We all know what it feels like to be ‘thrown into the deep end of the pool’ as a first year medical student. Arriving to an alien country, adapting to the foreign surroundings, culture and people, and attempting to speak a new language can be interesting as much as it is overwhelming. Most of us found ourselves pulling hair out, desperate, confused, nervous, anxious, and hopeful that somebody, anybody would show us the way through the seemingly continuous misery. Starting in 2008, the Foreign Medical Students Association, (under the leadership of Lara Jayatilaka, Tariq Kwaees and Asha Alex) gathered ideas and a task force to perfect a plan that is a common entity to most universities all over the world: Fresher's Week. Enthusiastic about making a change, the international students put their best foot forward to give back to the 2nd Faculty by helping the ‘newbies’ with an orientation week. And all anyone can really say is: IT'S ABOUT TIME!!
Fresher's Week is held one week before the academic year officially starts. This year, it was held from Sept 21–26th. Six intense days jammed packed with information and activities left everyone exhausted and more importantly relieved. The Languages Department coordinated a beginner's Czech course for each morning, giving 1st years time to get acquainted with the difficult Czech language. Led by the enthusiastic head of department, Petra Fabingerova, students were guided through the most common words, phrases, and pronunciation of the Czech language as a simplified transition into the curriculum of the upcoming year. English language teacher, Hana Skrdlova, gave an informative presentation covering tidbits of the history of Czech Republic, the norms of Czech culture as well as interesting facts about the country and our university which most medical students still don't know. (Who knew that today's contact lenses were invented by Czech chemist Otto Wichterle?)
Every afternoon, FMSA held different activities including several student discussion forums held by upper year students, a textbook exhibition, information on faculty rules, tours, and nights out. On the first day, each first year student was provided with a ‘Survival Guide’ – A mini booklet with everything and anything you need to know to get through the first year. Compiled by the FMSA student representatives, and with student recommendations, this guide contained various details ranging from the study department hours, important telephone numbers, transportation around Prague, how to find a flat, recommended books, and libraries, to student-approved places to pump iron, find good grub and hot spots to get your party on.
Remember the time where you didn't have a clue what Plzenska meant? Or that time you spent 3 grueling hours trying to find your Latin class or the Anatomy department? Well to avoid all that unnecessary angst, two ‘Lost in Prague’ Tour Days were also organized. Upper year tour leaders gathered together to walk students to the most important locations around Motol, Plzenska, Karlovo Namesti, as well as in the city center to get ISIC cards and tram passes. Thank you to the extremely helpful tour leaders: Megan Shimota, Andrea Just, Ajinkya Mehta, Richard Dittrich, Wagner Pedro, Antoine Murray, Ana Rodrigues and Annika Malmgren.
To give the students a clearer picture of what's expected of them in the hardest year of medical school, Anuradha Elapatha, Andrea Just and Asha Alex presented ‘Survival of the Fittest’, an intensely interactive student forum with tips, and words of wisdom for getting through 1st year.
Prague nightlife is a must for anyone, tourist or resident, so a few nights out were also planned for everyone to ‘meet n greet’ each other and especially to experience the wonder of this beautiful city. Fresher's Week ended with a pivo-filled pub crawl organized by one of our own, party promoter, Dmitry Roth.
Who better to give an opinion of the week other than the 1st years themselves?
So from the mouths of 2nd faculty's newest set of doctors-to-be:
‘I feel bad for those who didn't come to this.’
‘I didn't expect to get all this information and it was really helpful to have the upper years guide us through everything.’
Thank you's: FMSA would like to thank everyone (students and faculty) who was involved in the organization and compilation of a successful Fresher's Week. Special mention goes to the faculty leadership, Vice Dean Vizek, Renata Habetinova, and Petra Fabingerova for overseeing everything, their constant help, encouragement and attention to important details. Finally, thank you to all the ‘surviving’ students who helped in last year's Fresher's Week and those who returned early this year to help again.
FMSA hopes to continue to organize Fresher's Week every year. All students are invited to join us next year!!
AA
