Hey guys, I'm back and this time no questions relating to girls, pubs, clubs, or parties. I've also started the learning the language to get a head-start and I'm really enjoying it. But I want to get completely immersed by also getting some info. regarding the czech culture. I have some questions and I made them as brief as possible: 1) I've heard that when one enters a Czech house, one has to remove their footwear. Is this true? even in Prague? (Frankly, I do respect this tradition for several reasons of which I will not mention now) 2) I've heard that eating out is rather rare in the average Czech family as it's reserved for a speacial occasion. But I don't know if this is similar in Prage (as Prague is quite cosmopolitan and different when compared to the other cities in CR) 3) Does religion assume a vital role in CR? If so which religion? 4) Any culture tips like the do's and dont's when one goes to CR?
Yes. If you don´t take your shoes off, it will be seen extremely rude and offending. However, there´s been already one whole thread where this was discussed through and through. Look back into the older threads under "culture". Eating out really used to be reserved for more special occasions. But it depends on where you go to eat. If you are hungry and you just drop to McDonalds for a burger, that´s quite normal. If you head out into some good restaurant, well that´s more for "special occasions". It also depends on your money situation. Most of Czech people are total non-believers. Again, this has been discussed many times here under "culture". This is too wide to answer. Simply go with open mind and learn from the mistakes that you will do.
Hey guys thanks for replying. Eso, thanks for the heads-up...I did make that mistake before, but now I make it a point to refer to CR being in the Central Europe. Some more questions: 1) What's the average income of a household in Czech Repub.? 2)How well are doctors (specifically international doctors) regarded in CR? and how much would an average doctor make? (you can leave the second part out) 3) What about clothes, accessories etc? I do know for a fact that clothes, food, and accessories are generally expensive throughout Europe (with an exception of Eastern Europe I guess) but I don't know to what extent this applies to CR? 4) And finally I've heard (and read in a website) that the Czech ppl frown on shabby clothing (Again this is similar to UK too and maybe the whole of Europe). But how does one define "shabby clothing" as it's too broad a word to define? And I also heard that the Czechs value inteligence which I think is very mature of them and also that it shows their respect towards education as a whole ( this scenario doesn't exist in many other European countries which can be quite rude at times).
Just a few notes about do's and don'ts... 1. Be polite. Remember, you are a guest. 2. Don't start a discussion with "Well, back home we do it this way...". 3. Don't say "Oh, this is so inexpensive..." about anything. 4. Don't compare any of the local historic surroundings to Disney World. 5. Don't make fun of fractured English when locals speak to you in English. They are trying to accommodate you and their command of English is probably better than your command of theirs. 6. Observe local clothing conventions - don't wear jeans to the opera or shorts to a nice restaurant. White running shoes say "American Tourist" real loud. 7. Pick up a basket or shopping cart when you enter a store (this will assure that the shopkeeper will regard you as a real customer and not just a browser or shoplifter) and try the local brands - you will find them just as good and quite possibly better than what you are used to. 8. Stand on the right side of escalators (particularly at the Metro) if you are not walking on them. The left side is for passing by people in a hurry. 9. Enjoy the differences - they will be some of your fondest memories. 10. Have fun - life is too short to do anything else. Most of these will work just about anywhere you visit.
hey GlennInFlorida, I must really thank you for the valuable advice... sure it helpful. And what about jeans? In US (well at least in D.C), most of the students wear jeans which are slightly torn at the ends. Does this matter in CR. or is it considered shabby and cheap?
I don't remember seeing frayed jeans but, perhaps someone else who lives there could give you a better answer. To me, most young people there seemed to be neat and well dressed when out in public. Last time I was there, I saw a lot of "acid washed" jeans and there were no "saggers" in view (no underwear covered bottoms to be seen). Long sleeve T-shirts worn untucked and jackets are cut longer than here in the US, generally falling well below the waist and covering the butt. Of course, I am usually there in the fall and it is cooler - dress may be different in the summer (possibly more informal, I don't know). Don't worry, you'll catch on very quickly. Clothes are very individual in ČR, most people dress in their own style - wear what makes you feel comfortable.
Of course. You have to remove your filthy shoes and socks while entering a household. For it is a sacred place for the inhabitans which you must not desacrate. Essential. Every week (o sunday, naturally) you have to report to your local church to manifest your belief and commitment to the Only God. Donations are welcome. Never ever say to any Czech isolated "ki"! They could go on a killing spree. And guess whose body would be the first to lie in blood on the floor... Er... sorry about that, I just had to) But now seriously That is important. Czechs have very strong behavioural heritage from Austrian empire. That is why they are considered non-smiling and why they do not express publicly their emotions. That is why they seem not to appreciate succes but disdain almost every flaw and failure. Another part of this heritage is strong sense of politesse. In more formal speech, we use many supplementar modal verbs to mitigate any request. Also a polite negation in a request is very used. (Mohu otevřít okno? Mohl bych otevřít okno? Nemohl bych otevřít okno? - May I open the window? Might I open the window? Might I not open the window?) As if anticipating that the other person would say "no, you might not". This is of course only matter of a ritual, the other one is not really supposed to say "no"... Other thing is that we say "promiňte" very often, for "excuse me", "sorry" and "pardon" but much more often. Sometimes when I was not paying full attetion to where I was walking and step on someones leg or even hit him accidentally, I said "promiňte", of course, but... so did they! Even if it was purely and solely my fault they apologised! Of course not everyone would do that, but there are such people. Why do I emphasise this so much? In my experience with foreigners (especially the British) living here in ČR, I encoutered only problems with this. They always seemed to live somehow in their capsule only with their family, not paying attention to anybody outside. Even though my experience is limited, I must say that not that much. We have a housing association which is renting inocupied flats in our house. Mainly to foreigners... and... well... as I said, especially the British were problemists. They were very noisy, stomped even by night and woke up the neighbours. They did not learn to lock properly and always had to leave (and you cannot imagine the state the flat was in after they had left). Even today, in a house opposite to us there cried a child (about 5 years old). In an English speaking family (sometimes I can hear them, I do not know whether they are British or American or what). The child cried and cried and cried. They did not calm it down. They let him cry. For the whole evening. Well, I do not want to look like a xenophobe or something, I do not say that all of them are the same, not even that there are no Czech people like that. I only want to make clear that it is considered very very impolite here and almost all foreigners that lived in our house had problems with it (or rater we had problems with them). I do not know whether it is a Czech peculiarity but it seems to me so. In short - BE POLITE.
Thanks for the tip GlennInFlorida, your description has at least given me a general idea as to how they dress in CR. And thank you eleshar for the info. Many english speaking ppl indeed fit your description. It's like they want to somehow stand-out of the crowd and they do it in every possible way they can!! :wink:
Good one Eso! But I think I can one up it! I've learned to say that the Czechs are not of Eastern Europe, but are "at the 'Heart' of Europe." Brilliant, I know. :lol:
Ahoj! RE: eating out. I found that if anywhere it was more commen to go to a 'typical czech pub'... opposed to a fancy or other-culture-influenced restaurant...
ahoj there!!! (I sound more like a pirate but nevermind..) I've heard that restaurant's are normally reserved for festive occasions (acc. to the Czechs) but I guess this is changing more in cities like Prague...
Elishar, it looks like you are fed up with foreigners living in your house/block of flats . By allowing strangers to rent premises for short term accomodation, you are basically permitting any type of behaviour to enter your private domain. Perhaps the only way to combat this interference into an existing family life and space is to stop renting out rooms/flats? It is so sad when others do not respect people's property or personal space, no matter what country they hail from. We have neighbours living above us who likewise, disregard us with their feet stamping on floors, holding regular roaring parties till 4am, and banging shut every door they open. And they are young, well-educated local czechs!!! :roll: :twisted[/quote]
That is important. Czechs have very strong behavioural heritage from Austrian empire. That is why they are considered non-smiling and why they do not express publicly their emotions. That is why they seem not to appreciate succes but disdain almost every flaw and failure. Another part of this heritage is strong sense of politesse. In more formal speech, we use many supplementar modal verbs to mitigate any request. Also a polite negation in a request is very used. (Mohu otevřít okno? Mohl bych otevřít okno? Nemohl bych otevřít okno? - May I open the window? Might I open the window? Might I not open the window?) As if anticipating that the other person would say "no, you might not". This is of course only matter of a ritual, the other one is not really supposed to say "no"... Other thing is that we say "promiňte" very often, for "excuse me", "sorry" and "pardon" but much more often. Sometimes when I was not paying full attetion to where I was walking and step on someones leg or even hit him accidentally, I said "promiňte", of course, but... so did they! Even if it was purely and solely my fault they apologised! Of course not everyone would do that, but there are such people. Why do I emphasise this so much? In my experience with foreigners (especially the British) living here in ČR, I encoutered only problems with this. They always seemed to live somehow in their capsule only with their family, not paying attention to anybody outside. Even though my experience is limited, I must say that not that much. We have a housing association which is renting inocupied flats in our house. Mainly to foreigners... and... well... as I said, especially the British were problemists. They were very noisy, stomped even by night and woke up the neighbours. They did not learn to lock properly and always had to leave (and you cannot imagine the state the flat was in after they had left). Even today, in a house opposite to us there cried a child (about 5 years old). In an English speaking family (sometimes I can hear them, I do not know whether they are British or American or what). The child cried and cried and cried. They did not calm it down. They let him cry. For the whole evening. Well, I do not want to look like a xenophobe or something, I do not say that all of them are the same, not even that there are no Czech people like that. I only want to make clear that it is considered very very impolite here and almost all foreigners that lived in our house had problems with it (or rater we had problems with them). I do not know whether it is a Czech peculiarity but it seems to me so. In short - BE POLITE.[/quote] Oh Eleshar....I'm sure you're right, but I can't even imagine what do you think about us italian!!! :wink:
