your whole life exploring it. All of the natives seem so comfortable in their surroundings, as they should be, but within my time at DU, I still find myself getting lost in Denver. 

My main issue is I don’t know where the hell I am when I’m walking around Brno or boarding any bus or tram. I failed to get an International plan on my phone, so anytime I leave the dorms or campus square I have no access to maps. I will say, screw AT&T for their outrageous fees of 10$ a day, and for having my phone locked so I can’t even switch my SIM card to the free one gifted to me by the student network at Masaryk. Following around other students or staying in groups has been my best bet the past week, but when I had my first class I had to take screenshots of Apple Maps before leaving the dorm, and hope to god that the bus didn’t switch up the route on me while making my journey. 

For any trips outside of Brno, & within the city I am trying to have a travel buddy because of my service and data issues, but I do wish I could explore independently like the people around me. I feel pretty safe and secure walking around when I am a bit lost though, there really isn’t that eerie feeling I get in the U.S. as a woman walking alone at night. The Czech Republic is actually the 6th safest country in the world, & Brno definitely proves it’s a safe environment. The girls I’ve been going to most places with have pointed that out as well, especially when we see a woman walking down the city center with 3 or 4 children by themselves. I really can’t imagine that in most places in the U.S., besides maybe a public park or playground but I feel like those are even spots where predators hang around. 

I visited Bratislava, Slovakia for a day trip on Monday, September 18th. Although I hadn’t met anyone that had visited Slovakia before it had a very similar feeling of safety. I wasn’t as physically lost because I was with 3 other exchange students, Marta & Maria from Spain and Britt from Belgium. I’m proud of myself for not just sticking with the other Americans and being willing to take a trip with people I had just met days prior. The whole day we walked around, talking and comparing our home countries, universities, and families to each other. Bratislava is gorgeous and has such an immense history that I had not really thought about before. I feel like America is so young and we often forget about that, but when you see and visit statues and castles from the 9th century it really does open your eyes to the U.S.’s youth.

Overall, even though I don’t necessarily know where I am going most of the time, I feel safe and filled with more curiosity rather than worry.