EXCHANGELOG:VSE,PRAGUE,2017-18

JamieWilliams,Y3,MajoringinGBUS&MGMT

MONTHLYLOG:SEPTEMBER,2017:IarrivedinPragueonthe10thofSeptember,2017afteraflightfromHongKong,witha2-hourlayoverinZurich.Myexchangebuddypickedmeupfromtheairport(VaclavHavelAirport)andbroughtmebacktothestudentaccommodation,JarovIII.F.Myexchangebuddywasextremelyhelpful,assheknewthetransportationsystemthoroughly.Moreoverithelpedwiththesettlingin,especiallysinceIdidn’tspeaktheCzechlanguage.Itisimportantthatonceyouarriveattheairport,thatyoudonotexchangeanycurrencythereastheymarketreasonablerates,howeverhaveextremelyhighhiddenfeeselsewhere.

TofurthercalmourentryshockintotheCzechRepublic,theuniversityprovidedusintroductorycoursestoCzechcultureandthelanguageitself.Thesecoursesareveryuseful,asitpersonallyhelpedmetransitionintotheculturemucheasierandcometorealizethattosomestandard,theCzechRepubliccanbeverydifferenttothatofHongKong.

OCTOBER,2017:IspentthemostofOctoberexploringthesmallernichesofPraguealongsidetravellingoutsideoftheCzechRepublic.ntermsoflocaltraveldestinations,IwenttoCeskyKrumlovandKarlovyVary.Howeverasapieceofadvice,CeskyKrumlovisaonedaytraveldestination-thecitysquareisrelativelysmallwhilstthecityissurroundedwithhotels.

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NOVEMBER,2017:Thismonthwasrelativelybusy,Ihadtosubmitnumerousassignments.Manyofthecoursecurriculastateddatesforgivenpresentationsandreports,howeverthisistentative.DuringthecourseofNovember,Ihadmyoneweekintensivecourseon“StrategicManagementandBusinessInnovation”.Ialsohadtakenahumanresourcescourse;duringthismonthIhadtocompletetwogrouppresentationsandclassexercisesasmanyofmyclassesmarkonactiveparticipation.DECEMBER,2017:AsDecemberistheprimeexamperiodforexchangestudents,youcanopttotaketheexamsduringthismonth.ThiscanbemanagedviatheINSISonlinestudentexamregistry–IwasadvisedbyapastexchangestudentthatifIintendedtotravel,itwouldbebesttofreeupJanuary.IntotalItook5finalexams,whichwereamixofmultiplechoiceandshort-longanswerquestions.Manyofthecoursematerialsandexamswererelativelyeasy–applyingknowledgefromthelectureslidesweresufficient,alongsidepastpaperswhichIluckilysupplementedfrommyexchangebuddy.

SinceChristmaswasapproaching,manyoftheexchangestudentshavealreadysolidifiedtheirtravelplans.AsIhadaSuper-dayAssessmentduringChristmas,ItravelledtoWroclawinPolandbybustocelebrateChristmasEve.ThenextmorningIflewbacktoLondontocelebrateChristmaswithmybrother.JANUARY,2018IwasveryhappyafterChristmasasIwasabletoflybackearlytoPraguetocelebratetheNewYear’scountdownwithmyfriends.WegatheredbythebridgeoppositeKarlovyMost(CharlesBridge).Howeveritcanbequitescary,consideringthatthepurchaseandopenuseoffireworksarelegalinPrague.Therewerealsoalotof“bootlegfireworks”,beingfiredfromgardensintoopenstreets,soyouneedtobereallycareful!GENERALEXCHANGEINFORMATIONVisaProcedures:Irecommendthatyoustarttheapplicationassoonaspossible,asIheardfrommypeersthatthisprocesscantakeamatterofweeksorevenmonths.Youcanbeginyourvisaproceduresassoonasyou’vereceivedyouracceptancepackagefromtheSBMoffice.YouwillneedtothengototheCzechEmbassytoapplyforaletter.Acopywillbesenttoacorrespondingpoliceoffice,(i.e.WanChaiPoliceOffice)whereyouwillgetyournon-criminalrecordprocesses.After,theCzechEmbassywillnotifyyoutopickupthevisa.Afterfinishingthesesteps,bringtheacceptancepackage,yourpassport,twopassportphotos,acopyofyourinsuranceandfinancialproof(thiswillrequireyoutohaveabankstatementprovingthatyouhave>30,000HKD)totheembassy.Makesurepriortoyourvisitationsthatyouphone-intobook,otherwiseexpecttogetrejected!FLIGHTINFORMATION:TherewasnodirectflighttoPraguefromoutsideEurope.Instead,IboughtticketsfromSwissAirlines,witha3hourlayoverinZurich,roundticket.Usuallythestandardticketwillallowyoutocheckinone23kgluggage.Howeverinmycase,Ioptedtobuyanextraluggageallowance,tobringbackatotalof46kgwithconcessionsforafewextrakilograms.Irecommendstudentstopurchasethis

package,asitmaybebeneficial–youmightbringbackmorethanyoucametoPraguewith!COURSEREGISTRATION:UponsuccessfullyenrollingatVSE,youwillreceiveanemailfromtheschoolprovidingyoualistofinstructionstofollowinordertosetupyourVSEaccountonInSIS(Theirstudentportal).AsIremember,thisprocedurecanbedonebeforeyouleaveforPrague.Infact,mostofmycourseenrolmentswerecompletedinHongKong,prior.Forparticularcourses,youmayneedtoseekapprovalfrominstructors,thenasktheschooltomanuallyregisteryouviatheemailexchange@vse.cz-thatisassumingyouwanttositanymasterscourse.ORIENTATIONACTIVITIESAtthebeginningofthesemester,anicebreakingweekendwillbeorganizedtoprovideyouanopportunitytomeetyournewfriends.TheywillsendyoutoaremoteareaintheCzechRepublic,andthecostwillincludebothyouraccommodationandtransportexpense,excl.foodanddrinks.Duringtheorientationweek,therewillbeahostofactivitiesyoucansignupforaroundtheVSEcampusorientationbooths.IsignedupfortheStaropramenBeerFactorytourwithmyHKUSTfriend.Thiscostedapproximately100Kc–definitelyworthit(Czechbeerisawesome).ThestudentpackyoupurchasewillalsoincludeaNation2Nationcard.ThesearepartiesorganizedbytheERASMUSVSEorganizationandisalsoagreatplacetomakenewfriends!ACCOMMODATIONS:Thisyear,alltheexchangestudentsstayedprimarilyatJAROVF.TheJAROVFbuildingisquiteconvenientasitislocatednexttoalocalmarket(potraviny),andtheChmelnicetramstationthatcantakeyoustraighttothecity!Thefeecostedapproximately4500HKD,consideringIgotapremiumsingleroom,sohadtopayahigherprice.LaundryServices:Youcanaccessthelaundrymachinesanddryermachinesatthebasementofthebuilding.Youwillhavetobookthesefacilitiesinadvance,however,ontheISKAMwebsite,andpay20Kctothereceptionwhowillthengiveyouthekeytotheroom.

BedLinenExchange:Youwillalsobeabletoexchangeyourbedlinentwiceamonthforfree.Thiscanbedoneinthebasementaswell.MakesureyoubringyourstudentIDanddormitorycard.Cooking:eachroomisequippedwithtwostovesandonemicrowaveoven.However,theutensils/pansmayvaryperroomastheyareoftentheonesleftfromthepreviousexchangestudents.Check-in:Mybuddyhelpedmehandlemostofthedetailsregardingthecheck-in.Howeverremembertobring4passportphotos(fortransportationcardandthedormcarditself).Also,itisimportanttofillintheformofstay,soyoudon’thavetovisitthepolice.TheBedroom:Mybedroomcamewithastandardsinglebed,achair,radiator,desk,lamp,apersonalcloset,andabalconywithdryingrack.Photosofmyroom:

COURSEREGISTRATION:VSEwillsendyoualinktoregisterforcourses,includinginstructions.Ifyoustrugglewithwhatcoursesyoumayneedtopick,refertotheHKUSTtransfercreditequivalencedatabasetohelpguideyourchoices,toensureyoucanguaranteecredittransfersonyourreturn.COURSESISTUDIED:Itook5coursesinVSE,andtheywererelativelyeasierthanHKUST.Infact,don’texpectanythingtoodifficultonyourexchangeatVSE.Theyseparateexchangestudentsfromlocalstudentsinmostclasses.

2RU135,BasicCzechforforeigners(A1):3ECTSHKUST2CreditLANG1000-EquivalentcourseThiscoursefacilitateslearningofthebasicCzechlanguage,andinacquiringtheskilltocommunicateinthemostcommonconversationalsituations.HereIwasabletolearnhowtounderstandbasictexts,anddevelopessentialcommunicationskills.Howevertheteacherlikestopushparticipationquitefrequentlyanditmayseemdauntingforaforeigner.Ontopofthat,itisverydifficulttoobtainthetextbookwhichisalwaysoutofstock.CourseBreakdown:25%Mid-termexam25%Finalexam20%Presentation30%Attendance

3MA682,BasicsofProjectManagement:3ECTSHKUST2CreditISOM4000-EquivalentcourseThiscoursesteachesthefundamentalsofcasestudyandutilizesthisteachingstyletoillustratebothProjectManagementfundamentalsandthedailyoperationswithinthisproject.Here,IgottheopportunitytoworkasProjectManagerandtomaterializeanideathroughproject-basedwork.Wearealsotaughthowtomakemasterbudgetsforproject-basedwork,andtoconductwhat-ifscenarioanalysis.TheprofessorreallyenjoyedtheinsightsIprovided,asIhadprevious,actualprojectmanagementexperience.CourseBreakdown:20%Attendance80%Presentation&GroupReport3SG205,FoundationsofBusinessStrategy:6ECTSHKUST3CreditMGMT4210–CorporateStrategyThiscourseintroducesstudentstobasicapproachesofcorporatestrategy.Attentionisfocusedprimarilyontheanalysisofthecompanyenvironmentandthesurroundingshapeofitscompetitiveenvironment.Ifoundthisratherinteresting,aswewereplacedintorandomlyassignedgroups.Here,wehadtochooseacompanyinonemarket,andtoprovidea30pageanalysis.Theworkloadisextremelystrenuousandrequiresalotofcommitment,howeverthepay-offisgreatattheend.

CourseBreakdown:20%Attendance20%TermPaper10%Presentation50%FinalOralExam2OP320,HumanResourcesManagementinInternationalContext:3ECTSHKUST4CreditMGMT3110–HumanResourcesManagementHerewewereencouragedtodevelopparticularideasonpersonnelmanagementonasupranationallevelandmicrolevel.WealsoworkedingroupstodeveloppresentationsoncertainaspectsofHR,i.e.RecruitmentandSelection.Thiscoursewasrelativelyeasy,especiallybecausetheprofessorreallylikedmeasIengagedinclassdiscussionveryfrequently.CourseBreakdown:45%Participation55%FinalTest2OP326,StrategicManagementandBusinessModelInnovation:3ECTSHKUST3CreditMGMT-3000EquivalentCourseThiscourseprimarilyemphasizesparticipationthroughcasepracticingproblemsolvingingroups,arguingforprofessionalopinionandnegotiatingalternativesolutionswiththeprofessor.Oftentimesyouarerequiredtobevocalinclass,consideringtheclasssizeissmall.CourseBreakdown:50%Participation25%Termpaper25%Mid-termtestSPORTSANDRECREATION:ThereisagymatJarovAIgoto.Thishasallthepowerliftingandessentialgymequipmentformakingmuscle,hypertrophy,andtoreallygetagoodpump.Thiscosts110Kcpermonth,sothevalueisquitegood.

HEALTHANDSAFETY:Pragueisrelativelysafe.Justbewareofpickpockets,especiallyintouristhotspotssuchasCharlesBridgeorPrahaCastle.Intermsofthehealthaspect,youmakeyourownconsciousdecisionsaboutwhattoeat–trynottocomebackwithhighcholesterolasthefoodsthereareheavy.FOOD:Czechfoodisabsolutelyamazing.These4monthshavebeenanabsoluteweightgainforme.IarrivedinPragueaconservative75kgs,andflewbacktoHongKongweighingover87kgandburstingattheseamsofmytrousers.ThefoodinPraguecanrangefromthetraditionalbeefgoulash,throughtotheporkknuckle.Iwouldreallyrecommendtheporkknuckle.Notonlyistheporktender,buttheportionsarebigforareasonableprice.ThereisalsoabutchersnexttotheJarovFhalls,whichoffergreatdiscountedmeatsandlunchsets.Justknowhowtoorder,astheyhaveveryshortpatience!AlcoholinPragueisanotherstory–youknowyouareinarightcountrywhenthebeerischeaperthanwater!DefinitelytrythePilsnerUrquellandtheStaropramen.TRANSPORTATION:TransportationinPragueisrelativelyconvenient.Publictransportcanbeinbuses,trams,andtrains.Howeverwemainlyusetramstogetaroundthecity–thenetworkcangetyoufromoneendofthecitytotheother.Asastudentyouwillreceiveaslipatorientationinanenvelopewhichwillprovideproofingofyourstudentstatuswhenyouarebuyingatransportpass.Iboughtthepassfor3monthsfor~300HKD,andsupplementeditwithanadditional1monthpassfor~100HKDupontheendofexpiry.Whateveryoudo,DONOTtakelocaltaxi’syouwillgetrippedoffforalotofmoney.CLIMATE:IarrivedinPragueonthe10thofSeptemberanditwasquitewarm.HoweverfromOctoberonwards,thetemperaturebegantodipfairlyquickly.ThecoldestperiodisthroughDecembertoJanuary–therewillbeperiodswherePraguewillsnow,howeverthissnowusuallyisatearlymorningsoratnight.Irecommendthatyoubringathickjacketwithyou,butalsoifyouarenotcold-tolerant,youcanalsobuyaheaterfromIKEA/Kaufland.

COMMUNICATION:GenerallypeopleinPraguearevery“keep-to-themselves”.Howeverifyouapproach,oftentheyoungerstudentswillbeabletohelpyou,howeverexpectsometonotknowEnglish.Ifyoudoneedhelp,youcanaskyourbuddytohelpfacilitatetheconversationbetter,orevenaskthemforhelpifneeded.OVERALLEXPENSES:RoundTripFlight(SwissAir) ~10,000HKDInsurance ~1000HKDISICcard 100HKDCard

• VSEStudentcard• Transportation(3months)• Transportation(1month)

100HKD~300HKD~100HKD

MobileDataPlan(Vodafone) ~150HKDper3GBAccommodation ~4500HKDLivingExpenses ~20,000HKDTravelExpenses ~20,000HKDBANKING:AsIhaveaSantanderBankAccountfromEngland,IusedthiscardattheATMs.HoweverasIhavelearnedfrommyfriends,youcanapplyforadebitcardfromCitiBank.Thesecardsarerelativelyeasytoapplyfor,andallowsforyoutowithdrawfromallEuroNet/BankATMsacrossPragueforverylowrates/norateatall.INTERNATIONALSERVICESANDACTIVITIES:HKUSThaspartneredwithINTERNATIONALSOS,whowillprovideyoupre-tripadvisorybeforeyousetoffonexchangewhichmayconcernyoursecurityandmedicalinformation.Thisserviceisgreat,astheyprovidespecialknowledgeandassistanceifyoueverloseyourpassport,orendupinanadversesituation.Theyoffera24hourhotline,connectingyoutodoctors,securityspecialists,orthecoordinatoroftheprogramifyoumayhaveanyadditionalquestions.

Itemstobring:1. HKID,HKUSTstudentID,Passport2. 6Passportphotos3. Laptop,stationary,andotherstudymaterials4. Winterclothes(thickjacketisessential,andinsulatedleggings)5. Adaptorsandextensioncord6. Hairdryer7. Kettle(Someroomsmayprovidethem,somemaynot)CAUTIONARYMEASURES:Atnight,Praguecitycangetquiteshadywithstripclubhustlersanddrugdealersapproachingyouinthecitycenter.Howevertheywillnotbehostile,walkawayandsimplycarryonwithyourownbusinessandtheywillnotfollowyou.Iftheykeepfollowingyou,especiallythehustlerswhocanbeaggressive,youcanusesomeofthefollowinglines:1. PretendtonotunderstandEnglish2. Tellthemyouarenotinterested,butinsisttheyhaveagreatevening,wishthemgreat

business.USEFULLINKS:TravelBooking:

• www.skyscanner.net• www.flixbus.com• www.regiojet.com

FINALWORDS:Theexchangeexperiencestemsprimarilyfromwhatyoumakeofit.MytimespentinPraguewasmostdefinitelyoneofthemostmemorable.SituatedinthecenterofEurope,PraguewasverymuchatthecrossroadbetweenbothEastandWesternEurope.Howeveritslocationisamereunderstatementtowhatthecityhastooffer.Thesefourmonthshavebeenmostexciting–towakeupeverymorningandbaskinafairytalelikecity,Praguetrulyisaculturalandhistoricalmeltingpotwitheachandeverystreettellingitsownstory.