Unexpectedly Perfect

Prague was an adventure I didn’t expect. I applied to the study abroad program as a sophomore, knowing it was academically competitive and primarily for upperclassmen. At my acceptance I knew this was an opportunity I could not miss.

I would fly out of New York to Heathrow and end in Prague. As luck would have it, the George Washington Bridge into Manhattan was blocked by an accident, which caused unexpected traffic. I missed my first flight by 15 minutes. When I arrived at the airport, alone, frustrated, and tardy, I felt the knot in my chest tighten. I waited as the travel agent furiously typed on her computer, booking an alternative flight. Fortunately, there was room on the next plane and I could catch my original connection to Prague.

The flight was a blur. My only distinct memory is walking though customs in the Czech Republic and receiving that glorious little stamp on my passport. Everything was foreign. Every sign was in Czech. I mindlessly followed the crowd to the baggage claim and waited for my luggage.

But it never came.

Finally I realized it wasn’t going to come. I found an information desk and the woman behind the counter handed me some paperwork. The form called for an address and working phone number so the airport staff could deliver the luggage when it arrived. I knew my address in Prague but I did not have a working phone so I recorded the information of our program assistant, Mischa.

As I walked out of the airport I ran into three other women from my program. We piled into a taxi and headed into the city. My apartment was on Sázavská Street near Námestí Míru, a small park and metro stop. They dropped me off and I waited.

Eventually Mischa found me sitting outside of the building and handed me my keys. I explained the luggage situation to her and she wrote down the tram stop where she would meet me later with my bag.

That evening, I jumped on the tram toward the meeting place. I quickly learned that 1. you need to buy your ticket before boarding the tram, and 2. Czech words are very similar. I promptly received a fine for boarding without a ticket and hopped off at three incorrect stops. When I finally arrived at the correct location, Mischa was waiting with my bag. I crossed the street and headed back to my apartment.

My first day in Prague was chaotic, stressful, and unexpected. But as a result, I gained confidence in myself and now know I have the capacity to handle any difficult situation while traveling in cool and calm manner. Even after missing my flight, losing my bag, long periods of waiting, incurring a fine, and getting lost in a foreign city at night, this first day marked the beginning of my adventure. It was not what I expected, but oddly enough, it was perfect.