"Reflections from a tram window make it hard to say, 'we have to go...'"

Six short days. All I've got left of this dream. What will I do without Prague? My life will be so much less enchanted, so much less thrilling. No chilled winter walks through Prague Castle or hustles by the tree through Old Town square to class. No more $2 1/2 liters of Pilsner, no more smazeny syr. No more cobblestones, Charles Bridge, skips hop and a jump to other countries. Say goodbye to goulash, tram 22 and the kolej. And the kolej. The kolej.... goodbye to the kolej?

Holy shit!!

Get me the hell home!

No more perpetually broken hot plates, couch cushion for beds, dirty floors, or post-communism architecture? No more clogged showers, pre-WWI elevators, mustard-yellow walls or getting caught in a monsoon when you flush the toilet?? NO MORE KOLEJ!?

But... no more pillow talks with Zeigler, no more Pohorelic, or the common gripes about our sub-par human living conditions. No more 312B, 416, or Pombars. No more kolej... no more Prague.

The past 3 months have been the most whirlwind 17 weeks of my life, and I will never forget them. The things I've seen, experienced and done were completely unique to being in Eastern Europe and I wouldn't exchange it for the world. I lived in the heart of Europe, ground zero for travel and learning. After all is said and done, I will have been able to explore 10 countries, 12 cities...

Budapest, Hungary
Munich (Oktoberfest), Germany
Berlin, Germany
Bad Schandau, Germany
Krakow/Auschwitz, Poland
Brussels, Belgium
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Venice, Italy
Istanbul, Turkey
Barcelona, Spain
and of course,
Prague, Czech Republic.

Not to mention a bus layover in Bratislava, Slovakia... I say, if i peed in the country outside of an airport, it's legit.

Yikes.

I don't think that living in any other area would allow for this kind of versatility. The Czech truly is one of a kind. While the residue of communism is still very present in the locals, the beauty and history of the city make up for their occasional coldness. It doesn't, however, make up for their more than occasional body odor and general lack of hygiene. Seriously, get these people some Old Spice. But regardless... what a semester. As I sit here on my couch/bed hybrid, putting off my studying for finals week, I can't help but think how I will be different once I land in Logan and get back to Maine. If anyone has ever considered *studying abroad but decided against it, I would smack them in the face with an Atlas, give them a passport and a map of the global McDonald's locations and stick them on a plane. How could you not take advantage of an opportunity to skip to anywhere on the globe to live for several months, scott free?

[*Disclaimer: The author would like to recognize the invalidity of the term, "Study Abroad". While some may have illusions about the nature of their international stays, the fact that the term "study" is included in the phrase is patently false advertising in comparison to home university workloads. Thank you.]

Just do it, people. You can do it cheap. Just avoid a country on the Euro, Pound, or Australian dollar. And for Pete's sake, don't go to an English speaking country. That is just cheating. (For those with budgets of $74.95 USD or less, I highly recommend Poland.)

As much as I will miss Prague, I'm certain that there is one thing I will miss more...

If Ali is sporadically waving her arms back and forth and bobbing her head, no, I don't need to call the paramedic for immediate medical attention- she's just dancing. Or if her tongue starts going like a rattlesnake, I know that she is truly excited- an excitement paramount only to her enthusiasm for Christmas. Good thing we are both exclusively nocturnal, or I might have some living situation problems.

When Jenna is over-dressed or at all frazzled, her catch phrase will come out even though we all already know that she "is like... sweating." And don't worry, because if all fails, the questionably premature maternal instinct will emerge with pocket tissues or back-up outfits.

In the case of Anna giggling uncontrollably, you can rest assured knowing that slapping of the bass or mother nature's finest gift is most likely involved. Luckily, if we get lost, Anna is the living, breathing Atlas of the world with just one gadget, which also doubles as a light-saber.

Given the situation that any of the members of ECES were wronged in any way, you can bet that Rachel will most likely remedy it in only the best Boston manner. Doubling as gourmet-chef, unexpected firecracker, and motor-boater supreme, what more could you ask for in a room-mate?

Whoever gave Kelsey the liter of Sangria should reevaluate their expectations for photos of the night. In an embodiment of Jersey's finest, this classy, wine-loving sweetheart was the only one who could relate to me when I talked about Jasper, Dorney's or the 1-Train in attempt to assert myself amongst the talkative Northeasterners.

No, your body was not just personally hit by a record-breaking smallest typhoon in history, you're just getting bumped and grinded with by Matt Francolino. If Britney comes on, take immediate refuge under the nearest coat rack or lounge chair because shit is about to get crazy. You can always count on him to dump pitchers of wine in your mouth when you're too occupied discussing certain vegetables, or partner up with you in choosing somewhat unconventional coat checks.

I can say for a fact that Tanya is the best looking Ukranian I'VE ever seen. And yes, I mean seen. Mustafa will not soon be forgotten, and I'm sure I'll see him again at their wedding anyways. I can count on her to help me clean-sweep all breakfast tray-tables from unexpecting and sleepy travel companions.

Jason and Alex come as a pair since I'm pretty sure I've never seen them apart. While I may give my fellow Mainer perpetual shit, he knows it's merely because I feel akin to him being as outdoorsy and Carhart familiar as I am. I can also take pride in enlightening him to the fact that he hates Grappa. I'm in the clear with Alex because I prefer Jay-Z over Biggie, but even if I wasn't I'm sure he'd still be as nice to me as he was in the thermal bath in the mountains of Bad Schandau. How can anyone be cranky in a top-floor suite in the Bavarian countryside watching Bond in German with 3 close friends?

Max is the one I turn to for conversation about weird, underground music or ridiculous YouTube videos. Apparently no one spends as much time online here as I do except for him. Oh how I'll miss the "Jling" and mutually-exchanged sassy comments.

If I'm lost, I'm calling Fooch. If I'm scared, I'm calling Fooch. If I'm wondering how to create sulfuric acid with a piece of bark and a Furby, I'm calling Fooch. What a guy.

Basically, everyone living in the Kolej under the common ECES tie, are baller.

I've met some pretty outstanding people since being over here. I don't know how I'm going to be able to go back to daily life without seeing their faces everyday. I guess I've got Snowball to look forward to... and a trip to the Philippines.

So long, Prague- I'll miss you lots. But I'll be back...