Praha, as the locals call it, was the last stop of our study abroad trip to Central Europe. We stayed at Hotel Duo, which was only about 10 minutes away from the city by metro. Unlike the other places we stayed at, Hotel Duo was similar to a typical hotel you may see in the United States. In the other countries, it was based on a more hostel-style living. Hotel Duo had a restaurant, bar, sports center complete with a pool and sauna, beauty shop, gift shops, casino, and even a bowling alley. Breakfast and dinner were always included, but in our opinion, they weren't that impressive. Both meals were served buffet-style, but they served the same food every time and there weren't a ton of options. For lunch we ate at different places, either on our own or as a group; it depended on where we were that day. For example, we ate at the Institute of Banking in their cafeteria. It was a lot smaller than what we were used to at Simmons College. There were only a few options available to choose from. We both ordered the spaghetti with meatballs, which didn't taste any different from the United States. At many of the meetings, including those in the other countries, they would offer us snacks and beverages. We also noticed that sparkling water was a very prominent drink served at these meetings as well as in restaurants. In the United States, still/tap water is offered in most restaurants for free and even some provide it before you even order your meals. In Europe, you pay for the water, even if it's just still water.
Shopping seems to be inevitable while your studying in another country. Prague was the city where we both spent the most amount of money and where we bought the majority of our souvenirs. On our first night in Prague, we bought several Prague totes, t-shirts, magnets, bracelets, etc. Walking through the cobblestone streets was very nice and beautiful, and the shops were all around us. Many are geared toward tourists, so our advice is to look around the different stores before purchasing an item. Most of these stores sell the same exact products, so search for the ones that are selling theirs for the cheapest. The mix between Old Town and New Town was very interesting. We suggest going to both sides of the city for nightlife activities. Both have amazing architecture and fun places to visit, so try to see the two if possible.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Prague - Clare Conway
Hey everyone! So we've been back from our Central Europe voyage for almost a week now, and the last city we visited was Prague. Before I left, everyone I knew was telling me how gorgeous Prague was and how lucky I was to be traveling there. Even though the weather did not cooperate in the least (cold and rainy, like we never left Boston), I was still able to enjoy the beautiful architecture and historical sites throughout the city. The appearance of Prague itself, with its cobblestone sidewalks and mix of new and old buildings, was one of the city's most striking and memorable aspects. This is of note coming from the United States, where the cities are only hundreds of years old. European cities have thousands of years of history and settlements, adding to the eclectic mix of modern and historical buildings.
One of the most important historical sites we visited was Wenceslas Square, named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia. Fittingly, there is a large statue of him in front of the National Museum (which actually has bullet marks on certain pillars from Soviet fire). The square was home to many key events in the history of the former Czechoslovakia, as well as being a place where many Prague-ians go to either protest or celebrate. Interestingly, two young students decided to set themselves on fire in the square in 1969 to protest Soviet occupation. There is a memorial to them at the top of the square, and then a plaque in the middle of the square. Additionally, many demonstrations were held in the square during the Velvet Revolution of 1989. Even though some of the countries we have visited (including the Czech Republic) have had a history of Communism, Prague's overall appearance today seems virtually untouched by Communism. However, I think that the memory of this period is fresh in their minds: many advertisement-like billboards were up in the square commemorating 20 years since the fall of Communist rule in the Czech Republic. In contrast, Bratislava was filled with drab, spartan concrete apartment buildings which were all too revealing of a Communist past.
Also, listening to several of the women entrepreneurs in Prague was a highlight of the trip, as hearing how they have successfully worked on their own terms made me consider starting my own business. Their success in their own enterprises in a still male-dominated business world was truly encouraging. Even though Sarka (who owned her own tour guide company) suggested that starting a business early will allow you to spend more time with your children once you decide to have them, I am unsure that I will have enough knowledge and skill to become an entrepreneur right out of college.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay in Prague, but unfortunately the weather put a damper on any more outdoor activity. I would certainly come back, as there was so much more to see and do in the city that three and a half days did not allow for.
One of the most important historical sites we visited was Wenceslas Square, named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia. Fittingly, there is a large statue of him in front of the National Museum (which actually has bullet marks on certain pillars from Soviet fire). The square was home to many key events in the history of the former Czechoslovakia, as well as being a place where many Prague-ians go to either protest or celebrate. Interestingly, two young students decided to set themselves on fire in the square in 1969 to protest Soviet occupation. There is a memorial to them at the top of the square, and then a plaque in the middle of the square. Additionally, many demonstrations were held in the square during the Velvet Revolution of 1989. Even though some of the countries we have visited (including the Czech Republic) have had a history of Communism, Prague's overall appearance today seems virtually untouched by Communism. However, I think that the memory of this period is fresh in their minds: many advertisement-like billboards were up in the square commemorating 20 years since the fall of Communist rule in the Czech Republic. In contrast, Bratislava was filled with drab, spartan concrete apartment buildings which were all too revealing of a Communist past.
Also, listening to several of the women entrepreneurs in Prague was a highlight of the trip, as hearing how they have successfully worked on their own terms made me consider starting my own business. Their success in their own enterprises in a still male-dominated business world was truly encouraging. Even though Sarka (who owned her own tour guide company) suggested that starting a business early will allow you to spend more time with your children once you decide to have them, I am unsure that I will have enough knowledge and skill to become an entrepreneur right out of college.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay in Prague, but unfortunately the weather put a damper on any more outdoor activity. I would certainly come back, as there was so much more to see and do in the city that three and a half days did not allow for.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Vienna- Laura White & AnnaMarie Sintetos
Greetings from Vienna!
This is the second leg of our journey through Central Europe and we can already see differences from our previous site, Budapest, and here. Vienna seems much more urbanized than Budapest and this is seen in everything from clothing to restaurants to transportation. Budapest still has various traces of Communism, which only ended there in 1989 while Vienna was relatively untouched by that era. There is a distinct "hustle and bustle" in Vienna, one we find similar to that of a native New Yorker. In addition we found that in Budapest there was an obvious central location for socialization among young people, while in Vienna we found that the social "hot spots" were more split up. Some of us visited the "Bermuda Triangle" a place our tour guide told us was the it place to go, but it did not live up to it's hype unless you want to be running around with fifteen year old boys.
Many of the central themes discussed in Hungary mirrored those in Vienna. For example, the three maternity leave common for working women also caused barriers in advancement of their prospective careers. Another major difference we found was that in Budapest several turned to entrepreneurship to balance the home and work life while in Vienna this is much less popular.
A major difference between Austria and the United States is the upper education system. The University System is free for anyone who desires to go to a public school, which is usually funded by the ministry. The students at University of Vienna were incredibly surprised that we attend a women's college and that we have such a complex college application process. If you go to WU try to start a conversation with a student, it is an enriching experience.
Look forward to Vienna if you are in the 2010 travel group to CE!
Laura and AnnaMarie
Note: The coffee is astronomically better than in the US!
This is the second leg of our journey through Central Europe and we can already see differences from our previous site, Budapest, and here. Vienna seems much more urbanized than Budapest and this is seen in everything from clothing to restaurants to transportation. Budapest still has various traces of Communism, which only ended there in 1989 while Vienna was relatively untouched by that era. There is a distinct "hustle and bustle" in Vienna, one we find similar to that of a native New Yorker. In addition we found that in Budapest there was an obvious central location for socialization among young people, while in Vienna we found that the social "hot spots" were more split up. Some of us visited the "Bermuda Triangle" a place our tour guide told us was the it place to go, but it did not live up to it's hype unless you want to be running around with fifteen year old boys.
Many of the central themes discussed in Hungary mirrored those in Vienna. For example, the three maternity leave common for working women also caused barriers in advancement of their prospective careers. Another major difference we found was that in Budapest several turned to entrepreneurship to balance the home and work life while in Vienna this is much less popular.
A major difference between Austria and the United States is the upper education system. The University System is free for anyone who desires to go to a public school, which is usually funded by the ministry. The students at University of Vienna were incredibly surprised that we attend a women's college and that we have such a complex college application process. If you go to WU try to start a conversation with a student, it is an enriching experience.
Look forward to Vienna if you are in the 2010 travel group to CE!
Laura and AnnaMarie
Note: The coffee is astronomically better than in the US!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Katie Bull, Central Europe: Budapest
When we arrived in Budapest, I my first impressions were hot Hot HOT! I was dressed for a cool foggy day in Boston in jeans, a sweater, and sneakers! However, it only took us two or so days to adjust to the time change, weather, and food. The first night in Budapest, we went to a traditional Hungarian restaurant with live music, dancing, and traditional food. The goulash tasted amazing—it was so rich and flavorful. The dancing was also really impressive; some of us even were able to try it!
Over the next several days, we met several entrepreneurs and scholars from Budapest and other parts of Hungary at Corvinus University. I particularly enjoyed our conversations with a gender scholar from America-who-lives-in-Germany, Jeanne Hamilton. She spoke about how anything we perceive as "natural" should be questioned because we have been conditioned by our societ(ies) since birth to think this way. This is how we can break down stereotypes, consider their true implications, and form our own opinions on them. I also thought her comparisons between female candidates for office in the United States and in Germany were informative and interesting. We were able to draw some remarkable conclusions from this about the similarities and differences in our societies.
Over the next several days, we met several entrepreneurs and scholars from Budapest and other parts of Hungary at Corvinus University. I particularly enjoyed our conversations with a gender scholar from America-who-lives-in-Germany, Jeanne Hamilton. She spoke about how anything we perceive as "natural" should be questioned because we have been conditioned by our societ(ies) since birth to think this way. This is how we can break down stereotypes, consider their true implications, and form our own opinions on them. I also thought her comparisons between female candidates for office in the United States and in Germany were informative and interesting. We were able to draw some remarkable conclusions from this about the similarities and differences in our societies.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
CE 09 USA mary
Almost at the airport....concerns about swine flu---will Budapest let us in? Looking forward to a great trip!!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Elisabeth Pacl - The Golden Triangle
There is no way that I could rate the cities that we visited in order of importance, but I can say that although we were the busiest in the last four days of our trip, the Golden Triangle was possibly the most exciting. The Golden Triangle, which is comprised of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi, offered us insights into a vastly diverse set of experiences ranging from the history and beauty of Akbar’s Temple and the Taj Mahal to the confident smiles of rural women working for fair pay and self-determined hours in the comfort of their own villages.
As I passed through the north gate at the Taj Mahal, I was suddenly hit with a wave of awe that stopped me in my path. My stomach dropped, my breath caught in my lungs and my mouth fell open at the sight of such a titanic structure, built from exquisite white marble. It was majestic and the sight has been burned permanently into my memory.
Lastly, I was blown away by the hard-working women in the village that we visited who were gainfully employed by the Jaipur Rugs Company. We had the opportunity to see the women skillfully weave the colored yarns in and out of a loom to the musical sound of the pattern conductor reading the codes of instructions to the women. We saw that the children of the village were dressed better than they had been before the opportunity to work came to their village. We also had the opportunity to visit the training center and saw teenage women learning the craft. My instant reaction to seeing these women training so young was that I thought that they should be in school, my instinct was generally to apply the ideals and norms from the U.S., but I learned, progressively throughout the trip to challenge these beliefs. These training centers postpone the time for young girls of 15 and older to marry and allows them to develop a skill that they can use for the rest of their lives. It was an unbelievable experience and I’m so thankful to have been able to meet these women and see their phenomenal ability to take opportunities, risks and go from surviving to thriving.
As I passed through the north gate at the Taj Mahal, I was suddenly hit with a wave of awe that stopped me in my path. My stomach dropped, my breath caught in my lungs and my mouth fell open at the sight of such a titanic structure, built from exquisite white marble. It was majestic and the sight has been burned permanently into my memory.
Lastly, I was blown away by the hard-working women in the village that we visited who were gainfully employed by the Jaipur Rugs Company. We had the opportunity to see the women skillfully weave the colored yarns in and out of a loom to the musical sound of the pattern conductor reading the codes of instructions to the women. We saw that the children of the village were dressed better than they had been before the opportunity to work came to their village. We also had the opportunity to visit the training center and saw teenage women learning the craft. My instant reaction to seeing these women training so young was that I thought that they should be in school, my instinct was generally to apply the ideals and norms from the U.S., but I learned, progressively throughout the trip to challenge these beliefs. These training centers postpone the time for young girls of 15 and older to marry and allows them to develop a skill that they can use for the rest of their lives. It was an unbelievable experience and I’m so thankful to have been able to meet these women and see their phenomenal ability to take opportunities, risks and go from surviving to thriving.
Elisabeth Pacl - Hyderabad
One of the most important events for me in Hyderabad was when we had to opportunity to visit with some of the top members of the for-profit organization Basix. Basix is essentially the number one most successful micro-credit lending agencies in the country of India. From sitting in their boardroom and learning about the organization, I realized that this is exactly the type of organization I want to work for -- a for-profit that’s mission based!!! I was fascinated to hear about the technical development of such important missions; The organization’s goal is to advance the livelihood of the rural population through a hybrid technique of training, lending, monitoring, support etc. And the company is profitable, because they can claim a 99% recovery rate on their loan money—this is UNHEARD of anywhere else in the world. We were told that although it’s a 99% recovery rate, women are undoubtedly the quickest to pay back the loans—we discussed this as how women are generally using this money with the firm interest in developing strong assets for their families so these women are not going to make uncalculated risks and will pay back their lender immediately. I was beyond impressed by the success that Basix could show us, in relation to the majority of organizations in the U.S.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
