Welcome back to the final installment of #KavaMondays (on Friday this week)! It has been about a week or so since I have returned to the States, and a day doesn’t go by when I’m not reminiscing on walking the streets of Old Town Square or admiring the view from Charles Bridge. In fact, lately I have been missing my daily morning coffee; there hasn’t been anything like it since I’ve been back. I miss the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the aesthetically pleasing ambiance that would lure me towards new cafes/coffee shops: The coffee culture in Prague is genuinely one in a million.

Aside from coffee, I miss the overall experience of studying abroad. Having the opportunity to wake up every day to live, breathe, and immerse myself in a different culture, in a different lifestyle, is a once in a lifetime experience. During my three months in Prague, I had the ability to adapt to their culture, which is much slower than that of the States. The lifestyle is completely different; people seem to appreciate life more, there isn’t the stressful rush hour traffic we experience day in and day out – the overall quality of life just feels more passive.

Along with the lifestyle, Europe as a whole is one of the most fascinating places one can ever see or experience. The ease of travel from one country to another is surreal and very impressive to say the least. I managed to visit Greece, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Austria, and Czech Republic’s second largest city, Brno. The lifestyles, languages, traditional cuisine, and historical architecture always kept me in awe; I never experienced the same thing twice.

Although this was my second time studying abroad, I was able to take in Prague and the rest of Europe in a totally new perspective. Moreover, I had the ability to build lifelong friendships with the students who were daring enough to step outside of their comfort zones and embark on this study abroad program as well.

As I conclude this post, I would like to extend my appreciation to everyone who took the time to immerse themselves in #KavaMondays and for tagging along with me on my caffeine filled adventures.