2) Academic Life

I think "studying" is one of the most tricky words people can describe in so many ways. Simply, reading a book is a part of studying if someone says so. Personally, living also could be called "studying". However, at this time, I would like to just focus on academic life. It is quite different that is compared with its style back in US.

First of all, we take classes in classroom but also out of classroom. This is my favorite time of this program so far. Professors took us to memorial monuments, historical museums and field trip to see actually places that explain what happened there in past. I have never been interested in historical facts this much ever because of those places. I had hard time to keep up with history classes in high school. There are so many important people and dates to memorize for exams. I felt I was required to memorize names and numbers in history class more than to have own opinion about events. That's why I have never been attached with history and now, my knowledge of history is horribly poor. I would say the connection between me and history is historical people's names and evens dates. However, here in Olomouc, every single time when professors talk about wars and conflicts, they ask us how we think about what happened and what people who lived in that time went thought. I really like to have deep thoughts in historical time and to imagine a little bit more what people went thought when I am in front of historical monument or watch video that people who talks about that time in museum. I can feel more connections with historical facts or people than just reading texbooks. I actually felt I would love to learn more details of certain history facts by myself. I was surprised.  Obviously, taking classes outside of class room helps me to learn better.

Speaking of education system, I have been experiencing quite different study schedule in here.
Back in US, I used to wake up at 6am ,go to campus 7:30, go thought stuff before class in library, take classes from 10 to 3pm and lock myself in library until midnight. I can say I almost live in campus building. In Olomouc, I have classes from 3pm to 7:15. When I started this time schedule, it made me so nervous because I used to read or study something all the time but now, I have free time. It is up to myself that I would explore town or sleep late. It sounds good to me at this time because I got used to have time to do extra things I want but it was so scary to be shifted into new schedule at first. I believe being flexible in different life style also shapes me as a person. I actually have less "studying hours"that I just sit down and stare at a textbook but I have learned more in outside of classroom and about life lessons that encourage me keep learning after finishing this study abroad program.

I hope my classmates and me will enjoy rest of time and more students who are undecided will join in this incredible program in the future.

8)Field trip 2

We went to Vienna in Austria and Vienna in Italy as a school trip.
In Vienna, I heard violin and other music instruments on street so many times because it is a capital of music, opera and theater. Mozart, Beethoven and other very famous classic musicians have worked there.  Unfortunately, I could not attend any opera or classic music concert at this time but I definitely would like to do it in the future.
One of the favorite museum is Imperial Treasury. There were valuable collections of secular treasures such like a crowns and gowns back to thousand years of European history. Even I saw through glasses, those collections were the shiniest thing I have ever seen.

Before heading to Italy by bus, We had a beautiful Alps view.  I was so tired by bus riding for a couple hours but the view took it away.





I have asked so many times people who I met in hostel and keep asking exactly same question,"What country is your favorite in Europe?" Most of them answer, "Venice in Italy".  I was so excited to visit because of that and once I went there, there was no doubt why many people was attracted by Venice. It is basically a city on sea. It is just beautiful. 117 islands spread around main land and connected by bridges or canals. So locals and travelers use boats as main public transportation. I bought a ticket for a day pass that I could use all boat rides which cost 20 euro. It is always nice to find some discount for travelers especially for students. I have learned how to travel with lower budgets in this trip since spending time in Italy could be very expensive if I did not know how to use my money on purpose. In my opinion, I would love to come back to Venice with more budget for sure.

6)Social Life

After heading to Vienna in Austria and Venice in Italy as a school trip, I went to Amsterdam in Netherlands and Berlin in Germany in spring break.  As much as I got excited to travel by ourselves, I was a little bit nervous because it literary could be the best spring break as my life experience or just a big mistake upon our behavior. I am so grad my group planed well enough before the days came. I'm truly appreciate I could travel with Tess Dugan, Emily Ryan and Louis Harper. Thank you.

We took only two airplane flights in our spring break but I had hard time to pass luggage restriction.  As traveling with only one cabin bag, the maximum size is 56 ×45×25 cm and weight must be less than 10kg moreover, maximum quantity of liquid is 100 ml per item and a total maximum quantity of 1L.
I have packed checked-in bag so many times in my life like I do it every breaks but I have never backpacked so it was new. 

After struggling, all I got was inspired experiences. In Amsterdam, I loved to spend time there because it was nice to have most of people who can speak good English and so kind all the time. In fact, According to BBC news, approximately 70% of Dutch can have simple conversation or speak fluently English surprisingly,  only less than 30% of the Dutch speak little to no English.I was simply amazed by that part of culture. For younger generation of Dutch from 12 to 20 years old, they have learned English from pre-school so they also take college classes which are taught in English.

In Berlin, I experienced a mixed culture that big history side and new age art/music. As you know, there is still a wall which is used to separate between East ant West Germany. Personally, I was quite interested in the time after Berlin wall was broken. Young Germans started to explain their existences in public that are shown as wall arts. I actually took a tour which was particularly forced on wall art. It was my favorite tour in this trip so far because it was unique young germans history according dark history.
Those arts seem like just graffiti or annoying mess until you know what it has behind. I just want to make it sure that wall art is illegal in Germany but in Berlin, it is the place that wall art started and spread to world so government is tolerant. 
After Berlin wall was broken, young generation was kind of seeking the     meaning of social issue and their existences in society. As a starter, they just started to write their own names or logos of gang group which are called "tags". 
Next, They stepped further and developed technique of art by drawing pictures or three dimension objects which are glued on wall. Recently, they created a different way which is knitting. Around poles, they knit and make it more creative and fun looking. As you can see it takes longer time and higher technique.  Our tour guide informed us that not only some wall artist were accepted as artists but also they built businesses because so many young people all over the world got inspired by such powerful arts. From a different way to see history, I felt how strong historical event affected people and also I was impressed it still keeps developing the way to express their passion of art. 

3)living as a local

I have lived in Japan, USA and Czech Republic in past 4 years. Even I only spent a couple of week here but I still have noticed that there are similar culture and of course many differences in three countries. What I love to be in foreign counties is spending enough time to feel local daily life. In my opinion, It is difficult to see just by sightseeing.

As a starter, I would like to make sure that pice of food is a good point when you are looking for
somewhere you would travel especially for students, it would be a good way to save a lot of money. In Olomouc, all meals are basically half cost less than American's. Compared with cost of Japanese meals, It is easily less than half price wherever you go. One time, I went to a restaurant and ordered a meal and drinks. The cost was about 100 korunas which is about 4 to 5 dollars. I was simply surprised how cheap it was. However, I had to pay for water which costs more than having a beer because of it, Locals openly drink alcohol from afternoon but it is socially acceptable here.

Next, we take trams to get school everyday. It is always on time and quite comfortable to take even I am alone. I have never seen actually well-organized public transportations in foreign countries outside of Japan. Moreover, locals do not hesitate to walk. There are nice sidewalks and crosswalks everywhere. I remember when I move to US, all my friends go to college by cars and never walk to places even if they were just 15 minutes far away.  It is interesting thing that many locals here walk a lot but car drivers do not care them and drive cars unbelievably fast in narrow streets.  I still cannot understand how locals can do it without any accidents.

I want to finish my blog with the most important thing for me,FOOD. I'm always disappointed when I go grocery shopping for the first time in new places. Inside of my head, I am so excited to get stuff in need but once I get into a store, things which I want are never stored or I just cannot find them because how they locate things is different. It is like same feeling when you go to a brand new store for getting stuff. You are going to take a way longer time to find what you want.  And also, even I found what I want, it could be totally tricky. For example, getting a ketchup, it could be different taste. So I always trust the taste of vegetable and fruit. Those tastes are worldwide.

Thank you for checking my blog.