It has been just about a week since I’ve landed in Prague, and each day has felt like a whirlwind. It’s such a beautiful city, with gorgeous churches, colorful buildings on every street, and a surprising amount of greenery. The food has been delicious, from the traditional goulash and schnitzel to the many Vietnamese places that surround my dorm. I’ve had fun sightseeing all the old buildings during the day and checking out the night lift later with the other new students I’ve met.
While it’s been fun and exciting, there is a lot I’ve had to adjust to. I’m constantly surrounded by the Czech language, although most people here do speak some English. I’ve been learning to navigate this foreign language in places such as restaurants, grocery stores, and public transit. It’s a surprisingly quiet city, where us loud Americans seem to stick out like a sore thumb. While the people here are more reserved and definitely smile less than what I’m used to, I’ve appreciated how kind everyone has been once you talk to them. I’ll just have to adjust to their less outwardly friendly attitudes.
On Monday, I will start my internship at the architectural magazine, EARCH. I will be joining the architecture media and publishing industry as a writer for this online magazine focused on architecture, urbanism, and design in the Czech Republic. While my academic and professional background is primarily in journalism rather than architecture, my role will involve communicating complex ideas about this new environment to a broad audience through interviews, articles, and research-based reporting.
Several key skills are necessary for success in this industry. Strong writing and communication skills are essential, as journalists must translate technical or specialized information into engaging and accessible stories. Research, interviewing, and fact-checking abilities are also critical for producing accurate and informative content. Through my experience writing for The Pitt News, the university’s student newspaper, I developed skills in reporting, conducting interviews, meeting deadlines, and adapting my writing to different audiences. These skills should transfer directly to my work at EARCH.cz, where I believe I will have to consistently engage with architects, designers, and industry professionals.
In the Czech Republic, additional information will be helpful for success in architecture journalism. An understanding of local culture, architectural heritage, and urban development issues provides important context for reporting. Because many projects involve historic buildings and preservation efforts, it is important to understand the relationship between contemporary design and cultural heritage. Familiarity with the Czech language can also improve access to sources, planning documents, and local perspectives, although English, also widely used here, remains important for engaging with international trends and audiences.
As someone who knows little to no Czech, along with a very basic understanding of architecture and the history of Prague, starting off at EARCH may be difficult. However, I also see these challenges as opportunities for growth. One of the reasons I wanted to pursue an internship abroad was to push myself outside of my comfort zone and gain experience in an unfamiliar environment. Working at EARCH will allow me to develop a deeper understanding of architecture and urban design while improving my ability to report on specialized topics. It will also give me the chance to learn from professionals who are passionate about their field and to explore how architecture shapes everyday life in a city as historically rich as Prague.
Beyond the professional experience, I am excited to continue immersing myself in Czech culture over the next few weeks. Whether that means learning a few more Czech phrases, discovering new neighborhoods, or gaining a better appreciation for the city’s history and architecture, I hope to leave Prague with a broader perspective than when I arrived. Although I am nervous about beginning my internship, I am equally excited to see what I will learn, the people I will meet, and the stories I will have the opportunity to tell throughout the summer.
