Christmas in Prague: An Unforgettable Orientation

After nearly three months, we gathered again for our second Rotary orientation, a very special event that helped us recharge our energy during a challenging time in our exchange journey: Christmas. To celebrate, we met in the beautiful city of Prague.

First Day
On Friday, December 6th, students from Slovakia and the Czech Republic began arriving in Prague to kick off a weekend full of activities and sightseeing. The first day started with dinner at the hotel, followed by oral and written language tests in Czech and Slovak.

Second Day
We started the day early, having breakfast before heading to Prague Castle to begin our tour. In the morning, we visited iconic places such as the Church of Our Lady of Victory, Charles Bridge, the John Lennon Wall, and the National Theatre.

At lunchtime, we went to the Nový Smíchov shopping centre, where we not only ate but also bought gifts for the Secret Santa exchange that would take place that evening.

In the afternoon, we continued exploring the city, stopping by Kafka’s Head and the Old Town Square to enjoy the enchanting Christmas markets.

As night fell, we returned to the hotel for dinner and then headed back to the place where we had taken the language tests, this time to participate in the gingerbread cookie decorating competition, the Secret Santa exchange, and the Christmas carol performances in Czech and Slovak.

When we arrived, Rotary had a surprise for us: T-shirts that said “I love Ježíšek” (I love Baby Jesus). The evening continued with group Christmas carol presentations, where our pronunciation and creativity were evaluated. After that, we decorated gingerbread cookies, exchanged Secret Santa gifts, and learned about Christmas traditions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Among these traditions, we cut apples in half; if a star appeared in the centre, it signified good health for the coming year. We also floated small walnut shell boats with candles in water; if they sank, it was believed that good health would not accompany us in the following year.

At the end of the night, Rotary announced the winners of the cookie decorating competition, the carol presentations, and the language tests.

Third Day
On Sunday, after breakfast, we said our goodbyes and returned to our homes, carrying with us the Christmas spirit and the joy of having shared unforgettable moments.

This orientation was undoubtedly one of the most special, as it allowed us to reunite after a long time during a very meaningful season, providing us with the support and companionship we so greatly needed.

Amanda Aguero, District 4355, Chile → RC Praha City, Czechia