Adriana was searching for university study options with her dad and found the Compatriots scholarship almost accidentally. Looking through potential universities, they found a scholarship for people with Czech roots and became interested. “My dad's a fourth-generation American, but my great-great-great-grandfather was Czech from the Moravian region,” Adriana explains. Her mother, originally from České Budějovice, moved to the US in her twenties. At first, Adriana considered going to college in her home state, but the idea of reconnecting with her Czech roots appealed to her more. She was drawn to Masaryk University not only because of its academic offerings, but also because the tuition was also affordable. “I wanted to reconnect with the Czech Republic and improve my Czech. It’s a hard language, but I’m making some progress,” she says with a smile.
Anuška's story is a bit different. She grew up in Slovenia with her Czech mother and Slovenian father, but visited Czechia for the summer holidays yearly. “I always wanted to study in the Czech Republic. It's something I've had in mind for a long time. My grandparents also live near Brno, so that was a big reason I wanted to come here,” Anuška clarifies.
But it wasn't about the scholarship for either of them. “I wanted to study in Brno anyway. I would have chosen Masaryk University regardless,” Anuška admits.
While she's fluent in Czech, Slovenian, and English, she also speaks a bit of Russian thanks to a high school course. For Adriana, Czech is a bit more challenging. “I understand a lot but don't speak it well yet. My mom is fluent, though,” she notes, adding that she also studied Spanish in Colorado.
Adriana's in Czechia on her own. She lives in the dorms and makes friends from all over the world. “Pretty much everyone in the dorms is from abroad. Most of the international Erasmus students stay there as well. My roommate this semester is from the US, and last semester, it was a girl from South Korea – so quite a contrast,” she says with a smile. “I even met a girl who's half German, half Czech. She came here to connect more with Czech culture, too,” she adds.
To get into the General medicine programme, they both had to pass the difficult entrance tests. They used online preparation materials from the faculty's website, including sample exam questions. “I had a strong background in biology because I took some college-level courses in high school, which helped a lot,” Adriana explains.
The exam covers three subjects: biology and chemistry, with an option to choose between physics and math, which is a relief for those stronger in one over the other. “I mostly practiced biology, but I also did some math problems to prepare,” remembers Anuška.
Despite the challenges of studying medicine, both are doing well in their first year. “It's not that the material is hard to understand –it's more about the quantity. There's just so much to remember, and it's also easy to mix things up,” Anuška notes.
They agree that most of their teachers are supportive and helpful. “The teachers are clearly very educated experts,” says Adriana. “They're always there to help, especially in seminars. They sit with you, explain things, and answer any questions,” describes Anuška. They both enjoyed classes with Lívia Eiselleová from the Department of Biology.
Anuška and Adriana appreciate the hands-on approach in classes. “We've worked on real specimens and mixed substances and observed the results firsthand. We even did PCR to analyse DNA and detect certain genes,” shares Adriana.
As they settle into the life in Brno, Czechia's vibe is growing on them. They have also made Czech friends through the medicine programme. Anuška even celebrated Czech Christmas, but she has not experienced Czech Easter yet. “I celebrate it in Slovenia. I know what it's like in Czechia, which is exactly why I make sure not to be here for it,” she laughs.
Although they've made new friends and already adapted to a new culture, Adriana and Anuška miss their families at home. For Adriana, there's also the burden of the time difference. “My family is eight hours behind, so sometimes I want to call them, but I can't. It's not a huge difference, but it still makes it harder,” she says.
During exams, they spend most of their time in the Masaryk University libraries – and they already have tried all of them. “Right now, I really like studying in the library at the Faculty of Social Studies,” Adriana assesses.
She had to get used to Brno's public transport because she drove everywhere by herself in Colorado. “There was basically no usable public transport back home. So, during my first month here, I kept getting on the wrong bus or tram. Even when I got the number right, I'd go in the wrong direction,” she laughs. She figured it out eventually, and now she easily takes public transport rides everywhere.
Ultimately, they both appreciate the opportunity to connect with their roots. They're learning new things about themselves and discovering new parts of their identities. “Right now, we're trying to work on ourselves and improve. But honestly, we mostly just study,” smiles Anuška.
The Compatriots scholarship fund is designed to help and encourage students to study in their ancestors' country. Masaryk University offers financial support of 100,000 CZK (circa 4,100 EUR) annually to students with Czech roots or with Czech ancestors newly enrolled in bachelor's and master's full-time programmes.