Q and A is going to have to wait, because I want to get some other thoughts down first. Namely, a list of things that I've noticed that are different here than in America. I just wanted to write them down before they become normal for me and I stop noticing them.
1. Lack of peanut butter. This is okay so far, but it may become not okay by December. Apparently most people hate it, though Elena says she doesn't mind it, it's just impossible to find. I guess Nutella will have to do for me for the next four months.
2. Lack of bags/disposables in general. When I went to the grocery store with Elena, she brought her own bag with her, and everyone else did the same-- I'm not even sure that there were paper or plastic bags. It's cool how they're sort of unconciously environmentally conscious.
3. To go along with that, there are no to go cups or to go anything, really. If you order something, you're meant to sit down and eat/drink it. I haven't seen anyone with a travel coffee mug, and nobody gets Doggy bags at restaurants. This morning I ate a banana while walking to my bus stop and even that earned me funny looks.
4. Everyone closes all doors all of the time. I noticed this first in my host family's house, and other people I've talked to agree. I think it's a way of keeping the heat inside the rooms instead of the middle of the house, but it feels odd to me.
5. If you've been to Prague you probably know that the rudest thing you can do is to leave on your shoes in a house. I didn't think that was too strange, but when I went out into the back yard of my house Elena made me change into other special backyard shoes. This is a bit excessive if you ask me. We also went to a movie theater today and learned that putting your feet on the seat in front of you is NOT allowed. It made for an uncomfortable viewing, since my feet were dangling the whole time.
6. When we had our huge lunch on Sunday, we had glasses at the table but we didn't drink anything until we had finished eating. After that, Simon got up and got a bottle of water and a bottle of wine, and we drank last. Dad, this reminded me of your family. Also, everyone ate REALLY quickly. I had two bites of soup, then looked up, and everyone else was done-- no exaggeration. Maybe this is just my family.
7. Everyone has a dog, and all of the dogs are huge. HUGE.
8. Water comes with bubbles, lightswitches are squares, there are no nutrition labels on anything, the shower heads are never attached. This last fact has caused some problems for me, since my family also doesn't have a shower curtain, and it is extremely difficult to not spray water all over.
Just wanted to get those down. Hope they're not too boring. Oh, and one more thing, I've had the following conversation about a million times:
Misc. Czech person: Where are you from?
Claire: Wisconsin.
Misc. Czech person (pretending to know where that is): Ahh, where in Wisconsin?
Claire: Madison
Misc. Czech person (excited): Oh, like Bridges Over Madison County?
Claire: Uh...no.
Misc. Czech person (dejected): Oh.
I think it's pretty funny but I have to find a way to soften the blow.
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3 comments:
Just once, let them think you're from the book...
and on point 3, in DC, you get funny looks if you sit down and eat something. If you're drinking/eatting chances are you're moving. And at a pretty good clip for that matter!
You need pictures, get on that! (just make a goggle photo album or something)
Also a comment on point 3, as I've noticed a similar practice in Cairo. There are definitely to-go cups, especially since delivery is so popular here (basically every food/drink establishment, including cultural favorites like McDonald's, the local grocer, and the ritzy coffee shops have moped delivery boys). However, no one eats or drinks water (even when it's 120 degrees) when they are moving. They sit down and (presumably) enjoy/savour it.
I might also break down before December and pay the $10 for a jar of peanut butter.
I'm about to move to prague and came across your blog the other day. I happened to notice you are from madison, as am I. I don't know if you're still checking this four years on, but if so, is there any specific advice you'd give for a wisconsinite moving there?
Dekuji,
Kendra
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