Servus & Ahoj, Let’s Introduce

Servus, my name is Filip and in the following lines I would like to introduce myself and try to present why I am here in Munich. I’m 21 years old Erasmus+ student born in April. Even though I know almost nothing about signs, I’m a Taurus. At my home Charles University, I am a third-year student in the Bachelor of Marketing Communications and Public Relations at the Institute of Communication Studies.

With a height of 178 cm and weight of 72 kilograms, brown eyes and the same hair colour, I come from a nearby city. Although it is not located in Germany, it is closer than other big domestic cities like Berlin or Hamburg. It is a city that lies in the heart of a country that is itself considered to be the heart of Europe, only geographically though. You have already guessed correctly that the city I am describing is Prague, and the country is the Czech Republic. 

The Czechia is a place where people live well, however the majority do not like to admit it.
It is true, the complaining of the Czechs could be a national sport. On the contrary, to add something positive, Czechia is a country with beautiful, hilly countryside, rich history, and great living conditions. Cheap healthcare and public transport, unpaid education, a favourable geographical position in the European Union. Beside these facts, I believe Czechs still have a lot to improve but at the same time I also believe that we are slowly moving from the position of Eastern European country to become one of the Western ones.

As a typical person from Prague, a “Pražák”, who has been fed by the Vltava River since my birth, I kind of love and hate my hometown. This complicated relationship could also have been caused by the fact that part of my family comes from a mountainous region called Beskydy, located in the north-eastern corner of the country near the Slovak and Polish borders. Although it is the district I love dearly, I visit it less than I would wish. It takes longer to get there from Prague than it does to get to Munich.

In general, I find it amazing that such a small distance and one border line is enough to put one in another society with a different language and customs. Perhaps this is the beauty of Europe, that there is such cultural, linguistic and national diversity in a relatively small territory.

I realised this during my first Erasmus, which I spent last summer term in Ireland at Trinity College Dublin. Soon after my arrival there, I knew that the energy of the international environment was something for me, and since I had completed all my obligatory courses at Charles University, I applied for the second Erasmus. And luckily, they accepted it!

Why Munich? Because why not. I have heard nothing but good words about this city and LMU from friends who have been here on Erasmus before. I knew I wanted to be closer to my home this time, and at the same moment, my goal was to improve my German. Additionally, I love nature, winter sports and good beer. With the Alps nearby, Munich offers all this and more. I’m already in love with the Englische Garten park, which I use to cycle to school every day when it doesn’t rain. Nevertheless, that is unfortunately increasingly rare these days.

Speaking of cycling, I’m a big fan of almost every sport, however, I prefer more doing them than watching them on TV. Here in Munich, I climb, practice yoga and play roundnet. Moreover, I also signed up for the lacrosse trainings at ZHS. In Prague my main sport is Squash. Yes, I also feel that I choose sports that almost nobody practices and knows. My personal goal is to move at least a little bit every day if possible.

Although I used to avoid such activities when I was younger, last spring I’ve found a hobby in culture and arts. Nevertheless, in this case with the opposite approach from the position of an admiring spectator. The art I have ever made cannot even be even called art.

Before arriving in Munich, I made a resolution to visit at least one museum or gallery a week, so let’s see if it works out. I believe this is a way to learn more in an inspiring and easy way about a history. The science that is so important to events happening in the world nowadays, and of which I know less than I would like to.

My Erasmus, studying in Munich and meeting everyone of you, people from abroad and Germany, will certainly be unbelievably exciting and I am looking forward to all of it, and you?