#ipecsprague

[umichenginabroad]

Week 12: Hop Into Spring (Easter in Prague!)

After traveling through Morocco, this week in Prague felt slower, steadier, and one that I was very much looking forward to after the long international journey. I got back into a routine, spent more time at home, and quickly noticed how much lighter everything felt, from the weather to the general mood around the city.

Easter Markets

One of the highlights this week was our Czech class outing to the Easter markets. A while back, our teacher mentioned that if any of us managed to order something in Czech, she’d reward us. So when we arrived, I found a crepe stand and gave it a try: “jednu palačinku, prosím” with “jahoda” (strawberry) and “banán” (banana) toppings. After some trial and error, I ended up with a warm crepe and felt more confident ordering in Czech. Well worth it!

We weren’t just there to snack, though. She handed out a vocabulary worksheet with Easter-related words, and we were told to look out for them as we walked through the stalls. A surprising number showed up, including pomlázka (a traditional braided willow whip used on Easter Monday), mazanec (a round sweet bread with raisins), and velikonoční vejce (painted Easter eggs). The market was full of handmade crafts, decorated ribbons, vintage jewelry, and of course, food and beer. Most famously, green Easter beer appears this time of year and looks cool but tastes the same as regular beer in my opinion.

Easter in Prague, or Velikonoce, is celebrated with a mix of Christian and folk traditions. These markets pop up all over the city, especially in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, and they feel more like open-air galleries than typical street fairs. There’s a big emphasis on handmade goods and regional traditions, and even if you’re just passing through, it’s hard not to be pulled in.

What I loved most was how naturally it all blended into the city itself. The soft yellows, muted pinks, and pale greens of the pastel buildings I’d appreciated since arriving seemed to echo the colors of the market stalls, fitting into the scene like they belonged to the season. With the stalls full of Easter eggs and ribboned branches, the holiday and energy from locals made for a wonderful week.

Spring Days and Chill Nights

The weather this week was beautiful. It’s warm enough now that my walks to class usually involve a short detour, either through a nice park or with a stop at the ice cream truck that parks right outside the villa. There are always so many people outdoors, and we even had Comms class on the grass one day, with people passing by, dogs running around, and the occasional gust of wind trying to blow through the pages of The Culture Map.

Later in the week, a few of us went to Letná Park and ended up at its very popular beer garden. The view of the city from there never gets old, and it was a lovely place to just sit and catch up.

Most of the evenings this week were spent with my roommates, whether we were cooking together, sitting around in the kitchen, or sharing stories. Nothing major happened, but it was great, a good week to just be here.

Academics Check-In

In class, things are starting to pick up again. My group presented a new update on the travelog project, the social media side of it is coming together, the maps are working, and now it’s mostly down to design polish and final touches.

In Comms, we’re still reading The Culture Map, and this week’s focus was on workplace hierarchies and decision-making styles. It led to a good discussion about how different cultures approach leadership with some adopting top-down structures and others taking a more collaborative angle. Talking about it in an international classroom and having experience through our capstones with Czech companies added some handy real-life perspective.

Looking Ahead

Easter break is coming up, and I’m heading to Croatia with a good group of twelve. We’re starting the trip with a 17-hour FlixBus ride (overnight, with a stop in Zagreb) before eventually making it to Split. It’s definitely not the most ideal way to get there, but I’m thinking it’ll be worth it once we see the water.

It’ll be my first warm-weather trip of the semester, and I’m so excited to slow down, spend time on the beach, and explore a new country! After a quieter week in Prague, the timing is perfect.

[umichenginabroad]

Week 11: From Camels to Commits — Team travelog in Morocco

This week, four out of five members of my travelog project group hopped on a plane to Morocco together. It wasn’t exactly a team-building exercise, but it sort of turned into one. Between wandering the Marrakesh markets, riding camels through the dunes, and crashing on an overnight layover, we packed in a full trip before heading back to Prague and jumping straight into another development sprint for our Software Engineering class. Definitely not how we planned to balance school and travel, but it made for a good story. Our trip to Morocco ended up being one of the most memorable and action-packed trips of the semester.

Settling into Marrakesh

We stayed at a riad called Riad Zanouba. Riads are traditional Moroccan houses or palaces that are built around interior courtyards or gardens. These homes were once private residences, but many have now been converted into guesthouses or hotels, especially in Marrakesh. It was a really comfortable stay with a beautiful tiled interior, peaceful vibes, and just a short walk from the center of the city. I also felt safer staying in a riad compared to an Airbnb, especially after hearing a story from a friend who got robbed at one while visiting Morocco.

The location made it easy to explore. We walked around the nearby markets and souks, which were full of everything from traditional clothing and ceramics to beauty products and souvenirs. I ended up buying some Moroccan oil for my hair, which I’d been meaning to try for a while. There were also tons of stalls with spices, rugs, and jewelry. Even if you weren’t planning to buy anything, it was fun to just walk through and take it all in. That first night, we dined at a beautiful restaurant called Le Bistro Arabe. We enjoyed its lovely indoor decorations and outdoor atmosphere, a live jazz band, and traditional Moroccan tapas.

Another thing I noticed that I really enjoyed were that there were so many stray cats. I didn’t pet any, but they were everywhere and honestly very photogenic. I love cats, so I took the liberty of snapping a pic every time I came across one of them.

Into the Desert

One of the highlights of the trip was the two-day desert tour we booked. Most people recommend the three-day version to really get deeper into the dunes, but we didn’t want to miss class, so we opted for the shorter one. The first day started with a seven-hour bus ride out to the desert. It sounds long, but there were photo stops and a longer break to hike up a monument, so it didn’t feel too bad. The views along the way were also really pretty and gave a good sense of how much the landscape shifts outside the city.

Just before arriving to the desert, everyone bought headscarves to protect from the sun and sand while riding the camels. We rode out into the dunes without going super deep into the Sahara, but far enough to feel like we were fully out there. The camp we stayed at had traditional-style tents set up with beds and beautiful colorful rugs, and after dinner there was a live music session around a big fire with the whole group. Later that night, my friends and I went sandboarding down the dunes under the stars. As someone who has been snowboarding for a decade, absolutely none of that skill transferred over. It is much harder than it looks and the only way to successfully go down the hill is to stay crouched and find a hill steep enough that will beat the friction of the board against the sand. Otherwise you'll just get stuck and have to hop down the hill, board attached and everything. We also ended up meeting a bunch of other American students studying abroad, which made the night even more fun and spontaneous.

The next day, we rode the camels back, hopped on the bus, and headed straight to the airport for another treacherous eight hour layover in Frankfurt this time. I picked up a really pretty Moroccan bowl at the airport for our apartment in Prague; something small to remember the trip by.

Travel Lows and Highs

One of the best decisions of the trip was booking an ATV ride in the desert. It wasn’t included in our tour since we did the two-day version, but we booked it separately and it ended up being one of the most fun parts of the weekend. Definitely recommend adding it on if you ever do a similar trip.

The worst decision? Booking flights with a nine-hour overnight layover. Isa and I thought we were saving money, but the journey from Prague to Zurich, then to Geneva for an 11 PM to 8 AM layover to Marrakesh, was brutal. Nothing was open, we couldn’t leave the airport, and there were no real places to sleep. Just a row of stiff chairs and eight hours to kill. Not worth the money saved. I’ll be paying extra next time.

What I’d Do Differently

If we could’ve missed class, I would’ve definitely done the three-day desert tour instead of the two. Everyone we talked to said the extra day is worth it since you go deeper into the desert and have more time to settle in. I also wish I had more time in the Marrakesh markets. They were really cool and I would’ve liked to wander around more and pick up more than just the hair oil, but I’m still glad I got something.

Back in Prague: travelog in Motion

After we got back, we jumped right back into the next sprint for travelog. Four of us had just been in Morocco together, so it was kind of funny to go from camel rides to app debugging in the same week. Our app is really starting to come together, and I’m super excited about it. We’ve got a working landing page, login and signup flows connected to the database, and a basic structure for the main pages: Home, Search, Map, My Log, and Profile.

Everyone is working on building out their own features, and it’s definitely the class that takes up the most of my time right now. Our professor has us check in with progress presentations in two week sprints, but there’s no strict grading yet. It really feels like the kind of project that’s as good as the effort we put into it. At the end, we’ll do a final presentation with slides and a demo of the app. I’m looking forward to seeing it all come together.

This trip was a lot, both in the best ways and with some crashouts at the airport, but I’m so glad we went. Morocco was a completely different experience from the typical abroad weekend, and I felt much closer to my friends (the travelog team plus one other). We learned a lot, saw a lot, and came back ready to keep the energy going.

More soon,

Natalie

[umichenginabroad]

Week 10: Spring in Full Swing

This week, Prague finally welcomed spring in full. The weather has been consistently warm and sunny, which has made a huge difference in day-to-day life. Two of our classes were even held outside, and there’s been an ice cream cart parked by the school all week! Trees are blooming, flowers are out, and it feels like the city has been revived with so many people out and about.

We also had an IFSA trivia night this week, and my team won! There were a couple IFSA teams and teams from Prague City University as well as random patrons in the bar. We did trivia at an Australian sports bar called Down Under, for which I now have a 250kc voucher for the next time I go thanks to my win. Almost everyone in the program showed up and it was a fun evening, answering questions from pop culture to Prague to random animal knowledge (apparently elephants can’t jump but giraffes can!).

I stayed in Prague for a very chill and relaxed weekend. I enjoyed the warm weather by picnicking for several hours at Letná Park with some friends. We brought grapes and strawberries and enjoyed the sunset as the day continued. I also ended up cooking at home a lot and went for a few runs outside instead of going to the gym. Running along the river in this weather definitely beats the treadmill!

Academics

Classes are moving along steadily for now, but will pick up a lot in a week or two. In Software Engineering, I’m back to working on travelog. I really enjoy application development and am having a lot of fun working on the frontend, working out the backend logic, thinking about the design aspects, and connecting everything together. It’s also a cool experience working on it with a group because we are using Github, a popular version control software for developers, which is used very often in the real world. In Czech, we’ve moved from learning food and drink vocab to practicing how to order at a restaurant, which has been useful. Easter is arriving soon and in Prague, Easter markets appear in various spots of the city. Apparently, people in the Easter markets sell items ranging from traditional Czech foods and drinks to jewelry, traditional Easter toys, and other trinkets. My teacher said that if we put our skills to use and order something in Czech, she’ll cover it! For Comm, we’re writing letters back to Gray’s students. It’s nice telling them about my experiences in America and answering their questions (one of them asked which snack I miss the most from the U.S., and I have to say I miss Goldfish). Lastly, in Ethics, I’ve been finishing up our reflection on last week’s class debate. We’re revisiting the question of whether tech companies are doing enough for society and writing out our final thoughts.

It’s been a slower week overall, but a good one. The weather has definitely lifted everyone’s mood, and it’s so nice to enjoy Prague at a more relaxed pace. Next weekend, I’m going to Morocco for an action-packed, adventure-filled couple of days. Stay tuned to hear all about it!

Signing off,

Natalie

[umichenginabroad]

Week 9: Czeching-in after Spring Break

After an unforgettable spring break celebrating Patty’s in Dublin and skiing in St. Anton, Prague was a nice change of pace. This week, I settled back into my gym routine and cooking at home a lot more (I actually bought vegetables and cooked meat multiple times this week!). It felt great to find a slower rhythm in Prague after the nonstop energy of travel.

One of the highlights of the week was having my friend Jordyn visit! She’s a close friend from Michigan who I studied abroad with in Madrid last year, and now she’s studying abroad in Florence. It was so fun to explore Prague from a touristy angle again, showing her the Charles Bridge, the narrowest street in Prague that has a traffic light for pedestrians, the crawling baby sculptures in Kampa park, the book tower, and ending our days with cozy Czech dinners and nights out. Visiting and hosting friends abroad has been such a special part of my study abroad experience. Most of the cities I’ve visited, I’ve stayed with friends who are also abroad, and several have come to see me in Prague. It’s so fun exploring new cities with friends I haven’t seen in a while and for cheaper since there’s no need to spend on lodging!

Outside of her visit, classes have been picking up and I enjoyed some one-off activities this weekend.

Academics & Planning Ahead

Back at Michigan, registration for next fall’s classes is coming up next week! I’ve been doing checklist audits and using Atlas to find courses that fit my schedule, and asking around for advice on upper-level EECS classes. Similarly, I’ve been emailing teachers and IFSA staff to figure out how many attendances I have in each class. Their policy is strict, and already know I’ll be missing a few classes toward the end of the program for my sister’s graduation, so it’s good to plan accordingly.

In AI, we had a review session for our upcoming exam. It’s a written test with 16 multiple-choice questions, and we’re allowed to bring in handwritten notes, so it’s time to start studying! Over in Comm, our professor surprised us by having his Czech students write letters to us, sharing their perspectives on Czech culture, mentality, and daily life. We’re writing back next week! It’s such a thoughtful and genuine way to connect across cultures.

In Software Engineering (SWE), we’re officially back on track with our projects! My group is building a social media platform called travelog. We just kicked off a new two-week sprint, which is a focused work period where we aim to meet specific goals. For this sprint, we’re building out the main functional features for each page of the app. As we go, we’ll continue improving design and user experience. Lastly, in Ethics, we had a class-wide debate on whether tech companies are doing enough for society. Both sections joined in, and the conversation was super eye-opening and engaging, definitely a highlight of the week academically.

Weekend Activities

This weekend I stayed in Prague, so I decided to go ahead and sign up for a bunch of fun activities to experience more in the city and try new things.

On Friday, IFSA had a planned “falconry” event. We commuted to the faraway land of Prague 12, the outskirts of the city, and learned about the Czech tradition. Czech falconers use birds of prey (usually falcons) for hunting, a practice that also historically symbolized status and prestige. We saw several birds, many of them owls, and even had a falcon, eagle, and vulture fly up to our arms and hold them! Later that night, my friends and I found an afrohouse event in Prague 1 that we were excited about. Hosted once a month by an organization called RoomLab, we got tickets and had a great time. Afrohouse is one of my favorite genres of music to listen to and definitely my favorite to mix!

The following day, I got a haircut at a salon my friend recommended called Podium. It was lovely and they did a great job, however, it is notable that I had a junior hairstylist since it was cheaper and she did not speak any English, but luckily the receptionist translated and I loved the end result! I also signed up for an art class with a friend where we worked on an oil pastel for a few hours, I rarely paint so it was a nice creative outlet.

Sunday continued the activities checklist and I went rock-climbing with friends. I would occasionally go back at Michigan and it was fun to find a climbing gym to spend a couple hours in. Another notable part of the weekend was discovering several coffee shops with wonderful atmospheres and great for coffee, studying, or a drink:

Vnitroblock — a large space with lots of different areas, perfect for studying in Prague 7.

Míšeňská — super cozy with a beautiful outdoor seating area in Prague 1 (by Charles Bridge!).

Dos Mundos — a small café near the Villa with Latin American roots and amazing coffee.

Final Thoughts

This week reminded me how valuable staying in your home base is. I was tempted to book trips this weekend to visit Jordyn in Florence or my cousin in Brussels, but I’m really glad I stayed. There’s so much to see and do right here in Prague, especially if you’re willing to dig a little deeper and find planned activities to join. Taking the weekend off was great for budgeting and avoiding burnout from constant travel. Next week, I’ll be staying put again and enjoying it!

Na zdraví,

Natalie

[umichenginabroad]

Week 8: Peaking in the Alps

My return to Prague from Dublin during spring break was very short-lived since the following day I hopped on an 8-hour train to the Austrian Alps. The time on the train flew by being in good company and the pure anticipation and excitement that came from the idea of skiing this season. Skiing in the alps has been a dream of mine since I was ten so this was a huge trip for me.

Skiing in St. Anton

Three Prague friends and I (Lily, Sabrina, and Brandon) headed to St. Anton am Arlberg, a ski town in the Austrian Alps, and it was absolutely incredible. I haven’t skied out west or at any huge resort before, so being surrounded by massive mountain ranges and views was utterly breathtaking. It felt surreal the entire time, especially standing at the highest peak and taking in the panorama.

We stayed in a cozy little Airbnb that felt straight out of a storybook — a German-style chalet with multiple guest units. The older woman who hosted us lived on the main floor and was always there to greet us, give bus tips, and chat. It reminded me a lot of our Airbnb in Dublin which was also very warm and homey.

St. Anton (like most ski towns) is definitely not a budget destination, so we decided to buy groceries and cook for every single meal. For breakfast we always made eggs and avocado toast, packed sandwiches for lunch on the mountain, and dinners were usually something quick but filling (pasta or meat with rice and veggies). It ended up being a nice routine and we were able to avoid the €25 hamburgers.

We skied for three full days and were up around 6:30 every morning to catch first tracks at 8 AM. I’m not really a morning person, but I’ll happily trade sleeping in for freshly groomed slopes and untouched powder. The lifts started shutting down around 4, with the very last one closing at 4:45, so we made sure to stay out as long as we could.

St. Anton is also famous for its aprés-ski scene (it’s known as the best in the world!) It kicks off around 3 PM, right on the mountain, and turns into a full-on party. We didn’t end up going until the last day, mostly because we would ski from open to close and were too tired to function by the end of the day. But I’m really glad we rallied for it on the last day, it was so much fun! Picture a packed mountaintop bar, loud house music, and everyone still in ski gear. Then at the end, you ski the rest of the way down, usually long after the mountain and lifts are closed for the day. It’s slightly chaotic but was such a good time.

Speaking as an East Coast native, where ski hills are short and icy, the Alps were out of this world for me. A “long” run back home might be around half a mile and takes maybe two minutes to ski down. At St. Anton, I did one that was 4.5 miles long that nearly took me 20 minutes. It was a constant leg burn in the best way. The views on the way down felt almost like a green screen and it was a great workout.

It was definitely my most expensive trip so far (five days total, three ski days), but I’d definitely do it again. The Airbnb was around $1,550 total, split among four people. Lift tickets were $75/day, which felt like a solid deal given how massive and well-run the mountain is. I’ve paid nearly that on the East Coast for a fraction of the experience at the times I didn’t have a season pass, and I know places out west can be way more expensive.

Every aspect of the trip and ski experience was amazing, the only confusion came from the bus system. Since the resort is so big (Arlberg is all the mountains and ski towns together, St. Anton is just one of them), we needed buses to get from one set of mountains to another. From what we knew, there was no app or website showing a clear schedule. Also, some buses were cash-only, others were tap-to-pay, and a few were free for some reason? It took us a day or two to figure it out, but once we did, it did make things much easier, especially since any other alternative like walking or Ubers were completely out of the picture.

Back in Prague: Classes and Coffee with IPE

Before I knew it, spring break was over and we were back in Prague. On the Tuesday after break, IFSA organized a little coffee break between classes so we could chat with some of the study abroad reps from our universities. For Michigan students, that was our lovely IPE advisor and coordinator, Tiffany and Katie! I really enjoyed talking with them, especially since I’ve been blogging for IPE this semester and had a lot to share about my experiences in Prague and Madrid, both study abroad programs through IPE. It was also nice to hear them talk about how the program works behind the scenes as someone both working for IPE and actively in a program hosted by them.

With classes starting up again, we were reminded of our Ethics team debate coming up on the 27th. Our topic is: Are tech companies doing enough for society? My class will be arguing that they are and the other class will be arguing the opposite. It’s a big question with a lot to unpack, such as what do we mean by “enough” and what exactly defines a tech company? I’m a little nervous, but I think once we begin researching and outlining the argument, it’ll be a good challenge. Additionally, there’s a project and an exam coming up in a week for my AI class which is definitely beginning to pick up. Luckily, our professor is really kind and down-to-earth, which helps, especially with it being my 9 AM.

This week definitely felt like a shift, both physically (after skiing for three days straight) and mentally, getting back into school mode after break. St. Anton was everything I hoped it would be and more, but at the same time, being back in Prague is so relaxing and feels like home. It reminded me how grateful I am for the balance this semester has given me. Between bucket list adventures and nice interactions and settings on campus, I’m trying to take it all in while it lasts.

Thank you for reading, I am all caught up now! See you next week!

Danke Schön,

Natalie

[umichenginabroad]

Week 7: Kicking Off Spring Break in Dublin

This week began with a mix of schoolwork, family visits, and the long-awaited start of spring break. Spring break usually hits right around the most grueling part of the semester, but being in Prague has made everything feel a little lighter and more exciting. Still, I was definitely ready for a change of pace, and break did not disappoint. It’s also hard to believe we’re already at the halfway point of the semester. Time is flying, but the semester’s been packed and super fun so far!

Updates from the Villa (School)

Even though break is in full swing, school didn’t slow down earlier in the week. In my Communications class, we submitted the first of four Reflective Development Papers, each one focused on a different area of personal and professional growth. This first paper centered around “intercultural agility”, which refers to how we navigate and adapt in cross-cultural settings. It was a nice opportunity to reflect on how living in Prague and traveling across Europe has challenged me to connect with people in new ways. (I also referenced this blog in my reflection!) Writing it helped me realize just how many small moments (learning bits of Czech, chatting with locals, or just adjusting to different social norms) have already shaped my perspective.

In Czech class, we’ve been learning vocabulary related to food and drinks (very important stuff), and selecting a Czech person for our famous personality presentations. I chose Ester Ledecká, a Czech snowboarder who won gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics. I’ve been snowboarding since I was five and love watching snowboarding events during the X Games and Olympics (shoutout to Chloe Kim, my favorite snowboarder of all time), so this project feels personal and super fun to work on. Also, I’m going skiing in the Austrian Alps after Dublin (woo!!) so the timing couldn’t be more perfect; stay tuned for that!

In Leadership, we’ll be diving into our Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality assessment results after break, and I’m curious to see how mine line up with how I’ve been approaching work and things abroad so far. MBTI is a tool that helps people increase self-awareness and appreciate differences in others. In the context of the course, it helps us understand how we approach tasks individually and in teams. The results give you a combination of four letters:

E or I (Extraversion or Introversion)

S or N (Sensing or INtuition - how you take in information)

T or F (Thinking or Feeling - how you make decisions)

J or P (Judging or Perceiving - how you interact with the world)

My results were ENTJ, and personality breakdown provided some pretty detailed insights into my strengths, weaknesses, and communication style. It’s a super interesting personal assessment, I definitely recommend taking it if you haven’t already!

Software Engineering class has begun lectures on AI, which has been especially engaging since it overlaps with what I’m learning in my Intro to AI class this semester. I always appreciate when classes connect like that, it helps material click and opens up new ways to apply what we’re learning.

A Visit from my Tíos

My aunt and uncle were visiting from DC after spending time in Madrid, and they stopped in Prague for a few days. I got to spend some really lovely time with them, which was such a treat and a little slice of home. They took me and my roommate Isa out to a very nice dinner at U Malířů, it was definitely the nicest restaurant I’ve been to since arriving and is one of the oldest restaurants in Prague. I ordered the duck confit and ended the night with a rich chocolate ganache dessert (I am such a chocolate lover).

They also invited me and a couple friends to a jazz show at Reduta Jazz Club, which had a cozy, intimate vibe. I love listening to live music, especially jazz, and I have a few jazz vinyls back home that I’ve been missing but the show definitely filled that need. The music was incredible, and the lead singer’s voice gave me chills.

Dublin: Spring Break Begins with Patty's!

The first half of spring break kicked off with a trip to Dublin with six friends from Michigan who are also studying abroad in different parts of Europe. We stayed in a cozy Airbnb cottage just outside the city and spent a few days exploring, eating, and enjoying the nonstop energy of Dublin during St. Patrick’s Day weekend. We arrived late Friday and left early Tuesday, most people did Thursday to Sunday, but I liked our timeline and was glad we stayed for the Monday parade! The city was packed with college students, and there were so many Michigan people there too! It almost felt like being back on campus, just with more Guinness :)

The pubs were definitely a huge highlight of the trip. There was live music everywhere, and every night turned into a full-on singalong. I made a playlist of all the songs we kept hearing, classics like “Mr. Brightside” (a Michigan favorite) and “Wonderwall” by Oasis. Here’s a link to the playlist if you want to feel like you were there too!

One of the main activities recommended to us in Dublin was the Guinness Storehouse tour, so we bought tickets in advance and it ended up being one of the best parts of the trip. We were there for about five hours, it was way more engaging than I expected. We learned what Guinness is made of (just four ingredients: water, barley, yeast, and hops), and that it’s actually 95% water. There was a tasting room where they taught us how to properly drink it (big gulps, not sips), and we got to see how their branding has evolved over the years—complete with the iconic toucan and “Lovely Day for a Guinness” slogan. We also opted for an activity where they took a picture of our group and printed it onto the foam of the Guinness. As a latte art lover, this was such a fun moment. Lastly, the gift shop was a little dangerous… we all walked away with merch, and I picked up with a jersey and some wall decorations for my house back in Ann Arbor.

We were lucky enough to be there for the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Monday, which was such a fun experience. Before the parade, we grabbed brunch where the barista made my latte with another super cute design that I want to share, one of my favorite small joys. The parade itself was full of floats, music, and an overall atmosphere of celebration. We wrapped up our trip with a bit of exploring around Trinity College, which had such a peaceful campus and sunny fields perfect for relaxing.

Now it’s time to swap Guinness for goggles for my next stop where I’ll be skiing in St. Anton for the second half of spring break!

Thanks for reading,

Natalie

[umichenginabroad]

Week 6: Trams, Tapas, and Throwbacks

Welcome back to my blog! I’m a bit behind, so I’ll be posting Weeks 6–8 over the next few days :) Thanks for your patience, life abroad gets busy fast!

This week was a mix of cozy routines, more long-awaited reunions, and a very wholesome and nostalgic weekend trip to Madrid. I studied abroad there the summer after freshman year, and it felt like coming full circle in the loveliest way. I’m sure one day I’ll revisit Prague in a few years and feel the same. But before diving into the memories and sangria, let’s rewind to my week in Praha.

Classroom Rhythms & Tram Goals

I think I’ve finally found my groove with school! I’ve developed a consistent gym routine between classes at the Form Factory next to my apartment and have been taking the tram to the Villa every day (after realizing I took a Bolt to class almost every day last week, oops). Progress though! Between lectures, my friends and I continue to hang out at Coffee Corner where I’ve fallen into a routine of ordering a latte and breakfast burrito. Both are absolutely delicious and make my 9AM lectures much more bearable. The baristas probably know my order by now too!

In Leadership, my team had a check-in with our project coordinator Anastasiya to update her on our progress and talk through any challenges. For our capstone, we’re lucky to have a really supportive setup: a company mentor (Peter), an IFSA project coordinator (Anastasiya) and a tech mentor, who also happens to be my AI professor! We haven’t needed to tap him for help just yet, but it’s great knowing that all of our contacts are familiar, accessible, and super responsive. Each team has different people depending on what company they are working with and their project, and I’m very grateful for mine! Also, our professor brought her dog to class on Thursday! He was a great guest in the classroom :)

Ethics class brought our first midterm exam, where we chose from a set of questions and wrote an essay exploring different philosophical approaches such as Utilitarianism, Kantian Ethics, and Virtue Ethics to ethical hypotheticals regarding AI. It’s the first class I’ve ever studied for just by having long conversations with friends in the class, which I actually loved. Meanwhile, in Software Engineering, we’ve been discussing types of design and what makes a “good” product (1. design 2. science/theory/tech and 3. philosophy/idea) according to our lecture slides. As a CS + UX student, this class sits perfectly at the intersection of my interests, and I’ve been genuinely excited about the material.

Reunion Night

Before our weekend trip to Madrid, we went out with a bang. My friend AJ visited Prague, so we threw a fun pregame at our apartment where we DJed together. We would often spin together with friends at Michigan, so it felt extra special doing it again in Prague.

My best friend Josie was also still in town and for this last night we later went to Chapeau Rouge, a nightclub which I’ve been frequenting on Thursdays for their Latin nights. They always play all my favorite Spanish songs which Josie, my roommate Isa, and I had the best time dancing to all night long. It was easily one of the most fun nights I’ve had here so far!

Back to Madrid

After a night full of Spanish music, it only felt right that I flew to Madrid the next day. It felt so good to finally be in a country where I could speak the language fluently. I stayed with my close friend Madhu from Michigan who’s currently studying abroad there, but I also reunited with my freshman-year Madrid study abroad friends — the same group that just visited me in Prague :)

We spent the weekend running it back and revisiting all of our favorite spots. First, we stopped by Universidad de Nebrija, the university where we studied that summer. It felt surreal being back in the area where I used to spend so much time. We then grabbed a coffee at the same little café we always used to visit between classes. Later, we headed to Donde’s (that’s what we call it, it’s actually called Donde José) which was our super local and cheap tapas spot. It never disappoints; they’re handing out the first few plates of patatas bravas before you’ve even received the menu. After dinner, we had to go to our favorite bar El Chapandaz, a cave-themed bar that brought back good memories.

An added bonus was that my sister was also in Madrid this weekend! We met up for coffee at a cute café in Malasaña where I got the most adorable latte design and later perused El Rastro (Madrid’s Sunday market).

Our last big meal was a delicious paella dinner, a group of 12 of us got 4 different paellas and I tried every single one. My favorite was the all black one, colored with squid ink and so rich and flavorful. I flew back to Prague feeling full (emotionally and literally), and so grateful to have returned to a city that still holds such a big place in my heart.

Final Thoughts

This week was the perfect balance of cozy consistency and warm nostalgia. Being back in Madrid reminded me that studying abroad is about more than just exploring one new place, it’s about how each experience builds on the next, forming a beautiful mosaic of memories, friendships, and growth.

Here’s to continuing that journey here in Prague!

Hasta luego,

Natalie

[umichenginabroad]

Week 5: Midterms & Michigan in Prague

Dobrý den!

Another week in, and this one was packed with academics, reunions with friends from college, and plenty of great food. Between preparing for midterms and hosting visitors, it was one of the busiest weeks yet—but also one of the most fun! Let’s get into it.

Midterm Season!

Exams are officially here, meaning my schedule has been a chaotic mix of studying, sightseeing, and squeezing in as much fun as possible. This week, I worked on project proposals and executive summaries for my Communications and Leadership courses, which tie directly into our capstone project. I really enjoyed this assignment because our professor gave us complete creative freedom with the document, so I designed my proposal in Canva, fully leaning into my UX minor and making the process much more fun. In these more business-leaning classes we have also been doing a lot of impromptu class presentations. The topics range from our challenge projects to absolutely anything as an exercise to practice presenting with little preparation time. Additionally, our supposed audiences range from the company we are working with to all kinds to practice how we would speak and change our language. Presentations aren't my favorite activity, but I have to admit that repeatedly doing them in class has made me much more comfortable with them.

In Software Engineering, we had an in-person yet online exam through Canvas. The exam was challenging not so much in content rather with the time constraints. This seemed to be an issue for all of the students in the class, however, and the professor said he would give us much more time for the final. Comparing this to Michigan EECS exams, it’s almost the opposite experience. At UM, the time constraints are perfectly calibrated from years of iteration, but the actual exam content is notoriously difficult. I definitely studied less for this midterm than I have for a CS exam at Michigan, but interestingly, I still feel like I’m absorbing the same amount of information by the end of the course due to IFSA's interactive in-class experiences.

On a high note, I did well on my Czech quiz! Even though my current knowledge mostly consists of numbers 0 - 20 and informal greetings (Ahoj!), having small wins in language learning feels good. While I can get by with basic phrases in Bolts and grocery stores, my goal for the end of the semester is to hold a full conversation in Czech beyond the everyday exchanges.

Next up: my Tech Ethics midterm. Recently, we’ve been discussing John Rawls’ theory of justice as fairness, which argues that a truly just society ensures equal rights while helping the least advantaged. The discussions have been fasinating, especially when my professor posed the question: How will the social contract evolve in a world where AI replaces most human jobs? It’s an intriguing and slightly unsettling topic to reflect on as we inch closer to that reality.

Visitors from Home!

This week, a wave of Michigan friends (and my twin sister!) arrived, turning my Prague apartment into a full-on Ann Arbor reunion.

My sister Erika and friends Josie, Sabrina, and Mark flew in Friday and spent most of the day sleeping off their jet lag. To kick off their visit, we went to Restaurace Mincovna, a traditional Czech restaurant in Old Town Square. I expected a tourist trap, but they had surprisingly reasonable prices, and served me an incredible beef brisket.

On Saturday, even more guests arrived (Ryan, JV, and Alec) straight from campus for their spring break. We had a packed itinerary, hitting some of Prague’s best spots:

Brunch at Kampa Cafe — Highly recommend, especially the avocado benedict.

Prague Castle — A must-see, with unbeatable city views.

Strahov Monastery — Home to one of the most stunning libraries I’ve seen (though Vienna’s National Library still takes the crown).

Beer Garden — Because no Prague experience is complete without a Czech beer break (third highest beer-consuming country in the world!).

Las Adelitas — I’ve mentioned this place before, but the Mexican food and atmosphere are always a win.

Ice Pub — A touristy but fun experience, drinking from an ice glass in an ice pub for 20 minutes.

Dog Bar — We ended the night at one of the most popular student bars in Prague and my go-to spot for visitors.

After a weekend of nightlife, we balanced it out with a great deal of sightseeing. We did a three-hour bike tour at 10 AM (painfully early after our packed schedule), covering Prague’s most iconic landmarks and learning the history behind each:

Old Town Square — The Jan Hus Monument, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Czech religious reformer’s death, stands proudly at the center. It’s a symbol of Czech national pride and the fight for religious freedom.

Astronomical Clock — Built in 1410, this is one of the oldest working astronomical clocks in the world. It has a mechanical show every hour, featuring the Twelve Apostles and a skeleton representing Death. Its dials display time, the sun and moon’s movement, and a calendar. The clock reminds us of the passage of time, the certainty of death, and the balance between fate and faith. Our tour guide claimed it was the third most overrated tourist attraction, but I completely disagree, I think the historic mechanics and symbolism make it worth a visit.

National Theatre — A Neo-Renaissance masterpiece and symbol of Czech national identity. My sister and friend even saw Hamlet here while I had class!

Charles Bridge Lookout — The best view of the Vltava River and bridge, which is too crowded to roam with a bike. We also spotted a beaver rat (it’s a thing in Prague)! I had heard about them before but they were surprisingly cute and very friendly with tourists.

John Lennon Wall — A constantly changing, graffiti-covered tribute to peace and free expression.

Crawling Babies Statues — Created by Czech sculptor David Černy, these faceless infants with barcode-like indentations represent themes of dehumanization and technology’s role in society.

Franz Kafka Museum — We learned about Kafka’s life from our guide but didn’t go inside, so I’ll be making a trip back soon.

Jewish Quarter — One of the most historically significant and moving parts of the city.

So many sights and we even stopped for a coffee break mid-tour, which was much-needed. Later, we walked across Charles Bridge and wandered through the city, taking it all in.

Food Highlights: My Favorite Eats in Prague So Far

With so many visitors, I definitely ate out more than usual. Here are my top recommendations:

Cafe Imperiale — Celebrated a roommate’s birthday here! The upscale ambiance, incredible food, and delicious desserts make it a must-visit and great for birthday or family dinners.

Las Adelitas — Already a staple in my routine.

Arepas De Lyna — A small local Venezuelan spot with the best arepas and comfort of home.

Hoxton Burgers — Close to my apartment with fantastic smash burgers, an awesome atmosphere, affordable prices, and the best truffle fries I’ve had.

I also have a growing list of restaurants I need to try before leaving Prague. Next up: KRO (the best roast chicken in Prague, apparently), Sodo (is it really the best brunch in the city?), and Pasta Fresca (affordable yet highly-rated Italian in the heart of Prague). Reviews coming soon!

Final Thoughts

This week was definitely one for the books. It was so much fun showing my friends and sister around and getting to play tourist in my own city. Now, it’s back to reality with midterms in full swing, but I’m already looking forward to my next adventure. This weekend, I’m off to my freshman year study abroad home base in Madrid! I’ll be meeting up with the same friends who just visited Prague, closing out their spring break travels in Spain.

Until next time,

Na shledanou!