NYU Prague. Pre-departure Orientation

Transcription

1 NYU Prague NYU Fall NYU 2011 IN PRAGUE in Prague Pre-departure Orientation

2 Agenda Learn Facilities Staff Calendar Internships Registration FAQs Billing Live Getting There Arrival Orientation Housing & Meals The City Culture & Customs Health & Safety Staff Explore Student Life NYU Excursions Things to Do Local / Regional Travel Budget Tips

3 Learn: Intro Learn Facilities Staff Calendar Internships & Community Service Registration FAQs Billing

4 Facilities 2 Academic Buildings located in the heart of Prague s Old Town, a stone s throw from the Old Town Square! Classes take place on campus Community events and academic conferences Computer labs on campus Small reading room/library with English books and magazines

5 PIDEC Prague Institute for Democracy, Economy and Culture Wide array of actors academics, politicians, business leaders, and other public intellectuals come together to discuss some of the most vexing and urgent policy questions in the U.S. and Europe Works closely with partner research institutions at NYU and Czech academic institutions and think tanks, such as Charles University and the Forum 2000 foundation Past panel topics include: The state of Czech Political Culture Ecological Economics and the Financial Crisis Literature in East-Central Europe and Russia since 1989

6 Academic Staff Hired Locally Leaders in their field - academics, politicians, journalists, artists and musicians Many were intimately involved in the Velvet Revolution and the subsequent transition as student leaders, journalists, and political actors Professors include Vaclav Bartuska, Ambassador at Large for Energy Security Jan Urban, founder and leader of Civic Forum, instrumental in bringing down communism Former Editor of Respekt (the newsweekly for the thinking public), Tomas Nemecek And more

7 Calendar August 22 August 23 Aug. 24-Sept. 3 September 5 September 28 November December 8 December December 16 Departure Group Arrival Orientation First Day of Classes National Holiday (No classes) Spring Break Last Day of Classes Final Exams Student Departure Do not make travel plans on 10/7, 11/4, 12/2 These dates are reserved for makeup classes

8 Internships & Community Service Plentiful Internship Opportunities Journalism (Radio Free Europe) Business Politics & Economics Fashion (InStyle) Internship Fair during Orientation week! Most Internships are NOT for credit Community Service Amnesty International Teach English Questions? Contact Jitka Kalasova

9 Registration FAQ s Students must register for credits. No language requirements but consider taking one (Czech, Russian, Polish, or German; please note that it CANNOT be taken Pass/Fail)! Waitlists are not a guarantee. Just in case, create a list of alternate classes. Attendance is expected and required. Absences will negatively affect your grade. All course textbooks are available in the library or at local bookstores. Free course packets!

10 Billing As with any semester, you will receive an Ebill for your tuition, registration fees and an estimated housing charge. Estimated housing charge. This estimate is used as a placeholder charge until we place students in their final housing assignment; the initial charge is unrelated to the final housing charge. Once the actual housing placement has been made, the E-bill is adjusted, resulting in either a credit or an additional charge. The final charge will appear on your E- bill within 2-3 weeks following the start of the program.

11 Live: Intro Live Getting There Arrival Orientation Housing & Meals The City Culture & Customs Health & Safety Staff

12 Getting There: Pre-departure Submit Paper Forms (by 6/30) Health Forms Travel Release Submit Online Forms (by 6/30) Housing Flight Info Emergency Contact Visa (by 5/6) Apply soon (Have all your docs? Go now!) Workshops end of April! The consulate needs your actual passport to affix the visa Consulate lists approved visas by application # on web site. Neat! Banking Contact your bank about fees Packing Do s and Don ts - see flash drive in your acceptance packet

13 Arrival Information Arrival Cheat Sheet will be posted to Blackboard the week before arrival! Mandatory Check- in: the first day of the program (Aug. 23). No earlier and no later! Staff will meet students outside of customs to direct them to shuttles or taxi to housing Students arriving at other airports, by train, or outside of set times are on their own, including transportation to their housing (roughly 500 Kc, or $25) cash in Czech Crowns only Contact your parents when you get in!

14 Orientation Orientation is a MANDATORY 2 week-long session. 2-credit Global Course: Czech History and Culture Intensive Czech language Information on Health & Safety Academic Advising Housing Info & Neighborhood Tours Historical and Getting Around Prague Tours Internship Fair Fun Events: Bowling, Opera, Ice Hockey and More!

15 Housing & Meals NYU Housing is mandatory! Assignments are based on information submitted in online forms (more info to come) We will try to accommodate Roommate requests Doubles, Triples, Quads, and limited singles No meal plan! Housing estimate is the same for all students & does not reflect final cost. Final housing bill will be sent after start of program. Housing assignments will be sent to your NYU account about 2 weeks before check-in.

16 Housing Linens provided (sheets, towels, blankets, and pillows) Fully equipped kitchens Laundry facilities, study room and student lounge, computer with internet Phone in each room Wireless internet No smoking and no alcohol allowed in residence buildings Don t forget an adapter/converter! 24/7 housing security guards RAs are local Czech students

17 Machova Located in Vinohrady, fashionable residential area with cafes and shops Singles, Doubles, Triples and Quads 60 person occupancy Shared bathrooms and kitchens on each floor 15 minutes to the NYU center

18 Slezska Newest dorm! Located in Vinohrady, fashionable residential area with cafes and shops Singles, Doubles, Triples and Quads 35 person occupancy Shared bathrooms among suites and kitchens on top and bottom floors 15 minutes to the NYU center 5-10 minute walk from Machova

19 Jaurisova Located in Nusle, a slightly grittier area with a real Czech flavor Singles, Doubles, and Triples 30 person occupancy Apartment style, with kitchens and bathrooms in each suite Good for those who prefer quieter living 25 minutes to the NYU center minute walk from Machova and Slezska

20 Osadni Located in Holesovice, former industrial area now with galleries and clubs Singles, Doubles, Triples and Quads Largest dorm: 70 person occupancy Apartment Style, with kitchens and bathrooms in each suite 25 minutes to the NYU center All Music students live here (Practice rooms with pianos on top floor and in basement)

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22 The City Pronounced Pra-ha in Czech Capital of the Czech Republic 20 million tourists per year; as well as many study abroad students Very walkable city, centered around the Old Town Square Tram and subway system very easy to use (run like clockwork!) Subways stop running at midnight Trams run all night, every 30 mins Home of Prague Castle, Wenceslas Square (site of the Velvet Revolution) and the Clock Tower

23 Culture & Customs Czechs are reserved Ethnically homogenous Traditional! (role of women, celebrations) Society is changing at a rapid pace The customer isn t always right Not much is open 24/7 (except the stands on Wenceslas Square) Czechs tend to be early to bed, early to rise, although they are increasingly switching to a 9 to 5 (not 7 to 3) schedule Beer is a way of life! And good for you, too

24 Culture & Customs cont d Tips: just round up to the nearest 10 Kc (e.g., 54 Kc to 60 kc) Many young people live at home Remember you aren t living in NYC and that s a good thing! Living conditions are not the same as in the United States so be flexible, patient and enjoy the differences! Internet access can be a bit erratic as compared to US Fun, safe but quiet city!

25 Health & Safety Bring a full supply of daily prescriptions with you. Medications cannot be shipped internationally and may not be available locally Students with special needs, academic or other, must inform the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities in advance Bring copies of your prescriptions (generic name and dosage), eyeglass prescription, etc. Learn the Czech word/phrases for any food or medical allergies. Ask our site staff! Pre-departure referrals, including doctors: martina@nyu.edu. Please let us know if you require regular medical attention!

26 Health & Safety All students attending NYU in Prague will use HTH Worldwide Global Health Insurance. Free of charge for students (SHC will pay) No advance out-of-pocket payment for students to see a doctor or counselor 24/7 hotline for emergencies and to assist in making appointments Students should consult site staff if they need help making a doctor s appointment Do NOT cancel your domestic health insurance!!!!! REMEMBER to register with HTH when you receive the print a copy of the card and bring with you.

27 Student Life Staff Info Martina Faltova Student Affairs Coordinator, Housing Sarah Coffey Student Affairs Building Managers Market Helebrantova (Slezska) Honza Horkova (Machova) Maria Dzurnakova (Osadni) Darima Batorova (Jaurisova) Czech RAs Two Emergency Phones: Staff and RA

28 Explore: Intro Explore Student Life NYU Excursions Things to Do Local / Regional Travel Budget Tips

29 Student Life Activities & Programming Dinners, Sport Events, Concerts, Drama & Musical Events, Open Mic Nights, City Tours, Museum Visits, Theater, Hiking, Skating, Film Screenings Health and Wellness Yoga, Swimming, Gym, Weekly City Practice Counseling sessions NYU Prague Student Council Meetings once a week Some events organized by the council: NYU Prague Master Chef! NYU Prague club night (pics at right!) Stop by a meeting or join the council - and tell us what YOU want to do!

30 NYU Excursions NYU Prague organized day and weekend trips to nearby cities and towns Included in the cost of your tuition One overnight and two day trips sign up during orientation! Sample Excursions: Head to the Pearl of Central Europe, Cesky Krumlov: home of a Renaissance Castle with a moat and bears! Take the waters and munch on spa wafers in Karlovy Vary Visit Terezin, a World War II Transit and Concentration Camp

31 Things to do Museums National Museum (History) Veletrzni Palac, DOX (near Osadni) Modern Art Sightseeing Prague Castle Charles Bridge Petrin Hill great views! Music Opera Classical Concerts at Rudolfinum Jazz Concerts Sports Hockey and Soccer matches! Zlute Lazne (September)

32 Local / Regional Travel Prague is very centrally located in both the Czech Republic and Europe, so there are great opportunities to travel! Within Czech Republic: Cesky Krumlov (left) Karlovy Vary Brno Karlstejn Castle Plzen Terezin Kutna Hora (bone church) Lots more Explore!

33 Budget Tips Figure out how much money you will have. Consider that you can t work abroad because of visa restrictions (unless you are an EU citizen!). How much can you realistically save before going? Think carefully about what you plan to do while you re away. How much do you plan to travel? How do you plan to get there? Where do you plan to stay? Are you comfortable staying in hostels? You get the idea. Consider everyday expenses. Prague is relatively inexpensive, but things can add up quickly ask site staff for advice on where to shop/eat

34 Budget Tips Ask for student discounts Get an ISIC card before you leave New York for discounts on concert tickets and more Buy groceries Groceries are cheaper than eating in restaurants. Cook any chance you get! Watch out for Tourist Traps! Restaurants with English menus posted outside; Many places in the center, especially where they try to entice you! Take local transport Local public transportation is always cheaper - $100 for 3 months and one free month from NYU Prague (But take a taxi at night! It s much safer)

35 Contacts Prague Site Rep Tania Barnes ; Student Services Office 110 E. 14 th St, Lower Level NYU Prague Offices Male Namesti Prague 1 Phone: Student life: prague.studentlife@nyu.edu Academics: global.academics@nyu.edu Public Safety:

36 Questions?

37 Nashledanou a hodně štěstí za oceánem!