Two Different Beginnings

Each group focused on slightly different topics during the weekend:

• Newcomers – nine students who had arrived in the Czech Republic just two weeks earlier focused on getting to know each other, discussing cultural differences, Czech customs and habits, rules of stay, communication, and coping with culture shock.
• Experienced students – a pair who had already been in the Czech Republic for half a year participated in MYO. They reflected on their first semester abroad, shared successes and challenges, and set new goals for the second half of their stay.

Why Are These Seminars Important?

Seminars like PAO and MYO are not just “formal stops” on the calendar. They are a key part of the exchange experience because they:

• help students pause and process the experiences they have collected during their stay,
• offer a safe space for sharing, where they realize that their joys and concerns are not unique,
• provide practical tools and tips for handling new situations and cultural differences,
• and at the same time, build a community that supports students throughout their stay.

The Post-Arrival Seminar and Mid-Year Orientation are primarily places where strangers become friends and where the stories of the Czech exchange begin to unfold.