2.) Academic Life (Assignment #3)

  The first few weeks in the Czech Republic have been amazing and filled with fun. Sometimes so much so, that I forget that we have academics too! With the program including so much travel time, we only have class 29 of the 70 days of our program, but we have already learned so much. Travel is a learning experience all by itself, but when it is coupled with some instruction it is much more meaningful.

     Our classes at Palacky University focus on three things: Czech language, Central European History, and the Holocaust. So far, the most challenging of those classes is the language course. Our professor makes the class very interactive and fun, but it is still a challenge. The Czech language is very different from English when it comes to pronunciation. It seems to be consonant after consonant with very different pronunciations. Try reading these words/phrases and interpreting them:

• nejinteligentnějším- most intelligent
• Jak se řekne česky ______ - how do you say _____ in Czech?

     Our other courses are taught by a large number of professors from the University. The lectures have included information on medieval civilization, economics, witches, religion, and the mistreatment of Jews throughout time. The most interesting lecture thus far was on Witches and Scapegoats. One of our program leaders, Martin, took us back in time to explain different scapegoats throughout European history. He mainly focused on the creation of the myth of witchcraft. This myth apparently started as a way to explain death or wrongdoings, and it spiraled out of control. The same hysteria that spread throughout Europe came to the US years later. Europeans then believed that these witches they burned at the stake could come alive as vampires which only made it even crazier here. It is said that the region we are in, Moravia, is the first area to think of and believe in Vampires, how exciting! While it is hard to believe that people created all of these myths, one has to understand that in the 17th century science was still young. People needed scapegoats and myths to try to understand the world they lived in. It is just unfortunate that these explanations lead to the mistreatment and death of thousands of people. 

     Jews were even used as scapegoats. Jews were made to do the "dirty" work of handling money and were often blamed for stealing money. At one point, they were even blamed for the plague. People believed that the Jewish businessmen brought the plague with them and conspired with the Lepers to spread the disease throughout civilization. It is important to remember that during this time people were very anti-Judaic not antisemitic. This means that they were discriminated against based on religious beliefs not as a ethnic or racial group as today. It is heartbreaking that Jews were continuously discriminated against throughout history. I look forward to becoming more educated on European History, social inequality, and everything else my classes have to offer!