| Czech that bad attitude! Regina Walker |
I just returned from spending two weeks in the
stunningly beautiful and historical city of Prague.
I am planning on moving there in August to teach
English for one year.
Prior to visiting Prague, I had read, and heard
that the Czech people were not very friendly. In
fact, I was told that they were downright rude
and very cold towards strangers.
stunningly beautiful and historical city of Prague.
I am planning on moving there in August to teach
English for one year.
Prior to visiting Prague, I had read, and heard
that the Czech people were not very friendly. In
fact, I was told that they were downright rude
and very cold towards strangers.
Fortunately, for me, a mutual friend introduced me to his Czech friends via the internet. When
I arrived in Praha, they befriended, embraced me, and made me feel welcome. In the
restaurants, the Czechs weren't rude to me, but they weren't particularly friendly either. Since
I had read, "Culture Shock: The Czech Republic," I felt prepared for whatever cultural
differences that I might encounter.
Czechs are not very used to seeing black people, so I was stared at just about everywhere I
went. Looking out for my safety, my new Czech friends told me to be careful when crossing
the streets. Otherwise, they said, "You might get run over." This wasn't much of a problem
for me, as people would slow down, and motion for me to cross just so they could get a good
look at me!
During my first few days in Prague I had some difficulty finding my way around. So I would
ask strangers for assistance at the metro, or the tram stops. Everyone, although cold and
impersonal at first, tried to help me as best they could. Most of the time I didn't understand
what they were saying and got lost anyway. Nevertheless, I appreciated their help. The old
people seemed to like me. I was
always offering my seat to them on the metros. They would smile at me, and whisper their
approval to each other in Czech. I remember walking down the street, looking up and seeing
an elderly woman staring at me from one of the windows above. In spite of her mean and
dour facial expression, I decided to take a chance and wave at her. She nodded back, and I
smiled and kept walking.
I agree with the other posters about learning to speak a few words of the local language. When
I spoke to the locals--or at least made a lame attempt, they were surprised, initially, to hear a
black woman speaking Czech; albeit horribly. I could tell that they really appreciated the fact
that I was making an effort.
While spending a few days in the lovely medieval town of Cesky Krumlov, I visited an
internet cafe to check my mails on a daily basis. Each time I went inside, I encountered a dour
faced young woman who would wait on me without any type of emotion or interest. When I
couldn't take her depressed demeanor anymore, I motioned for her to come and sit at my
table. Pulling out my Czech phrasebook, I began to engage her in conversation. "What's your
name?" "Where are you from?" "What do you do when you are not working?" My
pronunciation was horrible, but she somehow managed to understand me. In spite of our
limited ability to speak the other's language, we ended up laughing and having a delightful
conversation!
One morning during my stay in Cesky Krumlov, I entered a store just to look around, and
said, "Dobre rano <good morning>!" in a cheery voice. When I got ready to leave, even
though I didn't buy anything, the elderly Czech shopkeeper said something to me in Czech.
Then she said, in broken English, "A gift for you!" She then gave me a magazine (written in
German!) that discussed the highlights of her beautiful medieval town, to take with me. I
thanked her, in Czech,
for the kind thought--even though I can't read very much German--and
left.
Sometimes you have to make the first move at being friendly, and sociable. Even if the person
with whom you would like to engage in conversation may seem unfriendly and standoffish
initially, you just may be pleasantly surprised like I was.
I arrived in Praha, they befriended, embraced me, and made me feel welcome. In the
restaurants, the Czechs weren't rude to me, but they weren't particularly friendly either. Since
I had read, "Culture Shock: The Czech Republic," I felt prepared for whatever cultural
differences that I might encounter.
Czechs are not very used to seeing black people, so I was stared at just about everywhere I
went. Looking out for my safety, my new Czech friends told me to be careful when crossing
the streets. Otherwise, they said, "You might get run over." This wasn't much of a problem
for me, as people would slow down, and motion for me to cross just so they could get a good
look at me!
During my first few days in Prague I had some difficulty finding my way around. So I would
ask strangers for assistance at the metro, or the tram stops. Everyone, although cold and
impersonal at first, tried to help me as best they could. Most of the time I didn't understand
what they were saying and got lost anyway. Nevertheless, I appreciated their help. The old
people seemed to like me. I was
always offering my seat to them on the metros. They would smile at me, and whisper their
approval to each other in Czech. I remember walking down the street, looking up and seeing
an elderly woman staring at me from one of the windows above. In spite of her mean and
dour facial expression, I decided to take a chance and wave at her. She nodded back, and I
smiled and kept walking.
I agree with the other posters about learning to speak a few words of the local language. When
I spoke to the locals--or at least made a lame attempt, they were surprised, initially, to hear a
black woman speaking Czech; albeit horribly. I could tell that they really appreciated the fact
that I was making an effort.
While spending a few days in the lovely medieval town of Cesky Krumlov, I visited an
internet cafe to check my mails on a daily basis. Each time I went inside, I encountered a dour
faced young woman who would wait on me without any type of emotion or interest. When I
couldn't take her depressed demeanor anymore, I motioned for her to come and sit at my
table. Pulling out my Czech phrasebook, I began to engage her in conversation. "What's your
name?" "Where are you from?" "What do you do when you are not working?" My
pronunciation was horrible, but she somehow managed to understand me. In spite of our
limited ability to speak the other's language, we ended up laughing and having a delightful
conversation!
One morning during my stay in Cesky Krumlov, I entered a store just to look around, and
said, "Dobre rano <good morning>!" in a cheery voice. When I got ready to leave, even
though I didn't buy anything, the elderly Czech shopkeeper said something to me in Czech.
Then she said, in broken English, "A gift for you!" She then gave me a magazine (written in
German!) that discussed the highlights of her beautiful medieval town, to take with me. I
thanked her, in Czech,
for the kind thought--even though I can't read very much German--and
left.
Sometimes you have to make the first move at being friendly, and sociable. Even if the person
with whom you would like to engage in conversation may seem unfriendly and standoffish
initially, you just may be pleasantly surprised like I was.