By: Pooja Narayanan
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Dobrý den!
 
My name is Pooja, and I’m a sophomore currently studying abroad in Prague! I’m a Business major, concentrating in Finance, and minoring in Computer Science and Politics. I chose to come to Prague because of its central location, and how relatively inexpensive it was.
 
I’ve been here for just over a month, and it’s been great. Don’t know Czech? Not a problem! Most people speak English and even if they don’t, they’re willing to help you out. Body language is universal, too. Anyway, if you thought New York City was beautiful, you have to come to Prague. The buildings here are very colorful, and the architecture is breathtaking. Prague is stunning. Ten out of ten, would recommend. 
 
There are three NYU dorms here in Prague: Machova, Slezska, and Osadni. Machova gives you your typical suite, Slezska offers a small community, and Osadni has large apartments. I currently live in Machova, and other than some struggles doing laundry and the occasional faulty wi-fi (though it’s usually fine), it’s great! I share a suite with five other girls, and we have a large bathroom and a smaller water closet, so mornings aren’t very difficult. It’s super easy to get to class as well, with buses, trams, and the subway all being viable transportation options. They’re consistent too, and actually come on time (and so I’ve had to run to catch a tram more than once).
 
Campus is beautiful, right on Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) and a short walk from Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí), where protests during the Velvet Revolution took place. It consists of two buildings, with several classrooms in each.
 
I’m taking four classes here in Prague: Org Comm, Intro to Marketing, Law and Society, and Germany and East Central Europe. Classes are quite small. My Org Comm class and Intro to Marketing class are under 25 students. This has given me an opportunity to get to know a lot of my classmates. Plus, small classes means there’s no Stern curve. That’s definitely a perk.
 
I’ve already started traveling as well. In early February, my friends and I headed to Karlovy Vary (also known as Carlsbad), a small spa town nestled in the northwestern part of the Czech Republic. Karlovy Vary is known for its drinking springs, and while it was definitely cool to see them, the water didn’t taste so good (it was very metallic). This past weekend, we went to Budapest, Hungary. It required a lot of walking, but the architecture was beautiful and it was super cheap. I’d definitely recommend a weekend in Budapest; my friends and I had a great time there.
 
While I love Prague, it hits me sometimes that I’m thousands of miles away from home. But the NYU community is really accessible, so it’s easy to reach out and connect with people who are feeling the same things I am. It’s kind of surreal to know that I’m going to be here in Europe for the next three months. But I’m super stoked for all the adventures to come. If you have any questions about Stern or about Prague, please feel free to reach out to me!

By: Sophie Gershenwald

Hey USWIB! I’m Sophie, a sophomore studying Public Policy, Computer Science, and Business.  I get to call Paris home this semester, and I’m so excited to share my experience with y’all!
 
I got here about a month ago, but it feels like it’s gone by so fast! Here’s a little bit about my adventures so far:
 
School: Because Paris is a campus more geared towards MCC and music majors, there aren’t many courses aside from foreign language and Expressive Cultures that count for any of my requirements.  It gives me an excuse to take really cool classes like Art History and Film!  We take cool class trips, too – I’ve already been to the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay with my art history class, and I got to walk around the Marais with my history class.  NYU Paris is in the heart of the city, steps away from Notre Dame and Hotel de Ville and in walking distance to the Louvre and the Luxembourg Gardens.  Also, the view from the top floor of the NYU building is unreal – you can see out over all of Paris!
 
Daily life:  I live in an “arrondisement” about a half hour from school that’s full of students and locals.  My street gets busy at night, and it’s really nice that I can go hang out with friends without going too far if I don’t want to.  I like that I don’t live next to school because it gives me a chance to get out of my bubble and explore new areas of Paris! I love hanging out in cafés, finding cute new concept stores, and just taking walks so I can see as much as possible while I’m here.  I’m also working on living more like the Parisians (when in Paris, you know?) which basically means that I’m trying not to always be in a rush like I am in NYC! Locals like to take their time here and my friends and I walk notably faster than everyone else.  People watching at cafes has become a favorite, and now that the weather is getting nicer, I love grabbing a cup of coffee and just hanging out outside.
 
Travel:  I went to Versailles for a day a few weekends ago! The castle is beautiful and it’s really interesting to experience some of France’s history.  The gardens weren’t blooming, but it ended up being a nice day so my friends and I just walked around for a little bit!  I also just went to London for a weekend to see some friends who are studying abroad there.  It was a whirlwind trip, but I managed to get to Camden Market, Oxford Circus, Covent Garden, Chinatown and the Tate Museum.  I drank a lot of tea, so I’d consider it a success.
 
Looking forward:  I’m currently trying to plan a couple more trips! I have a whole list of places I want to go, so I’m trying to figure out how to do as much as I can.  Also, Paris Fashion Week is coming up, so a couple of friends and I are trying to figure out how to sneak into a show or two.  I’m also really excited for the weather to get a little warmer so I can start picnic-ing! There’s a really cute canal down my street that a lot of locals hang out along when it’s warm, and school is walking distance from the Seine, so I’m excited to grab lunch and hang out on the water.  Living here is a dream, and I keep those “pinch yourself” moments all the time!  I can’t wait for the rest of the semester, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions about living in Paris! 

​Name: Claire Zhang
Major: Business & Political Economy
Minor: Public Policy & Management
Site: London, UK
Why did you choose your study abroad site?
I chose London because I had never been before studying here! Also, as a BPE student, studying in London is built into the curriculum.
What are you most excited about for during your upcoming study abroad experience?
I already studied in London last fall, so I'm excited to be back in my favorite city! I love that it's a more relaxed version of New York City, so it's the perfect combination of something familiar and something completely new.

​Name: Pooja Dharan
Major: Marketing & Global Business
Site: Florence, Italy
Why did you choose your study abroad site?
I loved how Florence had so much history surrounding it, and how it was all evident in the architecture and art scattered throughout the city. Plus, the food is amazing and there are a lot of places to visit within Florence and Italy as a whole!
What are you most excited about for during your upcoming study abroad experience?
I'm really excited for my classes and being able to travel to different places in Europe. I'm taking an art history course which I'm really excited about because it takes us on field trips to the different museums in Florence. Also, travel is super cheap in Europe so I can't wait to plan some fun trips on the weekends!

​Name: Yara Khalil
Major: Finance and Management
Minor: Psychology
Site: London, UK
Why did you choose your study abroad site?
I chose London because, unlike any other city in the world, it proudly exhibits the culture through the Elizabethan architecture alongside modern day buildings like the shard. As for the sternie in me, I chose London to really understand what Britain in like beyond Br'exit'.
What are you most excited about for during your upcoming study abroad experience?
I'm definitely excited for all the trips and excursions NYU London has organized for us this semester. Also, I'm planning on visiting Belgium, Germany and Spain in the next couple of weeks, so there's a lot to look forward to!

​Name: Pooja Narayanan
Major: Finance
Minor: Politics & Computer Science
Site: Prague, Czech Republic
Why did you choose your study abroad site?
Central Europe seems to be vastly under-explored; plus, it gives me access to both west and east Europe. Also, the Prague site had the courses I wanted (and needed) to take for my major/minor requirements. Plus, Prague is a beautiful and historical city, and I wanted to be able to experience it for myself.
What are you most excited about for during your upcoming study abroad experience?
I'm excited to really get to know Prague, as well as the Czech culture and Czech language, which many people don't understand or know about. I'm also super excited to travel and explore different parts of the Czech Republic and different parts of Europe.

Name: Sophie Gershenwald
Major: Public Policy
Minor: Business Studies & Computer Science
Site: Paris, France
Why did you choose your study abroad site?
I've always loved everything French - the language, the food, the fashion, and the lifestyle - and I jumped at the opportunity to spend a few months there and really become immersed in the culture.
What are you most excited about for during your upcoming study abroad experience?
I'm really excited to improve my French, learn more about art and Parisian history, and people watch in cafès between classes! The French love to slow down and focus on the activity they're engaged in (to-go coffee is difficult to find and lines may take forever because people are chatting at the front), so I'm excited to take a break from running around all of NYC and focus on my surroundings for a couple of months. I'm also not taking that many classes that pertain to my major while I'm here, so I'm excited to take classes that I otherwise wouldn't have a chance to take, like art history and film.