Logistics

Registration

Please note that registration will take place at the Masarykova Kolej dormitory:

Masarykova Kolej
Thákurova 1,160 41 Praha 6
Czech Republic
Tel.: +420 233 051 111

You can visit the Masarykova website at: http://www.suz.cvut.cz/k_masarykova.html

Check-in and orientation will be held here on Saturday 9 July beginning at 12:00 PM. Dinner and orientation will be held at 6:00PM (18:00). Location to be announced.

Housing

Keys: The Masarykova dorm uses an electronic key system. Every student will be issued with an electronic smart card at registration, which they can use to open their dorm room. The dorm will charge each student a deposit of Kc 200 for this key, which will be returned at the end of the Institute when the card is returned to reception. The reception desk is staffed 24-hours a day.

Mail Delivery: Because of the short duration of the Institute and inconsistency of international mailing, we recommend students receive no mail. However, students expecting mail should check at the reception desk for any incoming mail.

Internet Access: The dorm has wireless computer access in the main lobby. You may bring your wireless adapted computer into the lobby area and connect to the network. You may or may not be able to access it from your dorm room depending on the location of your room in terms of access to the network. It is possible to purchase a wire from the reception area when you register for EJI but this may change due to the dorm supply of cables.

Security: As with any dormitory situation, students must take appropriate care of any money or personal valuables and appropriate attention to who enters and leaves the room. Valuables should not be kept in the dorm room while you are not there. All dorms have closets that are suitable for clothing and luggage, but their locking devices tend to be unreliable. As maid service is regular, do not leave any valuables out in plain view. If you have any concerns regarding the storage of any money or valuables, contact the Institute's Program Assistant who will be working as a liaison with the dormitory staff.

Laundry: The dorm has washing machines located throughout the building. You can purchase laundry soap at the dorm or one of the convenience stores located by the dorm building on Evropska Street. The dorm does not have irons or drying machines.

Return to Top

Meals

The Fund for American studies will provide breakfast on a daily basis starting on 18 July 2011. Lunch and dinner will be on your own unless otherwise specified.

Breakfast is served in the main cafeteria. Meal tickets will be distributed at registration. To be served, you must present a meal ticket with the appropriate date and meal. Students will be provided with 70Kc tickets for each breakfast and students can choose from a variety of options including omelets. However, if the total meal price exceeds 70Kc, the students are responsible for the difference. And if the student's meal falls short of the 70Kc allotment, they will be paid with another item from the cafeteria and not in cash. Breakfast is scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. on weekends.

Students will be responsible for their own lunches and dinners, unless otherwise noted in the schedule. There are several restaurants in or near Wenceslas Square serving a variety of Czech, American and Mediterranean dishes. Restaurants directly located in Wenceslas Square are often much more expensive, but a variety of reasonable offerings exist.

For those who would like food to snack on, there are small refrigerators in each dorm room. The Debenhans Department Store offers a supermarket and a small cafeteria is located in the metro stop at Mustek in Wenceslas Square. A typical Czech meal can cost from $4.00-5.00USD in Czech restaurants to $10-15 in touristy locations. A variety of dining options surround the Institute's classroom building near Wenceslas Square.

Return to Top

Commuting

Each student will be provided with a weekly Czech metro pass. This metro pass will be vaild on all forms of Prague public transportation including metro trains, trams, and buses. The pass will be valid from 9 July to 17 July. It is required that Prague public transit commuters carry verification with them every time they ride the system. The Prague metro police frequent popular stops including the ones used by EJI on a daily basis. Riders on public transportation must have a pass or a validated ticket. Riders without a pass or ticket are subject to a fine of 700 Kc, or approximately $37.00 USD or 26.29 Euros which must be paid on the spot. If approached, be sure the officer displays proper identification (usually a metal badge, see http://www.dp-praha.cz/cz/index.htm).

Maps of Prague will be distributed at registration to help guide your way through the sights and sounds of Prague. To get to the Institute's Classroom Building and Prague's Center take the Metro from Dejvicka Metro Station on Line A (within walking distance southeast of the dorm).

Classroom Building: Take Metro Line A to the Muzeum station (5 stops; you can only travel in one direction from the Dejvicka metro station), and you will be at the top of Wenceslas Square (Václavské namestí). Walk one block into the square, down the hill, and turn right on Opletalova St. The classroom building is a little more than one block on the right. The address is:

Fakulta sociálních ved UK
Opletalová 26,
110 00 Prague 1

Return to Top

Early Arrivals/Late Departures

If your travel plans require that you arrive or depart beyond the Institute dates, please inform us so that we can arrange appropriate accommodations. We encourage students to arrive on July 9 as rooms may not be available at the dormitory prior to the Institute. Those who must arrive prior to July 9 due to travel restrictions may be required to stay at another dormitory or youth hostel if rooms are not available at the dormitory. A travel information form was included with your acceptance letter and needs to be returned to The Fund for American Studies by 1 June 2012.

Students may be responsible for the cost of accommodations for any extended length before or after the Institute dates. The estimated cost per night at the dormitory after the Institute is 520 Czech Crowns (Kc), or cca 19.53 Euros or $27.52 USD. If you do not notify us before 1 June 2012, it might not be possible to reserve a room for you.

Here is a link to a large list of the various hostels around Prague

Return to Top

Visa Information for Incoming Participants

To see a list of students who will need a visa to attend EJI please click on this link

To see a list of students who do not need a visa please click on this link.

*Important Note for Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia*

You will NOT need a visa as long as you possess a biometric passport. If you do not have a biometric passport you will need to follow the instructions on how to obtain a visa for the Czech Republic.

• Non-Visa States
  

In order to help you deal with Czech border guards, we are currently preparing formal letter of invitation for all EJI students who reside in a country needing a visa, which will state that: (i) you have been officially accepted as a student of our summer program; (ii) that we are providing you with housing free of charge for the entire duration of the program; and (iii) that you will be provided with a meal plan. The letter will be written in Czech on a single sheet of university notepaper, with the signature and stamp of our Vice-Dean. We will issue the letter once we receive your full tuition payment. Most of you should receive the letter within three weeks of your payment being accepted by TFAS headquarters.

The letter does not, however, cover the issue of health insurance. When you set out for Prague, therefore, please make sure you have both your letter of invitation and a document to show you have adequate health insurance for your stay. Czech border guards have the authority to deny entry to foreign nationals who are unable to prove that they are insured for health emergencies.

• Individuals from States Requiring a Visa

EJI students from countries that do not have a visa-free tourist regime will require a visa to come here. This applies to students from all the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

The basic procedure for getting a visa is as follows:

• Contact the embassy at which you would like to make your visa application to obtain current visa information, and follow their instructions. This is especially important, because many Czech embassies have their own local rules and regulations (concerning, for example, waiting times), which it is almost impossible to find in Prague. Do this now.
• Wait until you receive the official letter of invitation on university notepaper to say that you have been accepted for EJI 2011 (exactly as above). Then go to the Embassy with your letter, your passport, and the other documents required (see section 3 below).
• Let us know which embassy you plan to use to make your visa application (see section 4 below), so we know whom to contact if you run into problems.
• If you will not be at your usual e-mail address while you are making your visa application, send us an alternative address or fax number where we can reach you to keep you informed.

Please note : under current Czech immigration law, visas can only be issued at Czech Embassies abroad, before you come to the Czech Republic. They cannot be issued at the border, nor can they be issued in Prague after your arrival. This is a change from previous immigration practice, and some older sources of information may still tell you that it is easiest to pick up your visa on arrival. This is an error. Any source of information that tells you to do this is out of date.

• Making your Visa Application and Application Deadlines

The processing time of visa application is usually about 14-21 days, but some of the busier embassies (e.g. Moscow) have large backlogs. We therefore recommend you to play safe, and leave yourself some time in reserve when submitting your papers. (Alternatively, try speaking to the embassy, to find out about their processing time.)

Visas are always issued at the embassy where you make your visa application. It is not possible to collect your visa at a different embassy. Students living or studying abroad may like to bear this in mind when planning their visa application. The visa itself takes the form of a sticker, which will be placed in your passport by the issuing embassy.

What you will need to make a visa application

The following are the documents that you will need to take with you when you are making your visa application.

• Valid passport: with the date of expiry extending at least three months beyond the date of your projected departure from the Czech Republic.
• Letter of acceptance: All these three points will be covered
• Housing voucher: by your Letter of Invitation
• Evidence of financial support: from Charles University (see above).
• Health insurance: By which is meant an internationally recognised health policy for the entire length of your stay in the Czech Republic, which covers: (i) accident; (ii) sudden illness; (iii) transport home in the case of severe illness; (iv) possible medical report because of severe illnesses(v) transport of your remains in the case of your death.
• 3 passport photographs
• Completed application form. These forms are available only at Czech Embassies, and may not be copied, so we cannot fill them out for you. Applicants must fill them out on the spot with the help of consular personnel.

In addition, the embassy will charge you a fee for processing your visa. The exact amount will vary, depending on your country of citizenship and the embassy where you are making the application. Please note that these charges are quite outside the control of TFAS and Charles University, and that we cannot arrange for the visa fee to be waived.  

Filling out your application form

General instructions on how to fill out these forms are now available on the Czech Ministry of the Interior website: http://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/article/entry-stay-and-permanent-residence-in-the-czech-republic-third-country-nationals.aspx.

Most of the questions concern your personal details (name, address, etc.) and it should be clear what to do with them. On page two of the form, however, you are expected to give details of a Czech individual or organisation, which has invited you to visit the Czech Republic (Question 12). Here you should give the name of Lukas Budin, who is the Charles University coordinator for Prague TFAS Institutes and your designated contact person at Charles University. The details you should fill out are as follows (please follow them exactly, and do not make any changes!):

Surname: Budin

Given name: Lukas

Street: Smetanovo nabrezi No.: 6

Town: Praha 1 Postcode: 110 01

Citizenship: Czech Republic

Organisation: Univerzita Karlova v Praze

Identification no. of organisation (ICO) : 00216208

All students will receive one copy of your Letter of Invitation, one of which you should take with you to the Embassy for your visa application. Please make at least two copies of the letter for your reference. Keep the originals for the Embassy and the border guards.

• Choosing your Embassy

The Czech consular system generally designates a particular embassy to take care of the nationals of a particular country. It would be preferable if you could try to respect this system wherever possible.

The embassies you are supposed to use are listed below. For contact details, please see the Czech Foreign Ministry website.

Countries of origin which DO NOT have their own Czech Embassy

The following countries do not have their own Czech Embassy, and there may be others. Consular matters relating to their citizens are usually handled at the Czech embassy indicated.

• Armenia ( Tbilisi – Georgia or Ankara, Turkey)
• Azerbaijan ( Tbilisi – Georgia or Ankara, Turkey)
• Kyrgyzstan (Almaty – Kazakhstan or Ankara, Turkey)
• Turkmenistan ( Moscow – Russia or Ankara, Turkey)  

Students living or studying abroad

If there are serious reasons why you cannot use the official embassy listed above (e.g. because you are resident in another country), you can ask the Embassy in your country of residence to consider your visa application. However, their agreement is not automatic. We therefore strongly recommend that you speak to the Embassy concerned before you make the journey. We also recommend that you take your residence permit with you, in case the embassy wants to see evidence that you really are resident in the country where you are making your application.

Please also remember that visas can only be issued at the embassy where you have made your application, so time your application accordingly.

• Troubleshooting

If you follow the instructions given here, you should not have any major problems making your visa application. If you do have the misfortune to run into problems, however, get in touch immediately. We will do our best to sort them out for you. The best way to contact us is by e-mail:

Lukas Budin

• Fax 00420-222112270

Please note these contact numbers and addresses relate only to your visa application and some aspects of your travel arrangements. We are not able to deal with questions regarding payments, reading materials, or any other aspects of the Institute that are handled from Washington. These questions should continue to be addressed to Ms. Michelle Le.

Return to Top

Travel To Prague

There is good bus and train service from most Central and Eastern European countries to Prague. Those traveling from more distant places will need to find air transportation. Since summer is a busy time for air travel to Europe, airfares are higher than in other times of the year, and flights fill up quickly. A reasonable airfare to Prague from the east coast of the United States was about $1,100 round-trip. Students flying from countries within Europe could receive significant discounts of up to 50% or more from national airlines; contact airlines for student travel agencies for student rates.

Major airlines that service Prague from the U.S. are Delta, KLM Dutch Airlines, CSA, Lufthansa/United, British Airways and Air France.

Return to Top

Arriving from the Airport

All international flights arrive at Prague's Ruzyne Airport, approximately 20 km to the Northwest of the city centre. If you are arriving from the airport, you have three options to get into Prague: airport shuttle service, taxis or public transportation. You can get to the dorm by taking city bus # 119. Simply exit the airport and cross the first street to the bus stop. You will see a sign for these buses. You can also take the Airport Express (AE) bus service. All minibus shuttle services to and from the airport are operated by a single private company called CEDAZ. You will see their white vans waiting outside the terminal for arriving passengers. There is a flat rate charge of 360 Kc for 1-4 people or 720 Kc for 5 or more people. Write down the address of the dormitory to show to the shuttle driver since communication may be difficult if you do not speak Czech.

Taxis are undoubtedly the most comfortable way to travel, but also the most expensive. In addition, always be warned that Czech taxi drivers have a very bad reputation for overcharging riders. There is an airport taxi service run exclusively by a company called Airport Cars FIX, and thus, their prices are inflated. Prices for a taxi journey from the airport into town range from about Kc 150 - Kc 1000 depending on your precise destination. You will find a price list for the service offered by Airport Cars FIX by the company's stand in the airport lounge. If you speak to their representative, they will give you a written estimate for the price of your journey, which you should give to your driver. See below for more information about taxis .

A less direct but inexpensive alternative is to use public transportation. It is possible to take a bus from the airport to very near the dormitory. You will need to buy a 18 Kc ticket. Do not forget to validate your Metro ticket inside the bus. The information desk in the airport can direct you to the bus stop. Take city bus #119 to Dejvicka, which is the final stop and within walking distance of the dormitory. One 18 Kc ticket is enough to cover the whole of this journey. After exiting the bus, cross the road (use the underpass if traffic is heavy) and walk back up Evropska Street for two blocks in the direction you have came from. Thakurova Street is a shady green square on your right with many trees. The dorm takes up an entire city block on the opposite side of the square. The main entrance is about halfway down the block.

For general information on Prague Ruzyne airport please visit their website: http://www.prg.aero/en. This website will include full details of the various transportation methods explained above.

Return to Top

Arriving from the Train Station

Most international trains arrive either at Prague's Main Station ("Hlavni nadrazi") or at Prague's Holesovice Station ("Nadrazi Holesovice") to the north of the city. Both stations are on Metro Line C (the red line). To get to the dorm, take the Metro to the "Muzeum" Metro stop. Transfer to Metro Line A (the green line) and take that to the " Dejvicka" Metro station ( 5 stops).

If you wish to walk from the Dejvicka Metro Stop take the exit that is sign-posted for the Airport (at the front of the train) and continue up Evropska Street for two blocks. Walk along the right-hand side of the street, opposite the Diplomat Hotel. (If you are on the same side of the street as the Diplomat Hotel, you have taken the wrong exit.) Thakurova Street is a shady green square on your right, with many trees. The dorm takes up an entire city block on the opposite side of the square. The main entrance is about halfway down the block.

Students with heavy luggage who wish to reduce the distance they have to walk, may transfer to a tram at Dejvicka Metro Station and travel one stop to “ Thakurova.” Any tram in the direction of Cerveny Vrch or Divoka Sarka will do. However, under normal circumstances the dorm is less than 5 minutes walk from the Metro and the time you have to wait for the tram is generally longer than the time it takes to walk.

If you do arrive by tram, the “ Thakurova” stop is by the side of the dorm. To reach the main entrance, walk back a short distance in the direction you have come from, and turn left onto Thakurova Street to reach the main entrance.


To use the Metro and the bus, you will need to buy a 18 Kc ticket in the hall of the train station (available at most newsstands, kiosks, and from coin-operated ticket machines at the entrance to the Metro). You do not have to stamp your ticket a second or third time when you change Metro trains or buses.

Return to Top

Arriving from the Bus Station

Most buses arrive at the Florenc station, which is also a Metro stop along Line C. Directions are the same as if arriving by train: Take the Metro to the "Muzeum" Metro stop. Transfer to Metro Line A (the green line) and take that to the "Dejvicka" Metro station (5 stops).

If you wish to walk from the Dejvicka Metro Stop take the exit that is sign-posted for the Airport (at the front of the train) and continue up Evropska Street for two blocks. Walk along the right-hand side of the street, opposite the Diplomat Hotel. (If you are on the same side of the street as the Diplomat Hotel, you have taken the wrong exit.) Thakurova Street is a shady green square on your right, with many trees. The dorm takes up an entire city block on the opposite side of the square. The main entrance is about halfway down the block.

Return to Top

Using Taxis During the Institute

Taxi prices are not regulated in Prague, but drivers must post their price-per-km charge, usually on the door. A reasonable price is 25-30 Kc per km, but it is a good idea to agree on a price before you commit to a ride, and be sure that the meter is running while you are in the taxi. It is recommended that you do not hail a taxi from the street. Be warned that meters are no guarantee against rip-offs, and the taxi drivers of Prague have a reputation for over-charging - especially if you speak English. Generally, a taxi ride should not cost more that 250 Kc between the dormitory and Prague's center. When possible, you should call for a taxi in advance and ask the approximate price to avoid being overcharged by the drive. Three usually reliable companies whose dispatchers speak English are AAA Taxi (Tel. 221 102 211 or 140 14), City Taxi (Tel. 257 257 257), SEDOP Taxi (Tel. 271 722 222).

Return to Top

Night transportation

The metro does not run after midnight. Therefore, when returning to the dormitory after midnight, one must take a night tram or bus. Night trams function from midnight until 5:00 a.m. You can catch night tram #51 from Vaclavske namesti or Namesti republiky, and it will take you to the Thakurova tram stop near the dormitory. Otherwise, all the lines meet at the Lazarska stop in the center of Prague. For further information regarding other tram stop locations, a detailed map with all night tram stops will be provided to students upon registration.

Return to Top

Telephone Calls

Each dormitory suite has a telephone with its own extension. Students will be able to receive incoming calls but does not allow outgoing calls. If students wish to make outgoing calls, they can set up an account at reception where they will be assigned a PIN and a direct line. Students will be able to make calls anywhere in the world up to the limit of their credit. Students can receive calls even if they don’t set up an account. However, these calls must go through the operator at reception. To have someone call your room from outside the dormitory, one must first call the reception office and ask for your room extension. Room extensions will be given upon registration. The telephone number for the reception office is 233 051 111.

The Czech Republic's country code is 420. To place a call from outside the Czech Republic, dialers must dial the international access code plus 420 before calling a number. Thus, if someone were to call your room from another country, they would have to dial the international acess code plus 420-233-051-111 to get to the reception office.

Note: The telephone operator at the dormitory may not speak English.

There is a pay phone in the lobby that you can make outgoing calls using a phone card, which can be purchased at the reception desk or at most post offices or news stands. Phone cards come with different amounts of phone-time credit and vary in cost. To make a call, pick up the receiver, insert the card and dial. The units of phone time are displayed and count down after you are connected to your party.

An international operator can be reached from Prague by dialing 0135. For a less expensive international call, you can use an Internet calling service called X-Call by directly dialing 052 from any payphone before dialing the country code of your destination. The cost of a call to the United States using X-call is approximately $0.25 per minute.

If you have an AT&T or MCI calling card, you can call any location in the world from Prague. For MCI access, dial 00-420-00112 for AT&T access; dial 00-420-00101. To access language interpreters, dial AT&T Language Line services at 408-648-5871 following the access code. In case of emergency, friends or relatives can contact The Fund for American Studies staff in Washington at (001) 202-986-0384. Fund staff will relay the message to us in Prague.

Return to Top

What to Bring

In packing clothes, be prepared for weather that can vary dramatically during the week. The high temperature in Prague in July averages 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit), but temperatures can range from the very hot to the very cold. Students will need summer clothing. But it is often cool at night, so you should bring a sweatshirt or sweater and a jacket. As July typically is the rainiest month in Prague, an umbrella or raincoat is also necessary. Students may dress casually in class, but there will be several formal occasions when students will need to wear professional clothing ( coats and ties for men, dresses and suits for women).

Students will not need to bring linens for their bed. Towels will be provided but it is highly recommended that students bring towels from home. Laundry facilities at the dorm are available in the summertime. There is a washing machine in the dorm but there is a small fee to use the laundry room. There is no air dryer in the dorm. Irons also are not available in the dorm.

For a list of the Top 10 Laundy Services in Prague please click on this link.

Please plan to bring enough money to cover entertainment and transportation costs, incidental expenses, and whatever souvenir shopping you might want to do. A typical Czech meal can cost from $4.00-5.00USD in Czech restaurants to $10-15 in touristy locations.

Return to Top

Traveler's checks are also a secure way to travel without cash. Visitors with American Express travelers' checks may redeem them at the American Express office on Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Namesti 56) at full value with no commission charged. That office is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. You may also exchange foreign currency there for Czech currency, but a commission is charged. Visitors with Thomas Cook travelers' checks, or Eurocheques, can also receive commission-free exchanges. Mastercard cash advances and emergency card replacements are available at the Thomas Cooke office in Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Namesti 47).

Major banks will also change money for a small commission (about 2 percent). There are also numerous other exchange outlets around town. Always ask what the commission is before you use them - especially in areas with lots of tourists. Many of them charge high commissions and have hidden costs. Avoid product pitches and "special" offers, such as "free" city maps. We recommend you exchange some currency before arriving, or at the airport if you are using a taxi or public transportation.

Return to Top

Computers/Internet

Computer access at Charles University will be available in the classroom building from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. The EJI dorm is wired for the Internet in the main hallway provided you bring a laptop computer with wireless capabilities. Those wishing to use email outside of these times should visit one of Prague's Internet cafes:

• Please use this link to locate various Internet cafes around Prague. You will have to scroll down to find Prague or Praha within the country of the Czech Republic. Each location in Prague or Praha will offer different Internet Cafes around the city. Just to remind you, that thr dorm is located in Prague 6 and there is an offering in this part of the city.

TopReturn to Top

Insurance/Medical Care

Since EU entry, basic medical care for EU nationals should be covered by the health insurance policy from your home country. However, in order to receive treatment, you must show the attending physician either a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a form E111. If you do not have either of these documents with you, you may be charged cash. Please also note that your EU insurance covers only basic health care in emergencies. It does not cover specialist treatment, non-emergency treatment, or medically assisted transport home following an accident. For these reasons, we recommend all EU students to check with their insurance provider at home exactly what is covered by their insurance policy, and to take out extra medical or commercial travel insurance if necessary.

Foreign nationals from outside the EU are not covered by the EU’s special arrangements, and may be required to produce valid health insurance at the border. We therefore strongly recommend all students arrange health insurance before their departure for the Czech Republic. Check with your health insurer to see what their policy is for international travel; insurance may be limited to emergency room coverage only. ISIC holders are offered a helpful travel insurance policy.

For emergency care, cash payment may be required. If you have an emergency, the Na Holmolce Hospital at Roentgenova 2, Prague 5 has a foreigner's clinic that will be able to provide a physician who speaks English (tel. 214 421 46). There is also an overnight first aid centre at Vitezne namesti 13, Prague 6, very near the dorm (tel: 233 340 912). Open Mon.-Fri from 6:00pm to 7:00am, and all day on weekends). However, not all doctors here will speak English.

If your medical problem isn't an emergency, Prague has several clinics that cater to English speaking clients that can provide a network of services from a basic examination to accompanying a patient to the hospital, but usually for a high fee. These include Unicare, s.r.o. at Na Dlouhém lánu 11, Prague 6 (tel. 235 356 553 or on call 24 hours at 608 10 30 60; American Dental Associates, V Celnici 4, Prague 1 (tel: 221 181 121); Canadian Medical Centre, Veleslavinska 1, Prague 6 (tel: 235 360 133, or 724 300 301 after hours), Mon.-Fri. 8:00am- 8:00pm, Sat. 9:00am- 4:00pm. It is closed on Sunday.

Return to Top

Safety

We cannot emphasize enough Prague's nasty reputation for pickpockets and petty crime. It's a significant problem that is easily avoidable with proper care. Wallets, purses, and foreign passports are desirable targets for pickpockets, so please be careful when you are out in public, especially at sites where crowds gather, such as Old Town Square, Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and nightclubs. Be especially alert when boarding and disembarking the trams and Metros, and look out for groups of people who are shoving or appear to be having a loud argument - often a distraction to the victim and a guise for the pickpocket's accomplices. Many pickpockets work in gangs of three or more to lower the risk of discovery. Quite possibly, your wallet will have passed through several hands before you even notice it's gone. Suggestions for safety are as follows:

• Do not carry your passport and do not carry more cash than necessary.
• Keep your money and ID in secure places;usually the front pockets are safe but money belts that can be kept inside clothing are recommended.
• At the airport, bus and train stations, keep your money and passports hidden or in money belts. Do not let anyone know you speak English.
• Make photocopies of your passport and other valuable documents and keep them separate from the actual documents. You can do this at the classroom building free of charge.
• Travel in pairs or groups, particularly when you have luggage.
• Do not leave your purse unattended at nightclubs or restaurants, no matter how briefly. Do not leave it hanging on chairs or by your feet. It will disappear!
• If approached by a police officer, make sure they display proper identification.
• Always exchange money in a legitimate place of business (banks, post offices, exchange kiosks-although they usually offer a poor rate of exchange); it is common for people to approach you looking to exchange money on the street. This is a big scam in Prague and highly illegal; you will be offered a ridiculously favorable exchange rate but if you make the transaction you will receive a big pile of nothing! For the best exchange rate, use banks or ATM machines.

Bartenders and waiting staff at restaurants and clubs in locations heavily visited by tourists join taxi drivers in having a bad reputation of taking advantage of tourists. Always keep record of what you order and the cost as to avoid any false additions to your bill. And always count your change when returned to you. If you avoid pubs and restaurants in Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square or next to the Charles Bridge - you generally will be OK. Nearly all of Prague's pubs and restaurants will offer you a great taste of Czech culture as long as you are willing to break from the tourist routine.

Prague can be brutal to a naïve visitor. Minor carelessness will result in rewards for Prague's many petty thieves!

Return to Top

Institute Staff

Michelle Le will be serving as the Institute Director, and she can assist you with questions pertaining to the Institute or faculty. A Program Assistant will serve as the Czech liaison for EJI, and will be able to assist you with any arrangements concerning the dormitory, public transportation, and medical care. The Program Assistant will speak Czech, and can assist you in bridging any language barriers that you encounter.

Return to Top

Names of Key Places In Prague

Old Town = Stare Mesto

Prague Castle = Hradcany

Charles Bridge = Karluv most

Wenceslas Square = Vaclavske namesti

Old Town Square = Staromestske namesti

Lesser Quarter, Little Side = Mala Strana

For more information about Prague, you may wish to visit the following websites on the Internet: www.czechsite.com and www.everydayprague.com . These websites contain a long list of activities and descriptions of places that will help make your visit to Prague the most enjoyable experience of you life. The Prague Post is the most useful and popular language newspaper in Prague: http://praguepost.com

Return to Top

Post Office (Ceska Posta)

The main post office is located about 50m from the classroom at Jindrisska 14, just off Wenceslas Square. Open Monday - Sunday, 2:00 a.m. – 12 midnight. You can find English instructions on the board at the entrance to the main hall. A telephone room is to the right of the entrance hall. You can make international calls by paying a deposit to one of the clerks. Post cards and a basic airmail letter up to 20 grams within Europe costs 17 Kc, overseas airmail 18 Kc (up to 10 grams 11 Kc). Mailboxes on the streets are orange.

Return to Top

Drinking Water

The water in Prague may not taste great, but in most cases, it is perfectly safe to drink. We advise students from The United States to drink bottled water because differences in naturally occurring bacteria between Europe and North America might cause illness. Most people, however, prefer bottled water that comes with or without bubbles (or "gas" if you are asked your preference in a restaurant). Dobra voda ("Good Water"), the most common brand of bottled water, is conveniently color-coded: red cap is with bubbles, blue cap without.

Return to Top

Questions

If you have additional questions about the Institute, please contact Michelle Le at The Fund for American Studies at telephone number 001-202-986-0384, fax number 001-202-315-3880.