As a Bulgarian, who lives in Prague 18 years, i can say, it is enough to learn the language and respect the laws to be welcome. We have lot of friends here, it is good to be between Czechs. They likes order and clean, don't likes noisy neighbours. Low aggression, low criminality rate, i run in the park at late evening and i feel normal and save. If you dont feel comfortable here, maybe it is not your type of state
I get really annoyed when British expats move to Vinohrady and complain that Prague is so expensive and imposible to own your own property. I bought a flat very easily... I just don't live in the swanky centre.
Why everybody thinks, that coming to different country with different language to stay for years or for good means that..the "home"people should adjust??? Would English or Ameriacans comunicate with me on professional level in Czech???Nope...And I would not even expect them to do so....
@@_forester_ Go to Germany and tell them that... or even better France. I am not saying it's bad to know present day lingua franca ...i am saying they came to another country... they should be more humble and integrate or gtfo.
English is the universal world language. In every country you learn english in the school. For the most foreigners in Czech Republic is english also not the first language, but like I said its the universal world language. Of course you can not expect that every one speaks english or is willing to speak english but that they refuse to speak english in the Foreigners' Registration Office is a big shame. You have to registrate within weeks and they expect you to speak czech with them. I say it again, english is the universal world language and at least in the Foreigners' Registration Office they should be able to speak that language.
I think that not knowing a language before coming is forgivable, but you should be trying to learn it while there, to show respect. You are living in their country. From 🇸🇪
100% bro especially hard language like Czech badly widely available anywhere to learn !! Say with some other languages maybe be much easier to learn before coming also depends on where you from and what’s your first language
Agreed, I always find it weird when people comment like this. But it’s especially ironic when the guy saying it is French! :) There are not many Czech people living abroad but if they do, they usually learn the local language fast. For some reason, a lot of foreigners in Prague don’t learn even the simplest phrases and then complain about this. Is it really surprising that people want you to at least try to learn their language?
Couldn't agree more. Also, if they knew they were moving there in advance they could study beforehand. Their arrogance and entitlement is breathtaking.
About all the "administrative things" being in Czech, hospitals, police etc speaking czech, it’s not about the people not being welcoming. It’s a law here in Czechia, all the state institutions have to speak czech because it’s the official language. For all the foreigners who come to Czechia (especially to Prague) there are many organizations specializing in integrating foreigners. They help you: provide you with basic information, a translator for all the administrative tasks, language courses and counseling. Something is free something is not but i suggest you to look into it yourself.
Im a Czech, Prague born, but i do travel a lot and lived in two other countries (plus i watch travel content all the time). I definitely agree we Czechs are quite reserved and its hard for foreigners to make friends here between the locals. Its a mentality of rather small country that was separated from the world for 40 years through communism but lately became kinda popular especially thanks to Prague, almost nonexistent unemployment and good geographical location (also culturally we are heavily influenced by German/Austrian mentality, which is also reserved, but they didnt have 40 years of communism, so they are a bit less cold). Czechs are still getting used to foreigners and we have what we call "hobbit mentality", which basically means Czechs love to have beautiful, rich, peaceful place but they are kinda ignorant to the outside world and tend to not accept outsiders and feel a bit snobby/proud and passive aggresive when the world comes to us. Basically The Shire and Hobbits in LOTR movies/books. As i consider this as kinda negative trait and ive always worked to integrate and connect people when ive lived in Spain and Germany, im trying to do the same here. My advice is you dont need to find a group of Czechs, but rather one person with a strong connection and let him/her introduce to his/her friends. Also its easier to find friends between younger generations who are today less than 30. These people like me already grown in open border free society and traveled more with parents/done Erasmus/studied abroad and so on, so they will integrate you easier than people who are 40,50 plus. I would say that young Czechs are not very different from other young Europeans like Belgians, Austrians, Germans, Dutch and so on.
Open border culture society bring a destruction of your own culture. But I understand since young generation almost completely lost a sense for national pride and culture preservation. It's only matter of time that people from outside you welcome in your country they bring they own culture with them and transform your place to shithole they come from and destroy everything your ancestor build and fought for.
As a Czech, 100% agreed. I’d also add that people really should try to learn about these cultural differences. The communist history did shape the mentality in post-communist countries. Our parents grew in a society where you were constantly spied on by the secret service and could go to prison for saying the wrong thing to a stranger, so no wonder they are reserved. And this does get passed to their children, although in a diluted form. But a person coming there should accept this like a cultural difference. Coming to the UK of France or Italy, you also accept their culture is different. But yes, I agree and also view these things negatively myself, but also feel a little protective of our country haha :) But you gave excellent tips, that’s exactly what I also like to do: introduce foreigners to my friends. And all my foreign friends now say that Czech people are the friendliest they know. But you just need to get through the outer barrier.
The most characteristic trait of the Czechs is nationalism, and a tendency to blame their shortcomings and other misfortunes on their socialist past. And it annoys me that you are always trying to label the Germans/Austrians, that you are supposedly like them, when you are not. Germans and Austrians are completely different people. You Czechs want to be like the Germans/Austrians because you envy them in everything.
@@_Vogel_ What. Austria and Czechia has been literally the same country ruled for hundreds of years by the same noble house. Czechia=Bohemian kingdom has been integral part of Germanic empires like Holly Roman Empire and Austrian Empire for centuries. Czech-Luxembourgh king Charles the IV became Holly Roman Emperor and made Prague the seat city of the whole empire for decades, he also invited hundreds of thousands German settlers to settle the borders of Bohemia, who lived there for centuries until they were expelled after WWII occupation. So naturally Czechs and Germans shared genetics and culture for centuries. Why do you think around 1/4 of Czechs have German surnames, my Czech relatives name are Strassmajers (czechs changed i to j) or why incredible ammount of people in Vienna or Styria have Czech Surnames. Also nationalism was quite funny, Czechs were said to be the least nationalistic out of V4 - you have zero clue about nationalism of Poles or Hungarians and Slovaks if you call Czechs nationalistic. In my opinion even French or British are more openly showing nationalism and patriotism more than Czechs. Nationalism here was almost nonexistent before Migration waves into Europe, where Czechs didnt think its a good idea to bring millions of Muslims and Africans into Europe and refused quotas. And honestly as a very liberal person who votes for Pirates most of the time i think Czechs were right in this.
I am Italian and I can guarantee no one would assist in English in public offices. This " Expat " thing that one moves to another country to keep on speaking English is frankly very very naive to be polite. Czech is as hard as any other language, if you decide to live here you need to speak it, no matter how hard it is! I just tdo not like real estate prices, they are absurd, out of any comprehension. I am very well established and speak Czech fluently, I still cannot afford an apartment, it is simply impossible, apartments start from 5000 euros per square meter and prices went even higher, a studio apartment now costs around 4.5 million crowns, a real robbery. I never buy because I am a businessman, but it is sad to see that people that earn a fifth of what I make get into debts for the rest of their life for a two room apartment in the outskirts...
@@TheMovementHub But immigration office has obligation comuncate only in official language in a counry .. And now suprice.. in Czech rep. is Czech.. BTW when I did work in Ireland, I did not expect immigration and social office speak with me in Czech lnguage.. not even for 1s, Only spoiled or not so clever kids move to any coutry and expect special sevice...BTW we talk about ppl who is not a tourist, but imigrants for few years now... funny
I see too many people who comment not getting the point completely. It’s not about LEARNING the language. There are only a few countries in the world where people act visibly annoyed and/or start speaking faster out of spite when they identify you as a foreigner. And unfortunately, my experience in Czech Republic has been exactly that, as well as the experience of 95% of people. If your skin is thick enough to be treated like a lesser person by crude beer drinkers, then by all means, but it’s not for an average person. Luckily I’m another European, so can only imagine the harshness the other people face here daily.
It's harsher in Germany, France and plenty of non-European countries to boot. You could get killed in broad daylight in Turkey if you stray beyond the tourist bubble. I had my share of racist (verbal) attacks but mostly people from a bygone generation. Sure, it's not Denmark but it's not nowhere near as sinister as in this video. The workplace culture is full of expats, there are classes offered by companies etc. When you migrate (yes, expats are immigrants too), you undertake a certain set of risks.
I find it infuriating when people move to another country and expect everyone to speak their own (foreign) language. You're in Prague, you should learn Czech. You should have started learning Czech even before you moved there. But no, people are obsessing about the climate, the cost of living and the fiscal aspects, and think of their destination city more like an investment than a community. As a side note, I was struggling with a self-serve check-out in a grocery store in Prague this morning. I tried to speak a few words in Czech and the employee answered me in... French. He had noticed my language selection on the payment terminal, and decided to use the basic French he knows. This was very fun! I learned a few more words in Czech, and he practiced his French!
I get where you're coming from, but I think the language barrier has been taken out of context a little. I'm half Czech and half Italian, raised in Italy but I always spoke Czech. Now, because I never had a grammar lesson in my life, of course I'm going to make a few mistakes every once in a while, but despite that my pronunciation and stuff is 100% native. This is important, because I should be able to perfectly integrate in both countries, right? Well, not really. In the Czech Republic many people unfortunately just aren't that nice. I've been here for 8 years now and I'm still really struggling to make friends. People are kind of inaccessible, and usually it feels as if you're bothering them if you try to strike a conversation. What they do love is pointing out the mistakes you make and being sarcastic about it. That being said, of course it's not all of us Czechs, but it's definitely not a negligible part. So my theory is that these people think that there's this big language barrier that's difficult to overcome, but it's probably mostly just people not willing to work with them
@@YaBoiiiNikkiIm Czech but I grew up abroad so I can see it from another perspective. Even polish people are warmer and more welcoming. It's a different mentality in the Czech republic compared to where I grew up and still live to this date. Every time I go there on vacation and tell people that I grew up abroad, they just want to rip me off. Very disturbing that people can behave in this way.
I also find it infuriating when countries import high skilled foreigners in order to develop their economy and make zero effort to make life livable for those foreigners.
Actually British citizens who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement and have Article 50 rights do not have to pass the A2 language test in order to apply for permanent residency. Someone should tell Lydia this.
@@grafplaten It still requires many hours of time and effort and is just a box ticking exercise especially for someone who loves in Prague and presumably lives her life entirely in English.
@@grafplaten It's not about imperialism. It's simply the reality that the people in the video live in the expat bubble and will probably not stay long term. The other major factors include the difficulty of the language, near 0 economic utility and complete pointlessness of the language outside of Czechia and Slovakia (unlike German, French, Spanish and so on). A2 is also nowhere near enough for social interactions which Czechs are not interested in with foreigners anyway.
I used to live in Prague for 2 years and half. My struggle was first of all to get along with Czech people which they were very cold, closed off and also scared of anything that is not Czech. Thats why many expats they stick with ther expats as its much more easier. What is surprising is how "insular" czech mentality is. I also knew many expats that were fluent with Czech and somehow struggling to integrate so language is not really that big thing when the root is just simple: you dont have interest or dont like anything that is not 100 made in Czechia. Also between expats yes of course there are many events but I felt the city was little bit dull. Nothing much happens if you like cultural and english friendly events. The city is nice, clean, safe but people somehow were harder to get or to just have deeper connections.
While the rest of the world was busy exchanging ideas and developing in the post war period, this country was hermetically sealed from the outside world for the best part of the 20th century so it's no wonder they're so insular. Add to that the woeful foreign language ability and you end up with a very inwards looking country. Although it might not seem like it at first, it's the cultural barrier that is far more difficult to overcome with Czechs than the linguistic one. I'm convinced that they much teach this "Prague is the heart of Europe" nationalism in school because they all repeat the same nonsense. That said, it is a decent, quiet place to live with alright working conditions if you have some marketable skills. As you've already mentioned, the country is a cultural backwater and it's clear that Vienna is the true capital of the region.
@@ShunShufen I never understand the mentality of sticking in the past which is very common in the area and very lame I would say. For example, Im from Sicily. An island that was conquered by Greek, Romans, Arabs, Phoenicians, Normans. So many different rulers. So what? I should be closed mided? I should hate everyone? This mentality is pathetic and I will never accept.
@ForeverNihil Having lived there almost 2 years (or, if you want, 3 years with 1 year gap), I actually think that the language is definitely a game-changer. Attitude towards me is really different once they see I can interact in reasonably good czech. Apart from that, the general cultural attitude is “introverted”, but as usual “introverted” does not mean “refusal of any kind of interaction”. Of course one can’t expect immediate smiles, casual invitations to hang out etc. This is not Holland, this is not central-southern Italy. Also, I would not say that “they stick to the past”. Their cultural products are actually quite diverse and interesting, and not only the ones from XIX and XX century.
OMG this is the channel I was waiting for, please could you do all the major cities, you should do Barcelona, it's so similar to Berlin actually in may ways... good and bad. Anyway can't wait for your channel to develop 💟
Thank you so much :)). That is exactly my plan, to cover all major cities. Although it will obviously take some time. And you know what's funny. Barcelona is the next place I planned for my interviews.
I would not be surprised at all because even those who were interviewed. Their countries were not that friendly either. Especially Germany and France. it is hard. The only country that I could say is better for ex-pats is the Netherlands or Denmark.
Superfun! Make move videos like this, please. French complainants about state services not speaking English 😁😁😁😁 Nobody wants to hear your winning? No way 😁😁😁 Local language is necessary? Unbelievable! Local language is not easy enough to pick up on a run and real effort is needed? 😁😁😁😁 Stop calling yourself “expats”. You are foreigners, not more than that
As a Turkish guy living in Prague for 20 years now, the only thing I could say I don't like is the rent prices, it's so high that you should give all your money to the landlords. Otherwise everything is cool, yes Czech people could be a little conservative but it's not for long time if you speak Czech, and yes, speaking the language is a must, but it's natural, have some respect to the locals by learning their language, and see how they change their attitude towards you.
@@Deniz06-n6m Çek teknik'e gelme :) Çekçe okumak istiyorsan 1 sene dil kursu alman yeterli olmayacaktır, buranın en zor üniversitesilerinden birisi, yazıl Zemědělská ya, İngilizce oku, kafan rahat etsin, dil kursunu da İngilizce al, çok daha rahat edersin, kalacak yer büyük sıkıntı, yurt işini çözmen şart, dışarıda, 600 Euro'dan aşağı başını sokacak delik bulamazsın, şu an çok zamanım yok, fazla yazamıyorum
More true for central and northern europe. But not because people are not welcoming, it’s because people in general are very closed. Many people in these countries, even locals, struggle to find friends. I‘m German but with „migrant background“ and still I find it hardcore to find German-German friends. All my friends are like me, Germans with migration background.
Oh wow, coming to a new country you expect to get away with talking a foreign language and to be embraced like a local here? As a foreigner in Prague, I completely support the locals expecting Czech in communication. I’ve made an effort to learn basic Czech to understand and be understood and I’ve faced great support from all locals along the way. Unlike the Germans, they don’t switch to English immediately but patiently let me speak in Czech, which I appreciate a lot. Good luck coming to UK as an expat not speaking English.
Maybe I'm lucky but although I'm not a fluent Czech speaker - though I do study and everyone tolerates that. All the other points mentioned here I don't have an issue with. A thing I do find irritating is the driving attitude. Czech drivers have trained pedestrians to run across crossings and to thank the driver for not running them over - not that they always stop; they just keep inching towards you. I also am bewildered by their referring to the music key of B as H (due to a badly written B on some manuscript a long time ago.) But these are minor points and I'm quite happy to live here which I have done for about 12 years. I play in 3 rock bands and it's a lot of fun. I'm British, 81, and live alone.
Omg this is painful to watch, you took the weirdest people to ask these questions. It’s not difficult to learn a few phrases in Czech to interact with Czech people in the Czech Republic. I mean, what were their expectations?
Their expectations were that everybody would adjust to them. That Czech people would learn perfect English for them and all of Czech society would welcome them with chocolate and gummy bears. Smh... shows how incredibly privileged these people are. It's disgusting.
I have learned Czech the first thing I moved here and spoke FLUENTLY, it didn’t help me a single bit to be more integrated even 12 years later and all my Czech friends which is a few, keep speaking English with me, because they prefer it that way.
I speak the language and it doesn't help that much. I lived in Brno for over 10 years. Now after 2 years in Prague I have to say that all the stereotypes regarding Prague locals are true.
The idea that you are going to use a city as a "pit stop" on your way to "better" cities like London or Paris is truly unpleasant. I wouldn't welcome a person like that into my city, either.
This is a tad exaggerated. I'm guessing it still applies to many parts of the country but not as much to Prague anymore. The country has made remarkable strides since the 90s & 2000s, so people from that generation could tell you true horror stories. And I noticed at least some progress year after year. Most doctors now speak English, the receptionists still don't, which is normal for many European countries (and why should they?). You can improvise by memorizing a few sentences. The bureaucracy is hellish even for Slovaks & other Slavic people, but even then there has been some improvement & it basically comes down to the employee who saw you on that day. The only issue that is truly worrisome is indeed rent. The salaries never catch up with the expenses fast enough & the politics is a bit too messed up for anything significant to be done about it. Also, it's time we dropped the word "expat", like there's anything inherently wrong with being an immigrant or that it's somehow a class below.
Yeah we do have to do something with the mortgage situation for first time buyers under certain income, rather no deposit first purchase or first purchase grand by municipal office ! With that being said said I think this would be beneficial for most European states
As a Czech person born in Prague, I would NEVER come here to live if I were a foreigner because I know how racist, xenophobic and unaccepting Czech people can be. That unfortunately counts to Prague as well! This is a post-socialism place with people full of personal complexes and rage. Most of the people live in a very small bubble and would need to travel a bit to gain some respect to the outer world. Moreover, the rent prices are approaching the ones in West Germany, where people can NATIONWIDE earn sometimes 2-3 times more money than here. Our government increased taxes and in the same time sends the supportive money to the corrupt leaders in Ukraine. State workers no salary growth... We could continue like that.. There are some nice things here too...😅 I just think that the negatives exceed the positives.
Funny, as a Czech person living outside of Prague I always enjoy how welcoming, heartwarming and accepting Czech people in our capital city tend to be, compared with rest of the country. 🙂 Also, sending money to the Ukraine is actually one of the few good things our current government does.
You are contradicting yourself, saying Czech people need to have respect to the outer world, and then saying some russian propaganda about corrupt leaders in Ukraine. Corruption is everywhere in some form, and saying not to help Ukraine because of corruption is, actually, a very closed minded view. I hope you will never know what war is, but there is long term threat to Czech Republic from russia. If Ukraine fails, in 10 years russia will militarize ukrainian territory and citizens and with new resources they will try to restore ussr. I know that it sounds crazy, but we in Ukraine also thought that it's crazy, and russia won't start full scale war, wiping out cities, raping, killing hundreds of thousands people and destroying all power generation except nuclear (so far).
Learn the language fgs, that is on YOU not the locals. In UK we (taxpayers) spend millions on providing translators for everyone, this is madness. Let embassy’s pick up the responsibility. If you can’t settle in wonderful Czech, move on.
Tah yes, a bunch of foreigners whining about the Czech Republic and how inconvenient it is when everyone doesn't accept to their language, and how horrible it is to have to learn the local language. Don't like it? Go somewhere else.
@@_Vogel_ Czech hospitality is fine, if you at least try to speak the language, housing prices are high, compared to salaries, but they're also high compared to wages in Canada and other places, the service is direct, if you don't expect the fake smiles and over-excited service you get in North America. Czech houses are also better than the stick and cardboard disposable North American houses, and the roads in North America are infinitely worse. So it's all relative.
Were you listening to him? He said 400 for just a bedroom, meaning not for the entire flat, just one room within the apartment. 400 and still having roommates? That's a very bad deal in Czechia.
@@mk6022 400 EUR is about 10.000,- CZK. That is a typical price for the inner center of the city, nay even on the cheap side - since I've seen 12.000,- CZK (480 EUR) to be more the going rate around Prague 1 and Prague 2. Considering studio apartments now go for min 14.000,- CZK and 1+1s at 18-20.000,- is not uncommon just for rent itself, 10k for a room is not a bad deal at all, especially when it is "warm rent", utilities included.
I live in cz nearly 8 years but my cz language is horrible ( cz is one of the hardest language in the world) my guess is cz people are more reserved mentality specifically old generation(chumya)they don’t know English but younger generation is going overseas more they know much more English but it’s won’t help you if u r alone in cz and don’t have at least know little bit of cz basic..living costs specially rent housing is getting expensive.. I can say food /.medical/ travel..is still affordable then lots of country..They sewer lots if u hear Pece means my be fuck..don’t surprise..😀
As a Bulgarian, who lives in Prague 18 years, i can say, it is enough to learn the language and respect the laws to be welcome. We have lot of friends here, it is good to be between Czechs. They likes order and clean, don't likes noisy neighbours. Low aggression, low criminality rate, i run in the park at late evening and i feel normal and save. If you dont feel comfortable here, maybe it is not your type of state
I get really annoyed when British expats move to Vinohrady and complain that Prague is so expensive and imposible to own your own property. I bought a flat very easily... I just don't live in the swanky centre.
British expats?? LOL 😂
Why everybody thinks, that coming to different country with different language to stay for years or for good means that..the "home"people should adjust??? Would English or Ameriacans comunicate with me on professional level in Czech???Nope...And I would not even expect them to do so....
100% přesně
Yea, all i hear is a lot of stupid whining. they come to our countries and expect everyone to talk with them in English...
@@_forester_ Go to Germany and tell them that... or even better France. I am not saying it's bad to know present day lingua franca ...i am saying they came to another country... they should be more humble and integrate or gtfo.
English is the universal world language. In every country you learn english in the school. For the most foreigners in Czech Republic is english also not the first language, but like I said its the universal world language. Of course you can not expect that every one speaks english or is willing to speak english but that they refuse to speak english in the Foreigners' Registration Office is a big shame.
You have to registrate within weeks and they expect you to speak czech with them. I say it again, english is the universal world language and at least in the Foreigners' Registration Office they should be able to speak that language.
@@goodtf1 and? Not everything has to follow same logic of efficacy.
I think that not knowing a language before coming is forgivable, but you should be trying to learn it while there, to show respect. You are living in their country.
From 🇸🇪
100% agree
❤ exactly
100% bro especially hard language like Czech badly widely available anywhere to learn !! Say with some other languages maybe be much easier to learn before coming also depends on where you from and what’s your first language
Agreed, I always find it weird when people comment like this. But it’s especially ironic when the guy saying it is French! :) There are not many Czech people living abroad but if they do, they usually learn the local language fast. For some reason, a lot of foreigners in Prague don’t learn even the simplest phrases and then complain about this. Is it really surprising that people want you to at least try to learn their language?
Couldn't agree more. Also, if they knew they were moving there in advance they could study beforehand. Their arrogance and entitlement is breathtaking.
About all the "administrative things" being in Czech, hospitals, police etc speaking czech, it’s not about the people not being welcoming. It’s a law here in Czechia, all the state institutions have to speak czech because it’s the official language. For all the foreigners who come to Czechia (especially to Prague) there are many organizations specializing in integrating foreigners. They help you: provide you with basic information, a translator for all the administrative tasks, language courses and counseling. Something is free something is not but i suggest you to look into it yourself.
CIC and inbáze are the organizations I know, but there are plenty of others
Im a Czech, Prague born, but i do travel a lot and lived in two other countries (plus i watch travel content all the time). I definitely agree we Czechs are quite reserved and its hard for foreigners to make friends here between the locals. Its a mentality of rather small country that was separated from the world for 40 years through communism but lately became kinda popular especially thanks to Prague, almost nonexistent unemployment and good geographical location (also culturally we are heavily influenced by German/Austrian mentality, which is also reserved, but they didnt have 40 years of communism, so they are a bit less cold). Czechs are still getting used to foreigners and we have what we call "hobbit mentality", which basically means Czechs love to have beautiful, rich, peaceful place but they are kinda ignorant to the outside world and tend to not accept outsiders and feel a bit snobby/proud and passive aggresive when the world comes to us. Basically The Shire and Hobbits in LOTR movies/books. As i consider this as kinda negative trait and ive always worked to integrate and connect people when ive lived in Spain and Germany, im trying to do the same here. My advice is you dont need to find a group of Czechs, but rather one person with a strong connection and let him/her introduce to his/her friends. Also its easier to find friends between younger generations who are today less than 30. These people like me already grown in open border free society and traveled more with parents/done Erasmus/studied abroad and so on, so they will integrate you easier than people who are 40,50 plus. I would say that young Czechs are not very different from other young Europeans like Belgians, Austrians, Germans, Dutch and so on.
Open border culture society bring a destruction of your own culture. But I understand since young generation almost completely lost a sense for national pride and culture preservation. It's only matter of time that people from outside you welcome in your country they bring they own culture with them and transform your place to shithole they come from and destroy everything your ancestor build and fought for.
As a Czech, 100% agreed. I’d also add that people really should try to learn about these cultural differences. The communist history did shape the mentality in post-communist countries. Our parents grew in a society where you were constantly spied on by the secret service and could go to prison for saying the wrong thing to a stranger, so no wonder they are reserved. And this does get passed to their children, although in a diluted form. But a person coming there should accept this like a cultural difference. Coming to the UK of France or Italy, you also accept their culture is different. But yes, I agree and also view these things negatively myself, but also feel a little protective of our country haha :) But you gave excellent tips, that’s exactly what I also like to do: introduce foreigners to my friends. And all my foreign friends now say that Czech people are the friendliest they know. But you just need to get through the outer barrier.
Best thing Czech people can do is to stay the way they are. Let Western Europe sink in mass migration and awful birth rates.
The most characteristic trait of the Czechs is nationalism, and a tendency to blame their shortcomings and other misfortunes on their socialist past. And it annoys me that you are always trying to label the Germans/Austrians, that you are supposedly like them, when you are not. Germans and Austrians are completely different people. You Czechs want to be like the Germans/Austrians because you envy them in everything.
@@_Vogel_ What. Austria and Czechia has been literally the same country ruled for hundreds of years by the same noble house. Czechia=Bohemian kingdom has been integral part of Germanic empires like Holly Roman Empire and Austrian Empire for centuries. Czech-Luxembourgh king Charles the IV became Holly Roman Emperor and made Prague the seat city of the whole empire for decades, he also invited hundreds of thousands German settlers to settle the borders of Bohemia, who lived there for centuries until they were expelled after WWII occupation. So naturally Czechs and Germans shared genetics and culture for centuries. Why do you think around 1/4 of Czechs have German surnames, my Czech relatives name are Strassmajers (czechs changed i to j) or why incredible ammount of people in Vienna or Styria have Czech Surnames.
Also nationalism was quite funny, Czechs were said to be the least nationalistic out of V4 - you have zero clue about nationalism of Poles or Hungarians and Slovaks if you call Czechs nationalistic. In my opinion even French or British are more openly showing nationalism and patriotism more than Czechs. Nationalism here was almost nonexistent before Migration waves into Europe, where Czechs didnt think its a good idea to bring millions of Muslims and Africans into Europe and refused quotas. And honestly as a very liberal person who votes for Pirates most of the time i think Czechs were right in this.
I lived 2 years in China, 1.5 years in South Korea, 1 year in Ecuador and I never complained locals don't speak neither Czech, nor English.
Who asked you? No one.
@@xiexiemooniei asked him
@@Samed97 so no one
I am Italian and I can guarantee no one would assist in English in public offices. This " Expat " thing that one moves to another country to keep on speaking English is frankly very very naive to be polite.
Czech is as hard as any other language, if you decide to live here you need to speak it, no matter how hard it is!
I just tdo not like real estate prices, they are absurd, out of any comprehension. I am very well established and speak Czech fluently, I still cannot afford an apartment, it is simply impossible, apartments start from 5000 euros per square meter and prices went even higher, a studio apartment now costs around 4.5 million crowns, a real robbery.
I never buy because I am a businessman, but it is sad to see that people that earn a fifth of what I make get into debts for the rest of their life for a two room apartment in the outskirts...
"They only use Czech language here, which does not make sense because we are foreigners..."
He's talking about the immigration offices
@@TheMovementHub But immigration office has obligation comuncate only in official language in a counry .. And now suprice.. in Czech rep. is Czech.. BTW when I did work in Ireland, I did not expect immigration and social office speak with me in Czech lnguage.. not even for 1s, Only spoiled or not so clever kids move to any coutry and expect special sevice...BTW we talk about ppl who is not a tourist, but imigrants for few years now... funny
@@josefharapes6541Ty budeš asi nejakej cajzl.
@@danielhagara1442 co to plácáš?
I see too many people who comment not getting the point completely. It’s not about LEARNING the language. There are only a few countries in the world where people act visibly annoyed and/or start speaking faster out of spite when they identify you as a foreigner. And unfortunately, my experience in Czech Republic has been exactly that, as well as the experience of 95% of people. If your skin is thick enough to be treated like a lesser person by crude beer drinkers, then by all means, but it’s not for an average person. Luckily I’m another European, so can only imagine the harshness the other people face here daily.
It's harsher in Germany, France and plenty of non-European countries to boot. You could get killed in broad daylight in Turkey if you stray beyond the tourist bubble.
I had my share of racist (verbal) attacks but mostly people from a bygone generation. Sure, it's not Denmark but it's not nowhere near as sinister as in this video. The workplace culture is full of expats, there are classes offered by companies etc.
When you migrate (yes, expats are immigrants too), you undertake a certain set of risks.
I find it infuriating when people move to another country and expect everyone to speak their own (foreign) language. You're in Prague, you should learn Czech. You should have started learning Czech even before you moved there.
But no, people are obsessing about the climate, the cost of living and the fiscal aspects, and think of their destination city more like an investment than a community.
As a side note, I was struggling with a self-serve check-out in a grocery store in Prague this morning. I tried to speak a few words in Czech and the employee answered me in... French. He had noticed my language selection on the payment terminal, and decided to use the basic French he knows. This was very fun! I learned a few more words in Czech, and he practiced his French!
I get where you're coming from, but I think the language barrier has been taken out of context a little. I'm half Czech and half Italian, raised in Italy but I always spoke Czech. Now, because I never had a grammar lesson in my life, of course I'm going to make a few mistakes every once in a while, but despite that my pronunciation and stuff is 100% native.
This is important, because I should be able to perfectly integrate in both countries, right? Well, not really.
In the Czech Republic many people unfortunately just aren't that nice. I've been here for 8 years now and I'm still really struggling to make friends. People are kind of inaccessible, and usually it feels as if you're bothering them if you try to strike a conversation. What they do love is pointing out the mistakes you make and being sarcastic about it. That being said, of course it's not all of us Czechs, but it's definitely not a negligible part.
So my theory is that these people think that there's this big language barrier that's difficult to overcome, but it's probably mostly just people not willing to work with them
@@YaBoiiiNikkiIm Czech but I grew up abroad so I can see it from another perspective. Even polish people are warmer and more welcoming. It's a different mentality in the Czech republic compared to where I grew up and still live to this date. Every time I go there on vacation and tell people that I grew up abroad, they just want to rip me off. Very disturbing that people can behave in this way.
I also find it infuriating when countries import high skilled foreigners in order to develop their economy and make zero effort to make life livable for those foreigners.
You're in Europe. Speak the common language, no?
@@sentry404. Which one?
Actually British citizens who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement and have Article 50 rights do not have to pass the A2 language test in order to apply for permanent residency. Someone should tell Lydia this.
I will make sure to let her know. Thank you :)
A2 level should not be difficult to achieve. That is actually quite a low level of proficiency.
@@grafplaten It still requires many hours of time and effort and is just a box ticking exercise especially for someone who loves in Prague and presumably lives her life entirely in English.
@@grafplaten It's not about imperialism. It's simply the reality that the people in the video live in the expat bubble and will probably not stay long term.
The other major factors include the difficulty of the language, near 0 economic utility and complete pointlessness of the language outside of Czechia and Slovakia (unlike German, French, Spanish and so on).
A2 is also nowhere near enough for social interactions which Czechs are not interested in with foreigners anyway.
I used to live in Prague for 2 years and half. My struggle was first of all to get along with Czech people which they were very cold, closed off and also scared of anything that is not Czech. Thats why many expats they stick with ther expats as its much more easier. What is surprising is how "insular" czech mentality is. I also knew many expats that were fluent with Czech and somehow struggling to integrate so language is not really that big thing when the root is just simple: you dont have interest or dont like anything that is not 100 made in Czechia. Also between expats yes of course there are many events but I felt the city was little bit dull. Nothing much happens if you like cultural and english friendly events. The city is nice, clean, safe but people somehow were harder to get or to just have deeper connections.
While the rest of the world was busy exchanging ideas and developing in the post war period, this country was hermetically sealed from the outside world for the best part of the 20th century so it's no wonder they're so insular. Add to that the woeful foreign language ability and you end up with a very inwards looking country. Although it might not seem like it at first, it's the cultural barrier that is far more difficult to overcome with Czechs than the linguistic one. I'm convinced that they much teach this "Prague is the heart of Europe" nationalism in school because they all repeat the same nonsense.
That said, it is a decent, quiet place to live with alright working conditions if you have some marketable skills. As you've already mentioned, the country is a cultural backwater and it's clear that Vienna is the true capital of the region.
@@ShunShufen I never understand the mentality of sticking in the past which is very common in the area and very lame I would say. For example, Im from Sicily. An island that was conquered by Greek, Romans, Arabs, Phoenicians, Normans. So many different rulers. So what? I should be closed mided? I should hate everyone? This mentality is pathetic and I will never accept.
And where are you from
@ForeverNihil Having lived there almost 2 years (or, if you want, 3 years with 1 year gap), I actually think that the language is definitely a game-changer. Attitude towards me is really different once they see I can interact in reasonably good czech. Apart from that, the general cultural attitude is “introverted”, but as usual “introverted” does not mean “refusal of any kind of interaction”. Of course one can’t expect immediate smiles, casual invitations to hang out etc. This is not Holland, this is not central-southern Italy.
Also, I would not say that “they stick to the past”. Their cultural products are actually quite diverse and interesting, and not only the ones from XIX and XX century.
@@FrancescoGenovese Yes we're all familiar with their spicy cultural imports from the 90s onwards 😂
OMG this is the channel I was waiting for, please could you do all the major cities, you should do Barcelona, it's so similar to Berlin actually in may ways... good and bad. Anyway can't wait for your channel to develop 💟
Thank you so much :)). That is exactly my plan, to cover all major cities. Although it will obviously take some time. And you know what's funny. Barcelona is the next place I planned for my interviews.
The way these videos are cut, wow - this is a really smart story telling style. Five stars to the author 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
You're making me blush 😊
I would not be surprised at all because even those who were interviewed. Their countries were not that friendly either. Especially Germany and France. it is hard. The only country that I could say is better for ex-pats is the Netherlands or Denmark.
Superfun!
Make move videos like this, please.
French complainants about state services not speaking English 😁😁😁😁
Nobody wants to hear your winning? No way 😁😁😁
Local language is necessary? Unbelievable!
Local language is not easy enough to pick up on a run and real effort is needed? 😁😁😁😁
Stop calling yourself “expats”. You are foreigners, not more than that
As a Turkish guy living in Prague for 20 years now, the only thing I could say I don't like is the rent prices, it's so high that you should give all your money to the landlords. Otherwise everything is cool, yes Czech people could be a little conservative but it's not for long time if you speak Czech, and yes, speaking the language is a must, but it's natural, have some respect to the locals by learning their language, and see how they change their attitude towards you.
@@Deniz06-n6m Çek teknik'e gelme :) Çekçe okumak istiyorsan 1 sene dil kursu alman yeterli olmayacaktır, buranın en zor üniversitesilerinden birisi, yazıl Zemědělská ya, İngilizce oku, kafan rahat etsin, dil kursunu da İngilizce al, çok daha rahat edersin, kalacak yer büyük sıkıntı, yurt işini çözmen şart, dışarıda, 600 Euro'dan aşağı başını sokacak delik bulamazsın, şu an çok zamanım yok, fazla yazamıyorum
That is true for all Europe. Culure is closed and not welcoming to foreign people from outside.
Besides the last 30 years, Europe has never got along with its neighbors, or its internal self.
More true for central and northern europe. But not because people are not welcoming, it’s because people in general are very closed. Many people in these countries, even locals, struggle to find friends. I‘m German but with „migrant background“ and still I find it hardcore to find German-German friends. All my friends are like me, Germans with migration background.
@novosib9017 And the rest of the world is living in Peace 😂
@Akrus15 No, it is because some idiots think that everyone must learn and reply English. City's are always different that country places. Everywhere.
There's a reason for that.
Oh wow, coming to a new country you expect to get away with talking a foreign language and to be embraced like a local here? As a foreigner in Prague, I completely support the locals expecting Czech in communication. I’ve made an effort to learn basic Czech to understand and be understood and I’ve faced great support from all locals along the way. Unlike the Germans, they don’t switch to English immediately but patiently let me speak in Czech, which I appreciate a lot. Good luck coming to UK as an expat not speaking English.
Maybe I'm lucky but although I'm not a fluent Czech speaker - though I do study and everyone tolerates that. All the other points mentioned here I don't have an issue with. A thing I do find irritating is the driving attitude. Czech drivers have trained pedestrians to run across crossings and to thank the driver for not running them over - not that they always stop; they just keep inching towards you. I also am bewildered by their referring to the music key of B as H (due to a badly written B on some manuscript a long time ago.) But these are minor points and I'm quite happy to live here which I have done for about 12 years. I play in 3 rock bands and it's a lot of fun. I'm British, 81, and live alone.
This makes the foreigners sound annoying. If it's the culture don't tell them that their culture is not welcoming.
Omg this is painful to watch, you took the weirdest people to ask these questions. It’s not difficult to learn a few phrases in Czech to interact with Czech people in the Czech Republic. I mean, what were their expectations?
Their expectations were that everybody would adjust to them. That Czech people would learn perfect English for them and all of Czech society would welcome them with chocolate and gummy bears. Smh... shows how incredibly privileged these people are. It's disgusting.
I have learned Czech the first thing I moved here and spoke FLUENTLY, it didn’t help me a single bit to be more integrated even 12 years later and all my Czech friends which is a few, keep speaking English with me, because they prefer it that way.
I speak the language and it doesn't help that much. I lived in Brno for over 10 years. Now after 2 years in Prague I have to say that all the stereotypes regarding Prague locals are true.
The idea that you are going to use a city as a "pit stop" on your way to "better" cities like London or Paris is truly unpleasant. I wouldn't welcome a person like that into my city, either.
This is a tad exaggerated. I'm guessing it still applies to many parts of the country but not as much to Prague anymore.
The country has made remarkable strides since the 90s & 2000s, so people from that generation could tell you true horror stories. And I noticed at least some progress year after year. Most doctors now speak English, the receptionists still don't, which is normal for many European countries (and why should they?). You can improvise by memorizing a few sentences. The bureaucracy is hellish even for Slovaks & other Slavic people, but even then there has been some improvement & it basically comes down to the employee who saw you on that day.
The only issue that is truly worrisome is indeed rent. The salaries never catch up with the expenses fast enough & the politics is a bit too messed up for anything significant to be done about it.
Also, it's time we dropped the word "expat", like there's anything inherently wrong with being an immigrant or that it's somehow a class below.
Yeah we do have to do something with the mortgage situation for first time buyers under certain income, rather no deposit first purchase or first purchase grand by municipal office ! With that being said said I think this would be beneficial for most European states
As a Czech person born in Prague, I would NEVER come here to live if I were a foreigner because I know how racist, xenophobic and unaccepting Czech people can be. That unfortunately counts to Prague as well! This is a post-socialism place with people full of personal complexes and rage. Most of the people live in a very small bubble and would need to travel a bit to gain some respect to the outer world.
Moreover, the rent prices are approaching the ones in West Germany, where people can NATIONWIDE earn sometimes 2-3 times more money than here.
Our government increased taxes and in the same time sends the supportive money to the corrupt leaders in Ukraine.
State workers no salary growth...
We could continue like that..
There are some nice things here too...😅 I just think that the negatives exceed the positives.
Funny, as a Czech person living outside of Prague I always enjoy how welcoming, heartwarming and accepting Czech people in our capital city tend to be, compared with rest of the country. 🙂
Also, sending money to the Ukraine is actually one of the few good things our current government does.
You are contradicting yourself, saying Czech people need to have respect to the outer world, and then saying some russian propaganda about corrupt leaders in Ukraine.
Corruption is everywhere in some form, and saying not to help Ukraine because of corruption is, actually, a very closed minded view.
I hope you will never know what war is, but there is long term threat to Czech Republic from russia. If Ukraine fails, in 10 years russia will militarize ukrainian territory and citizens and with new resources they will try to restore ussr. I know that it sounds crazy, but we in Ukraine also thought that it's crazy, and russia won't start full scale war, wiping out cities, raping, killing hundreds of thousands people and destroying all power generation except nuclear (so far).
Thanks for sharing the truth brother ❤️👏
Totally agree! Czech society is very xenophobic and inhibited.
@@andrew10028 Ukrainian corruption is Russian propaganda? Lol what? Try to find some statistics, ANDREY
I was trying to speak in Czech in the US and guess what....it dod not work. Wooooooow. Really
Learn the language fgs, that is on YOU not the locals. In UK we (taxpayers) spend millions on providing translators for everyone, this is madness. Let embassy’s pick up the responsibility. If you can’t settle in wonderful Czech, move on.
If you can't be bothered to learn the language, don't move there. Public services in foreign countries don't have any obligations to non-citizens.
Tah yes, a bunch of foreigners whining about the Czech Republic and how inconvenient it is when everyone doesn't accept to their language, and how horrible it is to have to learn the local language. Don't like it? Go somewhere else.
typical Czech hospitality, like Czech housing prices, like Czech wages, like Czech service, like Czech quality of houses and roads, sucks.
@@_Vogel_ Czech hospitality is fine, if you at least try to speak the language, housing prices are high, compared to salaries, but they're also high compared to wages in Canada and other places, the service is direct, if you don't expect the fake smiles and over-excited service you get in North America. Czech houses are also better than the stick and cardboard disposable North American houses, and the roads in North America are infinitely worse. So it's all relative.
@@_Vogel_ If less people who don't like Czechia come and live here, at least the housing prices could be amended...
400 euro in capital city is pretty low (average monthly salary in Prague is at least 1500 euro)
Well for a single room in a shared apartment.. :)
For spear room … well standard price like anywhere else for example Paris ,Copenhagen or Amsterdam
@@carlislebailey8902 those places have atleast double the salary
Were you listening to him? He said 400 for just a bedroom, meaning not for the entire flat, just one room within the apartment. 400 and still having roommates? That's a very bad deal in Czechia.
@@mk6022 400 EUR is about 10.000,- CZK. That is a typical price for the inner center of the city, nay even on the cheap side - since I've seen 12.000,- CZK (480 EUR) to be more the going rate around Prague 1 and Prague 2. Considering studio apartments now go for min 14.000,- CZK and 1+1s at 18-20.000,- is not uncommon just for rent itself, 10k for a room is not a bad deal at all, especially when it is "warm rent", utilities included.
i make at first time in my life holidays in Prague, and i wonder me, why there more asia guys living than Czech guys. more less is a nice city.
Stop complaining that people working there dont know czech like just hire or ask sb to help out
Lol, all u need to know about things you will dislike about this place is cristal clear from the reactions in the comment section under this video 😂
I live in cz nearly 8 years but my cz language is horrible ( cz is one of the hardest language in the world) my guess is cz people are more reserved mentality specifically old generation(chumya)they don’t know English but younger generation is going overseas more they know much more English but it’s won’t help you if u r alone in cz and don’t have at least know little bit of cz basic..living costs specially rent housing is getting expensive.. I can say food /.medical/ travel..is still affordable then lots of country..They sewer lots if u hear Pece means my be fuck..don’t surprise..😀
M8, its ot important how "horrible" is your CZ, but most important is If you try, at least ;)
Prices of Groceries expensive, Rent Expensive, Public transport expensive. Totally waste
Wasterners would call themselves anything but immigrants...
Expat means simply IMMIGRANT and as an immigrant you must learn to integrate,as simple as that
no one owes anyone anything.