Meet Meera Patel, Prague 2024

It deepened her understanding and appreciation of the region’s diverse heritage. Her time studying in Prague not only pushed her beyond her comfort zone but also allowed her to critically explore her sense of self. Through these experiences, Meera built lasting friendships and created memories that will stay with her throughout her life and academic career. Join her as she reflects on the valuable insights and stories that continue to shape her educational path.

Program/Term

International studies (Central/Eastern Europe conc.), Connect 2024

Was Prague the best fit for your degree?

When I received my Spring Connect offer, Prague immediately stood out to me because of how well it fit my degree. For context, I am majoring in International Studies with a concentration on Central and Eastern Europe, so having the opportunity to actually start my college experience in the part of the world I would be studying for the next four years was the absolute perfect fit for me and my degree.

Did you encounter any cultural challenges while studying there? How did you navigate them?

The most challenging part of being in Prague was the language barrier. Prague was my very first semester of college and therefore my first time living on my own, so the fact that my first time living on my own involved having to do grocery shopping in a different language and with different currency was initially very challenging. Google  Translate was a great asset in making sure I was buying the right things, and I was able to learn a lot of new words just from going to the grocery store every day. It seems trivial when I look back on it, but going to the grocery store and having to navigate that language barrier really helped me get out of my comfort zone and learn a lot of new things.

What were the courses you took while in Prague?

While I was in Prague, I took European Politics, Czech Language & Culture,  Astronomy with an Astronomy Lab, and Sociology.

What was your favorite memory from your time in Prague?

My favorite memories from my time in Prague are of Thursday night outings with my friends before we left to explore a new country the next day. We didn’t have classes on Fridays in the Connect program, so every Thursday my friends and I would go out to experience the local nightlife, and it was honestly such a fantastic way to meet all kinds of people from all sorts of different places.

Do you maintain any connections with friends or colleagues you met during your time there?

The friends I made in Prague are some of the most amazing people I have ever met,  and we still hang out regularly to this day. Upon returning from Prague, my roommate and I chose to live together again while two of our friends lived right across the hall, and now, going into our sophomore year in a few months, we still keep in touch.

Did you explore other parts of Europe while studying in  Prague? Which destinations stood out to you?

As I mentioned earlier, we had Fridays off from classes, so I took that opportunity to go explore other areas of Europe on those long weekends. During my time in Prague,  I was able to visit Bratislava in Slovakia, Budapest in Hungary, and Kraków in  Poland, and I was even able to experience Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Out of all of those, I’d have to say Budapest stood out the most to me- the architecture was absolutely stunning, especially the view of the Hungarian Parliament from the  Danube at night.

How has your time in Prague impacted your career path or life choices since then?

Since studying in Prague, I’ve had a really unique insight into the Czech perception of a lot of things that come up in my studies, which is really neat to contrast to the  American perception of these same things. Studying in Prague also boosted my confidence in my ability to thrive in a foreign country, and I’m actually planning on doing another semester abroad as well as even looking into pursuing a career abroad post-graduation.

What advice would you give to students considering studying abroad in Prague?

Honestly, the best advice I can give is to step out of your comfort zone and say yes to everything. Being in Prague allowed me to discover so much about myself and experience so many amazing things I couldn’t have even dreamed of a year ago, all of which I never would’ve gotten to experience if I hadn’t let go of my inhibitions.

This post was originally published in NC State European Center in Prague.