If anyone knows of a place in Prague where I could stay, would you please let me know? I might be homeless once this post is published, due to multiple threats from my suitemates. Any help is appreciated.
I did not know what to expect heading into a panicked apartment hunt two days after arriving in Prague, but one thing I certainly did not expect was that I would end up being the only male in a four-person flat. Guess what happened.
Let’s meet my suitemates:
Leading off is Mariah. Mariah, A Westhampton College student, is the suitemate I knew best before coming to Prague. Just because I knew her best does not mean that I knew much about her. We had roughly two conversations in our first two years at Richmond, so we weren’t exactly bffs. In Prague, however, she has been like a mother to me, which she despises being referred to.
Then there’s Steph. Steph is also a Westhampton College student, but we met for the first time in a hostel lobby in Prague. I also met her father in the same lobby after us four decided we would live together. I thought meeting a girlfriend’s father was the pinnacle of intimidating first encounters, but meeting the father of a girl who you are about to live with in a foreign country for more than three months certainly rivals that nerve-wracking feeling.
Finally, there’s Catherine. Catherine is a sorority diva from The College of New Jersey. She’s probably the suitemate whom I feel most bad for (excluding myself obviously), because she has to live with three Spiders and can be left out of our constant Richmond discussions. She will be an expert on all things UR by the time she leaves.
Two weeks in and I already feel like I’m starring in my own cheesey sitcom that few people would watch before it gets cancelled midway through the first season (I’m still working on potential titles). There are certainly pros and cons with my situation. Let’s explore a few:
Pro – My Room None of my suitemates wanted to share a room with me, understandably. Therefore, we took our two-bedroom apartment meant for two doubles and created a triple for the gals and massive single for Jack. My room in Prague is significantly larger than my room at home. And don’t even try comparing my current room to a dorm room. It’s a waste of time. Then there’s the fact that we live on Wenceslas Square, which is like the Times Square of the Czech Republic. So yea, I have an ideal set up.
Can you tell I didn’t clean my room before taking this picture?
Con – Leaving the Apartment When we decide to go somewhere as a group it takes forever to leave the apartment. And when I say forever, I mean for. ev. er. There are just too many tasks that quickly leaving is impossible. First, decide to leave. Then shower, which requires blow-drying hair. Then discuss outfits. Then put one on. More discussion. New outfit. Makeup. Discussion. More makeup. Then maybe, just maybe, we leave.
Because the mirror is in my room, naturally it serves as the makeup station. The girls spend a good amount of time in front of this mirror.
Pro – Cooking As I mentioned in my first post, I lack cooking skills. While they have slightly expanded since I’ve been here – I can use the stove! – they remain limited. My suitemates have been instrumental in keeping me well fed in Prague. And oftentimes I don’t even need to ask for help. They just know. For example, about a week ago Mariah said, “Jack you don’t eat enough. We’re making you food tonight.” And they made me a delicious stir fry (I did the dishes, I swear). Additionally, all three have taught me simple techniques that even I can do. They have been a great help.
I’ve learned a good amount about cooking thanks to my suitemates, but my struggles are still very much real.
Con – Lack of Dude Time Sometimes I need to escape for some time with the guys when the estrogen level gets too high. But heading over to a different apartment is a commitment that requires a decent amount of walking and public transportation. After being used to walking up or down a flight of stairs to see some friends, this has been, at times, a struggle.
Would I live with these three again? Right now, I say absolutely. So far, everything has been great, and the pros outweigh the cons. But then again, it’s only been two weeks. Check back with me in a few months and we will see if my answer has changed.
Thanks for reading!
Selfie of the week: Because I am an egotistical millennial, here is the selfie of the week:
Last weekend, our program took us on our trip to Cesky Krumlov, a small town in the Southern Czech Republic. The town, which I swear was taken right out of a fairytale, was absolutely gorgeous.
urtravelogues.com 