The Mysterious People of the Czech Republic
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- čas přidán 11. 03. 2024
- People in the Czech Republic are not just about being rude and drinking lots of beer. Delve into how expats describe the Czech culture and people.
Let us know in the comments how you would describe Czech mentality.
If you liked the video, I would highly appreciate a like, subscribe, or sharing one of my videos. And I hope to see you in the next video.
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My friend who is english and lived in Prague for a long time once explained to me the trick how to engage with Czech people. He told me you can't be too positive or too friendly right from the start if you meet someone. It is best to start conversation with something like 'today the weather is rubbish, or I'm too tired today, life sucks and so on...then you connect, and you can have a normal conversation.
Love the advice
Yeah, because most Czechs are absolute pessimists.
That's.... A fucking cheat code, don't share it with anyone 👀🤌😅😅😅
This is actually true.. 😂😂
real
Mentality of PRAGUE. CZECH VILLAGES ARE WAY DIFFERENT
🐄🐐🐔
yes as Brno - example
@@Lobogo311 xddd brno zkurvena vesnice
@@Lobogo311 Brno is the only joke that you can actually live in :D
Bruh what about “Jeseníky”
@@mareklachman Jeseníky mají koule - na rozdíl od těch moček z Brna...jejich železniční nádraží se mělo jmenovat podle hlasování...Praha - Venkov 1. místo
The thing that people dont look at you and ignore you, that is only in Prague. In small towns and villages, everybody stares at you 😀
I recognize that. I also feel like in villages all across the world it's more like that.
Because in the villages everyone knows each other so they look at you like if you were some kind of intruder:)
@@TheMovementHub
This is also normal in the countryside and small towns elsewhere, for example in southern Italy, Spain, etc.
@@platfusak yes and no. Applies also for small town and cities.
That's true, however people still aren't as friendly in czech villages as in other places, such as western europe.
As an immigrant of 15 years here in CZ I recognised that most of those questioned were in Prague. There is a large dose of 'capital city culture' involved.
True
After moving to prague and living there for a while, I can't blame them. It's not really a "capital city culture" but rather "I'm tired and moody cuz stupid tourists were screaming or smashing bottles under my windows the whole night and then pissed at my doorway":D
Where else in czech do tourists go? They're not gonna waste money when they can stay in prague and see all of the history. Czech people are just plain rude doesn't matter if you're from a village.
@@milansvancara tourists or themselves :D
@@monkjoint7284 Ourselfs, very likely :D
I guess that Canadian guy hasn't been here for a long time, because Czechs are unbeatable masters when it comes to complaining. One wins every small talk, if complaining about everything and everyone, weather, politics, state of the universe. There is nothing more specific czech than this.
We tend to think that but I bet you that you would be surprised in US or other countries how complaining and generally rude people can act just from the perspective of entitlement. We do, in fact, not complain as much. The amount of demonstrations is low. We tend to curse a lot but from a perspective of being Karens and being confronting we are quite a angles. Czechs in general tend to underestimate themselves in fields we are really good at and overestimate ourselves in fields that makes us look bad. I believe it's a defensive mechanism and copying mechanism deeply rooted in our past and history. Generally we managed to survive under the influence of being beaten down and on our knees more then striving and being the best out there.
@@Likosak i feel like you are talking about confrontation... but we are complaining behind the back xdd
That's not czech culture, that's boomer culture...
You're correct. If you do not have a complainer attitude you are not "normal". They take you for fool.
In the Czech Republic, I would agree. However, if you compare this to American culture, we rarely complain about anything and can be quite humble. I thought the same thing when I watched the video: "What? We actually complain so much." But I think our complaints are different from those of American ones, as we usually complain only in pubs or with friends, and we can quite shut up and go on with our lives if it is really necessary. Sure, we can complain about the weather, yet it's nothing in comparison to the US, and people, for example, can enjoy mountains/nature even in bad weather.
That part about joining the group at the table. If you ask them, they will hesitate to refuse as they want to be polite, but unless you are invited, you can't expect to be welcome. We have a word for it "přisrat se".
@janzizka9963 ...to s tím "přisrat se" se Ti povedlo! Přemýšlím jak jim to přeložit...
"to crapadded yourself into something" 🤷🏻♂️
Just like when you work in the shit into fabric when you thought it could be simply brushed off ... BUT IT WON'T 🤣🤣🤣
"To f#ck into (insert noun)" is how I'd translate it as a Czech.
Lol prisrat se .brilliant.❤ didn't heard that for while.
"to shit-in"
How many "Luus" and "Lulus" are in here?!
🤭
It is not surprising that we are careful with foreigners. In history, when some foreigners came, they usually occupied us😂
😂❤
History is a history. We should try to work on a better future and present
Thats funny to hear when u have that flag as ur pfp
I really love the people! My best friends are Czechs and I also have a lot to do with them at work. Absolutely reliable people, very good beer brewers and always up for fun. The Czechs are our Brothers and Sisters! historically and culturally, especially for us Bavarians. Much love from Germany/Bavaria 🇩🇪🇨🇿
Aw, as a Czech that lived in Germany for two years, this really warms my heart. Sending love right back to you
I’m Serbian, this is my experience : Prague: VERY FRIENDLY, very fast, very ‘come try this, try that’. South Chechia : muuuuch slower, much more chill, less trying to cater to tourists. Overall : some of the best people on planet Earth. Safe, fun, beautiful!
PS. As for the food, some of the best cuisine- quality meats, sauces, cheeses, beer, and yes potatoes! I love the mixture of salty-sweet.
Hvala brate
@@CernokneznikCeresei It’s one of the most interesting, beautiful countries, certainly in Europe! Very safe tooo
8:50 - this is exactly why Czech people are constantly banned on all social media, because in western cultures, such kind of dark humor is mostly not acceptable, or they don't even understand it as humor, they think you are talking seriously and another thing are today censoreship algoritms and AI, it's a serious problem, you can't really use humor on today internet if you are on these big american corporation sites like facebook or youtube.
Můžu potvrdit. xD
The example shown is very laid back it's usually more racist and fascist
But that's humor, that's usual for post Soviet countries, especially Balkan and memes.@@youpersonalwgf152
@@youpersonalwgf152 well, we are the most racist country in Europe after all.
@@m0scl963 I'd like to disagree ale okradli by mě přitom nějaký černý mrdky z Ústí takže se pozdržím
We Czechs are quite nice but one thing that I really don't like about us is that we are strangely very self-loathing. It, and that is purely my opinion, is the root of many of our problems.
I also got a similar impression. Thank you for yout input. Very valuable.
The same thing happens in Romania, the country I'm from, and it's just as common in Hungary (a country where I have many relatives). This is a communist reminiscence that we will hardly get rid of, if we ever get rid of it...
Because it's like humbleness. And for many people is like bad to talk too good about yourself
I don't think so I'm from Czechia maybe it's more Prague but i don't see that wait maybe you are right maybe I'm self loathing or nah I'm just bad
@@Desperoro This is an idealistic explanation. The reality is different in our ex-communist states: you criticize the person next to you because that's what you were taught by communism. Why? Because once criticized, the person could hear and start the scandal and quarrel "why are you gossiping about me". The objective? Even more simpler: "Divide et impera", the Latins said this long time ago...Do I still need to write something in addition to be understood? Of course not, but the habit of criticizing has remained strongly embedded in our DNA, here is the big problem!
A few things:
(1) Czechs generally do not respond well to "overt friendliness" in the North American style, like being all smiles, super friendly, positive etc. To Czechs, this seems fake, not genuine, like the foreigners are trying to cheat them. Don't rush anything. Be polite. Stop trying to be friends with people you've only just met. Take things slow and easy.
(2) Being "friends" with someone in Czechia is MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than people from many English-speaking cultures realise. A friend is someone who will help you, do things for you even if they're an inconvenience to them. In the West, people sometimes act all friendly, but they don't know you the next day. In Czechia, if you make a friend in the pub one evening, there's a chance he will get up at 7 a.m. the day after and go help you move heavy furniture despite terrible hangover. Because Czechs do stuff for their friends (and expect you to do the same).
(3) Drink beer. Seriously. It's the number 1 opportunity to socialise with Czechs.
(4) When you get to know a Czech person or two, chances are they will invite you to various activities, often outdoor (hiking and skiing (in winter) is very popular). ACCEPT and go. Bonding over shared misery when you get soaked on a hike and have to spend half a day in a rural pub trying to dry your clothes is what forms friendships here.
(5) Grow a skin. Czechs are often very direct about things Westerners tend to be very "correct" about. Their favourite style of humour is so dark it could pick cotton. If you got offended by this, you'll have a hard time in Czechia.
This is good adice. It was said Czechs are like Kokos, hard to to get into, but once you do it's giving. Americans are like Broskev, easy to get into, but eventually you are met with a stone.
Damn feel sorry for the french guy. Hope he will meet some nicer locals
I lived here in CZ for 18 years having moved from the UK. I never want to go back to the UK is all I can say!
Glad you like it here! Foreigners being happy in my country is always so hearthwarming.
A co takhle mluvit česky?18 let je velmi dlouhá doba, to se ti nechce že? Zapomeň,že bych s tebou mluvil anglicky. Jseš v mé zemi,tak budeš mít snahu a mluvit mou řečí!
@@pumelo1 video je celé v angličtině, takže komentář taky. Co tě žere?
Tak já pojedu do usa.a budu tam mluvit česky.
@@JanPrazakCZ To nemá s tím,že je video angličtině nic společného, ten anglickej lempl nikdy česky mluvit nebude, to samé ti co mají Zapomněnky, je to tím,že českej zapráskanej národ jen ohýbá hřbet a každej kdo sem "přileze" si z nás dělá "dobrej den" Jinde v cizině, pokud by si nemluvil jejich jazykem,tak si ani neškrtneš .To je ten důvod a skutečnost!
This should be labled as a "People of Prague" ... totally different mentality compared to ppl living pretty much everywhere else.
Not that different. Sure maybe there's a slight difference between Prague and Brno but if you compare it to Spain or something - that's a difference
Moreover, Prague is quite a cocktail of Czech people who moved here from all around our beloved republic. ❤
True (sadly) but OMG the French guy. He should try to be a foreigner in France. Yes they are nice but to each other only. Not even trying to speak English with you. Worked in French company and liked 1 person only. Rest is arrogant AF yapping about everything being better in France. We Czechs "love" that.
True, French only accept those who speak French : )
The czech dream:
sqeeze money out of the system, doing minimal work
grill afterward
😂 Great times
I mean the system isn't really giving them much money to begin with, cant blame them
The french guy is funny. Basically he describes how Czechs politely treat assholes.
I also had that feeling when listening to him
seems like he was not really popular for some reason.
i think it was just a language barrier, nothing personal
@@quandasim they left to another table :-D so i dont know. That seems worse.
@@quandasim he was asshole
Praha/ Prague where most foreigners are heading has always been like a country inside of country - different. No sense to judge all Czechs by Prague alone. I do not think this changed since I lived there.
«if they want to get more salary in their companies, they wouldn't really ask for that, they would rather change the job» very interesting! So that's an aspect where my Czech origins come out
Thats what most people do not understand.
It is a very reason that so many people stay in the same job 10, 20 or 30 years.
@@aranecek Indeed. In a couple of days I'll get the 3rd permanent job contract of my life; but let's see how I really like this working place in the next months. 😉
My sister (she's also 10 years older than me) instead, has been working for over 20 years in the same place, despite she isn't particularly happy with it.
The german guy talking that Czechs are highly hierarchical makes me laugh.
I have spent few years in Germany on IT projects and my experience is quite opposite.
In Germany the word from superior is word from god even even that everybody knows it is total BS.
@@StandaBlabol The Germans totally lack elasticity, so they're happy to just follow and fulfil whatever directives they get, when they have to. Indeed I don't see hierarchy as a valuable thing. Hierarchy is good for the army.
“Nu vidíš, králi: tak náš lid!
Má duši zvláštní - trochu drsná zdá se- však kvete po své v osobité kráse, . . . ach, přibliž k tomu lidu hled a přitiskneš svůj k němu ret a neodtrhneš více!”
Romance o Karlu IV.
- Jan Neruda, 1882
I know a French expat who I know has the same experience as his compatriot.
According to what others from mutual acquaintances have told me and how we behaved "at a party", the first thing is that we Czechs are simply tired of speaking English, because we often lack vocabulary, but at the same time it is awkward for us to talk to each other in Czech when we know someone doesn't understand us.
The second thing is that our sense of humor is, I would say, very much based on sarcasm, and the French in particular can have a problem with that, or at least pick it up in a conversation in bad English, and it's all the more tiring when you have to explain it to them.
So, we gradually separate until eventually we all end up in a different place than the given Frenchman.
Thanks for the perspective 🙂
I thought it ironic that the French guy probably explained the situation himself without realising. The Czechs got up and moved and he said "during all of our time they were speaking only in Czech so we can't tell you the reason why". Exactly!! He's lived in Prague for seven years and still unable to join in the Czechs speaking in their own language. Maybe they just wanted to speak in Czech and felt it was awkward.
That event he explained wasn't a recent one. It happened rather towards the beginning of his stay in Prague, after he started his job. As of now, he is able to communicate in Czech.
For starters Czech is an incredibly hard language to learn and believe me, even if you speak the language they will not include you. I think these people should be studied in a lab because they really are the most rude and unfriendly nation in Europe without any apparent reason.
@@mihaicisnoc5037 french and English are more rude and they think they are somethig special. The problem is that people from western part of europe who never lived in communism simply don’t understand.
@@dejpex8976Yes yes the good old communism gig, seriously aren't you tired of making this excuse? No, French and English do have rude people amongst them, so do Germans, so do Swiss and so do Italians but they are not rude as a nation, whereas Czechs are. Poles, Hungarians, Serbians, Romanians, Bulgarians all had communism, some worse than others and people from these countries are much less rude and unsociable than Czechs.
@@mihaicisnoc5037that’s not an excuse. Our mentality is different in good way. Yes we are maybe rude on the outside because we do not know you and it is normal . When you get to know us then we are loyal friends. The same is in Slovakia. Yes, true is we are not talking to strangers for no reason on the public transport or in the shops and so what? Mentality is formed by historical experiences
and we just didn’t have the best. But you know, if you realy think that we have to be in the lab for study You are much more rude. I see you successfully deleted your original comment.
One I think described very well Czech culture is the blond woman... I realised only afterwards she is indeed Czech
a ty jsi idiot viď?
As a natural CZ bloke I strongly agree with Mathias. He hit nail on its head. Czech society is obsessed by titles. Don't matter what skill or knowledge you have but you can be an idiot with title than you are higher. That why Czech working market is fucked.
težká blbost. však každý druhý tu má vejšku a chová se pak jak povýšenecká píča takže jo i kdyby to byl prezident planety budu ho nazývat idiotem. kvůli tomu není trh v háji. ale kvůli tomu že chtějí všude vyučené lidi na pozicích kde to nemá smysl ale nikdo se kvůli nim učit nechce. smůla debilních ředitelů firem. Chytrost a inteligence jsou rozdílný věci
Prague is different from other towns. Pražáci doesnt represent us.
Yet so much we strive to represent you..
@@ruznaupozorneni tak to nedělejte kazíte nám pověst XD
@@starkillercz14 Když chodím po Praze nemyslím na nic jiného, než že reprezentuju taky vesničku Přední Zadákov.
I personally always appreciate it when people try to speak our language, because I would've never expected foreigners to speak Czeck, because we are a small country and it is harder than English for example, so it is always a nice thing to see someone learning language. Which will subconsciously grant the person some bonus points.
Not even us Czechs are rude enough to cut people mid-sentence.
Byl jsi někdy v Kolíně?🤣
@@Nixn_From_Da_Hood Tam někdo jezdí? Já myslel že to je takový iluze z okýnka vlaku.
@@laigron7884 Taky bych radši vyděl Kolín jen z okna vlaku.
I wonder where the french guy works because how he describes his coworkers treat him is very unusual. It seems like he either works with racists which I am sorry for if that is the case or maybe he may have done or said something which made them especially negative towards him. Especially if they dont even greet him everyday which I find absolutely unbelievable that is something I have only seen when people are actually pissed at that person. Maybe he should try and ask them why they are treating him this way because everything he described is basicly describing people who are pissed at you for something.
Yea pretty weird
Or when he said that he can never tell what the Czechs are thinking, while almost all the others said that Czechs are super direct, almost borderline rude for some cultures. Something is off here. What he described as how he is being treated is really not common, and I've been working with a ton of foreigners and mixed teams for the past 18 years. Czechs are direct, but they do not like insulting you in your face, they rather opt for this passive agressive format to show you are not welcome. But it would not be for what you are (foreigner), but rather what you did or how you treated them.
The black guy is wrong, we say hello to every colleague when we meet them. In the country, we even greet people we do not know. People probably don't say hello to him because he is foreign. They assume he is some random traveler or sth. When you are not Czech, you are an alien and people start being careful.
I'm a Canadian and I've been living in the Czech Republic for around 20 years. I would love to see them doing these interviews in other places around the country. Prague, like most national captitals, is not an accurate reflection of what you'll find elsewhere in the country. I've lived in Brno, the second biggest city in the country, for all the time I've been here and it's a very different place in feel and mentality to Prague; a big part of that is the underlying Moravian regional culture in Brno. I travel to Ostrava, the major city in the north-east, at least once a year. Ostrava has a very different history, with close links to coal mining and heavy industry, than other places in the country and that has bred a very different type of Czech there. Even though the coal mining and much of the heavy industry in Ostrava ended just after Socialism ended and the city has reinvented itself to a large degree through the IT sector, Ostravaks are some of the proudest and most no-nonsense Czechs that you'll ever meet. I like Prague, but it doesn't really feel or act fully Czech until you get to the suburbs.
How would you describe people from Brno, Ostrava, or other places? If you would compare them to your own people.
@@TheMovementHub I'm originally from the Canadian prairies and the South Moravian region that Brno is the capital of is not so different to where I'm from in both geography and in general attitude. I find Brno to be a much more relaxed place than Prague, but the city has so many people from other parts of the country that it almost feels like a surprize to meet someone that can say they were born and raised here. The South Moravian region has a lot of festivals connected to the wine growing regions there as well as folklore, and any visitor will be welcomed warmly. I've seen similar at festivals and events where I'm from. The old saying of "The more, the merrier" is taken to heart. People from Ostrava have a reputation for being a bit rough around the edges due to the old history of mining and industry, though I think that reputation is a bit overstated these days. I can say that people from Ostrava (and the north-east in general) are certainly the most direct Czechs I've met; you definitely know where you stand with them. That is also not unlike where I'm from in Canada. People from the prairies have a reputation of directness when speaking and saying exactly what's on their minds even if it does risk stepping on toes.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to write this insightful explanation 😊
Czechs! You are 1:1 with Austrians, but just speaking Czech. For sure it has something to do with our common history. I always have to laugh when I'm in Czech. Best regards from Vienna to our beloved neighbours.
French guy calls Czechs rude.... omfg
Well, behavior described in his anecdote was certainly rude...I'm from Czech republic, working in Japanese company here (small city, not Prague), and i have never ever seen such behavior during meetings with foreigners...the most common issue is language barrier, but even then, most of us are trying atleast...also, we are straightforward people usually, so we certainly let you know, if we like/dislike something about You/your personality etc...but we are not trying to be mean, just to be honest...some people like such aproach, some don't...its matter of personal opinion...also, part when canadian guy described czech behavior when trying to speak our language is priceless, we are really sensitive to it and if we see someone even trying to speak czech, we are much more open to speak/help such person
As a Czech I agree with the French guy that we are rude, until you get to know us.
omg I love that there is someone with your iniciative. Keep it goin fellow dope being. I'm from czechia and I rlly want to know more about how foreigners percieve us. :) Great content indeed
Thanks a lot for your nice words ❤️. It's comments like these that keep me motivated.
As an American in Prague, I really appreciate Czechs' dark humor. Their honesty and bluntness can be a shock because I'm used to everyone sugar-coating their words so that they don't hurt anyone. It's also nice that I'm not expected to smile at everyone, and I don't have elderly people coming up to me telling me to smile all the time. It isn't easy to integrate into the community without speaking Czech, and the Czech language is so difficult for a native English speaker to learn! I'm still trying, though. The Czechs don't seem to think highly of their country, but I think they are just so used to the good things that they don't see them anymore.
Some of these things are really individual for Prague people :D
I find the rudeness is mainly in Prague, outside the city people are so different. I was absolutely shocked at the amazing service i got when exploring other parts of the country, I was so used to the rude service in Prague.
People of Prague are just like 1/10 of Czech population. :D We are not all the same as people from Prague.
I have lots of Czech friends and play in 3 local bands. I study the language every day but still can't have a decent conversation. I blame myself for just not being capable of remembering all the suffixes etc. I do not plan on returning to the UK - I feel safer here as there is much less violence here in Prague - the capitol than in my local town of Sunderland. Some of the cultural differences mentioned here are not really big enough to worry about - more like interesting facets. For example whipping girls at Easter was sort of weird to accept but its roots was interesting - more pagan than Christian I think. I have also experienced some great acts of kindness by Czechs. I was in the intensive unit of the hospital and could not get to a computer to pay the rent of my flat but a Czech friend just paid it without a qualm.
Yes John The Czech Rep ( can't help call it by its old name) is a great place. : )
Czech mentality tastes so unique indeed 😍
I moved to prague from South Africa almost 3 years ago and the only negative thing I can really think of is some older generation people in client facing jobs are often very grumpy.
they spend most of their lives in totalism, so that’s why
Can't believe your name is braai tongs😅 absolutely killed me. Cheers, from another south African in CZ.
I'm Polish and I always liked Czech, they are chill out people.
Interesting topic, I would just add that Prague is not Czech Republic, it is a city and people behave differently in a big cities.
češi mají "Vpíčizmus" to je to kouzlo
Everytime I see a video about Czech and the "culture" and "mentality" and I see Prague I just ignore it. Prague bubble is something else.
1:30 “They don’t really like complaining.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
3:34 that's really true - I believe this guy is someone who really understand us more than other u asked.
It is easier to bemate when u speak more Czech, it is true we don't complain publicaly, but in private or pubs and i is also true what he said about the salary.
Other people are just saying random stuff which don't really apply on Czechs as a whole community.
6:24 I believe this happens only in Prague, not in other cities.
I appreciate you adding your perspective.
2:55 he got it the best i think
Czech people are known for being rude? To everyone? I thought they just hated Polish people 😆 As a Polish person, every time I meet a Czech person, my first thought is "I'm sorry for 1968, please don't hate me", and I wasn't even alive back then. Now that I know Czechs are like that to everyone, I like them even more 😁
What? I’m a Russian person and I have never thought Polish ppl. would be hated for that. The only “ hate “ I’ve seen towards my countrymen is when those Russian tourists being arrogant and assuming every Czech still speaks Russian though even then Czech pp. still being polite in most cases just starting being “cold” sometimes. Maybe I’m a positive person and I speak a bit Czech that’s why but I strongly believe showing respect and being polite towards any people helps a lot. It’s a skill a combination of some language knowledge and your positive attitude it’s very hard to be rude to you if you behave a certain way even if you were born in a country responsible for 1968.
As a Czech person, don't worry about 1968, literally nobody here blames Poland for what happened, that's on the USSR. You hit the nail on the head with the rudeness, we have nothing against Poles, we're rude to everyone and mostly to other Czechs. 😂 I personally love Poland.
@@bl1t7arrowThank you, Ondřej 🥰
That excluded guy might have been simply unlucky with the people around him but more probably it is the standard situation here: if there is someone new coming to a team then the activity from his/her side is expected and only after that is accepted and becomes part of the team. Just waiting for the activity from the other side can cause lot of dissatisfaction like the one in this video. Not always but it happens quite often.
Get out of Prague! It´s completely different outside of the capital
yup, it's mostly much worse with few exceptions like southeastern villages or Brno cuz of how high the student ratio is
@@milansvancara There are more Slovaks in Brno than Czechs and Gypsies combined.
@@milansvancaraOP never been to Most 😂
Been living almost my whole life in a really small town here in Czech Republic and I lived only couple of years in a big city called "Pardubice".
Although it was really nice to be able to buy something at likke 10 or 11 PM when you needed something, or forgot to buy something, but everything else was driving me nuts.
I was about to live in Prague, but thank god it did not happen, cus' every single time I have to go to Prague, it's like all the planets, gods and forces combine their powers to fuck my day up.
As many people here said, this video is strictly for the Prague "culture" which as some of the blokes in the video said "it's more of a metropolitan culture" and people there really put their work life above almost anything. I was born into a regular family, with regular upbringing I wish to live a regular life, with a regular job and have a regular family myself...
Although it's nice to be able to afford more expensive stuff, have some of that luxury around ya, but the more I acquired and had, the more I realised I don't actually need it :^)
If anyone is gonna have a stop in Pardubice you can give me a heads up here since i'm on youtube daily and I'll invite you to a beer (I'm living really close to that city, it's like 20 minutes away)
Have a fine day lads and yes, we Czech people sometimes look like we'd murder your whole family if you'd say a word our way, but that's just our "neutral" look on our faces.
Nobody complains more than Czechs...just not infront of foreigners...this is from a Czech, who has lived in Canada for decades.
I would say that language is almost never the problem, we understand that the Czech language is extremely difficult to learn and the more normal ones among us don't grill foreigners for not being able to speak Czech. However, I do agree with the point of Czech people usually being pretty private people. I am the same - don't like texting, don't like calling, not a big fan of public social interaction. But behind closed doors, with my partner, family, and friends, I am a very warm and loving person. But only with my small circle, because I don't see it as my responsibility to be friends with everyone. I need my privacy and free time too.
With my experience, as a skateboarder..you are exempt from all of the negative vibes about this video. Once you are a skateboarder and they know it..its like when in Rome, you are in with the locals. We only speak one language and that is the language of skateboard. BTW..this applies to every countries I had visited in doing my skateboard projects. In the end as a Traveler, its not what you know, its who you know. ⚜
Sounds great being a skateboarder
@@TheMovementHub I started traveling back in 2012 and it had never stopped. Hence why I live in Bavaria, Germany now..just 2 hours West of Prague.
As a Czech I can recommend few things when trying to integrate into our culture and meeting new people.
Dont be over entusiastic and extremely friendly on first meets, it will make you seem like you are faking it and wanting something from them.
Take it more casualy, I find it that it usualy takes time to develop a friendship with us but once it does we are very friendly and we help eachother.
Try to not get offended, people here can be quite direct and a lot of people use dark/sexist/racist humor, but very rarely someone means it seriously or in a bad way.
We also do a lot of self-loathing and complaining but its more like to get it out of our body and then we still finish or continue doing what we complained about
There are 3 topics you should be very careful talking about:
1. Communism (most people here despise communists)
2. criticizing beer
3. criticizing hockey
Also agree a lot with what the canadian dude said, if you try to speak czech (even broken/not fluent czech) people will be more accepting of you and will have more patience with you because they see you are trying to become part of our culture. If you only speak english after like 10-12 years living here people will not like you or not include you because they would have to speak english also...
Hope this helps :)
Thanks a lot for your insightful advice. I am sure that it's gonna be very helpful for others.
The man in 9:38 gets it. You came to our country, you have to put work in the relationship and in integration. We see what is happening in the west with foreigners and we don´t what it here. If you live here 7 years and still don´t know how to speak in (even broken) Czech then don´t be surprised.
About the titles - they are important just amongs doctors, lawyers and sometime among scientist or more teachers. But the rest of the people often don´t know what title you have or not. They don´t take it as important. They are more interested in what you are doing as a job or what you know for future possibilities of helping each other. So I immediatelly knew in what bubble he is livving. And yes, when you go to a doctor you better use your title. They treat you better but no one knows why. It´s long time cultural thing here and there is a bunch of jokes about that.
Well... not between close people, but any contact above a friendly level is full of bizarre title demands. I'm a teacher, and I can tell you that some parents, even in a "my daughter is sick" email, don't forget to sign "Mgr. Jana Nováková". Personally, I also don't know why I should fill out a title when I go to register with the allergist, go to the library, fill out a discount card for Billa... :)
Bullshit when i was in Germany for be a teamleader was normal just experience, but in Czech republic you dont need experience and you need title. For that we have many pseudospecialist on evereything without practice and we are in shits 😊
@@MrBaltazaris You don´t need title, you need connections.
I have worked hard for many years to get my degree and I am proud of my accomplishment, so whenever I can, I always write Ing. before my name.
I'd say that looking at our history Czech R. Has been supressed alot for like 400 years by habsburgs, germany, soviets etc... I think that many Czechs have given up on any resistance and they cope with it by complaining, but as mentioned they will not do public complaining seeing no vision in change. This also made us probably good at "going around the system", so many Czechs do cheat around the state laws alot - again probably a behaviour created from a strong supression for long duration
That said I like to think that the younger generation (including me) are much more positive and visionary. There are alot of successful young people with companies influencing the whole world.
Also Czechs aren't really proud of their nation sadly
Interesting 😊
I love how everyone mentioned the beer.. seems they know us pretty well xD
>they don’t really like complaining
We are the most ungrateful complainers in the world, what do you mean? :D
He means more the "waiter, my food is too salty" kind of complaining. More of public, not private complaining
@TheMovementHub Oh, in that case, yes. We are mostly unconfrontational, haha. We complain a lot, but when it actually comes to do something about it, we do very little. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Well we are just little a bit more protective...and I am thankfull for that. I love my Czech country and I hope that we will stay like that to citizens. If you dont like our country and you dont wont to be Czech, then please go...
Man, I feel so bad for the French guy, he got dealt such a bad hand .... We Czechs are horrible but those colleagues are something special!
You also have many great people. Especially those who are more open. I met many amazing Czechs abroad
Or maybe the French guy is just an asshole
After more than 1 hour of conversation with him (also before and after the full interview), I find him extremely sympathetic. Quite the opposite of an ah.
Kamo však je černej
Ah yes judging Czech culture, while living in Prague. You know there is the rest of the country that you have no clue about.
Half of Prague are people who moved there from small towns and villages😂
@@trixus4768 It has no merit.
Is it really that different? Maybe in some southeast villages during the wine harvest, which is a few people in a particular time of the year...
other than that the only difference is people being less educated
@@milansvancara that's bs, people have some common traits or habits but for example there is difference between living in Pardubický kraj or Moravskoslezský kraj. It's like telling someone that football culture is the same in one country. There are differences between dealing with Magistrates etc so you really have no clue.
@@sitrueis4007 Duh, but in prague you have people from basically everywhere and also it's much more accurate to generalize such a small country as czechia compared to generilazing any bigger country so... I don't really see any problem with that
The Czech are the displaced siblings of the Dutch ❤
I've had somewhat similar feelings visiting netherlands:D
I believe there were many times more people emigrationg from our lands to Netherlands than the other way around. 😀
On the other hand I work with companies in many countries of Europe and Dutch people are among my closest partners. I love working with them.
*Czechs
od kdy
In Czech republic we put titles in front of our names. And when you get called for example to a doctor ,we will call you with your title. For example: "Inženýr Mirek Novák"(inženýr is engineer in czech)
Engineer has a different meaning in English. For example "strojvůdce" would be an "engineer" in English. It is hard to imagine Czechs calling strojvedoucí pane inženýre. :) An example from the other side: An "architekt" is (usually) "inženýr" in Czech, but in English it usually isn't. Unless they design engines. Overall, "inženýr" generally means in Czech that one has a college degree, while in English it's more that one has to do something with engines or machinery. The level of their education is not what determines it.
The whole section about the title was pretty weird, since I feel like there are much less social status plays than anywhere else in the west.
It could probably be just some old boomers he met from the times when having a title meant having connections and collaborating with the secret police, so therefore the question
Or “pani inzenyrova” lady engineer, yet she has nothing to do with the title, absolutely hilarious. I would call it small mind.
@@stanhady5697 Train drivers are only "engineers" in the US. The word engineer has become so abused in the English speaking world that it could mean anything, including the man who fixes your washing machine.
Regarding titles: I don't know if it's still true, but in Sweden, they used to put people's titles in the phone book. Things like Engineer Sven Svensson.
Very interesting. Even though Sweden is by (Hofstede's and Meyer's) definition a comparably egalitarian society nowadays.
Try going to any local supermarkets in Prague, which are usually undermanned. They will keep throwing groceries at you and you need to keep up. They will not complain if you don't but they will look at you like you've just hurt their parents. The level of service in most stores is close to zero, so good luck counting on someone checking store availability in other locations.
But you get used to it, it's better to do things online here and simply not deal with ppl 🙂
As for pushing through someone on the street, I highly disagree - tourists will do that but not Czechs.
We think that only a total egoistic a-h*le would let someone else do things like helping him bag the groceries. It was actually a huge culture shock for me visiting the US, it was like "how can people be fine by disrespecting other people so hard and letting them be practically slaves to serve them in such a way to feel better about themselves"
Cashiers have limits how slow they can be =(
Yes, we, or most of us in czech don't ignore you.
If others are kinda like me, then we are trying to save you from the feeling of being judged and embarrassed.
When I walk in public and I see someone do something they did by mistake and get embarrassed, but its nothing they need help with, then I pretend I didn't see them to save them from being too embarrassed, and let them fix it on their own.
When you do something embarrassing on public you feel bad, but its worse when someone locks their eyes with yours, and just kinda sees you. You look at them, they look at you.. Its just the bad feeling of, someone saw you at the wrong time. I don't know how to explain this sorry, I hope you get it.
I'm embarrassed in public all the time, just from being there, I'm socially awkward.
And why did this comment took me like 10 minutes tu write?
I'm keep editing stuff wtf
This is how my anxiety starts :´)
Thank you for sharing your perspective :). Your comment was very sympathetic btw.
The obsession with university degrees or other titles is a legacy of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. In Austria it is even worse...
zajimave
The story the guy shared with expats being excluded from the conversation because everyone started speaking Czech is unfortunately all too common, but in the vast majority of situations, this is unfortunately because Czech people on average have only serviceable level of English that they can keep up at work, but it quickly becomes a chore when in a non-work context or when drinking and they'll forget or switch to Czech when speaking to another Czech speaker in the group without switching back later. We're unfortunately behind many other Europeans, for example Scandinavians, in our readiness to speak English and keep speaking English even if the majority of the people in the group speak Czech or there's drinking involved. It's very rarely personal or intentional and it looks like it won't be until this current zoomer generation who grow up with English ingrained to their culture and entertainment start making up the majority of the work force that the best option will remain to commit to speaking Czech warts and all even if you're really not good at it. Czech people will be way more likely to actively try to include you and help you if you do that.
There is nothing mysterious in Czech people. They are reserved and they open only to people that they really like which is like 1% of chances in general. Also, the mistery behind is very simple: Its a specific country and also a very small country. This means there is "small country" or also "village" mentality. Im introvert so I understand this behavior. However, Czech are also scared of changes. To speak another language for example or to be out of the comfort zone hence the connection problems of foreigners vs czech people. Basically if you dont look czech, behave and speak czech you are fucked. The solution is: meet other foreigners or to find the very rare czech open minded and well travelled person. Which is also VEEERY rare. Slovak people are much more friendly and human.
I always say that Czechs are like hobbits
we are, we live in our hobbiton in the middleearth literaly
Maybe its reason why Tolkie take inspiration in Czechs xD for hobbits
Czechia is a great country. It's not perfect, no country is, but there are a lot of positives.
That's not Czech Mentality. It's Prague's.
What did you expect from a foreigner ?
Yeah try to explain Czech culture, by only Prague.. Gratz this vid gave realy like reeealy great value
We are sometimes tooo accepting of shitty things happening. So it is double edged sword really. All and all we are really rough around the edges, but otherwise we are quite chill.
about the getting bumped while walking thats more so tourists doing it in prague rather than locals
"they [czechs] don't really like complaining"
well that's a new one for me lol
Guy from France says we are rude towards foreigners? French guy? Lol. Lmao.
To be fair, as for me as Czech, ill be rather friend with someone from different country than meet a new czech person.
Why is that?
@@TheMovementHub czech people are whiny as hell, i have no idea what are the people in the video talking about.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
(it is quite long so if you don't have time or patience don't click on "see more")
Before we start anything you need to know that Prague is a country inside a country. Always was, is and probably will continue to be. So you can't make a judgement about the whole country based on the capital city only. Once you know this we can now proceeed to divide all Czechs into 2 groups first: Those who saw the world and traveled to places and those who never left their home town. This makes a massive difference as the 1st group will be the group you may want to get to know more than the other one. This however does not tell the whole story as some people that never went abroad might be actually decent too. Especially in villages on the countryside. The difference is that people who saw the world know what is bad at "home" and how it could be better VERSUS those who don't know and thus "accept things how they are" (like someone said in the video) or even "they complain in private or pubs". The 2nd groups is the last group you want to be friends with since that group contains most of the idi0ts this nation has to offer. Sorry but that is the truth. The "know-it-alls" who usually procrastinate everything and anything except looking into others plates to see what they have, own and possess. The same people usually care more about others and judge them negatively. Especially if you have a fancy car parked outside your house and it could be 20 years old. If it is a BMW, Merc or similar you are most likely a thief or other shady person deserving all the judgement, frown and talking behind their back.... while in reality it is a decent person who just likes that particular car brand without thinking anything. This is something communism has left behind and it did not die out yet. Back then nobody had anything and everyone owned everything. Everyone had the same car, shirt, appartment, job, sallary,... and if someone had a better life and things... that was very disturbing to the general public. Something some people inherited from their parents who lived in that time and they are not intelligent enough to overcome this mindset. Worst part is that the same people have children and program their children the same way. This is another thing you have to take into account when thinking about Czechs. As for having different treatment with a title or no - yes, it is a thing very common and widely spread. Absolutely ridiculous but it is like that. Especially if you consider how much the overall intelectual quality sunk over the past 20 years and how heavily the school system got dilluted by bogus titles from bogus universities where you can study how beetles and insects live and create an essay about how grass grows and bam - you got a title. It doesn't matter that you know sheet but you can now add a title to your name. The worst part is that you can get a bachelor, magister or whatever in both schools. A traditional school with let's say law or medical studies as well as the "grasshopper" university. Nobody can tell where you got your title from since they are all the same (ing, mgr, bc,...). Plus corruption is a massive problem in the whole nation. Many politicians have bought their titles, the most famous university that allows that (and is protected for the same reason) is in Pilsen (Plzen). Works till this day btw. So for some people your title will mean respect and for others the exact opposite and they will not think twice to make fun of you and disrespect you. Also if you are rich, like really really rich you will also get premium treatment from almost anyone around you. For the same reason many try to look rich even if it means to ballance on being broke and bankrupt. Buying expensive clothes, accessories, cars, accepting financing on houses most can barely afford.... basically a lot of people are trying to impress other people they don't like with things they can't afford with money they don't have. The average Czech credit card debt is proof of that. Absolutely ridiculous.
All and more is what Czechs are. A mixture of various characters. From bad to good. The thing is that the low quality characters are usually easy to find while you will have to get lucky to find the good ones since they like to stay away from all the idi0ts.
The Czech core is great. Friendliness, hospitality, ready to help and accomodate, willing to talk with you about anything and everything and even accepting you as a friend almost instantly if the chemistry is okay and much more... that is the core of all normal Czechs. Most of them are just too protective amongst each other because you don't know who is who until you know and it is usually too late at that point if you were wrong. For the same reason many Czechs will have an easier time to befriend a foreigner who has nothing to do with all the nonsense that is going on in here in comparsion to his "local" neighbour. And even many idi0ts carry that core in their heart... they just forgot about it over the years and became numb to it.
You have to keep in mind that the Czechs had one of the hardest times in the recent and young past while other countries got away with a bruise only (talking about WW2, communism and what not). And now the ongoing massive corruption and total diletant/amateur ways how politicians "rule" the country... the fire still burns and while most of the people try to extinguish the fire with water a lot of people put in more gasoline to let it burn more. And that is what is basically going on here. Some 20-ish years of freedom and democracy that started off wild is just not enough time to settle for a standard that will be able to be maintained for generations to come. Privatisation was a crime, selling strategical companies for little money to foreign owners as well or selling gold reserves in masses to Swizerland for cheap so one banker could get a nice and warm spot at a local bank over there etc etc... and then a lot of people divide into groups that adore those who are responsible for the current state the country is in and the others would like to see them behind bars. Too many opinions and believes that collide on a daily basis. And you can get shunned easily for just saying that Vaclav Havel was a criminal and backstabbed the whole nation. Which is true because he had the opportunity to ban comunists for good but since he got his own set of benefits from them he later gave in and said something like "We do not need to ban them because the communists of today are not the same we knew from yesterday". And if communists took something that did belong to your family AND you are nobody important then good luck getting it back from the state who said "everyone will receive reparation". Nope. Many didn't get squat and most of them died wihtout ever seeing a penny in their life. But they saw how many politicians and their friends got back everyhing including interest.
...and this is just the surface. The turbulence in the nation is still a thing and did not settle yet and quite frankly I am not sure it ever will. The country and its people have great potential for everything but the lack of unity makes this potential powerless and worthless. And politicians like to keep it that way because unity would not benefit them the same like chaos and arguments even about the weather. For all this and more many migrants never considered the Czech Republic as a country they would want to stay in and moved further to Germany, Italy, Austria, France and even Spain. Nobody who comes from a place with problems wants to set foot in a country that has its own set of problems. Especially if you are in a position where you can pick and choose.
PS: I expect a lot of idi0ts to attack me for saying out loud what a lot of people think but don't bother to express it because they want to avoid exactly that. Dumb discussions with dumb people who pick one or two points to fight you while ignoring the fact those points are valid (but not in their eyes) or taking it out of context to create a personal battle with you just to turn your own words against you :D another "Czech speciality". Say something true but uncomfortable and soon you will face a small army of dpshts trying to push you in a corner and stomp you into the ground. Some people manage to get offended like if you insulted their mother, the mother of that mother and some other mother down 10 generations while all you did was saying something that is true out loud.
Thank you for taking the time and writing your perspective ❤️. I have read it all. And I also appreciate you for being so reflective, in contrast to those people that you mention who pick out a few things they disagree with, and become incredibly defensive.
Only asking people from prague about czechia is literally the same as asking someone from NYC about america.
We are... COMPLETELY different, at least the ones of use NOT from the capital.
Our country is so small that there are no differences in behaviour and characteristics across the whole country. The only traits that would be different from Prague would be racism and ignorance, which is a social problem.
@@zenonpacilosnky407 As a czech not from the capital, I'm telling you, Prague folk are VERY different. Czechs, Moravians and SIlesians too are all different. We may be small, but we have thousands of years of history here. Heck, village and city life is unbelievably different as is,
The Mysterious People of the Prague Foreigner Reservation more like.
I cant imagine coming to work in France and expect all my colleagues would chat English with eachother just for me. Especially the French.
Some of these things are completely wrong, but ok, everyone has their own experiences.
Also comparing Prague and the rest of Czech republic is like comparing Czech republic with Slovakia
It's almost the same thing before you look at it closer
Yes speak czech we are immune against foreign languages (25 years after "velvet revolution a few of us can speak english..german.. ) and Prague that's definitely different part of republic, you have to check out other cities 😅
"Potatoes everywhere" ...honey .. u know what fries are made of ? 😂😂
//
6:14 that is Prague and its disguisting, i agree. Seen that myself once in Prague .. the stream of people just moving around a person knocked down at daylight.. Prague mentality.
The guy from Germany is so right about that we rather change a job than asking for more money...
♥♥
❤️
I thought that complaining is the national sport in CZ. At least where I live 😂
That thing with not helping someone you don´t know on the street, that´s not a Czech thing, that´s a Prague thing.
I have noticed that Czech people proud themselves on their great sense of humour, many always mentioning it, but 8:18 in all honesty, I’ve never heard it or noticed. Maybe it’s only Czech-Czech but with foreigners it’s not so obvious?
No complaining and no showing your status? That couldn't have been the Czech Republic. 😂
"People not complaining so much", he prolly never met a czech person outside of prague...
The Canadian guy got it the best. And this applies to anyone, if you speak language people understands you talk to their brains. If you speak the language people are native to, you speak to their heart. So Czechs are in my opinion like any other nation. If you try to speak their language they'll be happy and will like you.
There is a big difference living in Prague and any other city in czech republic. The bigger city with more foreigners, the more friendlier people to foreigners. There are a lot of tourists in prague so people are used to them.
The czech lady knows the point. We like to joke about everything, nothing is sacred. Also as an ex-communist country Slavs in czech republic are not out of the ordinary, doesn't matter if you Ukrainian or Russian, people here are used to it, unlike if you're black. Older people are still pretty racist, but not everyone. Czechs are usually very proud of their country (which I don't really get, because they complain all the time and are proud of things that happened way before they were born) so if you speak their language and show respect to what they do, they will tolerate or even respect you back.
Poor poor "french" guy😂 I almost shed a tear for him😢
"the czechs don't like to complain"... that one made me laugh, we're actually known to be supreme complainers, we complain about the weather, our neighbors, but most importantly, the government, be it our own or foreign
It’s true I have a czech boyfriend and some of his friends omg the complaint soooooo badly about their country that is like ? Chill man and me coming from Latin America I found it hilarious about the bullshits they complain of
The Mysterious People of the Prague
Honestly it depends on the experience. If you only experienced Prague its quite different from other places especially in the smaller ones. Prague is honestly a bit different in everything so definetely don’t base it on that. To be honest in short: we do complain a lot about literally everything, a lot of people (NOT FROM PRAGUE) can be very unwelcoming and hostile towards a foreigner (older Czech can be very racist), we love beer and talking shit about everything :) thats my opinion at least