I will admit I was a little scared of what I thought would be a majority of the local food at restaurants, but the food selection in stores and restaurants is honestly super diverse. The desserts and coffee have been my personal favorites to try out. All different region’s cuisines are available around the city, some more authentic than others. The Mexican food I’ve found here is probably the furthest from actual Mexican food, but the Asian, Mediterranean, and Indian food has been the most genuine in taste. Some of the more local Czech food I’ve tried has included dumplings and fried cheese, both very much bringing a comfort food feeling. KFC, Mcdonald’s, Subway, and Starbucks can all be found in the city center, with a slight change in taste and menu items. The sit-down meals I’ve had here in Brno have all been delicious, with fresher ingredients, and better than a lot of the fusion food in the U.S. The amount of Kebab I’ve consumed since being in Europe has been immense. There’s Kebab on every street and most are open late to feed the club and pubgoers.
The Czech Republic is the country that drinks the most beer in the world per capita and is quite literally cheaper than water. The country has a history of brewing beer going back to the 6th century, and the pouring style for the optimal amount of foam has been perfected by many here. Eye contact while toasting “Na Zdravi” or taking shots is done by everyone, if not that means bad luck, or some people claim it’s bad sex for 7 years. Burčák is a “young” fermented fruit wine, which is popular to buy in liter bottles at different stands in the city center. I’ve learned that when you buy a bottle it has to be finished within a day or two or it will go bad quickly, so it is perfect for sharing. Each week there is karaoke and parties to attend at some of the clubs within Brno hosted by the Erasmus Student Network. I’ve gone a couple times but they feel somewhat redundant. Instead, I’ve ventured to other spots with some friends which has helped with exploring Brno after dark. These nights usually end with a nice walk around beautiful architecture, a Kebab from Turkey Kebab, and the N95 Bus back to the dorms.
Back in the dorms, every couple of days my roommate and I have our friends come over and we all take turns cooking dishes that belong to each of our countries and watch a movie. It’s interesting that none of us are from the same country so we all have different meals that we can contribute that make us feel closer to home while sharing with others. I enjoy how wholesome it is that we all actually want to cook for each other even though our kitchens are tiny. Food is truly a way we can express how grateful we are for each other while teaching each other about the traditions we have at home.
DU Abroad 