Study life

The semester has been going for about a month now and things are falling into place. Luckily I got into the classes I wanted and I’m thoroughly enjoying the material I’m learning as well. My classes are relatively small and we meet for 3 hours once a week. Because it is so long and full of information we take a small break. We are all foreigners in the classes, but most of the people are American. In New Paltz, there is a comfort that I know what is expected of me and that I can reach it. Here, I feel like I don’t know what the professors expect or want, I’m doing all my work but I’m never sure if it’s any good. I only have class Tuesday and Thursday so it really isn’t bad. For every class, we usually do a part of the day’s work outside in the field which is really nice. I feel like I’m learning the information differently; I supposed that’s possible because of the location. I’ve been going to museums and famous, historical locations. I’ve been learning about the time and history preserved all throughout Prague.

And the cherry on top of it all is the constant view I have from anywhere I turn.

Getting Familiar With The Unknown

It’s now been three weeks, almost four since I moved to Prague. Researching culture shock and reading all the charts can’t really prepare you for it. Writing this is weird and I don’t mean that in a bad way; it’s just that I’m trying to reflect on things that just happened but feel like a lifetime ago. Getting used to Prague isn’t hard or bad, it’s absolutely beautiful here. The amazement hasn’t really passed either, I continue to be amazed at the history and beauty that I discover every day. The hard part is home: thinking about how it is back home, what your friends are doing without you, what your family is doing, what your significant other might be feeling and not telling you. It has been hard. I try to not to sit in my room because when I do I just scroll on social media waiting for it to update. Thinking about my parents at home working for me to be able to do this makes me sitting in my room even worse. I’m not sure if there is a way to break the shock or not feel it, but whenever I find myself sitting at home sad, I just put my jacket on and walk out the door and go anywhere. Sometimes, i’s better to be alone in public than at home.

I feel like the first two weeks, everything felt magical and unreal. I had no actual concerns and then reality set in. I’m surviving in Prague alone. I have to be smart, I can’t spend crazy amounts of money because everything is cheap, it adds up. I can’t be alone nor can I be surrounded by people all the time. I haven’t been able to find a middle ground. I’m constantly thinking about when I get home how life will be so odd and there’s this thought that maybe I don’t have to go back home. Maybe I can find happiness here even though “it’s not a destination”. And as sad as it sounds now, almost all of the times where I have felt so lucky to be here is when learning about the tragic history this country has. Last night I saw the film Anthropoid, it was so moving and it’s hard for me to believe all those events happened where I walk by every day. It really puts things into perspective.

Adjustment is hard, I would be lying to you if I told you I haven’t spent nights lying in bed unhappy and being unhappy because I am unhappy in such a beautiful city. It’s a paradox I hope to break soon.

HUGE WAKE UP CALL!

HUGE WAKE UP CALL!
Okay, so I forgot what my priorities were for a second. A week before midterms, I went into panic mode. This meant no make-up, messy hair and no sense of fashion everyday. It was hard for me, I’ve been traveling a lot and I thought that was the only reason why I was here.

Trust me, I got a reality check. The only thing that saved me was the strong study team that I had. We were up until 4 AM every single day and drinking coffee nonstop. It was not easy but I made it, and I think I did pretty good. The classes are not hard but you need to be on top of your things. Or else you’re going to go crazy like me!

The best advice I could give you is to PAY ATTENTION. Most of the classes rely on your exams so don’t miss a class because you might not have your usual slide to make up for it.]

 

THIS IS A SAD PICTURE OF ME AFTER EXAMS! Enjoy!

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I’m just living.

Yesterday I finally left to embark on one of the biggest adventures of my life, but not without out a week long stop in San Diego, California.

As I boarded the plane and said my final goodbyes to my dad and boyfriend, I felt no ounce of sadness in me. Yeah, I’m leaving my family and boyfriend for six months, but it’s hard for me to be upset when I’ve worked so hard for this. This is what I’ve wanted since I was little; this has been what I daydream about. I boarded the plane, and I was off, not looking back, and wishing to dear god I would actually sleep the whole flight to California. Fortunately, I slept. I actually slept a lot, with the quiet humming of the man snoring next to me. The flight was filled with laughter, inexperienced fliers, and lots of screaming children, but I didn’t care. I was half dazed from my slumber, and full of anxiety filled excitement.

The anxiety started hitting me on that flight. I became worried that I wasn’t ready for this adventure, that I would miss having the normalcy and security I had back home. I thought about the security of having a routine, and knowing that routine like the back of my hand. Right now, I have no routine; I do not know what to expect. I thought about this for awhile, and the anxiety grew. The plane landed, and I was brought back to reality from the bustle of people too eagerly trying to leave the plane.

The heat hit me, the sun burned my eyes, and I realized how ill dressed I was for San Diego weather; I was wearing a scarf, jacket, and pants. A smile swept over my face, filling me with ease. I felt at home, like I always do when I visit San Diego. I saw the familiar face of my older brother, and more anxiety dissipated from my body. The anxiety I was building up on the plane was now subsiding, I began to realize “wow, this is it. I’m doing this, hell yeah!”

All my fears seem so small now. I can do this, I know I can do this, I’ve always known I could do this. I’ll have a routine again in Australia, and I’ll have normalcy. But for now, I’m going to enjoy not knowing what each day holds. Today, I’m sitting outside at a cafe drinking a cold brew coffee, and writing this post. The sun is shining, the air smells like a mix of flowers and coffee, and people are conversing everywhere. Tomorrow, maybe I’ll go for a hike, or explore more of downtown San Diego? I don’t know what each day holds, and that’s the best part about this trip; I’m allowing myself to be free and open to each experience I have.

 

 

With love,

Brianne

 

 

Ambivalence & Culture Shock…It’s Inevitable!

I am having a great time here so far. I’m seven weeks in and I am loving it. I’ll have to admit, I am getting slightly homesick here and there (mainly because I don’t know how to cook…and I don’t know what I’m doing in the kitchen 99.99% of the time) I have always been so fascinated by cultures and I’m really interested in learning about them. Although one of the primary languages here in Ireland is English, the dialect here is so different! I have caught myself saying: “chips”, “lad”, “brilliant!”, “no bother”, and “you’re grand”, and “cheers”.

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And the weather! It is practically summer over here! As a New York (City) native, I am so used to the cold…not to mention, it’s probably snowing as I am blogging right now! It’s usually cloudy and around 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit here. I was given the notion that it was suppose to rain a lot of here. If anything, it has been sunny more than it has rained. I think I only wore my rain boots once the whole time I have been here so far!! No complaints though, I am absolutely loving this weather. It really brings out Ireland’s natural beauty. The people are also really nice here as well. They’re very kind and show great hospitality. I remember one time, I was having dinner, and I tripped and fell on my way to the restroom. As soon as my body hit the floor, one of the employees came running towards my direction and made sure I was okay. And upon exiting, he asked if I was okay, and he seemed so worried!

 

As for food, I don’t think I’ll ever say this…but I think I am getting sick of potatoes! They literally have potatoes for every meal, and in many different variations. Mashed potatoes, french fries (chips), potato wedges, Shepard’s pie (which they make great here!), hashed browns, you name it! I haven’t had the chance to get a full Irish breakfast yet (it’s actually quite heavy!) but I did have small ones. Croissants and tea!

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Chocolate Croissant with Nutella spread, and tea!

Tea is probably the only thing I will never get sick of in Ireland. I absolutely love tea and it is my favorite hot beverage. They drink tea like water over here. It’s brilliant! (btw I am NOT a coffee person)