University of Wisconsin–Madison

Czech Republic: Meghan Hall

Program: CIEE Central European Studies in Prague, Summer

Meghan’s Major: Geography and Polish

A narrow, cobblestone street with store signs hanging.
This is a small street in Prague’s Old Town!

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

My most memorable experience from my program was when I took a weekend trip with my friend to Berlin. The whole weekend in general was very fun but my favorite thing was our hike to Teufelsberg, a Cold War spy station turned art exhibition. My friend and I ended up taking a much more rugged path through the forest then intended and we also weren’t sure exactly what we were going to see at Teufelsberg so we were surprised by the whole journey. The graffiti art was incredibly cool and Teufelsberg itself is a really interesting structure.

Because I enjoyed studying abroad this summer so much, I am much more confident about my ability to succeed in future international opportunities.

How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?

I have traveled and lived abroad when I was younger but I had not taken classes for an extended period of time before this program! European graduate schools and many international jobs and internships are very appealing to me so I used this summer as a test to see if I want to pursue these options. This has been very helpful for me to solidify my future academic and professional plans! Because I enjoyed studying abroad this summer so much, I am much more confident about my ability to succeed in future international opportunities.

A view of the rooftops of Prague, many of which are bright red. There are some church spires that are taller than the other buildings.
This is a view of the Prague skyline from a rooftop restaurant!

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

My advice would be to step outside of your comfort zone and try new experiences/places in Prague. It can be really easy to form habits where you go out to the same places every night and there are so many cool restaurants and nightlife spots in Prague to explore. Prague is a good sized city with many neighborhoods to explore and it’s pretty safe so I recommend going on a lot of random walks with no destination in mind and seeing what you find!