Get creative
Organize your art supplies and get to crafting. Consider drawing the Prague castle, painting Easter eggs, or decorating jam cookies.
Need more inspiration? Check out these virtual tours of famous Czech museums, palaces, and more.
Pick a film
Watch a movie that relates to your destination. Some ideas for the Czech Republic include:
- Bába z ledu / Ice Mother (2017)
- Kolya (1996)
- Anthropoid (2016)*
*Rated R (may not be suitable for all students)
Study some history
Dive deep into the history of specific sites you’ll visit on tour. Study the Czech Republic’s Celtic roots, the Prague Spring, or the peaceful Velvet Revolution. Then, tour some of Prague’s history and modern marvels with this virtual reality video.
Choose a book
Read and discuss a book that takes place in your destination or describes the local culture. Pick from titles like:
- Farewell to Prague by Miriam Davis
- The Secret Miracle by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Fill up your plate
Arrange a potluck and encourage your friends to bring a traditional dish from your destination. Know a chef? Hold a virtual cooking class with your travel group, or support a local restaurant that offers delivery/take-out of your destination’s cuisine. Try vepřo knedlo zelo (roasted pork), palačinky (Czech pancakes), or fruit dumplings.
Learn the language
Call up a friend or set up a group video chat and practice your language skills. It helps to make flashcards with common sayings to use on the phone or throughout your travels (think about ordering at restaurants, buying souvenirs, and chatting with locals).
Did you know?
The Czech Republic has the most castles in Europe!
Meet Your Partner in Travel
America studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic in the summer of 2016. Although she was only there for a short amount of time, it holds a special place in her heart because she experienced one of her favorite travel memories there. After going out for a solo lunch, she got lost on the metro ride home, going past her stop. She ended up getting off on a random stop and exploring a new, quiet, small part of town she would have never seen had she not mistakenly ended up there. Exploring these streets on her own and asking locals for help here and there made her develop a new sense of confidence when traveling solo around a new city. More fond memories include visiting the John Lennon wall and painting her own message on it, shopping on the Charles Bridge, adventuring to the top of the Prague Castle and taking in the breathtaking view of the city, seeing the Prague Astronomical Clock chime, and enjoying a delicious lunch right on the edge of the Vltava River. The rich culture of this country was refreshing and America cannot wait to go back and experience more that it has to offer.