Prague 2.0
Live, laugh, love, leave… Erasmus.
Yes, Erasmus and living in Prague is all in the past by now. The realisation struck and in some days the last of my fellow Erasmus exchange friends will leave Prague as well. If you lived the life you call it home. Prague is a capital city as we all know, but it’s also a small world. One in which I priory lived a life. The city is magical and has a draw I can’t put my finger on; is it the life you live there? Are it the people? My friends? Or is it the culture? It doesn’t really matter, returning is just likes coming home and that feeling will remain. The Erasmus life is definitely a life that leaves its traces, all the Erasmus people tell you; make the memories when you can! Take pictures! Live the life! But what does that even mean? To me it means saying “Yes”. Say yes to all that’s offered, is someone asking you to go for a drink? Of course you will go. Do you want to go for a trip? Yes!! Don’t regret later what you can do now, and Erasmus is the perfect time to realize that life is short and you should enjoy it before real life starts. After returning to home-base I realized a couple of things – many things. One of them is that I have been living on the fast track, and now is the time to speed up before slowing down. At home I have a job, a horse and a hell of a lot of work to do before I will finish my degree. Who never lived that life has no idea what I’m talking about. And rightfully so, you can hear stories, see pictures and look at video’s made of someone’s Erasmus period, but none of that describes the real feeling of living the life. You will go beyond your comfort zone and there will be points in time when you will think; I don’t give a fuck. There will also be boring moments when you just resort in watching a movie or hanging out in your room. But then you will have the feeling that you can walk out of that room -at any time- and walk back into that crazy other world you never knew. One where your family isn’t close, but your Erasmus family is and one where you have to go to work every weekend. If you go alone, you won’t be alone. You will start an exchange with others who can be 360 degrees different, but at that moment, you are all the same. Because you’re living the same life at the same moment in time.
Post Erasmus time… Boy oh boy, I can remember the very first day I walked into those dorms in JIH. I looked around me and thought; “Nooo, really?!” How am I going to live here for 5 months? I actually felt a bit desperate. A small and dirty/ dusty room, dirty bathroom, no wifi, a hole in the wall to cook (… one pit, can ANYONE cook a proper dinner on one pit?) a mini fridge and a roommate. To put this in perspective; I have a house to myself, with 3 bedrooms, living room, balcony etc. And I had been warned, alright, so my first initiative was to look for another room, but then something happened. Erasmus happened. I started to live in that tiny room and I started to live the life as many before me did. After managing to overcome the first couple of bumps in the road I started to tolerate the surroundings (okay, I wasn’t there very often) and later on I even started to appreciate the dorms. It became a part of the experience, and believe it or not, I actually regretted saying goodbye. That room, those dorms, they holds many memories and all of them I will keep for later.
After returning to Prague (I had already bought a ticket before I got back to the lowlands) I again stayed (partially) in dorms. It’s funny to realise how adaptive we really are. Also funny to know is that this is not really allowed, and therefore I once faced the choice to either exit from the window on the ground floor, or got snatched. I opted for choice no. 1 and jumped from the window, unfortunately not without a huge bruise (which I can still feel a month after the particular event, poor choice.) People have called me crazy, and I usually retaliated with a shrug and a “What do you know?” but facing reality, I know I am. I have ended this chapter in my life and it’s time to turn the page and live on. But! Ending this chapter does not mean I will close the book!
Before coming back to the Netherlands I had already booked my ticket back to Prague, there were many things to do! And it was definitely something to look forward to. Rád’a was getting married and therefore the organization of bachelorette party was in order. I have to admit; that party was a hell of a party… I think it will be remembered for a long time! The bachelorette herself had no clue, she even tried inviting our friends for a dinner on said date, everyone was making excuses and turned her down, only to show up as a surprise. And a surprise it was! We started the party on a boat and took a tour over the Vltava, enjoying champagne in the process. This was part one, after soothing our hungry stomachs we went to a bar, where we agreed to meet the rest of our guests, surprise number 2! After a certain amount of alcohol and carrying out some bachelorette assignments, there was a last surprise, the lost Dutch boys out on a stag party! And lost, because their tour guide ditched them and they had no idea where to go. So, we took them with us! Memorable I would say!
Meanwhile I stayed in dorms with Iveta for some days, and in that time it was also her 25th birthday. A nice memory was going out to buy a cake, falling down because of some missing cobblestones in Dejvicka and returning with a cake and badly busted knee and then getting the remark "Well, at least you didn't fall ON the cake!" Thanks I guess.. haha. Apart from some unforeseen events we did manage to make a special day out of it with balloons, a birthday song and shots and of course that cake. And that was definitely very worthy.
Three weeks after my return to the lowlands I had my ‘final’ (it won’t be the last, I promise!) trip to Prague. This time by Beruška express! It was great to go with my own little car again and I learned what the concept of “living from the booth of your car” entails. This time around I was staying a bit everywhere (and thanks again guys, for housing me!), in dorms with friends, at a friends place outside Prague (exploring the Czech lands) and in the apartment of the newlyweds. It was great to see everyone and time went so. Fast… it’s unimaginable, snap your fingers and *POOF* you’re on the way back home. The main reason for this trip was to attend the wedding of Rád’a and Martin, and to best of my abilities fulfill the role of ‘svědkyně’. The wedding was amazing, it was so special to see two people who love each so much unite in marriage. The night before the wedding, Rád’a and I stayed at her parents place, we had dinner together and toasted with champagne. In the following morning I was sure I had more time to get ready than I actually had (of course) this particular event got me rushing over tramlines through Prague traffic in the morning. Not one of my best moments. Upon arrival to the location, me and Kristýna were in charge of the final preparations, such as flowers that were mysteriously missing. And a DJ that called on my cell and started speaking in Czech so fast that I handed it him over to the next Czech speaking person even faster. The ceremony was beautiful, and I think I was never so surprised as I was when the woman next to the minister started speaking Dutch! That was a little ‘wow’ moment, seeing as I was definitely the only Dutch person standing there. Upon the end of the ceremony, the weather gods decided to congratulate the new couple with a shower, which luckily ended before we started the picturetour. Walking around Prague on high heels should definitely be forbidden and adapted into the 10 commandments. Then it was time for the traditions as breaking the plate, cutting the cake and speeches by the best man and myself. I had (very well) prepared a speech in Czech, which I, to best of my abilities, read to the bride and groom in front of everyone. Admitted, I have some troubles with pronouncing “typicka” the proper way, since it sounds like “ty pícka” when I try to say it. Never minded, it was understood and appreciated by the bride and groom; the most important part.
After the wedding it was kind of time to pack up and go again… saying bye indefinitely and saying bye to dormlife. Leaving was sad, it was saying different kind of byes (some forever, some indefinitely and some “see you soons”) they also say “To love is to let go” a concept I’m not very good at. Even though you tell some people “see you soon” you know you won’t ever see them again, and that hurts a bit. But I guess it’s part of flipping the page and starting a new chapter.
However, it was not all just bye, it was also hi! After leaving Prague I went to Potsdam and Berlin to visit Verena for a couple of days! It was great to see each other again and to catch up after a long time, and I had an amazing time. We went through Berlin where we visited the tourist highlights, play table football and make crazy selfies like we always do and the day after we went with 32 degrees through Potsdam. Then it was also time to leave again… In a damn thunderstorm that caused rivers on the highway. I thought I drove in all weather types, but I was never so wrong. En fin, I made it alive, and all together it was the experience of a lifetime.
Live, laugh, love, leave… Erasmus.
Yes, Erasmus and living in Prague is all in the past by now. The realisation struck and in some days the last of my fellow Erasmus exchange friends will leave Prague as well. If you lived the life you call it home. Prague is a capital city as we all know, but it’s also a small world. One in which I priory lived a life. The city is magical and has a draw I can’t put my finger on; is it the life you live there? Are it the people? My friends? Or is it the culture? It doesn’t really matter, returning is just likes coming home and that feeling will remain. The Erasmus life is definitely a life that leaves its traces, all the Erasmus people tell you; make the memories when you can! Take pictures! Live the life! But what does that even mean? To me it means saying “Yes”. Say yes to all that’s offered, is someone asking you to go for a drink? Of course you will go. Do you want to go for a trip? Yes!! Don’t regret later what you can do now, and Erasmus is the perfect time to realize that life is short and you should enjoy it before real life starts. After returning to home-base I realized a couple of things – many things. One of them is that I have been living on the fast track, and now is the time to speed up before slowing down. At home I have a job, a horse and a hell of a lot of work to do before I will finish my degree. Who never lived that life has no idea what I’m talking about. And rightfully so, you can hear stories, see pictures and look at video’s made of someone’s Erasmus period, but none of that describes the real feeling of living the life. You will go beyond your comfort zone and there will be points in time when you will think; I don’t give a fuck. There will also be boring moments when you just resort in watching a movie or hanging out in your room. But then you will have the feeling that you can walk out of that room -at any time- and walk back into that crazy other world you never knew. One where your family isn’t close, but your Erasmus family is and one where you have to go to work every weekend. If you go alone, you won’t be alone. You will start an exchange with others who can be 360 degrees different, but at that moment, you are all the same. Because you’re living the same life at the same moment in time.
Post Erasmus time… Boy oh boy, I can remember the very first day I walked into those dorms in JIH. I looked around me and thought; “Nooo, really?!” How am I going to live here for 5 months? I actually felt a bit desperate. A small and dirty/ dusty room, dirty bathroom, no wifi, a hole in the wall to cook (… one pit, can ANYONE cook a proper dinner on one pit?) a mini fridge and a roommate. To put this in perspective; I have a house to myself, with 3 bedrooms, living room, balcony etc. And I had been warned, alright, so my first initiative was to look for another room, but then something happened. Erasmus happened. I started to live in that tiny room and I started to live the life as many before me did. After managing to overcome the first couple of bumps in the road I started to tolerate the surroundings (okay, I wasn’t there very often) and later on I even started to appreciate the dorms. It became a part of the experience, and believe it or not, I actually regretted saying goodbye. That room, those dorms, they holds many memories and all of them I will keep for later.
After returning to Prague (I had already bought a ticket before I got back to the lowlands) I again stayed (partially) in dorms. It’s funny to realise how adaptive we really are. Also funny to know is that this is not really allowed, and therefore I once faced the choice to either exit from the window on the ground floor, or got snatched. I opted for choice no. 1 and jumped from the window, unfortunately not without a huge bruise (which I can still feel a month after the particular event, poor choice.) People have called me crazy, and I usually retaliated with a shrug and a “What do you know?” but facing reality, I know I am. I have ended this chapter in my life and it’s time to turn the page and live on. But! Ending this chapter does not mean I will close the book!
Before coming back to the Netherlands I had already booked my ticket back to Prague, there were many things to do! And it was definitely something to look forward to. Rád’a was getting married and therefore the organization of bachelorette party was in order. I have to admit; that party was a hell of a party… I think it will be remembered for a long time! The bachelorette herself had no clue, she even tried inviting our friends for a dinner on said date, everyone was making excuses and turned her down, only to show up as a surprise. And a surprise it was! We started the party on a boat and took a tour over the Vltava, enjoying champagne in the process. This was part one, after soothing our hungry stomachs we went to a bar, where we agreed to meet the rest of our guests, surprise number 2! After a certain amount of alcohol and carrying out some bachelorette assignments, there was a last surprise, the lost Dutch boys out on a stag party! And lost, because their tour guide ditched them and they had no idea where to go. So, we took them with us! Memorable I would say!
Meanwhile I stayed in dorms with Iveta for some days, and in that time it was also her 25th birthday. A nice memory was going out to buy a cake, falling down because of some missing cobblestones in Dejvicka and returning with a cake and badly busted knee and then getting the remark "Well, at least you didn't fall ON the cake!" Thanks I guess.. haha. Apart from some unforeseen events we did manage to make a special day out of it with balloons, a birthday song and shots and of course that cake. And that was definitely very worthy.
Three weeks after my return to the lowlands I had my ‘final’ (it won’t be the last, I promise!) trip to Prague. This time by Beruška express! It was great to go with my own little car again and I learned what the concept of “living from the booth of your car” entails. This time around I was staying a bit everywhere (and thanks again guys, for housing me!), in dorms with friends, at a friends place outside Prague (exploring the Czech lands) and in the apartment of the newlyweds. It was great to see everyone and time went so. Fast… it’s unimaginable, snap your fingers and *POOF* you’re on the way back home. The main reason for this trip was to attend the wedding of Rád’a and Martin, and to best of my abilities fulfill the role of ‘svědkyně’. The wedding was amazing, it was so special to see two people who love each so much unite in marriage. The night before the wedding, Rád’a and I stayed at her parents place, we had dinner together and toasted with champagne. In the following morning I was sure I had more time to get ready than I actually had (of course) this particular event got me rushing over tramlines through Prague traffic in the morning. Not one of my best moments. Upon arrival to the location, me and Kristýna were in charge of the final preparations, such as flowers that were mysteriously missing. And a DJ that called on my cell and started speaking in Czech so fast that I handed it him over to the next Czech speaking person even faster. The ceremony was beautiful, and I think I was never so surprised as I was when the woman next to the minister started speaking Dutch! That was a little ‘wow’ moment, seeing as I was definitely the only Dutch person standing there. Upon the end of the ceremony, the weather gods decided to congratulate the new couple with a shower, which luckily ended before we started the picturetour. Walking around Prague on high heels should definitely be forbidden and adapted into the 10 commandments. Then it was time for the traditions as breaking the plate, cutting the cake and speeches by the best man and myself. I had (very well) prepared a speech in Czech, which I, to best of my abilities, read to the bride and groom in front of everyone. Admitted, I have some troubles with pronouncing “typicka” the proper way, since it sounds like “ty pícka” when I try to say it. Never minded, it was understood and appreciated by the bride and groom; the most important part.
After the wedding it was kind of time to pack up and go again… saying bye indefinitely and saying bye to dormlife. Leaving was sad, it was saying different kind of byes (some forever, some indefinitely and some “see you soons”) they also say “To love is to let go” a concept I’m not very good at. Even though you tell some people “see you soon” you know you won’t ever see them again, and that hurts a bit. But I guess it’s part of flipping the page and starting a new chapter.
However, it was not all just bye, it was also hi! After leaving Prague I went to Potsdam and Berlin to visit Verena for a couple of days! It was great to see each other again and to catch up after a long time, and I had an amazing time. We went through Berlin where we visited the tourist highlights, play table football and make crazy selfies like we always do and the day after we went with 32 degrees through Potsdam. Then it was also time to leave again… In a damn thunderstorm that caused rivers on the highway. I thought I drove in all weather types, but I was never so wrong. En fin, I made it alive, and all together it was the experience of a lifetime.