Ahh, so I am arrived and (almost) over the jetlag. Or perhaps it's just the strong coffee I gulped down from the stand down the street.

Prague is pretty awesome, but overwhelming. To be honest, today is the first time I've really felt relaxed and okay. I had read all about culture shock and adjusting and everything prior to leaving, however, I pretty much just assumed that I'd be the happy, upbeat person I always am. But traveling, jetlag, a new country/city/language, and the pressure to socialize with everyone new has been pretty rough. Everyone wants to go out to the bars at night and meet everyone else, but at the same time, I'm so exhausted all the time, I don't want to go out (or confirm the drunk American stereotype like half the rest of the students here have been doing). It's been a mixed bag.

But on the upside, Prague is gorgeous (when it isn't raining), and easy to get around. I feel like I know more Czech than most of the students on the program, which can be difficult since I don't much more than please, thank you, hello, goodbye, etc. The Czech language, by the way, IS SO HARD! I'm staying in a flat for the semester with two other girls from the program and our "Czech buddy," Helena. Helena is super nice and patient (especially when we wander around Tesco, the cheap superstore for food/everything, for hours). Our flat is far away from the other flats in our program, but we're in a nice area and have the coolest bathroom ever. The bathroom is enormous with a deep, full size tub. Unfortunately, the hot water runs out very quickly! Internet in the apartment is unreliable for now, so I am just quickly writing this post before more orientation classes in a few minutes (apologies for the randomness!).

Intensive Czech classes start on Monday morning, and I hope that we'll have a break in oriantation activities sometime soon so we can explore the city on our own. I was excited this morning because I successfully navigated the metro for the first time, even though I'd been half asleep when Helena explained how to use it! Otherwise, I'll update again when I have more internet time, and perhaps even write about my "misfortunate tragedy" on the first night getting lost on the way back from the bar...