   Spring Break in Prague
Seven Northwest University students lead by Professors Gary and Teresa Gillespie and alumnus Paul Nystrom spent ten days in the Czech Republic during spring break. From March 5 to 15 the debate team enjoyed the many delightful sites of Prague -- known as the Crown of Europe. The students were attending a speech and debate tournament sponsored by the International Forensics Association, an American organization which each year hosts a tournament overseas. Before the tournament on Monday and Tuesday March 13 and 14, the students walked the one thousand year old cobble stone streets of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Prague is gaining a reputation as an ideal tourist destination, with low prices amid priceless sights. The students discovered that traveling in March is not an ideal time to visit since the temperatures were in the thirties for most of the trip. The day when many schools were ariving a snowstorm closed the airport. One university had to spend five hours in a cold waiting room in Poland, unable to leave the small space because of costume rules. Northwest students had a smooth trip from start to finish and left them with many great memories. The team took consolation at the thought that the cold was keeping the crowds away and made the city seem more like a small town. For most of the trip the streets were free of snow and students enjoyed visiting some of the finest art and historical museums anywhere, including the Jewish Center with the oldest synagogue in Europe and a nine hundred year old fairy tale-like castle on the hill overlooking the city. Students made friends with college aged Czechs and spent hours talking about cultural difference between the two nations in coffee shops. Some students attended one of the many concerts offered daily in the city or one of the “Black Light” theater shows – a unique from of Czech musical theater that uses black lights to exaggerate movement on stage. The students shared meals at excellent restaurants, paying about one third less than what we expect in the US. All of the cafes seemed to be newly remodeled, apparently from investment money pouring into the city newly discovered by the world. Standing in the “new town” square – built in the 1400 hundreds – students could view towering church spires, medieval and gothic architecture in all directions surrounding a monument to church reformer Hess in the center of the square. In the distance across the river the Prague Castle loomed magically above it all and looked especially enchanting lit up at night. None of the debate teams made final rounds at the tournament. Kortney Thoma won an award for reaching finals in the highly competitive impromptu speaking event to bring home our only award. Special thanks to alumnus Paul Nystrom who paid all of his costs to attend the event as our judge. Paul graduated from Northwest in 2000 and was a top debater who won first place at many tournaments including the UBC Pacific Cup. The team wants to again thank alumni and supporters who generously provided donations to make the life enriching trip possible. Next year the Eagles hope to attend the World’s Championships at the University of British Columbia, Canada in January. |