| Czech that bad attitude! Regina Walker |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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