I will be in Prague for 4 months (21.5 weeks) studying abroad starting in February then the left over is for a month of travel. I was wondering if I could get a little feed back on my budget for the 4 months? My Budget excludes local transportation and accommodation because it is included in my program fee and I also purchased my airfare already so that is excluded as well.

My calculations are based on the conversion rate of 19.22 CZK to 1 USD. anything that has est next to it is estimate meaning, I have no idea what it may cost so I guess it is a guesstimate. I hope this is organized enough.

food est. $1725 (33,155CZK)(107.81 per a week, $5 (96czk) a meal) mix grocery and eating out.


travel total $565 (estimated 5 outside CZ trips $150 assuming budget flights are $30)
(7 trips inside the CZ $70 assuming it is 200 CZK per round trip by train and bus as stated on teflworldwideprague.com)
Hostel stays $480 12 days total $40 a day (768CZK)

toiletries $27 (519CZK) (all toiletries est) 2 toothpastes $5 (96CZK),Shampoo $2 (38CZK),bathroom cleaning supply's + dish washing detergent $20 (384CZK). Note: I am bring deodorant, soap and razorblades.

going out Total 608.45 (11,694CZK) $28.30 per week (544CZK) 2 clubs a week $10.50 (200CZK)"tefl" 5 beers per week $7.80 at $1.56 a beer (30CZK), and $10 (192CZK) for other things like food, museums, and so on...

Haircut $10 (192CZK)

So the the 4 month total will be $2,957 (59,791 CZK) leaving $3,043 (58,486 CZK) left for the month of travel afterwords.

I've been in Prague for two weeks, and I think your budget is a little low. Personally, I'd budget about 1000 dollars a month not including housing and school. If you have extra, you can spend it on your free time travel. Students in Europe go out quite a bit, and spend more in bars than you might imagine. First budgets always suffer from the dreams of the maker that such discipline can actually be maintained, while trying to relax from a tough class schedule with fellow students. So add 25% as a fudge factor, and you should be fine.

I need to remind you, as a student in a Spanish University, that the Europeans have an entirely different system. Unlike USA schools, they give lectures, and expect students to memorise all the wisdom ones professor imparts. There are very few quizzes. All the grades are dependent on a final test and an essay. That's it. You need not even attend classes if you have a friend with very neat handwriting and good note-taking skills. There is less homework than in the USA, though there IS homework.

Also, the professors can be cranky. One of my Geography teachers was unhappy with the quality of homework returned by the students, or lack thereof, and required that we write extra essays on many topics to make up for it. Because the teacher was flexible, I told her I had already submitted most of the work to any possible satisfaction, and she agreed. One of the ones I had not done was a paper on the History of Salamanca. The other was supposed to be a paper on the marketplace in town. I asked, and was given permission, to write a poem on the marketplace. She must have liked it because she greeted me warmly at 'graduation'

So, be prepared for the usual gamut of professors, crazy, rigourous, and nice, or a combination of the three. Also be prepared to study continuously and go out less often than other students if you want to be prepared when ALL the work comes due in the last few weeks, including studying for a final. If you're lucky, there will be mid-final test.

They do like it when you repeat what you tell them, unless its specifically a thought based class like philosophy. Originality is not so valued as it is in the USA.

Now, I assume you'll be going to Prague. If so, be aware that in the summer there are a lot of free events in the field next to the sports arena, some of them very interesting. I also found a film club in the area of the bar and restaurant district, where, if you have enough friends, you can rent just about any CD or VCR tape in their extensive location and view them at a cheap per capita price.

Next to our Hostel, I'll look up the name if you want, was a very good restaurant with good food for cheap. I was very favorably impressed by it.

Wow you are definitely organized with your budget!

I really have no idea what is going on at the moment but everyone seems to be talking about Prague. I just read this blog post about Prague http://cheapoair.typepad.com/my_weblog/ ... rague.html. This person worked there though not studied... I have never been but seems like a great destination to visit and to do study abroad is exciting since you will Europe right there at your fingertips. I say with you budget the majority of your expenses will be going out and traveling. In terms of travel do not forget that you will be entitled to a student discount which comes in handy for the trains!

How is your trip currently going? How is the budget going?