Noticed // June 27, 2019

Today is the final day of the program. I am so grateful for the opportunities and development that this program has given to me. I knew next to nothing about Czech culture coming into this study abroad, and I was honestly nervous. I feared appearing as an ignorant tourist, and for the first couple of weeks, that is exactly what I was. I picked up a few Czech phrases here and there, but I still regret not learning the language a bit more. I was surprised by the amount of English spoken in the city; once and a while there were language barriers, but it was relatively easy to overcome. Even at restaurants in relatively small cities, it was simple to look up the menu on Google Translate and point to what I wanted to order. I still think I would have had a more culturally immersive experience if I had gone out of my way to learn the language. Learning about the history of the nation was also an interesting experience. It’s not every day that you get to actually see the places where history happened. It is a much more humbling and engaging experience walking around the city to see areas of significance. Overall, this trip taught me a lot, both about the world and about photography. While I will miss this city and the friends I have made here, I must say I am excited to get back to a country with air conditioning and free water at restaurants.

Location Notation // June 26, 2019

Due to the amazing public transportation in this city, the vast majority of people do not own cars. There are only 5.5 million cars in the Czech Republic as a whole, despite the population being almost double that. In Prague, it just does not seem sensible to drive when there are so many other options available. In America, where our public transportation is nonexistent in most areas, it seems like a relatively easy feat to get your driver’s license. As I was speaking to one of my Czech friends over lunch one day, I was shocked to discover that the process was not so easy here. Students must take courses at a driving school, which was not mandatory in the United States. These driving courses can cost upwards of around $650 and require quite a large time commitment on the part of the student. Unlike the exams in America, the written test that Czech driving students have to take is rigorous and relatively difficult to pass. There is also a more technical aspect of the test that does not include driving at all. Students are expected to have knowledge about the way their car works, an expectation that I never encountered in America. Once you get through these first two rounds of testing, you are sent to the third and final round: the driving exam. This is similar to how it is in America; however, it seems like even the smallest mistake, such as not signaling that you are about to park even if no one is behind you, can result in a failing grade. I almost wish we had a more rigorous system in the United States; it would have forced me to learn more about my vehicle and become a better driver before receiving my license.

Small Wonder // June 25, 2019

Children seem to be everywhere in Prague. Running down the streets, taking the metro, walking around in shops; there seems to be almost nowhere you can go without running into an unsupervised child. After spending a month here, I have gotten used to seeing young children navigating the city alone. However, when I first arrived, it was a little more shocking to me. My parents were not what I would consider “strict.” I had a lot of freedom as a child, but I was never allowed to run around outside by myself. My parents always seemed to be worried that I would be kidnapped. Children here, however, seem to be trusted to get themselves where they need to be going. Perhaps parents feel more comfortable letting their children be alone because of the relatively low crime rate in Prague. Whatever the reason, I have found it’s interesting to watch the shenanigans kids get up to when they do not have to worry about their parents’ watchful eyes. This boy sat and stared at this peacock for ten minutes without breaking eye contact. I stood and watched, anticipating him to make a move or do something to antagonize the bird. The moment he began to crawl towards the peacock, it let out a screech and began to move away. The boy’s eyes were immediately filled with fear, and he leaped back as quickly as possible. It is possible that this small moment would not have occurred if this boy had not been wandering around without parental supervision.

Architecturally Speaking // June 24, 2019

Prague is a picturesque city; there can be no doubt about that. From the Gothic and Baroque Old Town Square to the art nouveau that can be found peppered throughout the streets, there are many amazing spots for portrait photography. However, my roommates and I felt as if we had hit all the main areas of town. The first few weeks of the program were spent discovering all the best places to take photos of each other, yet we were curious about areas that seemed a little more off of our beaten path. So we did what any respectable millennials would do and took to Pinterest. Before this trip, I had never considered utilizing Pinterest as a way to plan my trips abroad, but it turned out to be a valuable tool. Seemingly thousands of bloggers have been to Prague seeking out the best photo spots and were more than happy to offer advice to others. After a combination of research and the guided architecture tour, we decided to return to the Jubilee Synagogue. It stands out in the street of Prague; the building is so bright and colorful that it looks almost out of place between the older, monochromatic buildings that surround it. The building is one of the best examples of art nouveau in the city, with its loud colors and rounded angles. The building was absolutely beautiful, and I cannot wait to go inside and take more photos in the coming week.

Morning Glories // June 23, 2019

Since the sun comes up so early here, I sometimes wake up with the sun. This was one of those days. It hasn’t happened as frequently since the beginning of the program, but I think the anticipation of going back to Austin has me waking up earlier than usual. On this particular day, I decided I was tired of just walking around the neighborhood around my apartment, so I decided to be adventurous. I walked down to the Namesti Miru metro stop and boarded the first metro that appeared. I stayed on the train for a random number of stops, just getting off whenever I felt like it. I ended up leaving the train close to Letna. It was strange to walk through this usually lively stop so early in the morning. None of the small shops or cafés were open yet, and there were only a few people besides me in the station. I wandered around Letna without a destination in mind, taking photos of the few people who were out that day. I had never seen the city so peaceful before. It was a welcome change from the usual bustle. Eventually, I had walked so far down the street that the buildings started to thin out a bit. I spotted this couple in a small patch of trees, just enjoying their morning. The man had just gotten the morning paper, and it looked like they were just relaxing together. What a peaceful way to start the day.

Morning Glories // June 22, 2019

I have enjoyed taking photographs for every single category we were assigned. It was fun to always carry my camera with me and just hunt for good moments every single day. The one category I have struggled to capture has been the morning glories. While there are good moments in the morning, I feel as if people are rushing to get places. Students rushing to school and adults trying to get to work on time have seemed to be less happy about me taking their photographs than anyone else I have encountered. I asked around seven people this morning if I could take their photo, and I was met with rejection consistently. There have also been several times I have felt like a creep; sitting in front of a summer school with a large camera in order to take pictures of children arriving did not seem to be the most acceptable. In addition to this, I feel as if none of my photos look as if they were taken in the morning, since the sun comes up at 4:30 AM every day. By the time I get out of the house to take photos at 7, the sun is already shining bright. 

Location Notation // June 21, 2019

I love modern art museums, especially ones like DOX. The whole museum screamed a certain level of pretentiousness that I just love to poke fun at. As we strolled through the museum, appreciating all the exhibits, there was truly only one exhibit I thought was intriguing. The #DATAMAZE exhibit showed a variety of art and research regarding the collection of data since the inception of the internet. Before entering the hall, patrons are faced with a mirror inscribed with the words “Today’s selfie is tomorrow’s biometric profile.” Upon entering the exhibit, they are greeted by a timeline of the history of the internet. As they delve deeper into the exhibit, they are faced with the darker side of the internet: the collection of people’s data without their knowledge and the ways in which social media is designed to get you addicted. One of my favorite parts of the experience was a piece in which the artists purchased dating profile information of strangers on the internet. I stood there, clicking through profile after profile containing deeply personal information about these individuals: their sexuality, the languages they speak, their interests, etc. It was frightening how specific I could make the searches: a female who speaks Czech, living in the United States, homosexual, just looking for friendship, and is into hockey? Sure, here are fifty profiles that match that description. This data was purchased legally, and such purchases are made by companies on the regular. They use this data to affect their marketing and targeted advertisements. Some dating websites will even use this information to get you a better match, even if you are not currently registered with their website. While parts of this museum played as “fake deep”, this exhibit stood out to me as important and informative.

Noticed // June 20, 2019

I was surprised when we walked into the Praha hlavní nádraží station; all of the other train stations in Prague are basically the same. The only difference between all the stations seems to be the color of tiles on the wall. The Praha hlavní nádraží station was wholly different in every way. For one, it is a major hub in the city; many of the trains that depart from there are en route to other countries around Europe. When I first walked in, the station reminded me of a mall. There were modern shops and restaurants around every corner. It took my breath away when our group went up an escalator and walked into the area of the station that was restored to look how it was originally built. The art nouveau style was prevalent in this part of the station; the colors and motifs that were present exemplified the style. My favorite part of the design was the statues of women that lined the room. Each woman represented a place one could go using that station. It personified the excitement that the people of Prague felt during the time of industrialization; they felt as if the whole world was within their reach. This little boy had just exited the train and was admiring the statues that were above him.

Not From These Parts // June 19, 2019

I had never heard of the small town of Terezín before coming on this trip. None of my education about World War II had ever made mention of it. However, walking around the town and speaking to a survivor opened my eyes to the history more than sitting in a lecture hall ever could. The town began as a fortress in the late eighteenth century; it was not until World War II, when the Nazis took over, that the history got darker. The city was used as a transit city. For the most part, people did not remain in the town for long; it was simply a stop on the way to a death camp. People lived in horrible conditions, with up to 100 people per room and almost no food or heat. Individuals were assigned jobs upon arrival; one of the most surprising aspects of the town was the richness of the arts. Many artists were kept around to create propaganda for the Nazis or to otherwise provide entertainment through plays and literature. Those who spoke out against the Nazis were immediately sent away to concentration camps. While around 140,000 people passed through Terezín on the way to other camps, about 35,000 died in the town. Walking past the mass graves was a sobering experience; for each gravestone, there were around 30 or 40 bodies. While we learn much about World War II from our classrooms, I believe that it is near impossible to imagine the scope of the catastrophe until you visit places like this.

The Nocturnalist // June 18, 2019

One of the most surprising aspects of Prague, in general, is that public displays of affection are relatively common. While there are some couples that pile on the affection in public in America, I feel as if the vast majority of couples avoid it. Honestly, sometimes I feel uncomfortable even holding my boyfriend’s hand in public. However, here in Prague, it seems commonplace for couples to be affectionate when they are out and about. It feels as if you cannot go anywhere in the city without seeing couples cuddling or making out. Cami and I noticed that we always see at least one couple on the escalator to the metro being overly affectionate, without fail. Parks, bars, public transportation; there doesn’t seem to be a place where couples are not being affectionate to one another. I don’t believe this is a wholly negative aspect of the culture; sure, there are times where I don’t think it’s appropriate, but overall I think it’s an interesting change. The couple in this photo was sitting on Charles Bridge and having what seemed like a serious and emotional conversation. Afterward, they stood up and hugged each other as pictured above. As I was walking away, they took a cute selfie together.