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Global Connections • Student Success

Where in the World is ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú: Prague, Czech Republic

Madeline Varga spent Summer 2022 studying psychology in Prague, Czech Republic as an exchange student.

Published •
Global Connections • Student Success

Where in the World is ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú: Prague, Czech Republic

Published •

In this week's Where in the World is ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, we meet Madeline Varga, a sophomore psychology major, who studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic during Summer 2022.

What organizations are you involved with at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú?

I am involved in ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Dance Marathon and Gamma Phi Beta.

Why did you choose your study abroad program?

I chose this program because I think that Prague is a very underrated place. Prague has all the perks of a large city: great restaurants, nightlife, lots of activities to do. There are theatres and museums to visit, parks to hang out at, history to immerse yourself in, and so many cafés. Additionally, Prague is very safe, affordable, and easy to get around. The Czech Republic is also in a fantastic location, so I knew it would be easy to travel to other countries as well.

What did you study in your program?

During my study abroad experience in Prague, I took two classes: Social Psychology and Czech Communication I.

What were the coolest places you visited on your program?

Some cool places I got to visit while I was abroad were Berlin, Lake Como, Rome, and Vienna, as well as other cities in the Czech Republic. And of course, I also got to explore the city of Prague, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

What was your favorite part of your program?

Honestly, my favorite part was the simple things. Getting to ride the public transportation; finding a local café with friends to get cappuccinos; having park picnics with them; all of my friends cramming into my room to figure out our weekend travels; or going to class early to have conversations with my Czech professors. The little moments are what made my program life-changing.

The friendships I made with the people in my program, my professors, and the CIEE faculty are some of the most genuine relationships I have ever made. They opened my eyes to new perspectives. These relationships are something I am eternally grateful for.

Sunset on the Vltava River, Prague
With friends at Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Prague Arts Festival

How has the study abroad experience changed you?

I think this study abroad experience has redefined a lot of things for me, especially the meaning of success. Before studying abroad, I would equate being successful to being financially wealthy. I used to believe that if I made lots of money in my career that I would be happy.

However, after studying abroad, I realized that I do not need a lot of money to be successful. Success can mean being rich in friendships, travels, or new experiences. These things bring me much more happiness than money could ever do.

I think the European lifestyle embodies this. In America, I see people living to work, but in Europe, I noticed that people work to live. I want to adopt more of the working-to-live mentality in my life and become even richer in my relationships with people and my travels.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering study abroad/away at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University?

Just do it! It may seem frightening and out of your comfort zone, but I promise you will not regret it. You will make amazing friends, travel to cool places, try new foods, and experience a whole different world! Studying abroad has been THE best experience of my life and I encourage everyone to do it!

Where in the World is ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú is a news article series that features stories about ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú students and alumni who are

  • international students;
  • studying abroad/away (current or past);
  • interning abroad/away (current or past);
  • working in an international company or organization.

In each article, we travel around the world to feature the amazing opportunities that ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú students are taking and the experiences our alumni have had since graduating!

We want to hear your story!

Would you or someone you know want to be featured in a future Where in the World is ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú story?

Tagged:
Global Initiatives , Department of Psychology , Education Abroad