Bittersweet Ending.

Prague By Night

Its hard to think that is was already nearly four months ago that I set off on this amazing experience to study abroad. I still remember my unjustified freaking out about freezing to death after my Miami born and raised self was told that Prague was comparable to the Arctic Tundra, and my fruitless attempt to pack 5 coats into a modest carry-on. I still remember my freaking out after rushing to the airport after my New York taxi got lost, and how I barely made my flight to the Czech Republic. It seems like just last week, I was feeling the flurry of emotions: nervousness, excitement, anxiety. Yet, three months have gone by in what seems like a matter of days, and it is still hard to believe that in mere days, I will be back in my home country. Worse though, is that I’m still unsure as to what I should feel, and what I am currently feeling. Part of me is sad to leave Europe and this amazing experience, as well as the great people I’ve had the pleasure to meet. The other, Americanized part of me however, is eager to get back to New York City and scarf down an extra large cup of Pinkberry frozen yogurt.

Despite the fact that I spent a great deal of the semester lusting after things only available in my beloved New York City, going back partly saddens me. Reflecting upon the experiences I’ve had, places I’ve been, and the knowledge I have gained makes wondering what things would have been like had I not gone abroad almost unimaginable. The amazing experiences that I had with Czechs, my fellow NYU students and the amazing NYU in Prague staff and faculty have made this experience all the more memorable. From my initial difficulty speaking a word of anything in Czech, to my now (almost) effortless skills in ordering food in Czech, I’ve learned that a little bit of effort and patience go a long way. Now, my concern is how bizarre it will be to go back to a country where everyone speaks English. I’ve already envisioned myself uttering “Mluvite Anglicky, prosim?” (Do you speak English, please?) at the Trader Joe’s cashier queue. I will remember the amazing people I’ve met while here more than anything, along with the friends I will have for life after this experience. They often say that things will have changed when you are gone for an extended period of time, but I have no doubt in my mind that it is I that will have changed, and hopefully that change will be for the better. 

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