Allison stumbled upon the summer school at Masaryk University quite by chance whilst browsing the website of Brock University in Canada, where she is studying to become a teacher, specialising in French and history. “I was browsing the international studies section because I’ve always wanted to study abroad but didn’t know how to go about it. And because my degree programme is quite intensive, I have few opportunities. So I didn´t hesitate and submitted my application,” she explains.
The trip to Brno was the Canadian student’s first experience of Europe. She was also partly inspired by her boyfriend, who had spent several weeks in the Czech Republic. “He kept talking about how great it was. I told myself I had to experience it too.” At first glance, she was surprised by the similarity between the Czech Republic and Canada. “I did some research beforehand to avoid culture shock. Paradoxically, I was surprised by how similar the cities in both countries look. And the weather here is quite similar to ours too,” she describes.
The young student was particularly impressed by the Czech transport system. “Your trains and trams are so comfortable and easy to navigate, and best of all, they run all the time! In Canada, it´s much more complicated.”
What she appreciated most about the summer school programme were the walks and excursions. “I liked the idea of learning outdoors, having the chance to walk around and discover the country through my own eyes, rather than from a classroom. Brno is a beautiful city,” she says. But she was also captivated by other places. “Telč was magical; I still have loads of photos on my phone. And Hluboká? That castle looks like something out of a fairy tale. The library and the queen’s bedroom completely blew me away,” she recalls.
The tricky ‘ř’, fried cheese and puppets
A compulsory part of the programme was Czech lessons, which gave Allison a bit of a hard time. “The hardest Czech word of all is ‘tři’. I can’t pronounce that devilish ‘ř’ sound. I just can’t make that sound,” she laughs. Nevertheless, she appreciated learning lots of practical phrases, such as how to order coffee, say thank you or pay. She quickly took a liking to the local cafés and restaurants, as well as traditional dishes. “I love fried cheese the most,” she admits.
She dedicated her final project on Czech heritage to puppets and marionettes. “I visited a museum in Brno where they have a whole exhibition on puppets. It was amazing to see how many different types there are.”
Even after the programme ended, Allison has stayed in touch with the other summer school participants. “We have a big group chat and we message each other all the time. Some are from Hong Kong, so it´s a bit of a logistical challenge, but it works. We´re even planning to meet up next summer,” she suggests.
According to her, the Czech Heritage Summer School is also suitable for those without Czech roots. The programme is mainly about learning about Czech history, studying the language and exploring the country. “It was an unforgettable experience. And if I could, I’d move to Brno. I love it,” she concludes.