Reflections of an American in the Czech Republic
January 22nd officially marks five months since I moved to the Czech Republic from the United States. While these months have been filled with new adventures and new people, I’ve often found it difficult to put my experience into words. With so much happening at once, it’s easy to lose track, and summarizing five months of life in a short article is no easy task. All the same, here I hope to express some of my reflections about moving to the Czech Republic, how I’ve adjusted to life here, and the things I’ve learned since arriving.
With so much change happening around me, it is comforting to find that some things have stayed the same. Taking the bus or train through Southern Bohemia, I can see the same rolling hills, lakes, and rivers which cover Upstate New York. The beautiful nature in this part of the country reminds me of home, and this familiarity has made my transition much easier.
In addition, the town of Jindřichův Hradec has been in many ways a familiar place to live. I grew up in a small town called Fulton, with around 11,000 people. I have always felt more at home in these settings than in large and intimidating cities. In a small town, it’s much easier to immerse oneself in the local culture. By living in Jindřichův Hradec, I’ve been able to experience Czech life in a way that would be nearly impossible in Prague or Brno.
There are, of course, differences: Jindřichův Hradec is far and away the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived, and as much as I love my hometown, it doesn’t hold a candle to the Lower Square at night, or the castle decorated for the holidays. One of my favorite things to do here is simply to go for a walk, and look at the beautiful architecture around the town. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or homesick, a walk around the city-center always reminds me of how lucky I am to live here, and never fails to lift my spirits. A walk through my hometown in the US is always calming, but it is never this beautiful.
Americans and Czechs are similar in many ways, but after five months it’s the differences that stand out. It’s said that Americans are warm on the outside and cold on the inside: we’re always bright and friendly, but beneath the surface we can be difficult to really connect with. Growing up in my small town, I became accustomed to seeing smiles everywhere, and strangers talking to me on the street like they’ve known me for years. Yet for all the friendliness, it can take years to truly get to know someone. Outside of family and close friends, people are cautious to make strong bonds with others. Perhaps this is because Americans are always looking for something more: why get to know someone who might move to the other side of the country on a whim and never be heard from again? Americans might always smile, but they don’t always mean it.
In contrast, I’ve found Czechs to be a bit cold on the outside, but warm on the inside. From an American point of view, Czechs are cool and reserved. But beneath the surface, they are warm and welcoming, and truly interested in getting to know you. There are too many people to count who have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome, and too many acts of kindness to list them all here. But after five months, I feel at home here in a way that I never thought possible, thanks in no small part to the generosity of the people around me. Czechs might not always smile, but when they do, they always mean it.
Life in the Czech Republic is filled with tradition. From the Christmas dinner, to the ski course, to Czech singalongs, participating in these traditions have been the highlight of my stay here. By
sharing card games, pumpkin painting, and other things from my life in the US, I can bring a little bit of home to the Czech Republic, and I’m grateful for everyone who’s shared these traditions with me. These include all of my students and coworkers, the wonderful students in my after school club, my soccer teammates, and the incredible teachers and friends with whom I share an office. Thank you to all who have made these last five months the most exciting and rewarding of my life, and I can’t wait to see what the next five have in store.
David Tallents