1.
Get your VISA application in as early as you can. The process is long, and despite what anyone tells you, they will not expedite the process for anyone. The main problem may be getting the official letter from the university. For this reason, send in your Masaryk application as soon as you can.
2.
If you are unable to get your visa in time, there is an option to get a second, temporary passport. The process goes through an office in New Orleans. I would not recommend just mailing your passport back home to get it stamped. Very often, they get lost in the mail, stolen, or it takes a long time to get them back. In that time, you won’t be able to travel.
3.
Get some euros and Korunas before you travel. You never know when you will need them.
4.
GET AN ISIC CARD. Tons of places use it as a viable form of student id. It gets you lots of discounts too!
5.
Schedule the bus from the Prague airport to Brno early, as buses fill up, but allow ample time. Flights get delayed, and they offer no refund for buying a new ticket.
6.
Student Agency Bus will get you to most places in and around the Czech Republic. They are very cheap, but very nice. Most of the attendants speak English, but don’t be confused when they come around and are offering you things. Hot drinks are free, along with the use of headphones to watch movies.
7.
You will have to change buses in Prague. They go from the airport, then stop at the
Florence bus station ( a place that you will probably become very accustomed to).
8.
Use the bathroom in the airport when you arrive. They will cost after that in public. This means that you should also have change when you get there.
9.
Demand that your tutor or one of his/her friends meet you at the Brno bus station to take you to the dorms when you first arrive. Czechs are not always very prompt with their responses, so start your correspondence early.
10.
If for some reason no one is there to pick you up, the directions given are not very helpful. The following are a better description:
--Take tram #1 in the direction of Bystrc, and get off at Vystavyšte. To get tickets, there are little machines (usually yellow). Press the button of the amount of time you want, then insert coins. You will probably only need a 15 minute ticket. They don’t check for tickets very often, but you don’t want to take the chance of getting caught. After you get off the tram, you will cross the street so that you are walking a line of buildings. Keep going until you hit the “Restaurace
Blueberry”. Turn to your right, leading you up a very steep hill. Follow this to the top. There are white buildings to your left. Go up the stairs and to the right

around the corner. There you should see signs for the different Blocs. Check in at Bloc A1.
9. The person at the front desk may not speak English, so this is why having your tutor or someone to help you is necessary.
10. If there is an S before your room number, it means that you are on the basement floors. S1 means going down a flight of stairs. (If you register early, you can pick your room and get one with a balcony)
11. They do not provide towels or toilet paper. I took some toilet paper with me in my suitcase.
You will be so tired and not want to have to go to the store to get it.
12. Try to test your outlet adapter before you go. They are a little difficult to find in Brno.
13. Don’t be surprised by excessive partying in the dorms. Drinking and smoking is a part of the exchange student life there. Smoking pot and cigarettes is allowed inside of the dorms. Many of the students from Europe are accustomed to partying until 4-5 AM and will be loud. You will get used to it, and even join them! It dies down some during the week.
14. Get a current student to help set up the internet for you. You need a 2 nd password in the student account, then a separate internet site to activate and register.
15. Tesco is the Walmart of Brno. It has virtually everything you need. To get there, take tram
#1 back to Hlavni Nadrazi (where the bus and train station are). You will go down the stairs, and travel underneath the train station. You’ll be able to see it from the tram platform.
16. Printers are found in A2. You give the person at the desk your i.d., then they will let you in.
Directions for signing onto the computers are found in the student manual you are given.
17. Many answers can be found in the student manual you get. Make sure you do the orientation and get your packet! This will get you set up with a bank account and cell phone too!
18. You can put more credit on your phone through an ATM. You just have to follow the directions and put your phone number in.
19. Go find your classes before school starts. There is not an actual campus. You have to travel around the city to get to them. But go with other people! They will need to find their classes too!
20. Start going to the Wednesday night Mandarin parties right away. It’s the easiest way to make friends!

21. Don’t be alarmed if workers or employees just come into your room. If you’re late on rent, the lady will come looking for you. She just comes in your room even if you don’t answer.
22. If you plan on traveling a lot, you should try to have a backpack or a bag that is small enough to qualify for Ryanair or Smartwings regulations. These are extremely cheap airlines, but they will charge you huge fees if your bag is too big! Make sure you read all of their rules before you fly.
23. Travelling is extremely cheap and easy. Don’t be afraid to use multiple forms of transportation. You can often find great deals on the internet for students.
24. People may not be very friendly to you- especially the older generation. Don’t be offended.
This is just the culture there. Knowing about their history with communism will help you understand why the older people are not very keen on foreigners in the country. But you will get used to it, and even come to find it as one of the things that is endearing about Brno.
25. At some grocery stores, you have to weigh the fruit/vegetables yourself and print a ticket before you go to the checkout.
26. Try every pastry they sell at Tesco and Alberts. They are amazing!!
27. Travelling can be cheaper at off times, but be careful. Arriving at night is not always the safest option, and can make it difficult to find your hostel.
28. Use Hostelworld.com and read the reviews. People are good about posting the truth.
29. The weather is fairly similar to Kansas, but it will stay colder longer there. Make sure to pack warm clothing!
30. Don’t get too carried away with packing. Tesco will have many of the brands of toiletries that you use at home. I would recommend buying most of them in Brno, except for anything that you can’t live without.
31. Fill your prescriptions before you leave.
32. Let someone know where you are going at all times.
33. The week of Easter is one of the best times there. Participate in any traditions you can
(especially the pomlazka!). Even if you are not religious, go to a church on Easter Sunday. They have beautiful music, and it is something truly unique to see!

34. Almost every major city in Europe has free walking tours. You can go on them and then just tip your tour guide. It is much cheaper than a formal tour, and it gives you the freedom to leave when you please.
35. It’s polite to give your seat to an older person on the tram.
36. Mendlovo Namesti is named for Gregor Mendel. Go down there and see where he conducted his famous pea plant experiments and discovered modern genetics!
37. Don’t just hang with American students. Having friends from all over the world is one of the most valuable things you can have.
38. Travelling on the Bahn train in Italy can be very cheap to get around. Tickets are booked online.
39. Pickpocketing is not as much of an issue in Brno, but make sure you really watch out in places like Prague and Rome. They can try to create a distraction on the tram and while you are watching will get into your purse. I took small padlocks with me and secured my backpack with them when I was walking around. You will also want padlocks for the hostels to keep your stuff in.
40. Travel light! No one will judge you for rewearing things, and you will be glad you did when you are walking around.
41. Try every food you can! I never had anything I didn’t like!
42. You can buy postcards at the bookstore at the česka tram stop. It is right on the corner.
Just go up 2 flights of stairs and there are racks of them. To send them, make sure you have
United States written on the address. This way, you can just point to the US at the post office and they will know how to send them. There is a post office at Hlavni Nadrazi, but also one just down the street a little ways from the Albert store in Mendlovo Namesti.
43. Teachers understand that you want to travel. They are fine with you missing class.
Depending on how much you want to travel, make your schedule accordingly. Don’t take very many classes if you plan on being gone a lot. It is worth it to take the semester easy! That being said, make sure you explore everything the Czech Republic has to offer.
44. Go on all of the student sponsored trips you can! You don’t have to stress about any planning, and they show you all of the neat things in the cities.
45. I would recommend choosing the CESP program instead of MAUI-Ultrecht. They will pay for the IESC trips.

46. If you take tram #1 in the opposite direction of Hlavni Nadravi to the end, you will find the lake. It is a great place to read by the water and relax when it is warm.
47. You don’t have to factor book expenses into your plan. I only had to buy one book for about $20 USD.
48. If you take Modern Czech Theatre, it is an extremely easy class for a Fine Arts Credit. You do not need to attend any of the classes. All that is required is an essay at the end of the course discussing any topic that has to do with the arts.
49. There may be a neo-nazi march when you are there. Do not participate. There is a good possibility to get in trouble if you do so.
50. If you go to Olomouc, go on a Sunday. All of the museums are free!
51. Soak as much in as you can. This will be the best experience of your life!!