Life in Slovakia vs. Czech Republic

Discussion in 'Culture' started by iluvuma1, Jan 11, 2005.

  1. iluvuma1

    iluvuma1 Well-Known Member

    Can someone give me some insight on the standard of living in Slovakia vs. Czech Republic? My fiance is from Czech Republic and he mentioned that we might find a good deal on property in Slovakia. I am a little wary of that idea- because my perception of Slovakia is that it is much less developed than the Czech Republic. (Blame it on the Eurotrip movie-)
    Are there major cultural differences? How similar is the lifestyle/culture to Czech culture? Are Czechs and Slovaks the same ethnicity? Do they look/act similar? What about the economy?
     
  2. Malnik

    Malnik Well-Known Member

    I am looking at property at the moment in Brno or Nr Bratislava. It seems that the economy in Slovakia is taking off. They have managed to capture some huge foreign companies which will be producing many things. The biggest is a huge car plant with the prospect of producing 1 milliion cars a year. These will ofcourse be exported throughout Europe. I guess the cost of labour and land is a key thing in these decisions. My own opinion is that the CZ economy is also growing but not at the same rate as Slovaks, i think it has grown reasonably quickly already and labour rates are higher thus the possibility of huge growth in property will be restricted.
    Dont get me wrong...they will both grow but I think Slovakia is a better bet for investment in property being a cheaper purchase now and a higher cpital gain in the short term.
    Here in the UK, Bratislava is being pushed a lot more than Prague at the moment. Prague seems to be seen as a 'traditional' place whilst Bratislava is positioning itself as a vibrant, new destination. We have direct fllights.
    So where do we buy....got a coin anyone?
     
  3. Sova

    Sova Well-Known Member

    Just a warning: Bratislava may not be the best indicator of Slovak real estate prices, appreciation of real estate values, or the Slovak economy in general. I'm not disagreeing with Malnik, as I haven't been to Slovakia in 9 years, but just trying to add my (admittedly dated) perspective.

    When I was there, the cost of living in Bratislava was about the same as in Prague, with regards to renting an apartment, food, etc. Outside of Bratislava, in the smaller cities, the cost of living was substantially lower. Rent prices were five to ten times less for bigger apartments, even in fairly large (in Slovak terms) cities like Zilina. So, my advice would be that you try to gather specific information about the town/city you might think about buying property in, rather than looking at Bratislava as an indicator (unless, of course, you're thinking to go to Bratislava).

    As for cultural differences, look at the topic odd question for more information. I'll add that when I was there, only Bratislava and Kosice had more than 100,000 residents (~350,000 and ~150,000, respectively), while there were about 5 million in the entire country. That should give an idea as to how rural Slovakia is. Yes, Slovakia (in general) is much less developed that the Czech Republic in terms of urban population and industrialization.
     
  4. Jana

    Jana Well-Known Member

    Q 1 - No
    Q 2 - A lot
    Q 3 - Yes
    Q 4 - Yes
     
  5. Frank_pivo_4

    Frank_pivo_4 Well-Known Member

    ............
     
  6. tuzemski

    tuzemski Active Member

    Havel? Meciar had nothing to do with it?
    The soviet planning of where what went where had nothing to do with it?
    Havel in the couple of years from the fall to the split?
    I think you're ranting a raving a bit here.
    actually you're foaming at the mouth, do you have rabies? I hear they can cure that now.
     
  7. Frank_pivo_4

    Frank_pivo_4 Well-Known Member

    ............
     
  8. Jana

    Jana Well-Known Member

    Jeden moudrý člověk - myslím, že to byl Jan Werich - řekl:
    Nejhorší je srážka s blbcem...
     
  9. tuzemski

    tuzemski Active Member

    interesting, seeing as a president here has almost no power.
     
  10. Frank_pivo_4

    Frank_pivo_4 Well-Known Member

    ............
     
  11. babicka

    babicka Well-Known Member

    Frank-pivo-4, if you do not wish to answer questions raised in someone's pm, then surely the nicest way to reply is simply by writing:- No comment.
    You appear to have very deep rooted anger regarding certain issues, but people will listen to you more, (even if some do not necessarily agree with you), if you did not write in such a hostile manner at times. Also some of the things you have to say are very interesting to read.
     
  12. Frank_pivo_4

    Frank_pivo_4 Well-Known Member

    ............
     
  13. Dan

    Dan Member

    it was written:

    Are there major cultural differences? How similar is the lifestyle/culture to Czech culture? Are Czechs and Slovaks the same ethnicity? Do they look/act similar?
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    I'm coming from a Slovak point of view with my thoughts as that is my background. I also posed this same question on a Slovak forum to see if Slovaks or Slovak Americans see any major differences.

    Personally, I see a heck of a lot more similarities than I do differences. The language is similar, the cuisine is similar, the music and folk dress, the love of nature and music, the shared history of being dominated by larger, aggressive foreign powers. Very interesting to me that the split into 2 different countries was never put to a popular vote. Where my relatives are from, western SK, the language is very similar to the Moravians.

    Here are some differences that either I see or others have seen in the discussions that I have participated in:

    1. Slovaks tend to be more emotional with their "hearts on their sleeves"..perhaps evern more prone to liking an argument. Czechs tend to have a bit more emotional reserve, more self disciplined??, more Germanic in character??

    2. Slovaks are a bit more tied to organized religion, especially the Catholic and Lutheran Churches. Czechs perhaps because of the historical influences of Hus and having religion imposed on them by the Hapsburgs are more skeptical of religious thoughts and ideas.

    3. Slovaks tend to be more tied to life in small towns and villages...Czechs tend to gravitate toward bigger cities and maybe even the rest of the world.

    What I find very interesting as a Slovak American observer is that there is a bit of a rivalry between the 2 groups. Some Czechs look on the Slovaks as "poor country cousins" who aren't quite as worldly. Some Slovaks perceive Czechs, especially Bohemians from Prague, as a bit haughty and/or unfriendly.

    All in all, though, from this part of the world, there seems to be a history of good relations between the two. The Czechs were the first to arrive in St. Louis and were very helpful to the Slovaks for the most part. They took them into their churches, helped them get jobs, helped them start their own church. Many socialized and intermarried.

    I belong to a Catholic parish that is primarily Czech and have found the Czech Americans very welcoming to this Slovak American.

    It would be interesting to hear what native Czechs think regarding this topic.
     
  14. BENEDIKTA

    BENEDIKTA Member

    Hello! My personal experience with this topic has been that much of the differences between Czechs and Slovaks has to do with the degree of urbanisation in Czechia as opposed to the more agricultural society of Slovakia. I think if you visited and spent time is a small village in say, Southern Czech and then spent time in a similar village in Slovakia you would notice very little difference, especially concerning what some say is the Czechs' coldness as oppesed to the Slovaks "warmth". If fact, Bratislava is an extremely "cold" city and the people there are not typical friendly Slovaks for the most part (my Slovak friends will vouch for me on this) whereas the little village of Stenovice in Western Czech is home to some very welcoming and friendly people. I dont see is so much as a Czech vs Slovak thing as much as an urban vs village type thing, at least as far as the general personality of the two nationalities. I've actually had some fairly nasty experiences with rude and mean Slovaks in the Western part of the country. Please dont take offense at this statement but I mention it only to dispute the sometimes made statement that Slovaks are sweet and friendly and Czechs are cold and rude- I have known equal amounts of both on both sides of the border!!
     
  15. Dan

    Dan Member

    Very perceptive and nuanced comments by Benedikta. No doubt that generalizations don't always fit.

    A few random comments:

    I wouldn't want a Czech or Slovak to make generalizations about the USA from visiting New York city. Although I have found the people there to be more cordial than what is seen in movies or the television, there certainly is a curtness or efficiency to communication between tourists and locals. In fairness, I don't think one goes to NYC to find out what Americans are like. You go there to see the sights and an interesting city.

    Perhaps the same could be said about visiting Prague or Bratislava. As an aside, there seem to be quite a few stories circulating in the USA about the unpleasant side of Prague: prostitution, pickpockets, drug use, snotty locals who take advantage of or sneer at tourists. From what you say about Bratislava, I'm starting to wonder of I'd want to visit either city on the basis of what is said about the locals. Maybe better to head toward places like Olomouc or Brno in the CR, or Trencin or Trnava in Slovakia. Perhaps in smaller (less touristy) cities or small villages as Benedikta points out, one can see what Czechs and Slovaks are really like or at least draw their own conclusions.

    But I keep coming back to what I think of NYC. One would want to go to either city for reasons other than meeting the locals I would think. Big cities just have a way of not being particularly friendly.

    And I keep thinking of a comment made in the Lonely Planet book about CR and SK regarding Slovaks. The author said they are generally kind and considerate toward strangers but rude and surly toward each other. I'm not necessarily agreeing with that. However, my Slovak American relatives sure did enjoy a good argument with each other.

    One of these days, I'm just going to have to come over there and see for myself instead of reading web sites and reading books.

    Dan
     

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