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1 - Dean’s Building 2 - U Nemocnice 5 (Biophysics) 3 - Anatomy Building 4 - Faust House (Languages) 5 - Purkyne Building (Histology, Embyrology & Genetics)

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Charles University First Faculty of Medicine

FRESHERS HANDBOOK

2009/10

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Hello everyone and welcome to the beautiful city of Prague. The Student Council have compiled this booklet as a handy guide for your first few weeks in Prague. We hope that you enjoy your first few months as fresher's and look back on this time the same way that shell shocked veterans remember their first week in the trenches! We encourage you to meet as many people as you can, attend everything (uni and social) and thoroughly enjoy yourself in the first few weeks before you hit the grindstone. This guide touches upon some of the most important issues new students have to deal with. Older students will also be at hand during the first few weeks to offer advice and answer any queries If there is anything worrying you remember that you are not alone. Feel free to contact your mummy/daddy, your year rep and of course you can also contact me or any other member of the student council (emails in this booklet) Finally we wish you the warmest welcome to Charles University. We hope you make the most of the next six years and look forward to all the trials and tribulations of your journey through medical school. Lizzie Kershaw President of Student Council lizziek19@hotmail.com studentcouncil@lf1.cuni.cz www.lf1.cuni.cz/studentcouncil Thanks to all members of the student council for their help and effort with this booklet.

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OTHER CINEMA All the big blockbusters are shown in English with Czech subtitles. Unfortunately animated movies are dubbed. Don’t forget to take your student card with you. Palace Cinemas Location: Slovansky Dum, Novy Smichov (Andel), Park Hostivar www.palacecinemas.cz Village Cinemas Location: Andel, Cerny Most www.villagecinemas.cz Cinema City Location: Palac Flora, Zlicin www.cinemacity.cz DANCE CLASSES www.danceperfect.cz www.salsaweb.cz PAINTBALLING www.prague-indoor-paintball.com/ HORSE RACING www.velka-chuchle.cz SWIMMING Many gyms and fitness centres have swimming pools. The university swimming pool is at Hostivar - Charles University Sports complex Otherwise try: Podoli Swimming Pool Complex - Indoor and Outdoor Podolska 74, Prague 4 AXA hotel Tram stop Bila Labut (3, 24, 26) GYMS World class - 3 in Prague, including one of Vaclavske Namesti Delroys - Zborovska 4, Prague 5, Smichov Fitness Vinohradska - Vinohradska Street, Prague 2 Hit Fit Flora - Chrudimska 26, Prague 3 nr Flora metro (also has squash courts) BBC fitness—VInohradska 190, Prague 3

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CONCERTS AND THEATRES Visit the following websites for ticket sales of concerts, gigs, etc…. www.sazka.cz www.ticketpro.cz www.ticketportal.cz Venues National Theatre - Opera, ballet, drama Narodni 2, Praha 1 Tel: +420 224 901 448 www.narodni-divadlo.cz Estates Theatre - Opera, ballet, drama Ovocny trh 1, Praha 1 Tel: +420 224 215 001 www.narodni-divadlo.cz State Opera - Opera, ballet Wisonova 4, Praha 1 Tel: +420 224 227 266 www.sop.cz CONCERT HALLS Municipal House - Smetana Concert Hall Namesti Republiky 5, Prague 1 Tel: +420 222 002 111 Rudolfinum (Dvorak) Concert Hall Alsovo Nabrezi 12, Prague 1 Tel: +420 227 059 352 www.cf-rudolfinum.cz/ BLACK LIGHT THEATRES National Marionette Theatre Zatecka 1, Prague 1 Tel: +420 224 819 322 Black Light Image Theatre Parizska 4, Prague 1 Tel: +420 222 314 448 www.imagetheatre.cz

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CONTENTS: USEFUL CONTACTS 4 IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS 5 TRANSPORT AROUND THE CITY 5 ACCOMADATION 6 USEFUL DAILY NEEDS 7 HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CARE 8 BANKING 9 BOOKLIST AND LIBRARIES 10 BOOKSHOPS 11 INTERNET CAFES 11 ENTERTAINMENT EATING AND DRINKING 12 SHOPPING 13 CONCERTS & THEATRE 14 CINEMA & GYM 15 MAP OF UNIVERSITY GROUNDS 16 BANK HOLIDAYS 2009/10 29.09.2009 18.12.2009 fall term (12 weeks) 21.12.2009 03.01.2010 Christmas vacation 04.01.2010 22.01.2010 continuation of fall term (3 weeks) 25.01.2010 19.02.2010 examination period (4 weeks) 22.02.2010 04.06.2010 summer term (15 weeks) 07.06.2010 02.07.2010 examination period (4 weeks) 05.07.2010 05.09.2010 summer vacation (8 weeks) 06.09.2009 15.09.2010 prolonged examination period, exams correction September 28, 2010 ending of the academic year 2009/2010 Independence Day - October 28, 2009 Freedom and Democracy Day - November 17, 2009 Dean’s Day - April 02, 2010 May Day - May 01, 2010 Liberation Day - May 08, 2010 Rector’s Day - May 12, 2010

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USEFUL CONTACTS Websites Charles University: http://www.lf1.cuni.cz/ Student Council wiki: http://lf1ep.wetpaint.com/ Student Affairs Office Kristýna Bulinová Petra Končelová Jitka Wurmová Admissions, 1st year 2nd, 3rd and 4th year, 5th and 6th year, Alumni US Financial Aid kristyna.bulinova@lf1.cuni.cz petra.koncelova@lf1.cuni.cz jwurm@lf1.cuni.cz +420224964378 +420224964242 +420224964242 Fax: +420224964317 Monday 10:00 - 12:30 Tuesday 12:30 - 16:00 Wednesday 10:00 - 12:30 Thursday 12:30 - 16:00 Friday closed Student Council President: Lizzie Kershaw (lizziek19@hotmail.com) Clinical Rep: Tracey Slade (caffrey_98@hotmail.com) Preclinical Rep: Sita Kotecha (sita510@hotmail.com) During the first few weeks of semester, you will elect representatives from each study group. These students will attend monthly student council meetings. The aim of the student council is to discuss and plan forthcoming social events, tackle any problems, formulate new ideas to improve student and academic life and provide a basis upon which all years can communicate easily. Senate contact Suzi Hutt (suzi.hutt@virgin.net)

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INDOOR SHOPPING CENTRES (For the ‘shopaholics’) Palladium Opened in October 2007 in the centre of Prague, the Palladium is now the Czech Republic's largest mall. It has four levels of shopping galleries with over 200 shops and 30 restaurants and cafes. Namesti Republiky 1 www.palladiumpraha.cz/ Novy Smichov Large shopping centre in Andel, Prague 5 with metro connection on yellow line and excellent tram connections from most locations. There are many clothes stores, a Tesco, cinema, restaurants and computer store. Plzeňská 8 www.novysmichov.eu/en/ Palac Flora Similar to Novy Smichov, just on the other side of the river in Flora, Prague 4. Easily accessed on the green metro line, and by trams 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 20. www.palacflora.cz Zlicin Metropole retail park, connected to centre of Prague by the yellow line (it is the final stop). Here you can find Ikea, Tesco, Interspar, and many other stores. www.metropole.cz Chodov Located right next to Chodov station on the red metro line. There are 210 shops, 10 restaurants and 11 cafes. www.centrumchodov.cz OTHER SHOPPING AREAS For high street shopping go to Wenceslas Square, Na Prikope and Narodni Trida. There are many recognisable chain store names such as Zara, Mango, G-Star, Marks & Spencer, Puma, and Adidas etc. For swanky shopping go to Parizska (just off Old Town Square), which has the more upper class stores such as Dior, Boss and Louis Vuitton. SUPERMARKETS The best supermarkets for groceries are Tesco, Billa, Interspar and Albert which can be found throughout the city centre and beyond. You will also find that most ‘Potraviny’ (corner shops) sell great fresh fruit and vegetables, which are often better quality than that from the big stores and open till much later Stationery can be bought from Tesco. There are also many small stationery stores around town, especially in the indoor shopping centres. English Food Robertson Quality Meats & International Delicatessen is a shop that sells english products such as branston pickle, tea for those who like their creature comforts etc.….. There are two stores, in Prague 4 and Prague 6. Check out the website for more details: www.robertson.cz Marks and Spencer has stores on Wenceslas Square and in the Novy Smichov shopping centre at Andel.

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EATING AND DRINKING Restaurants near the University (some with Lunchtime Menu Deals) Banditos - U Melounova 2, Prague 2 (Mexican) Deminka - Skretova 2, Prague 2 (Czech, French, Italian) Martins Irish Pub - Prokopskar 10, Prague 1 (Czech version of Irish) Obsidion Restaurant - Rumunská 15, Prague 2 (Italian) Pilsner Bar (PUB) - Halkova 6, Prague 2 (Czech) Pivovarsky Dum - Lipova 15, Prague 2 (Czech) Pizzeria Einstein - Rumunská 25, Prague 2 (Italian) Pub at Albertov - also know as Bekke’s Bar (Czech) Radost - Belehradska 120, Prague 2 (Veggie) U Faustu - Karlovo Namesti U Svejku - Na Bojisti (Czech) Cafes near University Literarni kavarna - junction of Vysehradska and U Nemocnice Coffee & Co (Atrium shopping centre) - Karlovo Namesti Bars and Clubs Bombay - Dlouha 13, Prague 1 Celnice - V celnici 4, Prague 1 Chateau - Jakubska 2, Prague 1 Club Bordo - Vinohradska 40, Prague 2 Dias y Noces Duplex - Vaclavske Nam 21, Prague 1 Harley Bar - Dlouha 18, Prague 1 Karlovy Lazny - Novotneho Lavka 5, Prague 1 Lavka - Novotneho Lavka 1, Prague 1 Lucerna - Vodičkova 36, Prague 1 M1- Masná 1, Prague 1 Mecca - U průhonu 3, Prague 7 Misch Masch - Veletrzni 61, Prague 7 Radost - Belehradska 120, Prague 2 Roxy - Dlouha 33, Prague 1 Le Clan (after hours) - inbuilt GPS will guide you Sports bars JJ Murphys - Trziste 4, Praha 1 Legends - Tyn 1 - Ungelt, Prague 1 The Lions - Krakovská 19, Prague 1 The Pack - Ve Smečkách 21, Prague 1 Zlata Hvezda (Golden Star) - Ve Smeckach 12, Prague 1

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IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO ADD TO YOUR DIRECTORY: General Emergency Services 112 (speak English) Ambulance service 155 Police 158 Fire emergency 150 Prague City Police 156 General Information 124 44 TRANSPORT Taxi AAA 14014 City Taxi (sms) 602393070 (call) 257257257 Halotaxi 244 114 411 Profitaxi 261 314 151 Radiotaxi Trojicka 272 731 848 Taxipraha 266 776 677 EMBASSIES Austria Victora Huga 10, 151 15 Praha 5 Belgium Valdstejnska 6, 118 01 Praha 1 Brazil Panska 5, 110 00 Praha 1 Bulgaria Krakovska 6, 110 00 Praha 1 Canada Muchova 5, 160 00 Praha 6 Croatia v Pruhledu 9 162 00 Praha 6 Cyprus Pod Hradbami 9, 160 00 Praha 6 Denmark Maltezske Nam. 5, 118 01 Praha 1 Finland Hellichova 1, 118 00 Praha 1 France Velkoprevorske Nam. 2, 118 00 Praha 1 Germany Vlasska 19, 118 01 Praha 1 Great Britain Thunovska 14, 118 00 Praha 1 Greece Helenska 2, 120 00 Praha 2 Hungary Ceskomalinska 20, 160 00 Praha 2

Train Websites www.vlak.cz/JRCis.asp?tt=c&cl=E5 www.dpp.cz (Prague only) www.idos.cz (National/International) Bus Websits www.studentagency.cz Jecna, Prague 2 www.eurolines.cz

Ireland Trziste 13, 118 00 Praha 1 Israel Badeniho 2, 170 06 Praha 7 Italy Nerudova 20, 118 00 Praha 1 Japan Maltezske Nam. 6, 118 01 Praha 1 Malaysia Washingtonova 25, 110 00 Praha 1 Netherlands Gotthardska 6, 160 00 Praha 6 Norway Hellichova 1, 118 00 Praha 1 Poland Valdstejnska 8, 118 01 Praha 1 Russia Pod Kastany 1, 160 00 Praha 6 Slovakia Pod Hradbami 1, 160 00 Praha 6 Slovenia Pod Hradbami 15, 160 41 Praha 6 South Africa Ruska 65, 100 00 Praha 10 Spain Badeniho 4, 170 00 Praha 7 Sweden Uvoz 13, 160 12 Praha 6

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ACCOMMODATION Kolej The university will allocate you a room in the kolej if you request it. The three available are Hostivar, Komenskeho and Kajetanka. Prices vary from 8000-10000Kc per month. Rooms are either single or shared between two. Hostivar - 45 minutes on the tram (22) or green line metro Komenskeho - 20 minutes (22 or 23) or green line metro Kajetanka - 30 minutes (22 or 23) or green line metro and bus Private Flats Most students choose to rent a flat. The more people you share with, the cheaper the rent will be. The best option is to try and find accommodation close to a tram stop that will take you to Karlovo Namesti or I.P. Pavlova, or near a metro station. How To Find A Flat Here is a list of websites we recommend to help you start your search. Some of them are spe-cific to an agency, whilst others list apartments advertised by several agencies. Generally if you rent through an agency, you will have to pay them a months rent as commission, and you will pay the landlord/lady a months rent as a deposit. www.expats.cz www.happyhouserentals.com www.praguehome.com www.seznam.cz www.sreality.cz www.praguereality.cz www.maxima.cz www.vyber-reality.cz Most property agencies have English speaking staff so you should have no problems with com-munication. They will also provide you with an English version of the contract. Furnishing Your Flat Ikea at Zlicin and Cerny Most (either end of the yellow metro line) are the best places for buy-ing furniture. They provide a free bus service from the metro to the store, and they will deliver your purchases at a small cost. Tesco (Narodni Trida and Andel) also sells some furniture, as well as groceries, toiletries, clothes, electrical goods etc. Datart is an electronic goods store that sells everything from electric toothbrushes to 50” TVs!!

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BOOKSHOPS Megabooks Akademic Bookshop: Katerinska 15, Praha 2. Located opposite the Dean’s Building. Stocks all medical textbook’s and they are able to order in books. University Bookshops Lipova, Praha 2. Celetna, Praha 1. They sell many books written by professors which are mostly in Czech, but occasionally are in English. See booklist for recommendations. Second Hand Textbooks There will be a second hand book sale during registration week (w/c 28th Sept 2009). INTERNET CAFES A lot of cafes are now offering free Wifi if you are having a coffee. Bohemia Bagel Internet Cafe Holesovice, Mala Strana, Old Town, Tylovo and Nebusice Tel: +420 220 806 590 www.bohemiabagel.cz/ Jama Internet Cafe V Jáme 7, Prague 1 Tel: +420 224 222 383 www.jamapub.cz/ Kava Kava Kava Internet Cafe Národní 37, Prague 1 or Lidicka 42, Prague 5 Tel: +420 224 228 862 or +420 257 314 277 www.kava-coffee.cz/ Inetpoint Internet Cafe Jungmannova 32, Prague 1 Tel: +420 296 245 962 INTERNET IN YOUR FLAT The most popular companies are O2 and UPC. A great company that will get you set up at no extra cost is BCH Telecom-munications. They speak English and will deal with any correspondence between yourself and your internet provider. www.bch.cz/

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RECOMMENDED BOOKLIST Anatomy (Ideal is one book of text and pictures + one atlas) Essential Clinical Anatomy. Moore & Agur * Gray’s Anatomy for Medical Students* Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy * Sobotta Atlas of Human Anatomy* Clinical Neuroanatomy for Medical Students. Snell Thieme Pocket atlases (aids) Instant Anatomy (aid) Basic Neuroanatomy. Petrovicky (English-Czech textbook) * † Biology & Genetics Elements of Medical Genetics. Emery et al. * Thompson and Thompson Thieme – Genetics Histology & Embryology (maybe book + atlas) Basic Histology. Junguiera & Carneiro * Histology. Ross & Pawlina Before We Are Born. Moore & Persaud Medical Embryology. Lange Colour atlas of Histology – Gartner and Hiatt Thieme atlas of Histology * Latin An Introduction to Medical Terminology. Svobodova * † Medical Biophysics An Introduction to Biophysics with Medical Orientation. Tarjan * † * most recommended by current students and staff † only available at university bookshops, printed by the university LIBRARIES Akademie Ved Narodni Divadlo tram stop on 6, 9, 18, 22, 23 trams. Internet available, some medical books in English available. Open from 9am - 7pm Monday to Friday Klementinum The national library of the Czech Republic. Located 5 minutes walk from Old Town Square. Open from 9am-10pm Monday to Friday, and 9am - 7pm on Saturdays Closest tram stop is ‘Starometska’ - tram number 17, 18 Closest metro is also ‘Starometska’ metro—3 minutes walk In order to get a library card to take your passport with you and then register Also take a padlock because you can store things in lockers provided Price for one year is around 5 Euro

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IMPORTANT DAY TO DAY NEEDS Tram Pass The office for getting your first tram pass is on Na Bojisti, near to the back entrance to the Deans Build-ing. You will need to take a passport photo, some photographic ID (passport is best) and the little slip you will get on registration which is proof you are a student. It should look like this:

The cost will be 720Kc for 3 months (unless you 26+ when unfortunately you have to pay standard rate which is 1480Kc). You can get individual 26Kc tickets from machines which last 75mins on weekdays and 90mins on weekends. If you have a large suitcase with you, then you should also buy a 13Kc ticket. These individual tickets must be stamped in the yellow boxes when you enter the metro or get on the tram/bus. You DON’T have to re-stamp them if you change!!! The inspectors who check for tickets will ap-

pear from nowhere and will be plain clothed and will show you a little gold badge. If you don’t have a ticket they will fine you 500Kc (and they will take you to the ATM to withdraw the money if you don’t have it on you!!) Student Card You can either get an ISIC card (160Kc) or a free Charles University student card. For both you need

this little piece of paper: You must write your student ID number (as shown) at the bottom. The office is in the basement of the Mathematics and Physics building on the street Ke Karlovu. When you enter the lobby, go through the door just to the right of the main stairs, and down into the basement. Make sure you have done your hair as they’ll take a digital photo and this stays on your uni profile forever! In Prague you can use either card to receive student discounts if available, but abroad

only the ISIC card will give you a student discount. Mobile Phones You can choose from Vodafone, Eurotel, T-mobile and O2, though most students are with Vodafone. Call costs and text messages are super cheap here! You can get a simcard from any Vodafone store, the most local is at IP Pavlova (next to McDonalds). A pre-paid simcard costs 500Kc and comes with 500Kc credit, just ask in-store. You can top it up by buying credit from a tabac, or by using any ATM. It is also possible to set up a contract with any provider, just talk to an assistant in store. For phoning abroad, we fully recommend that you download Skype, VoipCheap or VoipDiscount which all allow you to make free calls to other users, and very cheap calls to international landlines (2p a min-ute). Post office (Ceska Posta) Central Post office Tram stop Jindriska (just of Vaclavske Namesti) Open all day every day including weekend Closest post office to University Tram stop Botanicka Zahrada (18, 24) It is between Karlovo Namesti and Albertov

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HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CARE Motol In case of any problems you may encounter during your studites we recommend you go to Motol teaching hospital. Motol University Hospital has a foreigners office, so you will always be able to find someone who will speak English. When you enter the ‘Adult’ part of the hospital, the office is on your left hand side. If you require treatment, take your passport, student card and your insurance (European Health Insurance card if you’re from the EU). In case of an emergency get a taxi there - otherwise, you need to go to Andel metro station (Yellow line) and take bus number 167. Alternatively go to Hradcanska (Green line) and take bus number 174. Both ways take about 45 mins so give yourself time!! www.fnmotol.cz/foreigners-department/html/ Vseobecna Facultni Nemocnice (VFN) Also known as the General Teaching Hospital on U Nemocnice. For trauma, go to building K. There is a map in the courtyard just inside the hospital entrance. Ustredni Vojenska Nemocnice (UVN) Also known as the Central Military Hospital. Is found at the tram stop Vojenská nemocnice on trams 1, 2 and 18. Fakultni Nemocnice Na Bulovka Budinova 2, Prague 8. FACULTY DOCTOR For your medical checkups you must book an appointment with Dr Mrastik. His office is at Spálená 12, 110 00 Praha 1 5th Floor, Internal Department. Tel: +420 224 949 035 In case you need blood tests you can go to the following places Weberova

Vodickova It is possible to have your blood tests done at home, but you must provide official lab certificates that no less than 3 months old and Dr Mrastik will then stamp and sign your index. MEDICAL HEALTH INSURANCE Please note, than your E111 European health card only covers acute emergencies. EU students should go and register for insurance in the Czech Republic with their E111 card This insurance is important as it offers more coverage than just acute care and makes life a lot easier in hospital. The place to register is on Martinska street (on the left of the street, sliding double doors), Prague 1 (very near to Tesco at Narodni trida – Yellow line metro) - see map on next page Opening hours Mon 8.00 - 18.00

Tue 8.00 - 18.00 Wed 8.00 - 18.00 Thur 8.00 - 18.00 Fri 8.00 - 16.00

Usually there are many people so be prepared for a wait. The best time to go is very early morning (8am) Upon entering there is a ticket machine and press the option for ‘services in English’. Explain you want temporary insurance (you can only have it for maximum 1 year before it must be renewed) Take passport You do not have to pay for the insurance You will be provided with a form containing insurance numbers etc….. Advice: Photocopy this paper and take it with you to all hospital visits

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HOW TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT It is easy to open a Czech bank account and some banks offer student accounts. You will need your passport, additional proof of ID, student card and proof of an address in Prague, to open an account (be prepared to complete and sign a number of forms - typical for the Czech Republic). It is easier to open your account at one of the main branches in the city centre as they have foreigner’s desks and staff that speak English. Be aware that Czech banks charge bank fees for pretty much everything. It is not necessary to have a Czech bank account, most ATM’s accept foreign bank cards and some English banks do not charge you for making withdrawals but offer a slightly lower exchange rate. It is also possible to pay bills at local banks or post offices. Below is a list of a few of the larger banks in Prague that our students tend to use: CSOB (IP) Belehradska 110, Praha 2. Tel: +420 281 011 811 www.csob.cz/bankcz/en/ Komerčni Banka: Na Přikopě 33, Praha 1. Tel: +420 800 111 055. www.kb.cz Česká Spořitelna: Rytiřská 29, Praha 1. Tel: +420 224 101 630. www.csas.cz Raiffeisen: Národni Třida 9, Praha 1. Tel: +420 800 900 900. www.rb.cz We do not recommend you to use Ebanka as you can only use their cashpoints to withdraw money.

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