Tomorrow, September 13th, I’ll be heading to Prague, Czech Republic, for three months. Just a few days ago I received my passport back in the mail graced with my first-ever visa—a shiny confirmation of the exciting adventures to come and a blunt reminder of what is likely to be the most daunting task I’ll have faced since last term’s final exams: learning elementary Czech. My belongings have been crammed into a duffle bag and a backpack with my skateboard attached and I’m currently hoping I don’t encounter a situation where I miss the extra socks I sacrificed to fit my hammock (I love a good day of hammocking at the skate park and relaxing between sessions). I’m an hour out from check-in for my flight and the digital fight for an aisle seat, so I figured this would be a great time to tackle my first post.
I’ve traveled solo in the past, but much of that experience comes from backpacking/hitchhiking—all of which has been in the United States. Though the idea of venturing into the woods alone with a backpack carries an intimidating uncertainty, I’m feeling a good bit more nervous about this opportunity than I ever have about my hiking trips. The length of this trip is nothing new, and I know I’ll enjoy many of the same day-to-day conveniences that I do here; yet silly little worries, such as roommate compatibility, classroom teaching styles, and the distance from old friends are swelling slightly beyond proportion. I have to remind myself that these are the same concerns I had before freshman year and that college has been nothing but the best. I don’t expect to part ways with these feelings upon departure but do anticipate the excitement of arrival to either distract me from or dilute my nerves the same way it seemed to when I said goodbye to my mom my first day at DU. It’s funny how similar nervousness and excitement feel.
Beyond these immediate worries, there is so much I’m thrilled for. I recently discovered that a skateboarder I know from around Denver has moved to Prague for the fall. We bought tickets for a techno concert together and he’s been sharing photos of skate parks and street spots around the city. I’ve also planned trips to see my DU roommate in Austria, have my parents visit in November, and get together with some other DU students in Prague for an Australian punk band we caught last fall in Denver. Skateboarding and concerts will certainly be a theme for this trip and having plans before departure helps to remind me that I won’t miss my buddies entirely, only the ones back in Colorado. I’m also keeping in mind the countless opportunities I’ll have to meet new people and connect with characters from all around this big funky planet. I’ll be starting courses in business alongside my elementary Czech class and look forward to learning some foundations of the trade. The coursework will be different from the usual reading and writing I do in my literature courses but my hope is to collect credits that I can use at DU to chip away at a marketing degree.
Additionally, I’ve been reflecting on the opportunity to write and share this blog throughout my trip. This format is very new to me, requiring writing that bridges the matter-of-fact straightforwardness of a news article and the intimate/vulnerable riskiness of a diary, all publicly shared through a somewhat casual voice. This challenge motivates me to be more critical of my upcoming experiences and push myself to seek out uncommon people, places, and opportunities.
My final days home in Chicago have consisted of trying to land some final skate tricks at my new local park, seeing my favorite band, Goose, play at the old Morton Salt Shed, and a Swiss pasta sendoff dinner with the family—fitting for my upcoming layover in Zurich.
I’m excited to write an update after my first days in Prague!
Best wishes,
Avery
DU Abroad 