Hello from Prague!
My name is Marina Siu and I’m currently one of the study abroad liaisons in NYU Prague. For a little bit more information about me, I’m a sophomore majoring in Finance and minoring in Computer Science. I’m from Hong Kong, but grew up in Shanghai, and I’m so excited to share with you why I chose Prague as my study abroad site and my study abroad experience so far here in Prague.
Not only am I able to complete two of my Stern requirements here, marketing and organizational communication, a lot of the electives here in Prague are also extremely interesting. One of my favorite classes here is Prague Music Field Study. If you’re interested in expanding your music horizons and being exposed to different types of music, this is the perfect class for you. Every two weeks we go to a concert for free as a class and analyze our experiences. The first concert we went to a few weeks ago was in a jazz club underground, where our professor was one of the performers. Watching my professor rock out on stage with his guitar was an experience I would have never been able to have in New York.
One of the best things about this city is that all of its gems are hidden, and it’s up to you to search for and discover them. Before school started, I was here with my parents, wandering around Old Town Square, visiting castles and cathedrals, and just being a regular tourist. This place is pretty nice, I thought; but never would I have known about all of the cozy hipster cafes, underground music venues, restaurants on the riverfront, and boutique thrift shops. Never would I have known about a shop dedicated to more than 1000 yoyos, a secret garden with amazing cake and live Czech music, and an underground restaurant that doesn’t have a menu, but instead asks you for your choice in flavors and gives you a surprise accordingly. And the better I got to know Prague, the more I fell in love with this place.
Another reason why Prague is a popular choice is because of its location; it is located right in the heart of Europe, which makes travelling to other places extremely cheap and easy. Last weekend, I travelled to Munich during my 5 day weekend (I only have classes Tuesday and Wednesday). Although it was raining the entire trip, it was still an amazing experience nonetheless. One of my favorite parts was visiting the BMW Museum, where you learn about the history of the company, see their oldest and newest cars, and of course buy some cool souvenirs.
This past month in Prague has been one of the most fun and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had, and it makes me sad to think that a month has already gone by. But, I’m excited for the 3 more to come, and if anyone is thinking about where to go to study abroad in the future, Prague should definitely be deeply considered!