Na Shledanou

The countdown until my flight home has begun. Thirteen more days until I say goodbye to Prague and return to California. I'm not exactly reluctant to leave Prague- so much Christmas cheer has made me miss home a little (not to mention the 70 degree weather in LA). However, I do think I will miss this city as soon as I leave. After Christmas, or maybe New Years, when the novelty of home has worn off and I've sufficiently gorged on all the peanut butter and mexican food I've been missing out on, I suspect I'll long for these cobble stone streets again. As soon as a crave a good beer or remember the view from Letna, I'll surely miss Prague.

However, I hope that I don't recall Prague through rose colored lenses, like a beautiful, blurry image printed on a post card. I hope that Charles Bridge and Old Town Square are not the only sights that stand out in my mind. Unlike a tourist or a local, I have experienced Prague as both a transient visitor and a resident. I have seen the famed sights of Prague but spent most of my time frequenting local spots and trying to escape  the masses surrounding the historic districts. More than Prague Castle, Tesco and the dark basements of pubs dominated my time spent here. This perhaps is not an unusual summarization of the experience of a study abroad student in Prague, but I do think this is a special perspective not often offered visitors. Students are afforded a unique position in the city. They are encouraged to gain exposure to the foreign culture and interact with the native inhabitants, yet are kept at bay. However, despite the limitations of this position I'd like to think I have come to form some understanding of the city. I have learned the many contradictions and strange features that characterize the city that often avoid the criticism of the natives and the attention of visitors. And I have come to love the city in a strange way. In a more complete way than any tourist and not motivated by inherent feelings of nationalism. I hope that I will come back to visit Prague sometime in the future, but if not, I am content in knowing that I have a true and lasting image of it in my mind.