Prášily – an extraordinary orientation for incoming Erasmus students ****************************************************************************************** * ****************************************************************************************** 24. 4. 2012; by: Erasmus students; Photo: Ivana Herglová; Proofreading: Clare Dunne; Secti Digest There are many activities organized for incoming Erasmus students at Charles University. W some of them in our series of the Erasmus articles and interviews to commemoration of the of the Erasmus program, which will be celebrated in all participating countries in May, re they joined the program. Since 2008, one of the most exciting events organized for Erasmus students in Charles Univ the summer semester orientation course for students of the Faculty of Science. Unlike othe organize a regular, administrative orientation session in the respective faculty building, Science invite their new students alongside teachers, representatives of the Department of members of the Erasmus Club of Faculty of Science on a four day trip to the Czech mountain 2012 the inscription was held in the skiing resort of Prášily in the heart of the Šumava M On Saturday 18th February 2012, a diverse group boarded a train to Železná Ruda. Czech tea students of the Faculty of Science carried their backpacks full of warm clothes, food and well as bags of cross-country skies, whilst the newly arrived students were dragging a com with just a few items thought necessary for the four day trip – little did they realize th village covered by fresh snow is hardly an ideal place for this type of bag. Nonetheless, “U Jakuba”, the cottage styled guesthouse that awaited the group in the very village, was well worth any luggage hassle! The cottage is one of the oldest timber houses Šumava Mountains, whilst its shared kitchen, and bunk-bed bedrooms allowed the group to bo know one another quickly. Whatsmore, the Erasmus students were able to experience a real a Czech (skiing) trip – including common cooking, playing music and singing, both traditiona international songs. This is unfortunately something that does not always happen during tr exchange students as the organisers can usually only take up to four Czech tutors. Contrary to other ski trips that typically only ski downhill, in Prášily, students were in much loved locally cross-country skiing. Even the absolute ski novices - two Portuguese st a 15 kilometers trip, to their (and the organisers’) great surprise and delight! For those enjoy skiing, walking trips through the snow-covered landscape were organised by the tutor local children build an igloo in front of the cottage. We asked the Erasmus students of the Faculty of Science and the organisers of the event to what they liked at this trip. Joanna Opyrchał, a Biology student from the Uniwersytet Jagiellonski in Cracow, Poland sai course in Šumava Mountains was really nice. It helped us to get to know each other a bit. saw real snow (a looooot of snow!) for the first time. The cross-country skiing lessons ta everybody should eat breakfast before a five hour trip! I think that all of us will rememb as something really special and pleasant. We would like to thank to everyone who organized of us! Mariusz Hajdo, a Geography student also from Cracow, remembers the orientation trip fondly Prášily was great. Personally, I didn't take part in the cross-country skiing course, but in some short walking trips. We tried to integrate and mix with all the other students as especially in the evenings after the information meetings about our stay in Prague and the I really enjoyed the music and the Czech songs played on the accordion, harmonica and guit to play the accordion and it was really nice experience. It isn't easy, but not so difficu Ivo Bardarov, a Chemistry student from the Bulgarian South-West University "Neofit Rilski" said: “My impressions of the Czech Republic are great! The people from the Erasmus office Science prepared a very warm and friendly welcome for us, which was very important because is difficult. All the employees and local students from the Faculty of Science did their b friendly atmosphere during the orientation in the Šumava Mountains and made our stay there Our host faculty and the International/Erasmus Clubs are also preparing different trips an program for us every week which surprised me, because I have talked with many Erasmus stud other countries and none of them has experienced such hospitality.” Associated Professor David Havlíček, the Erasmus coordinator at Faculty of Science, 2008-2 “Personally, I like outdoor sports very much and I spend a lot of my time out of the city, with our Czech students. This opportunity is offered to any interested teachers of the Fac by the Department of Sport. We believe that the presence of teachers of the scientific sub courses organized by the Department of Sports is very useful for everyone – the students, Department of Sports as well as the teachers. Four years ago, when I was named as the Erasmus coordinator at the Faculty of Science, I d organize a similar course for incoming Erasmus students in cooperation with approximately of Czech students, teachers and people from the Department of Sports. Our first orientation course out of Prague took place in the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše), i Lysečinská bouda. To save the money, students and teachers were stayed in my private weeke only half a kilometer from Lysečinská bouda, so it was not a problem to spend the time tog Lysečinská bouda, and in my weekend-house. The building is over 150 years old, with the sa like in those times – so it was an unique experience for some of the students just to visi imagine meters of fresh snow outside it, the atmosphere was really wonderful… In the following year, we repeated this trip in the same location. Since 2011 we have orga in the Prášily village in the Šumava Mountains. The incoming Erasmus students are able to of practical information from the present teachers and Czech students throughout this cour prepare all the necessary administrative documents. Aside from that, they spend time in th countryside and can practice outdoor sport – which we think they enjoy as much as we do.”