Finlay Porter studied abroad for a semester at Palacký University in Czechia.
“Most people come on Erasmus to improve their English, so why are you here?” asks Marketa, a member of the local Ultimate Frisbee team I’ve joined. Spring has finally arrived in Olomouc. In the park where we train, magnolia and cherry blossoms compliment the light green buds appearing on each branch. The park forms a long band of greenery which rings the old town on the far side from my accommodation. People are picnicking, some playing football. Others cruise on rollerblades down the tarmac path which cleaves the park in two. The alfresco dining tables have appeared in the town centre and as I walk back through the city over cobbled streets and through the smell of fresh bread, I notice that people seem in less of a hurry than usual.
My name is Finlay Porter, and I’m a second year English Literature and Creative Writing student. For the second semester of the academic year 2021/22, I’ve been studying at Palacký University, Olomouc in the Czech Republic. I’ve spent a lot of time justifying and explaining to people why I chose to study in Czechia but since coming here I feel convinced that it was the right choice for me. The globalised nature of Europe means that studying there is an incredibly diverse and immersive cultural experience. Compared with other European destinations, Olomouc has a wealth of history and culture as well as excellent travel connections, affordability and some unique opportunities for cultural immersion.
Due to how central Czechia is, it is incredibly easy to visit other countries from Olomouc, and this has been perhaps the biggest highlight of my stay. As a lover of train journeys, the Czech trains, while not particularly reliable, are at least extremely affordable, and offer easy connections to Poland, Slovakia and Austria. These three countries are all within roughly an hour and a half drive from Olomouc itself. Prague is only three hours away by train and has all you could ask for in terms of music and culture. Beyond Slovakia awaits the wealth of architectural beauty and history that is Budapest. So close, in fact, that one of my Hungarian flatmates regularly visits home just for the weekend. If you’re someone who is looking to tick off many destinations in a short space of time, Olomouc is the perfect base from which to explore.
Central Europe feels to me to be the perfect distance from England: close enough to be easily accessible, but far enough that the culture feels quite uniquely different. The legacy of communism remains written on the walls and in the faces of the people you meet, and this was another key benefit to studying in Olomouc. Palacký University has been around since the late 1500s, and most of its architecture matches the beauty of the city centre. Olomouc used to be the capital of the Kingdom of Moravia, but the outskirts are still dotted with brutalist soviet concrete structures which give a very different atmosphere to the place. The past thirty years have seen rapid change in Czechia, but it is still very clear that the country has lived through a very different 20th century to Western Europe. It is a unique opportunity to glimpse the history on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
Aside from the culture and the opportunities for travel, university life is rich and inspiring. Students make up 20% of the city population, and the university is a wonderful place to study. I feel incredibly lucky to be sharing halls with around 20-30 other nationalities, all of which I have slowly managed to learn a little. From dancing to reggaeton with the Spanish and Italians, to traditionally cooked Kimchi from the Koreans, to endless beer with the Bosnians and even a brief experience of Ramadan fasting with the Turks, there are limitless possibilities for cultural immersion. Since arriving here and exploring the city and surrounding sights with my new friends, I have become part of a rich international community which teaches me mutual understanding and respect every single day.
Most people have never even heard of Olomouc before and I think I like it that way. Yes it’s off the beaten track, it’s a little obscure. But this small city, not too unlike Norwich, offers an entirely unique opportunity to learn about a broad range of different cultures, histories and locations.
Finlay Porter studies English Literature With Creative Writing at UEA. Discover LDC destinations in Europe and other Culturally Significant Locations. Read more about Olomouc in Student Cities.
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