Reasons to Czech out Prague

By Chris Dignam
Collegian Reporter
September 27, 2006

After a year or two of college, one might find themselves asking: “Is this all university life has to offer?”

For me, the first year of college was thrilling and new, but halfway through my sophomore year I found myself wanting more out of my college experience. It began to feel like a repeat of high school or worse still Saved by the Bell: the College Years. That’s when it hit me: I’ll study abroad! But then the question was: where?

La Salle offers a number of study abroad programs in different parts of the world. I remember considering Rome, Galway in Ireland and a few other locations, but none of them seemed to really hold my interest. I wanted to go somewhere no undergrad from La Salle had gone before.

I approached my adviser, Bro. Gerry Molyneaux, about the problem I was having coming to a decision about where to study. He informed me that La Salle has a graduate program with the University of New York in Prague (UNYP) in the Czech Republic and that it might be a good idea for an undergrad like me to try going there.

“Prague?” I thought. “I’m not even exactly sure where that is.” So, after consulting an atlas and talking further about the school with Bro. Gerry, I decided to travel to this Eastern European mystery city.

Initially, I pictured the Czech Republic as a frozen and desolate place, where the citizens washed themselves with wet rags in the streets. But after reading about the country and its customs, I learned that the Czech Republic is a nation rich with history and possessed interesting culture.

The places I traveled and the friends I made were things I could never put a price on. Traveling to a different part of the world alone can be an intimidating experience, but meeting and befriending the students from UNYP and neighboring schools was not only a relief, but extremely easy, as well. I traveled to Munich, Amsterdam, and Krakow, among others, with other students who were studying abroad like I was. We would set off on our trip as strangers and return good friends.

The UNYP faculty was especially wonderful. I had professors ranging from an eccentric, feminist art teacher who was in desperate need of a shower; to a funny, down-to-earth journalism teacher who would often invite students to have a beer together after class. Each professor had much to offer, and they were all a joy to learn from and be around – well, you didn’t want to get too close to the art teacher.

I don’t want to sound like I’m promoting UNYP, but it’s very hard not to. Studying abroad was the best experience of my life, and I would recommend it to anyone. Traveling around Europe was an experience that allowed me to see things in a different way, and it changed my perspective on the world I live. Studying abroad is an opportunity that should not be passed up, and the longer you wait, the less likely it is that you’ll be able to do it.

dignamc1@lasalle.edu