Czech Republic Country Guide with Packing List

FACTS, FIGURES, AND A GENERAL OVERVIEWÂ

C Z E C H

R E P U B L I C

YOUR COUNTRY GUIDE

GLOBAL AUTISM PROJECT

SKILLCORPS

E X P E C T A T I O N S

A T

A

G L A N C E

WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE? The Czech Republic climate is characterized by mild, humid summers and cold, cloudy winters. The best time to visit the Czech Republic is in the late spring and early fall where temperatures range in the 70s Fahrenheit. July and August are Prague’s hottest and driest months. Snowfall usually occurs before Christmas and then again from January to March.

Capital City Prague Population 10,674,723 (July 2017 est.)

Major Religions oman Catholic 10.4%, Protestant (includes Czech Brethren and Hussite) 1.1%, other and unspecified 54%, none 34.5% Official Language (s) Czech (official) 95.4% (Most people now understand and speak English in major towns)

W H A T ' S

T H E

B I G

P I C T U R E ?

Political/ social climate Overall the Czech Republic is a fairly safe place for foreign nationals and tourists with fairly robust rule of law and relatively low crime rates. Relationships between the majority Czech population and the countries minorities (especially the Romani) is still tense. Romani often face discrimination in housing, education, and employment. Additional human rights problems faced by Czech citizens and migrants to the country include human trafficking and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS. How will we get around?

Taxis, Trams, metros, ferries and even cable cars are widely available and will meet the majority of your transportation needs while you travel with us on SkillCorps. Please note that transportation to and from our partner site will be arranged however you are responsible for transportation to and from excursion sites so please plan and budget accordingly. If you plan on using public transportation we suggest that you do so during the day time and in groups of at least two other SkillCorps volunteers to ensure your safety and comfort.

CALENDAR January 1st – Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State, New Year’s Day Good Friday Easter Monday May 1st – Labour Day May 8th – Liberation Day July 5th – Saints Cyril and Methodius Day July 6th - Jan Hus Day September 28th - St. Wenceslas Day (Czech Statehood Day) October 28th - Independent Czechoslovak State Day November 17th - Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day December 24th - Christmas Eve December 25th - Christmas Day December 26th - St. Stephen’s Day

GOOGLE FOR THE EXCHANGE RATE, IT CHANGES DAILY!

B U D G E T I N G &

P L A N N I N G

National Currency | Coruna or Czech Crown and the Euro

Accessing cash Changing money is not a problem in Prague, currency exchange centers are ubiquitous across the city and in most major hotels catering to foreign travelers. Banks and ATMS are also readily accessible throughout most of the city. Just as is the case in the United States, ATMS in the Czech Republic operate on a four digit atm pin ( the same pin you use in the United States) and are relatively straightforward and intuitive to use.

Daily expenses Expenses will vary depending on individual and situational needs but here is a sample budget for a typical working day at the partner site. We will leave budgeting for souvenirs and gifts up to your discretion

Average Costs: Item. Price CZK. Price USD Coffee. Kč2.62 $1-2 Take-away meal Kč127. $5.50 Water Kč21.07 $1

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Will I be able to use my cell phone?

Cell phone usage is ubiquitous across the country with more people having access to mobile phones than other goods and services. You may wish to look at alternative service providers to avoid high costs.

How do I avoid incurring high costs?

There are three main mobile phone operators in the Czech Republic:  Vodafone (Britishowned), O2 (owned by PPF) and T-Mobile (owned by German Deutsche Telekom). All of them offer pre paid option which is  much cheaper in comparison to carrying your native SIM. Internet access Internet connections are generally reliable in most urban and tourist areas however the bandwidth speed may not be as efficient as you are used to. Due to current lack of public funding by the EU the internet infrastructure currently lags other developed nations.

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H O W S H O U L D

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D R E S S ?

While in most of Europe, modesty is not necessarily a requirement, we do ask that you represent the organization and our partners with respect and understanding. We don't have a firm dress code outside of the center, but we ask that you dress as a mindful representative of this work.

Overall, it may be hot or cold depending on your time in Czech Republic. If it's quite warm, try wearing cotton and loose fitting clothes!

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A B O U T

What kind of content does the government censor?

With the important exception of content inciting violence or hate speech, the Czech government does not currently censor the internet. A study conducted by vpnmentor ranked the Czech republic ranked 23 out of 179 countries accessed in the study making it one of the least restrictive countries in the world for accessing online content.

What are the sociocultural attitudes surrounding the LGBTQ+ community?

According to the Department of State There are no legal restrictions on same-sex relationships or the organization of LGBTQ events in the Czech Republic. Outside of Prague, particularly in small towns, such relations or events are less accepted. LGBTQ+ travelers should use discretion when traveling in these areas.

What is the current view and treatment of autism?

According to SkillCorps alum, Kristi Gentile, although the Czech Republic has made strides over the past decade in treating and understanding autism, they continue to lack the resources and supports necessary to enhance the quality of life of the majority of its autistic population. There are no BCBA's who currently reside in the country. Families generally pay for any therapy or special education sessions out of pocket as there is no government assistance or medical insurance policy that covers autism treatment. People are still largely unaware of what autism is or are poorly informed about the nature of the condition.

However strides are being made fairly quickly with several organizations such as APLSA and Centrum ABA who are looking to change that.

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WHEN

YOU

TRAVEL, REMEMBER A

THAT

FOREIGN

COUNTRY

IS

DESIGNED MAKE

NOT

TO

YOU

COMFORTABLE. IS

DESIGNED

MAKE

ITS

TO

OWN

PEOPLE COMFORTABLE.

CLIFTON FADIMAN

IT

M A P S ,

P H R A S E S ,

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M O R E

IMPORTANT PHRASES Yes/no Ano/ne

Thank you Děkuji

No meat Žádné maso

Have you heard of autism?

Slyšeli jste o autismu?

Hello Ahoj

Where is the bathroom?

Kde je koupelna?

No milk Žádné mléko

Goodbye Ahoj

Check, please Zkontrolujte prosím

No wheat/no flour Žádná pšenice / žádná mouka

My name is...

Jmenuji se...

Vegetarian Vegetariánský

Allergy Alergie

W H A T

D I D

O T H E R S T H I N K ?

"Prague has my whole heart! I loved everything about this city and I can't say enough about it. When we left Prague to explore the country side, we saw a whole new part of Czech Republic. Such a gorgeous corner in the world.

-Â Michelle

"The museums and the market strolls made it an incredible experience. Wooden toys gorgeous crafts are everywhere. Such an amazing city full of art.

- Michelle

"The John Lennon wall is a must! So much character. And stories flowing across the colorful wall. It's incredible.

- Claire

"It was so much more than I expected.

Prague is a real fairytale city.

- Summer

"The food was surprising and wonderful. It's rich and delicious, but perfectly unique.

- Casey

"I can't say enough about Czech Republic.

The people are so welcoming and the sites are stunning. We spent a full day in museums and simply walking the bridge in Prague, shopping along the local craft booths. It was unbelievable!

- Pamela

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