Hi, I have met a Czech girl who is currently staying in the UK, I am a lucky man!. She is learning english and speaks it quite well and I am trying to learn Czech, but it's hard!. I learn a lot from her of course but when I am emailing or texting I would like to be able to write more in Czech. (ok I am trying to impress her, I am in love !) Is there anyone who can help me when I need a translation?, can you either reply on this site so that i can contact you or email me... My email is paulmcrisp@hotmail.com. Thanks
Hi Crispy I too fell in love with a wonderful Czech girl who started out as a friend for a couple of years and then has been my partner for a year now. What I have learned from my girlfriend is that what she appreciated more than my efforts to learn to speak Czech was being honest, reliable and not rushing her into a relationship. Do your homework on Czech culture, look on this websie to find out her 'Name day' This is a traditional day for giving gifts and it's a bit like an unofficial birthday. She will be pleased you took the effort to find out. Also by all means send her some flowers but don't send an even number as even numbers of flowers in Czech custom are only for funerals! Again, get it right and it shows that you care enough to have done your homework. If you are near London, take her to the Czech and Slovak club in west Hamstead. She can get Czech food and draft Budvar! A taste of home she will be missing. Most Czech girls drink beer not silly mixers so don't raise your eyebrows if she has a couple of pint's with the meal. Above all, don't burst out and tell her that you love her because the 'I love you' thing in Czech is a very serious thing to say and is much less a throw away phrase than it is here. If you say it you'd better mean it. By all means use the language information on this website which is excellent to learn polite basics. However, She has most likely come here to improve her english not to speak Czech. As different and interesting her language and culture is to you, she came here to find out more about yours. Find out what she is into and take her somwhere cool. I hope that this hasn't come over a bit patronising - but this is what I found out the hard way. I really wish you all the best. Joss
Hi Joss, Thanks so much for that advice, it's not patronising at all, as we only met by chance a couple of month ago I know almost nothing about Czech culture. Her name is Andrea therefore I think i'm right in saying that her name day is 26 Sept.. so you did me a massive favour in letting me know just in time! and what better place to take her than the one you suggest!. I had sent flowers, only once when she wasn't happy to cheer her up, which worked but fortunatly only in bunches so too many to count! I know what you mean about the 'I love you' thing.. but perhaps enough said on this public site!. I also understand your point about the learning english, Czech is a difficult language to learn I think, but I am picking up bits and it's nice to send and recieve bit's of messages in czech, especially when you have to try and work it out. Hopefully we will stay together for a long time and I can just pick it up as we go along. She was only going to stay to learn english then return but we have just started to look for permanant work for her, so fingers crossed. Cheers Joss PS We live in Camb area, where do you live?
That was some really good information. Do you think those things are good for guys too or specifically for girls? I would sure like to make an impression on a czech man and try to win him over I thought learning about his country, cultures and language would help but not really sure where to start. You know, I asked him about the even number thing for flowers and he said he had no idea :lol: Maybe some guys just dont care much about that stuff
I 'm glad to have been of some help but I've only learned this from my Girlfrield and her family. The flowers thing is definitely true becasause I have sent flowers from Czech florists and they have confirmed it. Excellent that the time is right for the name day - cool! I am learning Czech as much as I can but it is very hard to the english speaking ear. I can do all of the pronunciation including the R with hacek thing but the grammar is very alien. I think it is easier if you understand case structure from German or Latin but short of learning Finnish which has 17 cases this is as hard as it gets for us. It's gonna take time!!! I was wrestling with saying this because I'm sure that there are many decent Czech guys out there but I have to be honest. From a male point of view and only from experience of those I know and how they are with their families, I guess they make great mates, but from a woman's point of view, very high looser count. Seems to me that it's the women that hold it all together, culture, traditions, family values. I know some great guys who are great to drink with and enjoy the football but not a grown up amongst them. Sorry to those I have offended. Location Essex Joss
Well that certainly gives me something to think about. Which this has crossed my mind before, I just don't want it to be that way. I appreciate your opinion and point of view. I'm gonna go with that name day thing and see how that goes over. I've never heard of it before so I'm glad you mentioned it. Which his is in about 3 weeks so I dont have to wait too long With what you were saying about the women holding it all together, I know what you mean. I was married to a mexican for 7 years and he didn't care much about upholding all the traditions and since I didn't know the culture as well as he did, there wasn't a heck of a lot I could do. He just had this whole who cares kind of attitude. I bet it's like that with a lot of cultures. But oh well, what can you do :roll:
