Tip # 173: Pinch yourself. You’re going to be in shock for a while.
If living in a new city feels like bungee jumping off a cliff, then living on a new continent feels like free falling into an abyss. It took me a few weeks to get used to the fact that I was not in New York City anymore. My advice is to just relax. It’s going to take time for your mind to adapt. You may wake up some days feeling out of place or confused about where you are. You will get homesick and you might just have a mental breakdown like I did. But it will pass. Grab some shades to cover your tears — or grab a non-alcoholic drink. Try to embrace the free fall into the abyss because you will find your footing sooner than you think.
Tip #042: Pick a place outside of NYU and explore!
Getting outside of your comfort zone can be hard when you’re in a new place, so to force yourself to explore, I wholeheartedly recommend picking a cool place far from your dorm or the academic center (maybe a coffee shop, a cool clothing store, or a park) and just going there. Walk around the neighborhood, talk to the people around you. Give yourself some time to get used to the area. For me, this made Prague feel a lot smaller, and a lot more like home. Plus, you’ll get used to taking the metro or the tram.
Tip #916: Learn how to take the Tram! I promise, it’s not as confusing as New York transportation.
After mastering the New York subway, it may be daunting for some to pick up a whole new transit system. Prague’s public transportation, though, is much easier to understand and use. I was absolutely terrified the first time I went on the tram. I convinced myself I would strictly take a 40-minute walk to class instead of tramming for 25 minutes. But it turns out, the tram system is simple and with the great help of Google Maps, you can get anywhere you want to go.
On the first day, the school will give you a tram pass and will take you on the tram for the first time. The beauty of the tram pass is that you pretty much never have to show it because Prague follows an “honesty policy.” They assume you have bought tickets and rarely check whether you have. Don’t forget your pass, though, because if you’re caught during a random check, you’ll have to pay a $40 fee.
This weekend, I ventured out onto the subway. The C train does not resemble the New York subway system. It is cleaner, clearer, and doesn’t randomly stop. So don’t worry, the transit is completely accessible and easy.
Tip #454: Don’t be fooled by how cheap everything is. If you go out every single meal, it will be expensive. Get groceries!
When you first convert a price from Czech koruna to dollars, you’ll probably think Google made a mistake. But Google didn’t. That iced latte really is two dollars – three with a tip. Going from New York City prices to Prague ones will be, understandably, very exciting. But still, you shouldn’t go out to eat for all three meals. It adds up fast.
So sometime within the first few days, brave a trip to the grocery store and get some essentials: quick breakfasts, snacks and your favorite late night craving (mine is Ben and Jerry’s, and yes, they do have that here). You still can and should go out to meals — it’s probably the best way to make friends during the first few days — but make sure you have some food in your mini fridge so your bank account doesn’t suffer too much.
Tip #678: Walk more! Explore the streets, the city’s atmosphere is inspiring and magic
As mentioned above, the metro and trams are great for moving around the city, but sometimes, you should take your time. Go on walks often. I promise you won’t regret spending more time outside, walking around beautiful and mysterious architecture and exploring the cute narrow streets with lots of shops and cozy cafes. Grab some coffee after your classes and walk to your dorm — or at least half of the way— you’ll feel relaxed and inspired for the rest of the day!
Even when you’re on the tram, you should look outside and enjoy the scenery. The views from there are breathtaking. And don’t forget that Prague isn’t only about architecture and historical buildings. There’re many modern houses too, especially on the outskirts of the city. That’s a great place to explore, too.
Tip #557: Be prepared: not everyone speaks English. You’ll have to use Google Translate.
Some people, some menus and all tram stops are only written in Czech here, so you’ll have to get used to Google Translate’s Lens feature. But still, the transportation system is easy to learn and use, so no worries about that. Menus might be a little harder to figure out. Looking up pictures will help, and so will asking a friendly waiter. Learning a couple of Czech phrases helps, too. People always appreciate some effort to speak to them in their own language, even if you’re bad at it.
Tip#422: Don’t plan all of your weekend trips too far in advance!
Like so many other students, I knew I wanted to study abroad in Europe so I’d be able to travel to other cities on weekends. I spent the weeks before my arrival in Prague making lists of cities I had to visit. Yes, I made a spreadsheet and yes, it is color coded. By the time I boarded my flight to Czechia, I had a trip booked for every weekend from the end of orientation until November.
But once I was settled in Prague, I regretted not setting aside a few weekends to spend in this city. Prague is so beautiful and has so much to offer and it is going to be impossible to explore it as much as I want to with all of my travel plans. Plus, I’ve made new friends here that I want to spend time with outside of classes. My biggest piece of advice: give yourself some time to get adjusted and breathe before you buy those non-refundable tickets.
By NYU Prague Now staff