Introduction
Notes from a Small (and Empty) Square
by Leah Gaffen
The stress, fear, incomprehension of March 2020 reminded me of September 11 (my second semester at NYU Prague) when we gathered together, mourned for New York, and wondered what the future would bring… Read more
Voices of Faculty
Travel Writing in the Time of No Travel
by Veronika Bednářová
Paris. Shanghai. Oklahoma. Toronto. Vienna. Students from around the world used to meet in our Travel Writing course in Prague, Czech Republic. For the last 14 years, I found great comfort in seeing the students leave Prague every weekend in starfish-like directions… Read more
Spring 2020: Hold on To Your Hat
by Ivana Doležalová
It’s not really easy to switch to online teaching – and I don’t mean because of the technical side (two months ago, I never would have believed how easily I could adapt to something like this). What’s difficult is not having direct contact with the students- not talking to them in the hallway, not going out for coffee with them or chatting after class… Read more
Reflections on Covid-19 by a Musician, a Father and a Teacher
by Jiří Levíček
As we all learn how to adapt to the new pandemic situation, one cannot avoid a feeling of confusion. This is due in part to an overload of information (which can carry contradictory messages), and to the varying emotions one experiences in different life roles… Read more
Singing the High Notes over Zoom
by Karolína Berková
We were all thrown into the water. On Tuesday March 10th, I taught in person, and then – as the restrictions of the Czech and US governments increased – by Wednesday we had switched to online classes… Read more
Klára Boudalová’s Students Shed Light (and Music) Around the World
by Klára Boudalová
Originally my students were going to work with Prague kids under my mentorship. Instead, I changed my syllabus, turning this crisis into a chance for them to feel like they can make a difference. Read more
ZoomLingo
When we were first told of the change, I panicked, wondering how I would teach remotely. I decided to take a white board home from NYU (with Marketa’s approval, of course). .. Read more
Will COVID-19 Usher in an Era of Authoritarianism… or Hope?
by Tomáš Bouška
Prague and my whole country decided to follow its semi-populistic leaders: shut down borders, empty the hotels, pubs and offices, and follow the strictest quarantine since the end of WWII. We have been under a state of emergency for 8 weeks… Read more
Teaching the Piano Remotely
by Alice Fiedlerová
Before the coronavirus crisis struck, I had no idea what Zoom was. After we were asked to use it, we were flooded with so much information, and so many links and videos that I did not know where to start. .. Read more
A Semester Apart
by Tony Ackerman
It’s become a cliché to say that this COVID-19 cloud is full of lots of silver linings. This is true at least for those of us who have the luxury to stay home, with a caring family or partner, and who have enough financial reserves to be comfortable for the foreseeable future… Read more
Voices of Staff
Tea and empathy
by Yveta Kenety
“Would you like more tea?“ asked Shae, an NYU Florence student in a cozy Airbnb apartment a few steps from Charles Bridge, the most beautiful historical sight of Prague. She and three other students were hoping to complete a semester in Prague after NYU Florence shut down, as it seemed like a better option than returning to their homes in China… Read more
We Were Not Programmed for This
by Karolina Jiřelová
It was around 9pm on March 11th and I was on my way from Břevnov to Osadní to an Open Mic night after a long day of uncertainty at work… Read more
Coffee in the Serbian Countryside
by Lea Micic
After getting ‘stuck’ in Serbia, with borders closed and not being able to return to Prague, we decided to move to the countryside. After three weeks of living in a 25 square meter studio, we realized there was no point to staying there when we could go to an empty house in the village… Read more
Quarantining in an Empty Dorm
by Kristýna Čermáková
By the end of the second week of March, all of the NYU Prague buildings had gone quiet – including the Machova Dorm, which has been my home for the last several years… Read more
Voices of Students
Hoping to Dream of Prague Again
by Shoshana Ehrenkranz
I had so much more exploring to do. Yet I had done so much in my short time. I’m yearning for the exploring I set out to do in a continent easily made for just that… Read more
Pandemic Performances
by Max Collura
Everyone told me that my semester abroad would be the most memorable semester of my college experience. I heard many stories from upperclassmen about the places they were able to visit and the memories they made… Read more
The Adventures of Elena Wu in the Time of Covid-19
by Elena Wu
After being bombarded with emergency emails for a week, Renee and I finally got two tickets back to China with help from our lovely Yveta and Thea at NYU Prague. I ditched my business class flight so that I could have my close friend with me during this heart-breaking time of departure… Read more
Caught in a Covid-19 Tornado
by Beatriz Perez
My coursework normally consists of wiring electronics or writing a computer program. It’s solving hundreds of physics problems or learning how to apply a new math theory… Read more
Going Home
by Viviana Garcia
I just got home, and I wanted to let you know how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to study in Prague the last 6 weeks. The events that occurred in the past 48 hours were something that no one could have expected, and I am so thankful that NYU Prague handled the situation smoothly and quickly… Read more
Why I Decided to Leave
by Vanessa Hsiao
On March 3, NYU sent an email to all study abroad students, giving them the freedom to choose to stay in their global site or continue their courses remotely, given the context of the rising COVID-19 epidemic. When I read the email, I immediately knew I would be returning home as soon as possible… Read more