Meet Emma Flowers

Program and Location:

Fall, NC State European Center in Prague; Prague, Czech Republic

Major/Minor:

English, French minor

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I missed out on studying abroad earlier due to COVID, so I was definitely set on studying abroad sometime before graduation! I chose Prague because I knew that I’d be with other NC State students, and wanted to get to know more people (they’re some of my best friends now).

What did you learn about yourself?

SO. MUCH. Not lying. Studying abroad and living in a foreign country for a few months altered my brain chemistry and I’m not looking back. I gained so much more confidence in myself and my friendships and got more comfortable stepping out of my comfort zone.

What was one of your favorite parts of your program?

My most favorite part was the people I met, even though I know that’s a little bit cliché to say, so I’ll give an additional one too. I really loved being able to experience the changes in the seasons, because we pretty much experienced every type of weather while we were there in the Fall, including snow, which was really exciting!

What advice do you have to future study abroad students?

Don’t overpack. One of the most humiliating things I’ve ever done was trying to roll a giant suitcase uphill on cobblestone sidewalks just to get to my student housing abroad. Also, try to do everything you can while you’re there, but don’t beat yourself up about not doing absolutely everything (that’s impossible anyway); when you look back, you’ll be so fulfilled with reminiscing on everything you did, so don’t sweat it!

How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?

I was expecting my classes abroad to be different from what I was used to and was initially a little bit scared of the uncertainty, but they really aren’t as scary as they seem. It’s definitely outside of the traditional classroom experience in the US, with different out-of-class activities and cultural experiences included alongside lectures. For example, I had a cooking class and went to a brewery as part of my ‘Food and Society’ lecture class. There’s a lot of emphasis on learning outside of simply sitting in on lectures, especially regarding historical and cultural practices.

Would you do it again?

Absolutely without question!