Jennifer Rivers '06
ACM Central European Studies
jrivers@monm.edu
Ottawa, Illinois

December 13, 2006

O the things I didn't write in my journal this semester! I have made life-long friends. In the past 4 months I have been to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Ireland, Scotland and England (I know the last two are technically the same country but they are clearly different!) I have found my favorite place on the face of the earth. Budapest!!!! Some day I will come back to Central Europe and see how it has changed because it is changing everyday and I probably won't even recognize half the cities I have been to. I leave Olomouc tomorrow, December 15th. This makes me very sad but at the same time I am very excited to see my family. I have been through a lot this semester as have the rest of the people, but WE MADE IT!! We survived our 4month excursion to a former communist country. Believe it or not it wouldn't be a bad place to live. I will write one more time when I get back to the USA to let all of you know how I am coping to the fast pace of the States.

Jen

P.S. The #1 thing I am going to miss about the CR is the trains and the trams! If you have ever been here you will understand what I am talking about.

September 27, 2006

This week we have been traveling to Bohemia and Moravia. We went to Kutna Hora where we went into a silver mine and saw St. Barbara's Cathedral. We also went to Pilsen and took a tour of the Brewery. Fun Times. Right now I am in Valtice, which is about 3Km from the Austrian border. We actually walked to the border just to get the stamps. Tomorrow is another castle and Friday is a 6Km hike on a mountain before returning to Olomouc

Jennifer