JOINT MASTERS OF ARTS MIGRATION AND INTERCULTURAL RELATIONS (JMMIR)
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? Research Paper
Instructor: Lydia Potts
JIHOČESKÁ UNIVERZITA V ČESKÝCH BUDĚJOVICÍCH 2010
17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech?
Contents 1.
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4
2.
Theoretical Assumptions .................................................................................................... 5
3.
2.1.
National Identity .......................................................................................................... 5
2.2.
Culture ......................................................................................................................... 6
Research .............................................................................................................................. 8 3.1.
Technical Matters ........................................................................................................ 8
3.2.
Participants .................................................................................................................. 8
3.2.1.
Gender, Age, Country of Origin........................................................................... 8
3.2.2.
Professions, Education ......................................................................................... 9
3.2.3.
Reason to Come, Length of Stay .......................................................................... 9
3.2.4.
Other Intercultural Experience, Languages .......................................................... 9
3.2.5.
Speaking Czech, Relationships with Czechs...................................................... 10
3.2.6.
Feeling Integrated ............................................................................................... 11
3.3.
Outcome: What is “Czech”? ...................................................................................... 11
4.
References ......................................................................................................................... 14
5.
Appendix ........................................................................................................................... 14 5.1.
Questionnaire for Discussion Groups ........................................................................ 14
5.2.
Online Questionnaire: Perception of Czechs ............................................................. 15
5.3.
Online Questionnaire: What it means to be Czech .................................................... 16
5.4.
Excerpts from the Group Discussions ....................................................................... 17
5.4.1.
Prague ................................................................................................................. 17
5.4.2.
Approach to Strangers vs. Friends ..................................................................... 18
5.4.3.
Family Ties ......................................................................................................... 19
5.4.4.
Private vs. Business Relations ............................................................................ 22
5.4.5.
Horrible Services ................................................................................................ 24
5.4.6.
No Interfering, No Confrontations, No Problem-solving, Unhelpful Police ..... 26
5.4.7.
Bigger Safety ...................................................................................................... 31
5.4.8.
Wonderful Transport .......................................................................................... 33
5.4.9.
Dresscode and Appearance ................................................................................ 34
5.4.10.
Being a Foreigner ........................................................................................... 35
5.4.11.
Czech Character and Identity ......................................................................... 37
5.4.12.
Gender Roles .................................................................................................. 39
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What is Czech? 5.4.13. 5.5.
Education and Culture .................................................................................... 40
Replies from the Online Questionnaires .................................................................... 40
5.5.1.
What Surprised Them......................................................................................... 40
5.5.2.
What They Miss ................................................................................................. 41
5.5.3.
What is Difficult for Them ................................................................................. 43
5.5.4.
Close Relationships with Czechs ....................................................................... 44
5.5.5.
Czech Character ................................................................................................. 45
5.5.6.
Welcoming Czechs? ........................................................................................... 46
5.5.7.
“Half-Czech” ...................................................................................................... 48
5.5.8.
Final Comments ................................................................................................. 48
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What is Czech?
1. Introduction In the modern globalised world, we encounter cultures different from ours wherever we turn: we travel to foreign countries and foreigners travel to ours; we go to exotic restaurants; we buy exotic products; we surf the borderless Internet; we play foreign computer games and watch foreign films – in our language, or even in the original ones; we listen to foreign songs... We encounter foreign factors more and more in our closest surroundings. However, we may accept different appearances, even different customs and traditions, but when it comes to something more intimate and internal, such as routines, values and worldviews; when it comes to foreign factors in our everyday lives that differ from or even contradict something we are used to, something “self-evident” and “normal”, then clashes occur. When a migrant moves to a new country, whatever the reason and motivation, they come across differences in areas they would have never thought possible. Nevertheless, every culture and every individual is different, and so is what they perceive as “different” about the host country, its nationals and their features. I decided to find out what is generally perceived as “Czech” among foreigners from different cultural backgrounds. It would be preferable if these foreigners could be from different socioeconomic backgrounds as well, but the scope of my research was very small. There were 22 respondents in my survey: 11 in group discussions and 11 via an online questionnaire. I found the respondents among my friends and clients, and their friends and acquaintances (a snowball effect). The group discussions took place in July 2010, and there were three of them. There were only women in the first one – women who had or had had a Czech partner; there were only men in the second one – without a similar condition; and the two participants in the last discussion were “half-Czech” – they had one or both parents Czech, but grew up in another country, regularly coming back to the Czech Republic. All of the foreigners had lived in the Czech Republic for at least a year. I recorded the group discussions on a voice recorder and asked a friend to record them on a camcorder as well. In addition, I asked the participants to fulfil a questionnaire before the discussion, to collect some background data. The online questionnaire consisted of these questions as well, plus questions regarding the Czech character, feeling of acceptance, integration, etc.
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What is Czech?
2. Theoretical Assumptions 2.1. National Identity In my research, I asked the participants what they think Czechs are like, what they consider to be typical Czech customs or traits. So what is it “to be Czech”? What is “Czech”? Is it something internally inherent to people born in the territory of the Czech Republic? Is it transmitted in blood? Or is it learned in the process of socialization? Whom can we call “Czech”? A person who lives in the Czech Republic? A person whose parents were Czech, even if s/he grew up and lives in another country? A person who has the Czech passport? A person who speaks Czech perfectly? There are as many perceptions of “Czechness” as there are people who have come in touch with anything or anybody “Czech”. On the one hand, there is the way people who are considered Czech perceive themselves; on the other hand, there is the view of others. The perception of what is and what is not Czech is “ethnicist and nationalist” (Wodak et al. 2009: 1), based on the contraposition between the national “us” and the non-national “others”, because “every search for identity includes differentiating oneself from what one is not.” (Benhabib 1996 in Wodak et al. 2009: 2) I accept the following basic assumptions (from Wodak et al. 2009: 3-4): •
Nations are a product of modernity; they “are mental constructs, ‘imagined communities’, which nationalised political subjects perceive as discrete political entities.”
•
“[N]ational identities, as special forms of social identities, are produced and reproduced, as well as transformed and dismantled, discursively.” Also, “there is – in an essentialist sense1 – no such thing as one national identity. […] [D]ifferent identities are discursively constructed according to audience, setting, topic and substantive content. National identities are therefore malleable, fragile and, frequently, ambivalent and diffuse.”
1
For the difference between the essentialist and non-essentialist concept of culture, refer to Holliday et. al. (2004) – Intercultural Communication: An Advanced Resource Book. Pp. 5-6.
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What is Czech? •
‘National identity’ implies “a complex of similar conceptions and perceptual schemata, of similar emotional dispositions and attitudes, and of similar behavioural conventions, which bearers of this ‘national identity’ share collectively and which they have internalised through socialisation (education, politics, the media, sports or everyday practices).”
•
“[D]iscursive constructs of nations and national identities [...] primarily emphasise national uniqueness and intra-national uniformity but largely ignore intra-national differences. In imagining national singularity and homogeneity, members of a national community simultaneously construct the distinctions between themselves and other nations, most notably when the other nationality is believed to exhibit traits similar to those of one’s own national community, similar to what Freud called the ‘narcissism of small differences’.”
To sum up, the participants of my survey did not have to be unsure and worried if they were right about what Czechs are like. “A typical Czech” is an abstraction, an illusion which can more or less be embodied in a real “Czech” person. And “Czechness” is a construct, continuously recreated and adapted to current goals and purposes.
2.2. Culture Differences between nations are perceived in terms of “culture”: people either use the name of nationals (such as “Czechs” or “Czech people”), or they speak about “Czech culture”, as opposed to their own “culture”. What is “culture”, then, and what is its association with “nation”? In my research, I tried to identify what foreigners perceive as “Czech culture” in the following sense: Hofstede defines culture as “the collective programming of the mind distinguishing the members of one group or category of people from another. The “category” can refer to nations, regions within or across nations, ethnicities, religions, occupations, organizations, or the genders. A simpler definition is ‘the unwritten rules of the social game’. [...] All human groups, from the nuclear family to society, develop cultures as they go. Culture is what enables a group to function smoothly.” (From his website) Hofstede calls culture in terms of “patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting mental programs, or [...] software of the mind.” Culture also refers to “the ordinary and menial things in life: greeting, eating, showing or not showing feelings, keeping a certain physical distance from 6
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What is Czech? others, making love, and maintaining body hygiene.” An individual human being acquires most of her or his programming during childhood, before puberty. However, a “person’s behavior is only partially predetermined by his or her mental programs.” (From his website and in Hofstede et al. 2010: 5) Culture is “always a collective phenomenon” and it is “learned, not innate. [...] Culture should be distinguished from human nature on one side and from an individual’s personality on the other.” (Hofstede et al. 2010: 6) “Cultural differences manifest themselves in several ways,” but Hofstede considers the following four as covering “the total concept rather neatly: symbols, heroes, rituals, and values.” (Hofstede et al. 2010: 7) Samovar et al. (2007: 18-9) highlight another set of components that define and distinguish cultures: history, religion, values, social organizations, and language. In their view, the best definition of cultures has been advanced by Triandis (1994): “Culture is a set of human-made objective and subjective elements that in the past have increased the probability of survival and resulted in satisfaction for the participants in an ecological niche, and thus became shared among those who could communicate with each other because they had a common language and they lived in the same time and place.” The “subjective” elements include “values, attitudes, beliefs, orientations, and underlying assumptions prevalent among people in a society.” (p. 20) In addition, they quote Huntington (1996), who adds that besides language, religion and values, “the heart of culture” also involves traditions and customs. (p. 21) (emphasis added) As far as the “national culture” is concerned, Hofstede points out that “nation” is a relatively recent construct in the human history that should not be confused with the term “society”, an organically evolved social organisation. While we can speak about common culture of societies, “nation” is a politically created unit. (Hofstede et al. 2010: 20-1) Some nations are more culturally homogeneous, while others comprise culturally different regions; and culturally similar areas can belong politically to different nations. However, “[r]esearch by Geert and others has shown that national cultures differ in particular at the level of, usually unconscious, values held by a majority of the population. [...] Because values are acquired in childhood, national cultures are remarkably stable over time; national values change is a matter of generations. What we see changing around us, in response to changing circumstances are practices: symbols, heroes and rituals, leaving the underlying values untouched. This is why differences between countries often have such a remarkable historical continuity.” (From his website)
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What is Czech?
3. Research 3.1. Technical Matters In order to detect a general idea of what is Czech, I decided to use the method of a group discussion (focus group), because it would allow the participants to react to others’ opinions and experiences. I intended to conduct three group discussions: one in Czech, one in English, and one in Russian. However, in the end, I decided to conduct the research in English only, as it was easier and I was able to gather enough English-speaking participants. In addition, to collect responses from people who were not available for the discussions, I created an online questionnaire. The main questions the participants in the survey were asked were: •
What surprised you most when you arrived and started living in the Czech Republic?
•
What do you miss when living here, or what do you find better?
•
What do you still find difficult to get used to / to understand? Why?
•
Do you think that Czech people welcome / accept foreigners? Why?
•
What are Czechs like? What is specific about them?
The group discussions were approximately 90, 60, and 30 minutes long, and they were accompanied by a form including some background questions, a list of which can be found in the appendix. The online questionnaire also included these questions, plus several core questions regarding the perceptions of Czechs, which can also be found in the appendix.
3.2. Participants 3.2.1.
Gender, Age, Country of Origin
In the first discussion group, there were five women, 24 to 35 years old: one from New Zealand, one from India, one from Kazakhstan, one from Peru and one from the USA. In the second group, there were four men, 28 to 55 years old: one from Italy, one from the USA, one from Germany and one from Brazil. In the third discussion group, there were only two participants, 25 and 30 years old: a woman born to Czech parents who spent her childhood in Denmark, and a man who grew up in France, born to French father and Czech mother. In addition, 11 people replied to my questionnaire on the Internet. However, two of the responds were not serious, so I eliminated them. A couple of other responds were rather short, but there were some interesting points raised. All in all, I must say that the Internet part of my
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What is Czech? research proved to be less successful: direct contact between the respondent and the researcher was missing, and so was the opportunity for clarification and additional questions or requests. On the other hand, the replies were already written, so I did not have to spend hours writing transcripts. The age of the respondents from the Internet survey ranged from 27 to their 40s, there were 2 people from Russia, one from Australia, one from South Africa, one from Bolivia, one from Thailand, one from the USA, one from Ukraine, and one who grew up Hungary and whose mother is Czech and father Hungarian. In total, there were 12 female and 8 male respondents in my research. Only 3 respondents had a partner of the same nationality at the time of the survey. 3.2.2.
Professions, Education
As to the professions represented in my survey, there were 2 students, 5 consultants (4 in the field of finance), 3 teachers, 2 artists, an IT specialist, an office administrator, an economist, a project manager, a self-employed, a web developer, a pharmacist, and a software developer. All the participants except one had a university degree. 3.2.3.
Reason to Come, Length of Stay
6 participants came to the Czech Republic because of their partner (5 of them were Czech; one not Czech, but got a job here), 3 participants came “for a change” (“to try something different, to travel, and look for new career ideas”; “to travel, to see another country, culture and learn about other people”), 3 came to study, 3 came to work, and 1 for business. 2 of the 3 “half-Czechs” came because they wanted “to live here; it’s part of what I am”, or for “curiosity, need to discover my “2nd home” in depth”; one does not actually live in the Czech Republic, but she comes to regular visits. When the participants came to the Czech Republic, they mostly intended to stay for at least 2 years, but all of them have stayed longer than they originally intented. At the time of the survey, their length of stay ranged from approximately 14 months to 16 years. 3.2.4.
Other Intercultural Experience, Languages
9 participants had lived in another foreign country for more than one year before coming to the Czech Republic; 11 had not. When asked whether they parents were of the same nationality / ethnicity / religion, 13 respondents answered yes, 7 respondents said no. All of
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What is Czech? the participants spoke at least two languages, one of them being English. All except one have also been learning Czech.2 3.2.5.
Speaking Czech, Relationships with Czechs
For most of the participants, meeting Czech people took place in shops, restaurants, etc., or with the family of their partners. For some, it was also at work, but they mostly only spoke Czech with those who could not speak English. Only a few of them declared they had Czech friends and communicated in Czech with them. On the other hand, there were also a few who tried to speak Czech and complained about the attitude of Czech people: for not being helpful and patient, and for switching to English. Nevertheless, one participant pointed out that a foreigner trying to speak Czech tends to be received better by Czechs. Comments on relationships with Czechs included: “Relationship is generally good but always with the language barrier there, even with fluent English speakers.” “People are people, I get on with some Czech, I don’t like some, as any other people.” “It’s good. I’d like to be able to get closer to some of them.” “Yes – both easy going and liberal.” “Yes, people like everywhere else!” “I would say it’s good. Mostly because I speak the language and am partially Czech, so I guess they don’t treat me as a total stranger.” Some of the replies as to whether they speak Czech were: “It is hard sometimes to get them to speak slowly, clearly and simply.” “No. It’s difficult.” “Yes, always with Czech people. I like to fit in.” “Yes – respect the culture / nation.” “No. No point, they try in English.” “Yes, all the time.” “I try to speak Czech when meeting Czech people but I don’t like them to expect when knowing the length of my stay and the level of my Czech.” “Yes—it’s still difficult and awkward, but it’s helping! Czech people are more willing to be patient and help me when they see that I am trying.” “I never need to use much. The conversation generally switches to English.” “Yes. I have to as most of my colleagues don’t speak English and as I want to communicate with them, I have to speak Czech. Also with older people and with shopkeepers etc. I can’t expect them all to speak English. With my friends at times, although most of them like to practise their English, so we end up speaking English.” “Yes, I always speak Czech to Czeck people. But they never correct my mistakes :(”
2
In fact, that is how I had met many of them, as I teach Czech for foreigners.
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What is Czech? 3.2.6.
Feeling Integrated
When asked whether they feel integrated, only a few (3) participants replied yes without any reservations. Language was mentioned as the main barrier, but some also mentioned their foreign origin, e.g. being Russian (negative attitude to this particular nationality in the Czech Republic), being “not White” (eliciting staring), or simply not being Czech (e.g. being referred to as “the French” despite proficiency in Czech and Czech mother). Some of the responds were: “Almost. I think to fit in I need to understand what’s happening around me – announcements, conversations etc. and I don’t yet.” “In most of times. However, I feel sometimes some barrier due to language and also the fact that I’m Russian.” “No, there is a big cultural gap and many Czech people are shy to talk to foreigners.” “Somewhat. I have many more acquaintances / friends than I did when I first came. I still feel bad making Czech people with low levels of English communicate with me.” “Partially. I am foreign and not very fluent in the language.” “Ehm... Yes and no – starting to understand them, but far from...” “No and probably never will.” “Yes (and no).” “Yes, but some time I am referred to “the French” which hurts me a bit...” “Still not much as long as I cannot speak with them as much as I want. There are some unfitted things that needed to be clearified.” “Not yet. Arrived too recently, staying working abroad for too long.” “No – I am not Czech.” “Difficult question. Sometimes. partly because I’m not White, so I can’t blend in. People always notice me and stare. I’m like so obviously a foreigner. But at other times, with my friends, I feel comfortable. I know them, they know me, so we can even forget that we come from different countries and just be good friends and that’s great.” “Integrated enough.” “Not really. It’s difficult. The only place for me to get to know people is the office. But Czech don’t make friends at the work place.”
3.3. Outcome: What is “Czech”? Before summarizing the main results of the survey, a few points should be raised: The participants did not quite represent the composition of foreigners in the Czech Republic. All of them were highly educated and residing in Prague – and all of them therefore speak of their experience with Czechs they encounter in Prague. Only one of the participants observed a difference between the attitude of Czechs from Prague and from Moravia – in her experience, Prague people were more open and friendly. Reasons were suggested by other participants: there are many foreigners in Prague, and they do not live in segregated areas, they meet and “melt”, because Prague is still not as huge as other capitals. Also, the knowledge and use of
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What is Czech? English might be better and more frequent in Prague – people are more used to communicating with foreigners. Nevertheless, Prague is a city, and that is also the reason why some of the characteristics the participants (especially those without a Czech partner) describe might apply to Czech people living in the city, but not to those from the countryside. Those with Czech partners might have greater insights from meeting Czech relatives or friends from other parts of the Czech Republic. The first impression a foreigner gets when arriving to the Czech Republic is probably that Czechs are unsmiling, distant or even rude people. This impression is reinforced by generally horrible service provided in restaurants and shops. The respondents see several possible causes: a relic of the communist era, an unfavourable system of wages and management, or the tendency to separate work and private life, behaving differently in each of them. While Czechs might be unhelpful in shops and restaurants, a foreigner might be pleasantly surprised by their helpfulness in the streets. In business contact, however, they do not seem to be quite reliable. Almost all the respondents have mentioned another feature: there are two sides of Czechs. When they do not know you, they are closed and reserved, but once you gain their friendship, you can rely on their help, they are sincere and loyal, and they invite you to their families. The respondents appreciated this feature especially in comparison with the “easy love” of Latin cultures, such as French, Spanish, Italian, or South American, where you get accepted immediately, but these ‘friendships’ can be fake and short-lived. Many participants also pointed out that the ties and mutual support within families seem to be stronger in the Czech Republic. However, some counter-opinions also appeared, e.g. from Italy, or India. Language was a very important factor, as well as cultural background and differences, especially with respondents from Asia. Some participants have observed that gender distinctions and gender roles were stronger in the Czech Republic than for example in the USA, or in Denmark. Czech parents also seemed to be stricter to their children. Another significant feature all respondents agreed on was the unwillingness of Czech people to interfere. Some thought it was associated with the formal and polite behaviour in public. While it was regarded positively in certain areas by some, it was generally disapproved, because it entailed lack of mutual interest and help in situations of distress, and lack of assertiveness and defending one’s rights.
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What is Czech? Prague was prevailingly appreciated for general safety in the streets. However, the feeling of security was mostly not caused or helped by the presence of the police, whose attitude and behaviour was strongly criticized by the respondents: for pettiness, unhelpfulness and susceptiveness to bribery. Bribery was also mentioned in connection with the politicians and bureaucracy. On the other hand, some participants appreciated the flexibility of Czechs, compared with rigid following of rules for example in Britain, and their ability to come up with creative solutions to problems. Some participants believed that there was greater freedom and tolerance of different appearance in the Czech Republic. While some of them praised that, some felt there should be more decency and social control in this respect. Unfortunately, some of the respondents with darker skin or Asian appearance have experienced encounters with skinheads and unacknowledged general racism. Respondents felt foreigners were in general not quite accepted in the Czech Republic, for language reasons or simply their ‘outside’ origin. In addition, one participant noted an enduring negative perception of the Russians. Nevertheless, another participant pointed out that the situation might change as the Czech Republic hosts more foreigners and Czech children get used to mixed collectives from a very young age. Thus, not only knowledge, but also practical experience with intercultural communication will improve. A few participants noticed that Czechs show great appreciation for education and their culture. Some have also considered the level of general knowledge as higher than in their home countries. Other observations regarded Czechs’ love of sales and things given for free, or their generally relaxed approach to life. All in all, despite not feeling quite included or integrated in the Czech society, most of the respondents managed to adapt. Those who felt their cultural background, personality or lifestyle were irreconcilable with the Czech reality might have actually already left the country (such as the Indian, Australian, or one of the Americans). As the Indian respondent complained, foreigners in the Czech Republic are required to adjust, but what about the Czechs? “If they would have at least tried to understand that this is a person from a different culture, that they have different thinking of certain things and try to adjust...” (For detailed excerpts from the discussions and replies to online questionnaires, please refer to the appendix.)
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4. References Wodak, R., et al. (2009). The Discursive Construction of National Identity. Second edition. Hofstede, G. Culture. Personal website. http://www.geerthofstede.nl/culture.aspx [accessed 4 April 2011] Hofstede, G., et al. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: intercultural cooperation and its importance for survival. Third edition.
5. Appendix 5.1. Questionnaire for Discussion Groups • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • •
Gender Age Marital status Profession Education (highest attained, specialty or field) Country of origin Ethnic background Religion What languages do you speak and how well? How big was the family you grew up in? Were both your parents of the same nationality / ethnicity / religion? What nationality / ethnicity / religion is your partner? Have you ever lived in another country than the Czech Republic or your country of origin for longer than 1 year? How long did you live there? Did you learn the language of the country? Why (not)? How long have you been in the Czech Republic? Why did you come to the Czech Republic? How long did you intend to stay when you came? How much longer do you intend to stay now and why? Have you been learning or have you ever learnt Czech? What level is your Czech? Do you (try to) speak Czech to Czech people? Why (not)? How often? How often do you get in touch with Czech people, in what situations and what is your relationship with them? Do you think your relationships with Czech people are good? Why (not)? Do you feel integrated (= you fit in)? Why (not)?
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5.2. Online Questionnaire: Perception of Czechs Hello, thank you for taking part in my research. It is focused on the perception of what is "Czech" in terms of character and behaviour. I don't know how long it might take you to fill it in, but I would appreciate longer answers, explaining the reasons for your statements or attitudes. There are no good or wrong answers and I will not use your names or the personal details anywhere. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. •
•
• •
• •
Surprise, surprise. What surprised you most when you arrived and started living in the Czech Republic or when you first met Czech people? (I refer to the character of Czechs or their behaviour.) Better or worse? What do you miss when living here, or what do you find better than elsewhere? Is there anything that bothers you? What's the best and worst thing? (Please refer to what country or culture you are comparing with.) It’s hard... What do you still find difficult to get used to or understand? Why? Czech friends or family. Do you have close relationships with any Czechs? Have you had any experience in this close relationship when you felt the difference between you and them? Please describe it. Czech character. What are Czechs like? What is specific about them? Feeling welcome. Do you think that Czech people welcome / accept foreigners? Why (not)?
Details about you Now, I need some details about you. I am not going to publish them anywhere and will use them anonymously in my research. Thank you! • • • • • • • • • • •
Gender Age Marital status Profession Highest attained education – field / specialty Country of origin Ethnic background. If you feel it is an important piece of information about you, or if you are used to giving it in your country. Religion Size of your family (you grew up in) Parents. Were both your parents of the same nationality / ethnicity / religion? Partner – nationality, ethnicity, religion
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What is Czech? • •
• • • • • • • • • •
Languages learnt – including level Living in another country. Have you ever lived in another country than the Czech Republic or your country of origin for longer than one year? How long did you live there? Did you learn the language of the country? Why (not)? Length of stay. How long have you been in the Czech Republic? Reason for arrival to the Czech Republic Intended stay. How long did you intend to stay when you came? Current intentions. How much longer do you intend to stay in the Czech Republic and why? Learning Czech – yes/no Level of Czech – none/ basic phrases/ simple sentences/ I am able to express a bit more complex thoughts / fluent / other Speaking Czech. Do you (try to) speak Czech to Czech people? Why (not)? How often? Meeting Czech people. How often do you get in touch with Czech people? In what situations, what is your relationship? Relationships with Czech people. Do you think your relationships with Czech people are good? Why (not)? Feeling integrated. Do you feel integrated (=you fit in)? Why (not)?
5.3. Online Questionnaire: What it means to be Czech Hello, thank you for taking part in my research. It is focused on the perception of what is "Czech" in terms of character and behaviour. I don't know how long it might take you to fill it in, but I would appreciate longer answers, explaining the reasons for your statements or attitudes. There are no good or wrong answers and I will not use your names or the personal details anywhere. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. • • • • •
Identity. How would you describe your identity and nationality? Being Czech. What do you think is Czech about you and what is not? How has life abroad influenced you? It’s hard... What bothers you in the Czech Republic and what did you miss abroad? Czech character. What are Czechs like? What is specific about them? Feeling welcome. Do you think that Czech people welcome / accept foreigners? Why (not)?
Details about you (The same as in the previous section.)
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5.4. Excerpts from the Group Discussions What follows are excerpts from the group discussions that I tried to group based on the main topic of the excerpts. Sometimes, topics were intertwined and it was difficult to sort them. In this and the following sections, I labelled the replies with the country of origin, because the focus of this paper is the difference between nationalities, i.e. perceptions of the Czech nationality, reflected and compared with one’s own nationality. 5.4.1.
Prague
What surprised you when you came or when you met your Czech partner? “Ostrava is a very small town. I come from a big city, I come from Mumbai. When I moved to Ostrava, I thought everyone was on holiday in the town. It took me almost 3 months to open up because I was too shy with the foreigners. I couldn’t understand anything, nothing about the Czech Republic and no language. It was tough, especially in Ostrava. In Prague it’s still easy, people speak English.” (India) “I was surprised about my health. I was ill when I arrived. I was very stressed, nervous, because I didn’t know anything about my future. My husband decided we had to live in Prague. He found a job here. When I came here, I was in shock, in panic, all my body became red with points – it’s from stress. I was scared. I was scared about the language, about communication, about everything. ... When I started working in the company, I discovered that in Prague live 50% of Czechs and 50% of foreigners, I think. Everybody is a foreigner in my company, and in the company where my husband is working it’s the same thing. I felt relaxed when I discovered I can communicate in English. My English always was bad, but I can relate in English, and in my work... Everything disappeared, so my illness disappeared, and I feel good, until now.” (Peru) What from the Czech Republic do you miss when you’re abroad and what from abroad do you miss when you’re here? “What I miss is the melting pot, actually, the mix of cultures. Because in France, there’s a lot more foreigners in Paris, but actually because it’s a bigger city and because there are more of them, they don’t melt so much. When here, you always meet people from abroad or foreigners. In France, you always have to go to specific places or try to do it, here you just go to a bar and there’s people from 10 different countries. So that’s what I miss about Czech when I’m in Paris. And for the things that I miss when I’m here, about France... Maybe it’s
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What is Czech? more possibilities in Paris, because it’s bigger, everything is available, but again here it’s very dynamic, so I couldn’t say what is better.” (France) “In Prague, because it’s smaller people will stay not far away from where they’re during the day, e.g. in the evening. Even if they live in Černý Most (a periphery of Prague) and they work or study in the centre, it’s not so far away – let’s say 15 or 20 minutes. But in Paris, a lot of people work an hour and a half from where they live. After school or after work when you go home, you stay home. Or you just go somewhere with some friends when you’re home. When you have foreigners here in Prague, they live in Prague 1, Prague 2, Prague 3 – Prague 4 is already like wooooow... So it’s just logical: they stay together because they are together. The locals, they have their live, their street... There is no will to ostracize anybody or anything.” (France) “First thing I noticed is that Czech people are very closed and reserved. My ex-landlord, she was open to me, she used to speak English, but still, in spite of me giving hints that I am here for Christmas, or I was trying to get myself invited, but that didn’t happen. And I felt this maybe from the Moravians... But I’ve noticed the Czech people who are from Prague have a different mindset than Czech people from Moravia, because I have many friends from Moravia, and they are not friendly as I meet the Prague Czech people. Prague Czech people will ask you out ‘Let’s go for drinks... Let’s do this...’” (India) 5.4.2.
Approach to Strangers vs. Friends
“My husband said: maybe you feel bad in Prague, in Czech Republic, because people is closed, people is reserved, they don’t like to have friendship immediately, they need more time, maybe you feel bad, so give opportunity to Czech people. But after that... my husband family, they’re really nice people. In my English class, I had an English course a month when I came here, at the beginning, I found some Czech people. They were nice, normal people. I like Czech people because I feel if they like you, they are not hypocritical. I lived in Italy for five years, and Italian people are really really nice (gesticulates, showing open arms) all the time, but behind you it’s not so nice (showing gossip with her hands). But Czech people no, if they don’t like, so they don’t like. Finished. You don’t have to try to have a relationship, no no no. They’re really... straightforward (suggested by another participant, she agrees). You don’t have to put a face for Czech people, they are really open... They are honest. They don’t like you, don’t like. And it’s really good. When you find a Czech friend, he’s really your friend.” (Peru) 18
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What is Czech? “It’s very tough to find friends here, because people are not as open as they tend to be in the US, for example. But when you actually find someone, when they finally open up to you, that’s like friend for life, you know that for sure. That’s something which can scare people coming from western countries, they’re like: everyone is so angry... But it’s just to get them talking, definitely helps. That’s another thing that for me it’s tough to make friends because I feel Czech people like to speak Czech and if you speak English to them, sometimes that’s kind of a barrier. Even if they speak English, they prefer not to; if they don’t have to, they prefer to speak Czech. But there are exceptions, I have a couple of Czech friends... Mostly it’s the ones who have travelled somewhere, because they become more open to other cultures or something...” (Kazakhstan) “I think that Czechs are more black-and-white, compared to people in Latin America. There’s a great deal of formality here. When they don’t know you, they don’t know you, and they do nothing for you. But they’re strictly demanded by good education. But when they know you, they are more trustworthy. Because we have the easy love in Brazil: the fake smile, the interest friendship... Here I don’t see that, I feel more sincerity than in my country. So it’s more extreme, Czechs are more committed to what they think. It’s more delimitated. I feel like the edges between friendship and total strangeness are very well defined.” (Brazil) “The Czechs are a bit closed, but when you start to know them, they’re far more interesting or more loyal than French, who can be very open at the beginning, but then they don’t let you go any further. But it’s good if you want to have some superficial relationships with people... And with the Czechs, it’s kind of the contrary. That’s why they may seem rude, or I don’t know what, at the beginning. But then when you know them really, you’re automatically quickly invited to their home, or to meet their families, to events... And that’s very nice.” (France) “I agree with that.” (Denmark) 5.4.3.
Family Ties
“I think there are these two sides of Czech: one side is when you don’t know the person, and [one side is] when you know the person very well: when you conquer the trust of the Czech. My side with the family is the absolute opposite: they spoil me, they give me whatever I want, they don’t let me do anything... It’s like in a hotel when I visit the in-laws: I sit on the sofa and they bring me food, and that’s it. And they ask me if I want anything else and if I’m well... They’re always concerned about my welfare...” (Brazil)
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What is Czech? “Pretty much the same... They are nice people.” (“Warm? Welcoming?” I asked.) “Warm? Doubt it. Welcoming? Yes. They try to make you feel welcome, but I think at the end you will always be a foreigner to them, it doesn’t matter. [...] All the grandparents, oh my god... It’s impossible to communicate with them, you will always be foreigner, they will always be saying ‘You should go for a Czech guy.’ [...] I think it’s with the older people, older than fifties... That’s their mentality, so you can just accept it.” (Italy) “In Italy, you are thirty and you’re still living with your family. It’s totally different over there. Here it’s more like ‘OK, you are seventeen, get out! Do whatever you want to do, get yourself a job, and we’re speaking about twenty years... This is how I feel. Not in all cases, but in general – strong family values? No. Not compared to my country, at least.” (Italy) “For me, it was a big shock when I had an experience with a Czech boyfriend. The first time when I came to visit his parents... They knew I come from India and they know that in India it’s a big difference – in relationships, everything... But when I go there in the night, I do expect at least his mum to come and tell me ‘OK, Mini, where do you want to sleep?’ – show me the guestroom... There was nothing like this... And I asked my ex-boyfriend: ‘OK, where am I supposed to sleep?’ ‘I don’t know. You want to sleep there? You want to sleep in my room...?’ And I was like ‘I wouldn’t sleep in your room. If my family comes to know something like that, it’s a big chaos.’ So I was shocked that time, I felt bad. I felt that maybe if they would have at least tried to understand that this is a person from a different culture, that they have different thinking of certain things and try to adjust... We are adjusting as foreigners here, but it’s more nice if we see people adjusting as well here: at least know that ‘OK, you are coming from here and maybe there is it accepted or not, is this accepted or not...’ And I feel, personally, this is something I cannot change, so it’s better for me to change, and maybe move out, or see how I’m able to adjust. This is with the culture... Even with the religion... With my ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve, I didn’t go to his family – there was something, so I didn’t visit his family, I was here with my friends. And I called him up on 24 December: ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Are you going to the church?’ He’s like ‘No, I’m walking 2 kilometres to another village, there’s some pub there, so I’m going there with my brother.’ And I was like ‘Do you know something? I’m going to the church here, for the midnight.’ So that was another thing which was quite shocking. And maybe that were few reasons why I still cannot adjust here...” (India)
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What is Czech? “For me, I think I’ve been so absolutely fortunate with my boyfriend’s parents. I wasn’t in the best frame of mind when I arrived and when I met his parents, but immediately, right from the first second I saw them, it was like ‘Oh, I’m home, I have my family.’ And almost that quickly I really have felt like I’ve become sort of a part of their family.” (New Zealand) “Do they speak English?” (India) “Yes.” (New Zealand) “Oh, that helps...” (Kazakhstan) “My exboyfriend’s parents didn’t speak English, so...” (India) “I would like to counter with my example... I was dating my husband actually for a year before he introduced me to his family, because he was very embarrassed that he had a girlfriend. But when I finally met them, from the very first moments... They hugged me and kissed me on both cheeks, you know ‘Ahoj’ – because I was – I’m so used to saying ‘Dobrý den’ to everybody... ‘Ahoj’ and ‘Čau’... And they have been absolutely fabulous with everything. When we moved into the new flat, we had no furniture, no nothing... Because everything I had from my apartment in the US was still in the US. And they helped... I don’t know... Just absolutely everything. They would buy us groceries... My mother-in-law basically helped me do the whole wedding. She and my sister-in-law helped me choose the wedding dress and the flowers...” (USA) “And you spoke Czech with them?” (India) “My sister-in-law does speak English, like pre-intermediate, I would say. My mother-in-law does not. And even though she doesn’t speak much English and I don’t speak much Czech, when she found out we were engaged, she was like ‘Now you’re my daughter.’ And it feels just like that. It’s been absolutely amazing, and I have to say I think it’s made staying here so easy for me. If I hadn’t have had them and this family welcoming me and taking care of me, I don’t know that I could have stayed. It makes a huge difference.” (USA) “I think it’s the same thing with me. My parents-in-law don’t speak English, I don’t speak Czech, but I think you can feel it. I think they love me and I love them. Because you feel it, you don’t need a language to express this kind of things. You can express a in many things. When I moved to our new apartment, it was the same thing, they helped all the time, they helped us to pay the apartment. They are fantastic and they love me. They are so nice. And I don’t speak Czech and they don’t speak English, but you feel it.” (Peru) “You hear on the news that the US is like the most charitable nation, as far as individuals donating money and stuff. But what I found in my personal life is that while my parents are happy to give money to the church and stuff, when I need money, they’re like ‘You need to work for it.’ Whereas my husband’s family... I kind of feel they don’t donate so much money 21
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What is Czech? to outside resources but whenever we need anything, they are the first to come and help. And I feel like maybe the relationships here are tighter, not only in families, but also with friends. Because in the US, basically when you’re eighteen, you can move away to college, and everyone moves away, and you go home and you don’t see any friends there. It’s like you lose people. But here you have people who still go meet their elementary school friends or something. It feels like the relationships are a lot stronger to me.” (USA) “Sorry... This is an example of what you’re saying: One of my boyfriend’s friends was offering, six months ago, to lend us a fairly big amount of money, just because my boyfriend had mentioned that...” (New Zealand) “My husband’s parents did that as well. And my family I think probably would have financially been able to – to help my with some credit card debts, and they didn’t. My husband’s family probably has less ability to, and they didn’t hesitate.” (USA) “I would say the same. But I can’t say based on Czechs, because I think my boyfriend still in this particular area has US mentality, and he’s like ‘No, I’m independent, I don’t need any charity from my parents, I’ll have like thousand of debts...’ While in Russia, for example, your parents’ responsibilities... normally... To organize wedding, to pay for your wedding, to get you an apartment, to get you a car... And when you’re like twenty-five, maybe, you get a job and you start... Which is not good, I agree, maybe it’s too much. But still, there is this tendency, the further east, the more parents take care of you. So maybe in the Czech Republic, there’s something like that, too. And yeah, I definitely support the idea that Czechs tend to be really friendly in very close... to people they know, to people they let into their world, and more cold to foreigners and to people they don’t know well, so they wouldn’t to be as willing to help and as open.” (Kazakhstan) 5.4.4.
Private vs. Business Relations
“The mentality for services is in a way rude. But when you are going to private and you are in relations, that is a completely different picture. And I think the Czechs are very very strong oriented to the private life... Chata... Friday afternoon – chata day: everyone is going to their chata, to meet other friends...” (Germany) “I think everybody knows that: When you find a Czech person in a restaurant or wherever you go where they have to give you services... But outside these places they are nice people.” (And continues to describe how Czechs have been helpful when he could not find his way 22
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Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? when travelling by car in Prague, and a Czech person stopped and offered help, and then offered to take him where he needed.) “There’s a difference inside a restaurant, in a market or in a bar... In there, they are hateable. After two years, I found out this is not just against foreigners, it’s against everybody.” (Italy) “I would say: Very strong oriented – Czechs really care about their families. They are, on the other hand, very professional: the country improved very fast. They are clever people. They definitely look for their own personal benefits. To trust is very difficult... Here, there was a paradise for the cheaters: tourists were just coming in, mass, ‘Here, you want my money?’... So they took it. Somehow, it’s changing nowadays. So I don’t want to excuse them, but this explains a part of the story... In business, within the last twenty years, there has been a strong development to very normal business relations. [...] Black-and-white, I think, explains it quite nice.” (Germany) “If Czech people have the chance to help, they don’t just say ‘OK, screw you, get lost’; no, they help, which is nice. Spanish people, they seem nice and everything... Over here, they’re straight. They are not trying to be fake, they are not trying to joke you around. They are there – if they can, they are there. They are not gonna say yes or no if they don’t mean it.” (Italy) “What, the Czechs? Wow, I have a completely different opinion. A yes is never a yes by a Czech...” (Germany) “You should come to Italy.” (Italy) “Well, maybe that’s the same in Italy, but in Germany there’s a yes a yes and a no a no, and this was my big surprise when I came here, and today it is I think some learning lesson. My experience is that, businesswise, you can never... When someone’s telling you ‘YES, we do this.’ or ‘We call you.’ or whatever, you can wait for ages, or they will just... Because they are not willing to say no, so they prefer to say yes, and mean a no. So you have to understand it. The Czechs by each other, they know the difference. When someone is saying ‘Ye-es.’, then they know already ‘OK, that might be not a yes.’ and they’ll respect that, or they deal with this in a different way. But I can’t agree to this that they are very straight and forward.” (Germany) “I’ve heard exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve heard a lot of times how there are these times where you’re starting up a business and you’re trying to work with them, you’re not really sure what’s gonna happen, and whether they say yes, they’re gonna do it, or maybe they’re not, maybe they’ll go behind your back... I don’t know. But in my own personal experience I find that if the people are nice, they’re really sincere about it.” (USA)
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What is Czech? “I agree to that. I think there’s a big difference because they have... let’s say... these two faces: the business one and the private one. Privatewise, you can have fantastic relations and people are nice and treat you well and you can trust them. Businesswise can be completely different. And this is also reflected in this what you’re saying: from the restaurant business where you are treated so bad or from the policemen... The Czech Republic has unfortunately one of the highest rates of bribing, it’s in the rating one of the worst country in the world. Politicians here are known... That’s very obvious. There’s always scandals. But they’re not scandals and these people are still in positions because the people are used to it. Some young ones are now trying to change that, so there is a change... So businesswise, I would say, very very difficult to deal, privatewise, can be different.” (Germany) “For me, being here... What you say here that you cannot trust... It’s totally different in Italy. When I hear that, for me it’s like ‘Wow’. Here it is like a holiday...” (Italy) 5.4.5.
Horrible Services
“I think it’s part of tradition. It feels like it’s not a service oriented nation. They’re very private, inward people. Maybe it’s from the communist era... They don’t INTEND to be rude, they just... honestly... piss people off, but they don’t really KNOW or maybe they just don’t CARE to give good business. It surprises me, because there are plenty of times when they’ll pass good opportunities.” (USA) “Basically, they don’t care. It’s not their business, they don’t care. It’s not money in my pocket, I don’t care.” (Italy) “I think this is really Czech, this is really Czech. There are exceptions, but generally you’re well treated in restaurant or companies that are branches of big chains, where people are trained, or it’s part of the job description for you to be nice. I was also thinking about the influence of the communist era... And I don’t think it’s because of this – since I went to Budapest and I was extremely well treated.” (Brazil) “That’s true, we were there, that’s true.” (USA) “So I think it’s a Czech feature.” (Brazil) “Here it doesn’t seem like you could approach a manager, the owner, and say ‘Look, your waitress is terrible, she’s not being respectful at all, she doesn’t smile at all... (“I’m not paid to smile.” Brazil - mocking) On the other hand, I kind of understand, if I’m making already a crappy salary and I’m going to get 5 crowns from a 200-crown meal... Where’s the motivation behind that?” (USA)
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What is Czech? (In the US, it can be a little overboard: people get very low wages, they completely rely on tips, so try to be overly friendly.) “There are three types of friendliness: there is American, which is fake; there is Malaysian which is very sincere; and you have the Czech friendliness, which doesn’t exist... Unless you know the people! If you know the people, it’s great. I have a lot of Czech friends who are very awesome. I always keep in touch with them. When you first meet them, it’s very hard. But once you try to break the ice, then it’s wonderful. ” (USA) “When you go out here, you have to be all the time looking at the damn receipt... I hate it. You always have to look at the receipt, sometimes they charge you incredible amount of things that you never took! They always try to steal money from you, no matter what!” (Italy) “But is it because they try to steal or because their system of writing and adding...?” (USA) “I don’t care, those are my money. You don’t do it! Of course, they want more money, otherwise they wouldn’t be stealing. So why don’t you be nice to the people, and then they will give you the money! I mean: we used to tip... I don’t tip anymore, I hate it! Why should I tip? It’s like when I’m bending over for them and then I say: Yeah, come over and I’m gonna give you money! It’s not the way.” (Italy) (US is the most service oriented country in the world, they are tip oriented: they have to make living. If someone is only remotely treating us poorly, you just ask to talk to the manager, and even get someone fired. Brazil: Brazilians are generally very nice, especially when it comes to receiving foreigners; and it is a capitalist country, so you have a very good service in the end. If I am not well treated, I call the institution that controls the consumers’ rights and they come to the place and get a fine.) “Here, they get a lot of training... They can carry like five plates and calculate stuff in their mind without using a calculator... That’s really impressive. But the thing they’re missing is that they have to be nice to people to make them want come again.” (Kazakhstan) (It’s not typical to pay separately in the US – and everything is computerized.) “I can’t complain about the customer service, I’m happy.” (India) “In comparison with Russia it’s the same – people don’t smile so much in the restaurants... You don’t get anything special. They’ll bring you food, or whatever you ask for, but they wouldn’t be extra polite. While in Kazakhstan, it’s a little bit different culture, they tend to be more hospitable, they tend to pay more attention and provide more service you need.” (Kazakhstan) (It takes so long before they come back with the bill in the restaurants...)
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What is Czech? (One waiter in the whole restaurant by himself – they cannot manage... That’s why they don’t have time to ask what you want.) “What I hate here, when I’m finishing eating and I’m still chewing my last bit and already my plate is gone... Like he’s just sitting there and waiting for me to put the last thing in my mouth and when I put down the fork, it’s gone! This is crazy.” (France) “I was thinking, here I don’t like asking for anything in a shop... If I can’t find something, I prefer not to ask, because... OK, sometimes you get helpful people and sometimes you can tell if someone’s gonna be helpful or friendly... But a lot of the time, it’s as if you’re asking them to move the world or something, it’s always... I always feel like I’m putting a massive burden on them if I’m just asking where are the chips or something... But this summer, actually, I’ve had much better experiences than in previous times... But still, I don’t ask for help in shops or restaurants unless I have to... In the street, yes, but not in...” (Denmark) “Why they don’t smile or are bothered when you ask for anything? That’s hard to say... Maybe they do jobs that they don’t really like so much, or not well-paid... Or I don’t know... Maybe for these types of jobs that are not easy or not super-interesting, where customer service is a differentiator, they [people in the same positions in France, Scotland or Denmark] follow this rule, because they can lose their job, for example. And here, they don’t care because it’s not a differentiator, and until now, they could lose their jobs, they would find another one pretty quickly – maybe that’s the reason.” (France) “I would also like to add that I think the younger generation is a lot better than the older one. It’s usually the older women, especially, who tend to be the ones I wouldn’t want to bother. But the younger one tends to be much better, in my experience...” (Denmark) 5.4.6.
No Interfering, No Confrontations, No Problem-solving, Unhelpful Police
“When I first came here, and I came straight from Tennessee, and I would be sitting on the tram and see someone reading something that looked like what I had been studying, I would start talking to them: Hey! What are you reading? Oh, I took that class last semester! Isn’t it great? And just like... all the time talking to random people... And I quickly learn that you don’t do that here... And I was really surprised... For example, if you see tourists on the trams with their maps... When I first came, I would have gone up and said: Can I help you? Where are you trying to go? But now, I wait for them to ask me for directions, because that seems to be the protocol: You don’t bother someone unless they ask for your help.” (USA) 26
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What is Czech? “Being on the other end of that, being someone needing help, and not quite know how to ask... can sometimes be quite difficult. I’m used to... if you need help, someone will say: Do you need help? But one thing I find here is that even people I know, in shops... If you ask something, they will answer it, but they will not give you any more information... For example... Say I’m buying postage stamps. I ask how much is a stamp to this place, and he will say: 17 crowns. And that’s sort of the end of the conversation. Until you kind of continue it. Whereas I would be used to saying: 17 crowns. How much would you like? Or something like that. It’s kind of: I will answer the question you ask, but I don’t know what else you want, so I won’t answer any other questions. And I found it slightly confusing – well not confusing, but surprising...” (New Zealand) “For me, sometimes, it comes to the point of the level of decency. In Hindu, we’re told that you have to respect elders, and I always keep that... (Describes an experience when she met two guys who seemed to be harassing a girl who had been drunk or drugged.) I was feeling bad, I was feeling sad for the girl, and I felt ‘OK, I should go and tell them... or just ask the girl ‘Are you OK or not?’ But then, what stopped me was that I’m not in my country, and I know that if I will go and talk to them, they will say ‘This is not your life and leave us alone.’ kind of thing. But back in Asia, people are more concerned about neighbours or friends or something, so if there’s something going wrong, they’ll try to help you ‘Are you OK or not?’ Because then what happens here, especially for me being a single girl, if I need help... In India I can at least ask someone ‘Can you please help me out? This man is doing something to me.’ But here if I try to do that, this man will say ‘It’s your life, you do what you want to do.’” (India) “I don’t want this to be taken the wrong way, but I feel like a lot of the Czechs I’ve met kind of don’t want to interfere in what other people do. And I think that kind of involves seeing something on tram or wherever on the street and they don’t want to go interfere in that, because it’s up to the other person what they do. I think that seems to be quite common. Most people I know here... Even my boyfriend sometimes doesn’t want to interfere in what choices I make about a job or whatever, which drives me insane sometimes... But to be general, they [=Czechs] kind of are more insulated... They have a smaller circle of people that they are willing to take in and help and deal with them and things like that – than maybe what I’m used to.” (New Zealand)
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? “One thing is, for example... My husband lived in the centre of Prague for all his life, for thirty years, and he never... So he only say ‘Hello’ to their neighbours and he didn’t know the names of his neighbours. Thirty years... Usually in my country, you know the life of everybody... all the town... But he didn’t know it and for me it’s fine. At the beginning, I was surprised with this, but now I like it. Because everybody do their life... So the most important thing is no pass the limit, so don’t affect other people, but you can live your life, and it’s fantastic that you don’t... know the life of... Because it’s not your problems. So I think it’s a good point in the character of the Czech people – because they live their life, but if you need help, they help you until you allow them. They don’t... they aren’t invasive people... Not like Italian people, for example, or Latin American people – they’re ‘How are you?! How do you feel?! ... (making a sound of a motor) Tell me about your family!’ (the speech loud, in a high voice, fast) Many, many, many questions, sometimes invasive, or really personal questions, and you don’t know if you affect or not the feeling of this person at this moment. But Czech people – no: ‘How are you? How’s the weather?’ (speaking with a normal, slower, lower voice) And they prefer to speak about themself to ask about your life, because maybe they... they feel... they do some question that feel you bad. This is good. My husband is really Czech, because he’s like this. He prefer to speak about himself... but no embarrassing the other person with personal question... I like this characteristic. And I like to don’t know who live near my flat: I don’t know, I don’t have idea, because I love the idea that I don’t know anything about my neighbours. So I prefer to live like that, and this is good. So you can live, and the other live, and the most important thing is respect the other people, the private life. And I like it.” (Peru) “Even the Czechs don’t like the way service is provided, but they do not complain, because they’re used to that. They’re just used to be badly treated.” (Brazil) “That’s why it never changes.” (USA) “When you complain, when you get angry, when you shout louder, then... Uuu... (Showing a taken aback, a bit scared expression, with head pulled between raised shoulders) OK, OK, then they do what you want.... Like puffy (showing an insulted, angry face), but they do what you want.” (Brazil) “I see a lot of times, they’ll yell at the Czech people, and then they’ll just walk away. It’s disappointing. If you guys stuck up for yourself and argued back, or at least go up to somebody who’s higher up above them, the system might change.” (USA)
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? What bothers you in the Czech Republic? “What is a bit bothering is that among expats, what they think is that there are two sentences here that they here all the time here: it’s zdarma and the second is To není možný. So, Czechs complicate things a lot, in a sense that in the first place, they kind of put obstacles, even for themselves. If you try to look a bit into the matter, you can sort it out... pretty easily. And zdarma, because you have akce everywhere, and in the sense that there is more and more marketing. Czechs like when something is given. We have sales also in France, of course, but not so many things are free, are given for free or additionally...” (France) “One more thing to comment... I don’t know whether it’s in Prague, but I think that people are also not so helpful with strangers because... This was last Saturday. We were going to the I.P.Pavlova metro station and there was an old man who was walking down the steps. And one thief, he came in, he removed the money from his front pocket and he ran away... And after two seconds, my friend – she shouted, we both started running behind this man to catch him and we are shouting on I.P.Pavlova, which is very busy at around four o’clock in the evening, saying: Someone please stop him! Someone please stop him! People are seeing him running, no one stopped him, and he crossed the street when it was still red – it was not allowed to cross, so I also crossed, there was no car, so even I crossed... And I was able to run faster... So by the time I would catch him, he ran away, and he even crossed a pub. When I turned back, one Czech man, he caught my friend, he actually pulled her hair and then he caught her hand, and he was taking her inside the pub. So obviously, I thought that maybe he thinks it’s my friend. And she’s wearing sandals, and a skirt. How would a thief wear sandals and skirt? And then when we went in, this man started saying in Czech: Passport, passport! So I told him in English: You’re not a policeman, you cannot ask for passport. And then there were two Czech policemen who were sitting there drinking beer, in plain clothes. And they were like: We are police. (Gesticulates, as if showing a badge.) And they were speaking English. So we told him: Didn’t you see a man running here? And he said: Yeaaaa... And I was like: So you don’t want to go and catch him? And this Czech man is catching my friend when she’s wearing heels and skirt, and he thinks she’s trying to steal the money... So they were like... (Shrugging her here shoulders, palms up, bottom lip up...) They didn’t say yes, they didn’t say no, they didn’t say anything... They were just drinking beer. Then this man understood that it’s not my friend. He didn’t say sorry to my friend. He just said “Ty vole” and he just walked off. And my friend, she’s very stubborn at times. I told her: OK, let’s just
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? go to the old man and tell him: Your money is gone... And she is like: No. If this is what I get in return... The only thing what happened there was... In this restaurant, only one man came up, who was, I think, Czech, or maybe a foreigner... And came and said to the police: yes, these girls are fine, it was someone else. None of the other people came. So, I was scared because I live alone... This area is fine, but at times are there are many... the Gipsy people, especially next to the tram stop... And you can’t trust them. Sometimes they try to follow you and things like that... This is one thing when I feel I need to learn some skills... Maybe if I was Czech, people might come to help me, or maybe if I had blond hair and I had whiter skin, but because I have darker skin, people are afraid to help me or something. (And your friend was...?) She’s from Singapore, and she looks a mixture of Singaporean and Chinese, so obviously, we look foreigners, maybe that’s why people didn’t come to help us.” (India) “I don’t think so. People here just like try to stay away from the problems. It is the same as in Russia. Even if a person would lie on the ground, people would just pass by him. They wouldn’t even stop, they would think he is just drunk or something. With the police, I feel the same, I don’t feel safe here. Some of them are just really not helpful at all. They prefer... I remember a story when we were in the Muzeum metro station. We were at a stand there, they sell beer there. We bought a beer, we opened the can and policemen came to us: You can’t open a beer here, you have to pay a fine. We were like: Really?! There are drug addicts right next to us... Are you sure you wouldn’t want to do something about that? They try to do something where they can get money. They would stop people with speeding tickets and ignore more serious problems... I can’t judge them, they probably just don’t get enough salary, that’s the system that makes them like that. I don’t think they get enough training here... When you get stopped by the police in the US, then you’re in trouble, because they do their job well... And if you come to the police, they will take you seriously and they will really make sure they do what you told them to. But here it’s not so secure.” (Kazakhstan) “Police. With the police. I really try not to hate them...” (Italy) “The police here is wonderful! Always you can deal with the police! You can never deal with a policeman in Germany or in Austria, but here you can always deal with a policeman.” (Germany) “Do you have a Czech number plate? Try to go around with a foreign number plate!” (Italy) “Yeah, that might be the reason...” (Germany) “Your car gets picked up... The first month that I was here in the Czech Republic with my car I spent 17 000 crowns in police. They stop you and they tell you to go
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? ahead, so that they can follow you if you do something wrong, and at that moment, they will tell you 500 crowns.” (Italy) “Of course.” (Germany) “Of course?!” (Italy) “They’re always trying to make money out of you...” (Germany) “It’s not possible. The police shouldn’t be like that.” (Italy) 5.4.7.
Bigger Safety
“I quite disagree with some points because for me, Prague is really sure city. I read that this is the eleventh city in the world for security... for safety... The city, not country, so it’s really good. I grew up in a small town, but I studied in Lima, in the capital of Peru. It’s big and it’s really dangerous. There are some places... it’s divided... But I studied in the middle, and sometimes I saw many terrible scenes. I was scared all the time. I couldn’t walk alone with... (showing a handbag handing over her shoulder) Here, it’s ok... I can go with whatever... my computer... It’s safe and I’m happy. After that, I studied in Italy, near Napoli... When I went to Napoli sometimes, Napoli was impossible... I was like in Lima... (showing being scared, shoulders up, pressing hands to her breasts) Now, I feel safe. It happens in every city, but for me it’s safe, I feel good. For example, I wear my rings... One time when I was working in Lima, one man took my earrings... It’s incredible, and I feel really happy hear. It’s fantastic.” (Peru) “I must say I feel really safe here as well. (Me too.) This is the first time I live in a biggish city and I have no problem, walking around with my purse or backpack. Of course, I’m very careful to keep the zippers closed and keep an eye on everything, but I don’t worry about anything very bad happening, and I know that people here don’t have guns like they do in the US that they can pull out when they get angry... So I feel very safe here.” (USA) “When I’d been here a week or something, we’d been staying with my boyfriend’s parents, just outside Prague... My boyfriend wanted to show me around, so we jumped on a train and came in, and we ended up at Vaclavske namesti, and we were just walking down, and it was the first time I’d been there, and I was still a little bit overwhelmed with everything... And then suddenly, there were two guys who started shouting at each other, and a woman was with them and was, I think, trying to say to one of the guys: Come on, let’s go, let’s go... And then the two guys started fighting, and it ended up with one of the guys on the ground with the other one stepping on his head... And I was shaking, I was like: Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god... And that in itself was really scary, I had no idea what to do. I was with my boyfriend who wasn’t doing anything, who just said: Don’t look, just don’t look. And nobody 31
17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? else was doing anything. And the only thing that made me feel slightly better about it was after we’d walked past and I turned around and looked behind us, there were two policemen there. I didn’t see exactly what happened, but one of them was crouching next to the guy on the ground, and the other one was talking to the other guy involved. So it seemed something was happening about it. But that is really negative, and it made me feel really uncomfortable about going there for about a year afterwards. But that really is the only really negative thing that I have seen. Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I’ve never seen anyone take anything from anyone’s bag and... And generally I do feel really safe. I come from a city that has about the same population as Prague, but is spread out over a much bigger area. And there are places there where if you’re generally white and female, you just don’t go – or you don’t on your own, or you don’t go at night... or if you do go, you don’t stop... There are areas that you kind of avoid. And I don’t really feel like there’s anywhere like that here... Or at least nowhere that I’ve really heard about is being like that, or anywhere where I’ve not felt safe.” (New Zealand) “I think compared to other European cities, Prague is still safe, but if I compare with Ostrava... In Ostrava, there were places where it’s not safe to walk... Especially near the railway station, the Hlavni nadrazi, there is just one area which is just for the Gipsy and the Roma people... I’ve never visited that place and it’s not really safe to even go there. My workplace was a bit closer to that place, so what I used to do was... There were two incidents when people thought I was a Gipsy person... Other Gipsy people. And he started talking to me in Czech... And I was like this (shaking hands in the air), I behaved like a crazy woman, and I just walked off. That made them more scared. And the trick what I did was I used to carry English books in my hands, so people knew I’m a foreigner... But nothing dangerous happened to me. I know in Prague it’s still safe because in my hometown you cannot walk alone in the night and things like that. And here, I can proudly say that I do come home late in the night, alone, and I’m fine. But obviously, you need to safe yourself as well, so when I walk down, I make sure there’s no one around me, and then I open the door.” (India) “But with the car stealing it’s real bad... It’s really one of the dangers... And with my friends, they came to Prague, and we took a walk down Wenceslas Square, at night, and they were like: What is that? Why are all the people trying to get me to brothels?! It really ruins the image of the country. People selling drugs... It looks like a red street in Amsterdam... But in Amsterdam, it’s in the outskirts, and here it’s right in the centre of the city...” (Kazakhstan)
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? “Just talking about the cars... One thing that I’d experienced in New Zealand, in Auckland... I’ve had two cars stolen – once when I was small – it was a family car... and one when I was older... But here, we do have a car, a Skoda Felicia, it’s full of rust, it’s about 15 years old... We live in an apartment, we don’t have a garage or anything, so it’s just parked on the street... We always intend to lock the door, but at least twice we’ve come to the car in the morning, and realized that we must have left unlock overnight... There were things in the car that have been pulled out, like somebody’s been through the glove box, and once somebody had gone through the stuff in the back. But I cannot imagine that happening in New Zealand and the car not being stolen. So that’s a nice thing.” (New Zealand) “I don’t miss being afraid to go out on the streets at night.” (Brazil) “Big time.” (USA) “I really enjoy the safety of living here.” (Brazil) “Here it’s nice in that sense that you have no stress. You can walk around the street safely. (“Safe, it’s perfect.” USA) It’s good, it’s nice. You can walk around at night... OK, you get the usual bad guys, whatever...” (Italy) “But the funniest thing is that people from outside of Prague think it’s a dangerous city, and I’m like ‘Where are you from?! This is the safest city I’ve ever been in my entire life!’ That’s part of the reason why I stay here.” (USA) “You’re right, Prague is really really secure. I mean, you see policemen everywhere...” (Germany) “That doesn’t make you feel secure. Not to me. I seriously... I see police, and I get out as fast as possible...” (Italy) “But that’s the reason why the city’s secure.” (Germany) “The more there is, the more I feel ‘What the hell is going on? There is something strange.’” (Italy) “I’ve lived in Rome, Boston and a few other places, and I can tell you right now that this is a breeze walk compared to living in any of those other cities. It’s amazing. I’ve been robbed three or four times within a three-month span in Rome, I’ve been close to being beat up really badly in the US where I come from... Run over in Italy...” (USA) 5.4.8.
Wonderful Transport
“One thing that I love in this country that I haven’t seen anywhere in Europe... OK, you don’t count UK as Europe... In Europe: Transport, transport service in this country is amazing, it’s so good!” (Italy) “Yes, it’s amazing.” (USA) “I can’t believe there are people that complain.”
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? (Italy) “Nearly as good as in Germany, yes.” (Germany) “I think here it’s better. It’s a lot easier to understand.” (Italy) 5.4.9.
Dresscode and Appearance
“And about the things which surprised me when I came... Mostly the way people dress... Because I come from Russia, and there every time we go somewhere, it’s like... really high heels, make-up, all this stuff... And here people are so relaxed, like nobody cares... That’s was kind of surprising for me.” (Kazakhstan) “I really have quite the opposite experience! (Me too!) Coming from the US... I was here in October and I was walking around in jeans and flip-flops and a sweatshirt, with my hair back in a ponytail, and I was the only person wearing flip-flops in October! I like my flip-flops!” (USA) “We [Asians] are a bit more conservative about certain things. Initially, I thought it was something more common, something European, like... I see some Czech girls, they are not really dressed properly, as I would see in other countries. But then I did see something similar in Slovakia, in Budapest and in a few more European cities... Especially in summer, the Czech girls would purposely try to dress in a way that doesn’t look sexy... but it looks more in a slut way. And what I don’t like is the fact that many people actually think this is sexy – especially foreigner guys. But when I was recently in Switzerland, people were still dressed a bit better.” (India) “Especially in the swimming pool, or around the riverside, girls suntan topless – and a lot of them. This thing is really surprising for me, because I never saw it in any other culture.” (Kazakhstan) “And the other thing is, always I believe in freedom. I think people need to express themselves how they want, in dressing, in religions, in politician... whatever. For me it’s really good when I see... I don’t know, you are surprised when they... maybe topless or maybe... But for me it’s fantastic, see the woman like prostitute – because they’re free, it’s their life! For me it’s fantastic! (Yes, this is the big difference here.) I had the limitations when the society said ‘This is you, you have to use this kind of dress.’ No, we are here to live, we have to choose our way, whatever you want. And in religions, too. I’m catholic and my husband is atheist. And it’s fantastic, it’s better! We have the possibility to choose, so it’s his option. And my parents-in-law are atheists, too. I’m catholic... And I’m happy when I see this 34
17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? kind of people with all the colours here (showing at long standing hair – like punkers, probably) – Wow! And I say ‘Phew... the freedom is here.’ (showing a gesture of strength and victory) And in other countries, people are ‘Look at them.’ (showing an appalled pointing gossiper) Here, it’s fantastic. You can choose who you are. I’m happy here. And for me it’s one thing that I like here, because people use what they want. It’s not so... model...” (Peru) “So strict?” (New Zealand) “Yes, they choose whatever they want, and that’s fantastic. Because that’s the world that I want, with freedom!” (Peru) 5.4.10. Being a Foreigner “I miss not being a foreigner. Because I think the very fact that you’re a foreigner makes it a little harder, or leaves us a little more sensitive, and in a defensive position, because I think that influences a lot, especially when it’s the bad sides that we very well exposed here.” (Brazil) “I think it happens a lot in Europe, though, across Europe, you know. I don’t think it’s any different from if you go to France or something. They’ll also treat you like a foreigner, you’ll feel also ostracized, by all means.” (USA) (In what situations do you feel that you’re a foreigner?) “I feel really foreign when I’m with a group of friends: many times I go out with mixed Czech and foreign groups... And then I feel the difference: sometimes they are speaking English, sometimes they are speaking Czech... I do understand something, but then I miss the jokes. Even if I understand the words, I miss the background. They say something – cultural...” (Brazil) “What I miss is to understand conversations...” (Italy) “It’s just really difficult with the declinations. I have tried, but it’s very difficult. I really feel like it’s very important to learn the language especially if you’re here for a long time.” “Sometimes I think I should have chosen another country, because of the language.” (USA) “When a foreigner goes somewhere outside, they do want to meet local people, but when the language comes, some people are scared, because they don’t speak the language. And also, I’m scared I might say something wrong in Czech, something funny that might piss off the Czech people, so I try to be on the safer side because I don’t know Czech words so much. And even now I rarely have Czech friends here, unless I’ve done some business with them, I don’t have Czech friend to go and hang out in Czech pubs or something like that.” (India)
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? “And so the other thing that has happened a couple of times... Even in an area that I know well, like around my house, a couple of times somebody, a Czech person came up to me and asked: Do you know where this place is? Speaking Czech... The first time it happened I was listening to I-pod, so I didn’t hear them, I took it out, and I just said: Sorry? In English. And the person replied to me English: Oh, you’re a foreigner, you won’t know... And it was only after she’d left that I passed what she’d said, and she was asking where a street was that I knew where it was... And I could’ve told her... if she’d been willing to listen... But this “Oh, you’re a foreigner, you won’t know” – just completely being written off because you’re not Czech, you weren’t born here.” (New Zealand) “The only thing was [that with] older people there is still tendency to have bitter feeling towards Russians, so from his uncle and aunt I would hear something like ‘Despite the fact you’re Russian, we still really really love you, you’re still a nice person – despite the fact that you’re Russian.’ I just find it funny. It really just makes me laugh. It still doesn’t change anything, their attitude or anything... They just still have this mindset.” (Kazakhstan) “Another thing is... I don’t want to be sarcastic, but I noticed that most Czech people, they don’t travel so much, and even the Czech people who travel, they will live outside their country for a while, but still they want to come back home. And also especially, when they have partners, they want your partner to come here rather than they move to your partner’s home country, because I think they get scared that... they find it more easy to adjust with their own country than adjusting maybe in US, or in Peru. Because with my ex-boyfriend, he never even said that he was going to India. I did not even prepared him for the culture shock, because... I don’t know... I wasn’t seeing so far with him. But this is very very commonly seen that most foreigners who have come here, they’ve come because their partner have asked to move here. (Reactions: ‘It’s true.’) Another thing is... There are exceptions with this point, which is: When Czech peoples, they come together, for example you go out, they’ll speak only Czech. Even when they know there’s a foreigner, they will try to still speak Czech. This happens with me at my workplace. There’s Slovak and Czech girls, and they’ll speak Slovak and Czech, and they know there’s a foreigner. They even say ‘Oh, we want to improve my English.’ but then they don’t talk. Two more points is... which I was told... is that: If a Czech person offers you to help, never say no, because it’s very rare that they will help you to offer. Even when I was moving to this flat, some of my colleagues, they knew I’m moving, but no one offered me help. And in the end, there was something I badly needed help, so I had to ask
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? a Czech girl ‘Can you help me?’ And she was hesitant, but then she helped me. So this is what I’ve been told clearly: If they’ve offered you to help you, take it, you’re blessed. And... yeah, obviously, they don’t like to interfere in your personal life so much... and with the neighbours, also, they don’t talk so much... This is something that I miss, because back in my hometown it’s like... You have your neighbours, they’ll sometimes send you some sweet dish, or they’ll cook something and it’s ‘Oh, come over, we can eat together’ or they’ll invite you for parties. But here it’s like you’re invisible.” (India) (A couple of weeks ago, she was describing Czech people to a friend from Australia intending to come to the Czech Republic.) “At the end, I read back over what I’d written and I thought: Pretty much what I’m describing is New Zealanders or Australians who’ve been cut off from the world for forty years... And I was thinking about it afterwards for a while, and I really do think that’s what it is. It’s the same people that I’ve been living with my whole life, but just without being exposed to people from every country in the world from the time that you’re born... (New Zealand) “Just being isolated...” (USA) “Yeah. I mean... I don’t think I’ve ever lived in a street or been in a classroom or workplace with only New Zealand people or even only white people. I think that that really changes everything. That from the time that you start meeting people, you’re meeting people who weren’t born in New Zealand, whose parents weren’t born in New Zealand, who speak five different languages... who eat different foods from you...” (New Zealand) “And it wasn’t like that here.” (USA) “No.” (New Zealand) 5.4.11. Czech Character and Identity “They like beer – and they like to do anything that makes them want a beer. [...] They don’t know how to drive: they respect too much the limits.” (Italy) “I think Czechs are very efficient, very straight to the point. On the other hand, I felt a little bit of impatience [on the side of Czechs].” (Brazil) “Whenever I come to the Czech Republic, especially landing at the airport, I always think ‘Uh....’ (showing she’s unhappy and bothered) You know, people don’t smile... Not so much. On the metro, people have always these grumpy faces, not looking very happy... And that always brings me down a little bit.” (Denmark) “Czech men, if they meet girls who are foreigners and if their English is not so good, they will still try their best to crack a joke and most of the times their jokes are not funny; it’s completely out of the question. I think it was also because... I realized that many Czech 37
17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? people when they try to speak English they want to speak perfect English, so they even want to use big words which they should avoid if they don’t know the meaning or if they cannot pronounce it properly, so they should try to be sticking to simple English – at the beginning stage.” (India) “Officially, I heard that Czech sense of humour is self... – deprecating? – Yes, but it’s the official thing... I haven’t noticed that.” (France) “And the other side... What I’ve noticed that Czechs have more... I don’t know what’s the right word for that... They’re more creative in some ways, when stuff goes wrong, when they need to solve a problem... They always can come up with some solution which is not very common, or not very logical. If there is a law, they always can find a way around it. It’s a good thing, I definitely think, they’re just very very creative in some cases like that. While I think in western countries, it will be like ‘That’s how you do it and that’s how you should do it, and there are no other ways.’ Which is different, definitely.” (Kazakhstan) How would you describe your identity? “My identity is shifting. I was always thinking I was half Czech half French, especially because I spoke Czech right from the beginning, or we could come here, so I really felt half and half. Which was not very easy, in primary school in France to be half Czech etc. Now it’s becoming easier, but I know from my younger sister – sometimes they say you’re from Chechnya, instead of Czech. So it’s not very easy every day when you’re a kid. And since I’m here, I really feel French. Even though I can communicate with Czech people without problem, and I can speak of things that were 20 years ago or during communism and everything, at one point in the conversation, they would say to me: ‘But in your country...’ or ‘You as a French...’ or ‘You aren’t like this’. So actually I don’t really feel Czech anymore. So it’s a really interesting feeling, this change.” (France) “In Denmark, I always felt ‘OK, I’m not 100% Danish.’ and so I always thought ‘OK, I must be part Danish and part Czech.’ and so I’d always say I’m Czech and Danish at the same time. And I was at international school, so there it was a bit more normal, and the more mixed you were, the better. Then when I moved to Scotland, if I would say I’m Czech and Danish, people would say ‘Which one? You can’t be two. Is that one country or what?’, so depending on the person sometimes I would say Czech and sometimes Danish. And since my parents moved back and I was coming more here, I thought ‘Well, I’m not really totally Czech 38
17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? either.’ There are some things I don’t quite understand... And also, for me it is the language, partly. Because when I say I’m Danish, then I’m lying because I still speak Danish with an accent, and so a Dane might say ‘Well, you’re not totally Danish.’ And if I say I’m Czech, it’s not fluent by any means, so I feel like I can’t say I’m totally Czech. So I’m either, or I’m none, or I don’t know.” (Denmark) What do you think is Czech about you? “Sensitivity maybe, for arts and music... All the Czech family plays an instrument, in the French side, nobody plays an instrument. There’s always been something in the Slavic countries with music, so this part maybe is more my Czech part.” (France) “The one thing I know in Denmark that I thought was different compared to Danish families was that my family was a bit more strict, whereas the Danish kids could do more than me and my brother were allowed.” (Denmark) “Well, it’s true that here the kids had to go to sleep very early, and in France we didn’t have to go to sleep so early.” (France) 5.4.12. Gender Roles “My parents were a bit more traditional with the gender roles, a little bit. I don’t know if that’s a Czech thing or if it was just with my parents...” (Denmark) “But I felt, when I came here, one thing that was different than in the US... I just felt like the genders were more distinct. It was really clear that the women were wearing make-up, they had their hair fixed, mini-heels... I felt more women were wearing skirts and dresses than in the US, where everyone just jeans and tennis shoes or flip-flops... I felt like there was a really big gender distinction. And then when you find out about the names, that also have the “ova”. And especially with the babies. When you see the babies that already have their ears pierced... It seems that the culture is more gendered.” (USA) “And you have a list to choose the names for the babies...” (Peru) “I was really shocked about that as well.” (USA) “You have to choose Czech names, but if you’re a foreigner, you have the possibility to put another name but with a special document.” (Peru) “You have to do research first...” (USA) “You have to ask the government: please, I’m a foreigner, I want another name...” (Peru) “In the US, there are no rules and the craziest names ever... Nothing extreme is good.” (Kazakhstan) 39
17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? 5.4.13. Education and Culture “They have a high level of education...” (Germany) “I agree with the education point. I think Czechs are also proud of being well-educated and speaking čeština, which is těžká. They are really proud of speaking SUCH A DIFFICULT language and of being so smart to the point of mastering it. But I admire the focus on the mentality.” (Brazil) “During the first two or three weeks, these guys that I was around with, they always tried to show me around, to show me this place and that place, tell me about the culture, food – where this comes from and this comes from. That for me means being proud. It’s nice. In Italy, 99% of the people will always show you the food – screw the city, you can go and look at the city yourself. Where to eat, what to eat, how to eat it...” (Italy)
5.5. Replies from the Online Questionnaires 5.5.1.
What Surprised Them
What surprised you most when you arrived and started living in the Czech Republic or when you first met Czech people? “For me, what surpries me is when seeing the Czechs blow their noses in public very loudly when having a cold (for example). It seems like they are blowing the air from inside their mouth to fill up the balloon!! Then, when trying to ask the way/bus number ect, they (the Czech) immediately refuse with ' Ja to nevim' even I sometimes just opened my mouth to ask but did not start what to ask.” (Thailand) “I was surprised by how soft-spoken Czechs are. At first, I thought that it was directed at me as a foreigner, but I quickly realized that they are soft-spoken and somewhat reserved in general! It's hard for me to make a thorough assessment of Czechs, even though I've lived here for a year, because almost all of my interactions with them are in shops or restaurants, which is a bit limited. It feels difficult to make friends with locals here, not because people feel unfriendly, but more because of language and cultural barriers. As an American and a Filipino, I'm quite used to more verbal, highly social cultures, and being able to just chat someone up informally. This doesn't really happen easily here. It takes much more time to get to know people here. I have very few Czechs that I know in a more truly social capacity, but the ones I know a little bit are all quite nice.” (USA)
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? “Official clerks - they are much more friendly than Russian ones. The period of time you should take in advance to complete any target - get any paper, receive an order - whatever. You should plan at least 30% time for redundancy, may be even more.” (Russia) “The attitude to money - I did not expect so much of an awareness of how every crown is spent. :) For example, it amazed me (it still does) that people would save 2 crowns on a beer and drink it in a horrible dive rather than pay only the extra 2 crowns and sit in a nice comfy pub. For me, the whole experience is the important thing, not just the physical cost of the item.” (Australia) “They seemed very reserved, not willing to be open or share their thoughts so much. I was surprised at how polite they were ! Greeting everyone who entered a store or got into the lift.That was strange to me. And taking off your shoes when you entered someone's home - I was shocked and kept asking why ? why ?” (South Africa) “Openness, communicativeness.” (Ukraine) “Dogs and their owners. I mean - happy dogs. Two or three per one owner. The relation to animals. Veterinary clinics on each street.” (Russia) “People are much more serious that in my country. The silence and good manners in the public transport.” (Bolivia) 5.5.2.
What They Miss
What do you miss when living here, or what do you find better than elsewhere? Is there anything that bothers you? What's the best and worst thing? “What bothers me is when thinking about going to the post office as I have had many experiences about their service.Up to now, as remembered, I have lost my contacts to get parcels from abroad 5 times!! with no reasons from Czech post office. Then going to the city office with all of legal documents written in Czech. Better things: not too crowded population; convinient transportation and cheap as you can travel as much as you like within the time specified in the ticket not the distance you make.” (Thailand) “This is related to the above response. While for the most part, I truly love how soft-spoken and mellow Czechs are, the flip side of this can make things a bit hard, at times. I think the hardest thing about living here are those same language and cultural barriers, based on my
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? cultural background in Asia and the USA. It feels difficult to make friends with anyone other than other foreigners, and Czech can sometimes seem mistrustful of foreigners' behavior. And since my Czech is still quite limited, and Czechs seem uncomfortable speaking English, it makes it even harder to make new friends. It has been very lonely at many times, being a foreigner here. Learning Czech is definitely making things easier, but it will be a very long time before I can even have a proper adult conversation with someone, which is frustrating. The Czech Republic is an absolutely lovely country, and Prague is completely stunningly beautiful. I love being able to go to classical music venues like Narodni Divadlo or the Rudolfinum for incredible performances. I work part-time in Mala Strana, which is such an unbelievably lovely place to work. And I love the many cafes of Prague, like Slavia and Lucerna. Petrin and Vyšehrad are two of my favorite parks. And I feel lucky to get to live near the Vltava, and see the river from my window every day.” (USA) “Alien police is a real nightmare. I asked people in other EU countries - looks like CZ is a champion here. A lot of "best" things - less daily aggression, safety, normal policemen, friendly people around, who do not bumping into you though - I'm comparing with Russia, for sure.. Can't say anything about "worse" - except for Alien Police :)” (Russia) “I love the friends I have here. I like their need to have both work and rest. So time off with family/friends is essential. The comment below would sum up the hardest thing. Unless you are already friends with someone, Czechs do not seem to go out of the way to make new acquaintainces. In Australia and most other places I have visited, general courtesy incorporates newcomers - don't need to be their new best friend, but they are included 50 % of the effort coming from both sides. Here there seems to be alot more of the effort expected from the foreigner. So more investment from me, less from the new Czech I am meeting.” (Australia) “I miss my family of course and my friends.Especially when I have to explain myself and I feel it's because of the different mentality that people don't understand me or my thoughts or actions.At home, I would be understood. I like the feeling of safety, the almost non-existence of serious crime, the fact that I can walk almost anywhere, at any time of night and not feel threatened. I think that is almost unheard of in other countries in the world. I also like how easy it is to get around.That you don't have to have a car. One of the worst things would definitely be that there are still foodstuff that I can't get here.I miss that. It's getting better
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? though, as more foreigners come into the country and open food stores that stock the spices and food we know and love.” (South Africa) “Good laws, functioning more or less, I’m not afraid to go out, and it’s good. It’s bad that Czechia is not very open to foreigners.” (Ukraine) “I miss nothing. I like the city - very clean and old. I like the trees - very big an old. The one thing I miss - strong coffee and "Exellent" tobacco. And yes - seafood. There is not enough fish In Czechia.” (Russia) “I miss the food and the nightlife of my country. The good things are: The city is absolutely safe and clean. I like the order of the city and also the timeliness of the people. In my country everthing is tomorrow.” (Bolivia) 5.5.3.
What is Difficult for Them
What do you still find difficult to get used to or understand? Why? “The middle-age people's opinions/ ways of thinking. I dont know that much of what made them unfriendly to foreigners because from my experience these people look and treat foreigners unfriendly. I dont mean that all of this generation but lots of them as I haver observed.” (Thailand) “Can't say anything here. I did not feel anything like this, but I'm mostly abroad. Alas.” (Russia) “The lack of general, unasked for friendliness. Generally, of course there are exceptions, people do not extend a welcoming smile or give out small acts of kindness with graciousnes. It does not cost anything to the giver but it makes the world go round better and makes all people happier. - a smile, noticing someone and moving out of the way instead of making all others do it. Holding the door open AND acknowledging the person you have done that for. Nothing big, just giving people a little something nice in their day.” (Australia) “The racism and the unwillingness to admit it. Whenever someone says "I'm not racist, I just don't like gypsies." They can't see how racist that statement is. I also find it difficult that most Czechs can't see how lucky they really are, what great lives they actually have, how rich they are. They just complain and complain. How fortunate to be able to go on holiday at least once a year, to a different country. Wow ! That's not an easy thing to do. Neither is the opportunity
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? to eat regularly in restaurants. And yet they still can't or won't smile. For no reason, just a friendly smile to a complete stranger. When I smile at someone they think I want something from them, they immediately become suspicious. That's sad.” (South Africa) “I can’t understand why the Czech Republic prefers Gipsies than for example Vietnamese or Ukrainians?” (Ukraine) “I believe, nothing. Maybe, it must take time :)” (Russia) “The hardest thing, (although I got used) was the timing of meals.” (Bolivia) “To me Czechs are keeping too much distance. They are not that much willing to make friendships. They strictly separate work and private life. In Hungary we have a saying "the stronger dog gets to have sex" and this is true for most life situations. If you want to get on the bus and have a seat, you will have to push your self through. Noone bothers to stand in a line which would represent the order in which people arrived to the station. So basically order I miss in Hungary. Nightlife and friendships I miss in Czechia.” (Hungary) 5.5.4.
Close Relationships with Czechs
Do you have close relationships with any Czechs? Have you had any experience in this close relationship when you felt the difference between you and them? “My husband is a Czech. I still feel very different between the Oriental and Western when listening and talking with him; how and what he thinks.” (Thailand) “Not really. Jana is the person I know best, and I'm so glad that I do! I have a number of casual acquaintances, but 1+ year into living here, I still have no authentically close relationships with Czechs.” (USA) “Unfortunately, we just do not have such relationship.” (Russia) “Yes, I have a number of Czech friends. Approach to question and answers would be the biggest difference I have noticed. ie, in Australia I might ask: Where would you like to meet? Answer in Australia would be something like: "Cnr of Smith and Jones street at 5:30pm". Same question here get the following responses: "I have to go to work that day". or "The movie starts at 8 pm" - with no follow up giving time and place to meet. I seem to be direct in my approach to problems wanting an immediate solution. My friends are happy to play with ideas longer and wait for someone else to come up with a solution.” (Australia) 44
17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? “Most of my friends are Czech and I was married to a Czech guy. There were always cultural differences and differences in our way of thinking and behaviour. Most times, it isn't a problem, because I refuse to let it be but sometimes, it causes conflict. Lots of times I had to explain my behaviour and my ideas. And I still feel like I'm different and I've been here for almost 11 years !” (South Africa) “Yes, no problem, but they’re not 100% open, they always leave a gap.” (Ukraine) “I believe, it must take time too. I I think, people in general are very similar. Anyway, european people would always find common language.” (Russia) “Most of my friends are Czechs. They are very sincere and trustworthy they provide a true friendship.A Czech friend is a friend forever. In my country everbody it is extremely friendly and you can not recognize who is your really friend.” (Bolivia) 5.5.5.
Czech Character
What are Czechs like? What is specific about them? “Not sure that it will correct or not: I found many Czechs are friendly (their average ages are lesser than 40s).This means this generation has chance to see outside world and once was living / travelling abroad and understand how foreigners feel (from their experience).” (Thailand) “Again, I can't really say with authority, since I don't know them well. Czechs can seem reserved and a bit unsure of how to deal with all of the foreigners and tourists that have invaded their land, and so I don't know how open they are to any of it. I honestly don't blame them, either! A lot of change has been forced on them because of this that they weren't perhaps ready for or interested in. That said, Czechs seem to enjoy a relaxed life as much as they can (despite the economy), and don't seem to get too worked up about much. Even if they don't speak to me much, they are impeccably polite with their dobry den-s and nashledanou-s. They do seem to have a good sense of humor, from what I can tell.” (USA) “My frein who's living in Prague for 10 years, compares Czechs with hobbits. I find it pretty accurate :) For instance: * Excellent hearing and sharp eyesight * No understanding of machinery more complicated than the watermill, forge bellows, and the hand loom 45
17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? * A delight in wearing bright colors, particularly yellow and green * A love of food and drink (especially ale), eating a mere six times a day on average * A love of laughter, jests, games, and celebrations * A love of peace and quiet and "good tilled" earth” (Russia) “They stay around longer - once friends the drop off rate is practically zero. :) Other places, I have had friends for a while, but people drift. My friends here from 7 years ago are still my friends. Socks and sandels. Bags...what is with all the plastic bags carried around?! Love of getting out of the city and spending time in the woods / skiing etc. viewed as part of my friends identity.” (Australia) “Their insistence on polite behaviour, in terms of addressing people, how formal they can be ! Their etiquette in public. How you take off your coat and hang it up, how you have to dress up to go to the theatre, correct way of sitting, eating, talking,the whole ritual of the maturita exams and the maturita ball. I find Czechs very formal. It's like they are holding themselves in check, unwilling to just let go and have fun, scream, laugh, go crazy. What is also specific is their use of titles before their names. why ? They would even put it on the buzzer of the building and it would be used in addressing each other. The only person we use a title for, is the doctor, the medical doctor.” (South Africa) “Beer, dumplings, no stress...” (Ukraine) “They are like hobbits. I'm seriouse. Fond of an unadventurous sweet life of farming, eating (seven meals a day), and socializing, although capable of defending their homes courageously if the need arises. I like it so much :)” (Russia) “They are serious, friendly, modest, cultured” (Bolivia) “As described above. They are silent, polite, follow the rules. They keep distance. Men don't like to use deodorants.” (Hungary) 5.5.6.
Welcoming Czechs?
Do you think that Czech people welcome / accept foreigners? Why (not)? “I think it depends on who you are and what you will do in Czech Republic. I see Czech seem not to welcome people from such countries like Ukraine, Romania, Vietnam ect. compare with the more Western ones.” (Thailand)
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? “I think that Czechs are mixed about this. It seems as if it's been a bit easier for them to accept other Europeans and white Americans, but I think they still don't quite know what to do about the non-white foreigners. It concerns me that the Vietnamese community, which has been here for quite a long time, still seems completely segregated from Czech society. And the Roma seem universally hated (although this is true almost everywhere in Europe). I don't like seeing skinheads here. It makes me very nervous. I have had a couple of uncomfortable moments with them: nothing violent, just some rude things said to me and some dirty looks. Still, it's not something I've ever experienced anywhere else. Perhaps Czechs accept foreigners, but don't welcome them. I wonder whether there is a national conversation about this here, or whether this gets discussed in schools. If no one is talking about it directly, nothing is likely to change. In the US, we have an ongoing national conversation about foreigners and diversity, and we discuss it in schools...but we still have enormous problems with prejudice! If absolutely no conversation is being had about this in the Czech Republic, it can only make it more difficult for change to occur. To be fair, I don't think that we as foreigners are any better educated in how to bridge this cultural gap, nor are we always respectful of Czech culture. We can be quite loud and self-centered, ourselves, which doesn't make us easy to like, at times! We don't always know how to mix with Czechs, either, so it's partially our responsibility, as well.” (USA) “Never met any problem here. I'm totally feeling welcome or at least not rejected.” (Russia) “Like most places, some yes, others not. Language does not appear to make a difference. Even when my fluent czech speaking friends are discovered to be foreign I notice that many oCzechs I know at some point need to retire from foreigners and spend time with only Czechs...to recharge their batteries I think :)” (Australia) “It differs. I've experienced both the positive and the negative. Some are glad to have us here, they find us interesting and want to know where we come from, why we came here etc. Others are upset that we are "taking " jobs from them or living on their building. I think that most Czechs honestly don't want a foreigner as a neighbour, they think we are weird and too loud. Lots of stereotypes about foreigners. Most landlords don't want to rent flats to us.I've had experiences where the landlord changed his mind when he saw my face or alternatively increased the rent. Lots of adverts for flats in the paper have a postscript that foreigners shouldn't apply. The younger people, especially children are more welcoming than the older
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17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? ones. I think a lot of it has to do with ignorance. Most Czechs don't know so much about other cultures or religions, so when they meet a dark-skinned foreigner, they can only stare and expect the worst, i.e they will be robbed or attacked because that's what we do.” (South Africa) “Not very, it depends on from what country. But mainly, they want to profit from everybody )). But it’s fine more or less, it can be understood.” (Ukraine) “I cannot speak about ALL Czech people and about ALL foreigners. I feel I'm welcome enough :)” (Russia) “I think that in general they don´t have any problem to acceot foreigners, but it is my opinion because I haven´t had a problems in this aspect.” (Bolivia) “I think Czech don't really have a problem accepting foreigners, they just don't bother getting to know them. So mostly, Czechs and Foreigners live next/parallelt to each other. Partially this is cultural difference. Partially the fact the the proportion of foreigners is not high enough so that locals would not be able to avoid interaction (as in London for example). And partially because there is a huge difference in the salaries that locals get vs. what expats get - this pretty much predestines how they live their lifes (e.g.: Czech round up the end amount in a pub, expats give huge tips because the prices are ridicuolusly low to them)” (Hungary) 5.5.7.
“Half-Czech”
How would you describe your identity and nationality? What do you think is Czech about you and what is not? How has life abroad influenced you? “My mom is Czech, my father is Hungarian but from a German minority. I grew up in Hungary in a german village. I have travelled a lot around came to the conclusion that I'm Eastern European. That's the closest I would be able to narrow it down. I think I'm too "Czech" for Hungarians and too "Hungarian" for Czechs. Meaning I'm far more willing to obey laws and do things by the book as most Hungarians, and that I'm way too emotional for most Czechs.” (Hungary) 5.5.8.
Final Comments
“I think that the Czech Republic is a truly lovely, if not necessarily easy, place--it just requires time, patience and a real commitment to learning the language and the culture for a foreigner to be able to fully appreciate it.” (USA) 48
17. 7. 2010
Jana Slavíková
What is Czech? “As I said before, that there are some things that worry me or upset me sometimes about Czech people, like when people are rude to me and I can feel their hatred and I'm not just talking about the skinheads either, even though I have also had several experiences with them.Times when I was told to get out of this country, that I don't belong here, that they will kill me etc.I think a lot of Czech people don't know or aren't aware of stuff like this and that's sad because they should know and do something about it. Czech people are very passive aggressive. They would rather not know and look the other way then confront a situation because then they would be involved and they don't want to be. The customer service is also really bad. Some waiters and shop assistants can be extremely rude, it's shocking. That would not be tolerated in my country because for us the customer is always right and you must smile and be pleasant.I think managers should train their staff in this.” (South Africa) “I love Czech Republic” (Bolivia)
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