This has been a hot topic of discussion here at the CMD for a long time. Assuming you have lived abroad for a while, would you go back to the Czech Republic for good? Is the answer ‘yes, of course!‘ or ‘no way, are you crazy??‘ VOTE HERE!
CZ: Pro ty co ziji v cizine jiz nejaky ten patek: vratili byste se nekdy do Cech? Ne jen na dovolenou, ale navzdy? Zucastnete se nize uvedene ANKETY a v komentech popripade uvedte Vase duvody:
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Dobra anketa, jsem zvedava na vysledky.
The question seems to be aimed at native Czechs, not repats, but you do include the English version, so…? For me the US isn’t “abroad” and the ฤR isn’t my “homeland”, but I’d love to go back to Prague, and it’s actually looking like I probably will this year. “For good”? I don’t think I really want to stay anywhere “navลพdy” but I’m hoping to be able to keep a permanent foothold on both sides of the pond and spend time in both places.
I still have very strong ties there, my whole family lives in CZ. Plus maybe it’s silly but if I think about something beautiful and peaceful, I think of the rolling hills with golden fields and summer sun shining in the part of Moravia I am from and also of my grandmother’s courtyard….that is home to me. But of course, here I have a job, husband, friends and many conveniences….
I voted for : Probably not; I am just way to settled and comfortable here in the US.
The “Probably” is there because, what if US will become more socialist than Czech Republic?
Of course I am ready to fight for freedom, but what if we lose? Then a next move will be eastward ๐
Michael, you are definitely included ๐ I like your expression ‘permanent foothold’ – wouldn’t that be nice if one could keep this permanent foothold in other areas of his life! Like at a job interview: “No, sorry I am not going to take the position right now but I am keeping my permanent foothold here so I may take it in couple of years. Thanks!”
Eva, I have a similar peaceful image in my mind. And every year that image gets more and more peaceful :)) So did you vote ‘yes’ or ‘probably (yes)’?
Vlastimil, I put voted the same as you.
Tanja, I voted Probably Yes but it was sort of on edge between Probably Yes and Yes. My other problem is the weather so I’d return only for spring, summer and fall ๐ Ideally if I could be partially here and partially there, I think someone else had the idea too. ๐
I would like to buy a condo in Prague …..
This is interesting, from the opposite perspective …
http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/expat-stories/farewell-praha-dealing-with-reverse-culture-shock/
There are good comments below too, as this website has.
That is an interesting article! Especially the advices of the Relocation therapist (what a fancy name!). She lists all of the helpful hints in order to get rid of the Prague homesickness, yet one of her last advices states: “Start planning for another trip to Prague”. That really doesn’t look like a good idea after you have conquered all of her other points in order to get rid of one’s Prague ‘obsession’.
Posh, tis is an interesting article and so true. I wonder how I would re-adjust to life in Prague? I would miss New York so much….and their rude cab drivers and waitresses :))) I kinda love it though…..
errata: their rude cab drivers should be “its rude cab drivers ” …sorry for the typo
I am sure the Czech waitresses would fill in your homesickness
My husband is a native Czech. We have been back to visit family many times. He is from Ceske Budjevoice and I love it there. I would not want to move there forever but spending 6 month’s there and 6 month’s here would be a dream come true for me.
Hi BJ,
your idea sounds idyllic ๐ But then where would your REAL home be? I guess you would have two of them…..that would probably confuse my brain because I need some ‘constant’ in my life
If somebody can have two wifes, so why not two homes ? ๐
I guess retirees can have multiple homes, or telecomuters ? It would love to work for my US employer
remotely while drinking non-expensive beer during designing great systems ๐
I love BJ’s idea!!
I did an interview yesterday in London with a Czech journalist who has been there (UK) since 1990. He told me that he was offered a good job with Czech TV so went back to Praha for that but could only stand 7 weeks before quitting and returning to London. I asked why he left and he answered, “Completely unnecessary bullshit.”
If you are retired, or don’t need to work, I guess it coud be very pleasant, especially for the 6 month stints BJ spoke of. But starting/pursuing a career and, especially, doing business can be very tough.
Posh, very funny! But I have to say bull… is everywhere, not just in the CZ. For half time there half time here you’d have to have a job where you are independent, or you can work for a company remotely. I know there is not that many jobs like that but I know people that do this and I think it’s great.
I work remotely quite a lot, but sometimes we have “emergency” meetings (pizza and coffee served),
that’s why it would be rather impractical. When we will have one global world government, then our future will be bright and we will feel home everywhere…..
I agree with Posh. If I was my own boss I think I would divide the 12 months into 4 months – Prague, 4 months – USA and 4 months in Italy :)))) Well, maybe 5 months in the US and 3 months in Italy so I have my constant :))
I’m an American. I moved back with my family from Czech about 2 years ago. We live in Florida now. My husband is from Ostrava. When I wanted to move back to Florida it was for my career and my husbands. After being here I truly believe our home is in Czech. We all miss it very much including our 3 lil’ ones. I feel now that money isnt everything. Being with family and enjoying life is what mattters to me now. Not that it didn’t before. Here has always been work, work, work. Its in my blood….I voted yes to going back.Czech is where my heart is.
Interesting thoughts! I voted “No way” because out of the, almost, 60 years, I’ve spent 42 here in the US, UK or Sweden and only the first 18 years in -then-Czechoslovakia. My Czech is stuck in the student vernacular of 1968; it’s an anachronism. I do not understand the business or legal Czech language and would have a hard time with that. Then there’s the weather…after Southern California it’s hard to live anywhere else. That and the mind-numbing bureaucracy that the Czechs live with. And, finally, I don’t think my American wife would enjoy such a drastic change…
I am like you Karel, I spent ‘only’ the first 18 years in the Czech Republic, so a lot of the ‘grown up’ language is kind of foreign to me (taxes, health care, politics). But I do try to keep up though. I put the word ‘only’ in quotation marks because they are the most formative years of one’s life. It is very hard to ignore them. But I, like you, would not move back (partially also because my family ties in Czech are not very strong).
PS: I noticed that the poll results have reverted. Now the majority WOULD move back if they could.
Uz asi ne ;(( Zviratka nejim, ale mozna bych pro ty buchty!
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Probably, not anymore. I don’t eat animals, but I might for the buchtas!
Hello i was born in Morava born and raised done first grade than moved with my mother to US South south Carolina than Florida for good lived there done school for 12 years in Sarasota Siesta Key beautiful place the best beach in the world they say.
Lived a good life there until everything after 01-09 starting slow but each year faster to crumble the economy/social reforms to entire government reforms like the Homeland Security take out the Mexicans but give the Europeans respect.
Well we never had problems there with Citizenship as my dad has dual citizenship Czech American back to the topic.
USA does not exist no more the new corporate Fascist USA Inc Corp yes with over 30 % of Americans know what is going and are fighting for there freedom while the major of the pop are brainwashed sheep that do anything for there governments there like little kids dumb little kids but you got the same happening in Europe but not entire Europe i have to say.
(Arab world is pissed of at Western intervention (Westernization) that likes Chinization try to Chinize Europe no one likes forced culture and special stealing your resources period.
Again i went little bit of topic but not really as it all has to do with the Dollar its the world currency just because of Oil and bailouts which at the congress cant keep doing bailouts and adding higher dept limit.
Well the money is not based on gold anymore but on nothing NOTHING that”s right nothing its based on AIR or plain toilet paper today the banks print money and the government says what the limit is which there is NO limit that is the best part of this so call economy well monetary system is no economy is a eater a big fat man that eats the planet and everything on it for profit man made numbers that is our current global anti economic/political system our current governments/Media invest more into Media propaganda than on to health hunger starvation because of a fake number call money man made.
You can change a system by a day by a second bur you can”t change mentality of a society in a day.
Just like Hitler said in one of his speeches if you want to control the world/country than you need to control the education system.
“The efficiency of the truly national leader consists primarily in preventing the division of the attention of a people, and always in concentrating it on a single enemy.
more Adolf Hitler quotes
All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those toward whom it is directed will understand it… Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise.
last quote i have to state which is very true for all of us is:
Without law and order our nation cannot survive. There he was right 120% ha ha if he just went for Peace instead of War.
Anyway i am going back to the us for sure.
Can”t wait for Amero ha ha man the Angle Saxon British American Israel Empire etc is so cunning.
Well take care all peace.
Regards. John
You’re not going to like what I’m saying, but here it is: You sound very angry, it leads to nothing. If you don’t like something make efforts to change it and if I were you I would start by educating myself.
First of all, you’ve been in the US since the 1st grade?? And you don’t know the difference between – their, they’re and there – ?? It’s difficult for me to agree or take someone’s complaints seriously, when they’re lacking basic education and calling the nation dumb. It’s great you’re proud to be Czech, but if this is your home now, educate yourself when it comes to the language and if politics is what interests you, then read over the US constitution. It is the single most well thought out document ever written in the history of law, and you may think the US is gone, but those who understand what America stands for know how to exercise their rights. I’m truly sorry if I am offending you, I don’t mean to be argumentative, but the following just pissed me off.
“USA does not exist no more the new corporate Fascist USA Inc Corp yes with over 30 % of Americans know what is going and are fighting for there freedom while the major of the pop are brainwashed sheep that do anything for there governments there like little kids dumb little kids but you got the same happening in Europe but not entire Europe i have to say.”
John, I would like to agree with you, but I simply don’t understand what you are saying…
I didn’t get much out of John’s comment either, sorry ๐
PS: Notice, the votes are quite tight. But if we group the first 2 answers together then most people would want to go back to Czech?!
Marika, the sad truth is,,,the USA is really going towards corporate fascism. Don’t confuse it with Hitler’s nazism.
US “fascism” has a nickname “happy fascism”…..Corporate fascism is a new phenomena and does not mean
mass murders …. it means mass brainwashing, keep people smart enough to consume, make them to consume as much medication as possible (mind control) . USA has been hijacked. It is not too late to get it back.
Everybody who loves America, as I do, should do his/her best not to allow USA convert to a place where everybody is equal and whoever is not happy about it, will be “taken care of”
http://www.corporatefascism.org
I agree to go back to Czechlands only if I will be elected as a Czech King. I promise a prosperity and high standard of living …. All things, that will be forbidden , will be published after election ….. ๐
Hi folks, I would go back to my homeland. BUT… I am on the scale!! – 50% to 50%
Someday I say ” I go home, because I don’t like it here anymore”, another day is different answer. I’ve been missing the Czech nature.
I live in So Cal, and all beautiful nature is so far away – like a trees and mountains, what I love.
My brain is working so much to think if “YES” or “NO”. Honestly, I have been hesitating. If I look on the politic scenes, that’s terrible, I don’t want to go. All my roots and families are there.
The weather – I don’t care, this is not the reason. Just the economics situation, bureaucracy, I am afraid of it.
Have a good time all of you Czech native
Hehe. Asi Honza chlasta!
Vlasta, I think President Klaun has already tried your idea to ‘promise a prosperity and high standard of living’ in the form of his proclamation “We are going to be like Switzerland”. And the only current comparison between Czecho and Switzerland are dodgy banks and nefarious business practices, plus one or two mountain ranges that in Honza’s inebriated state could be viewed as the Alps.
Lucka, go to ew ersey or Pensylvania and you will find abundance of Czech nature ๐
Even roads are like in Czech ๐
Vlastimil, thank you so much for the ideas, maybe one day I’ll go there to see it in reality.
North of US is tempting me, for move out from CA.
Lucka, Northeast is beautiful. But right now we have 40F and during nights 25F….
And if you want to make tons of money , come to New York ๐ But you will have to pay tons of money for some place to live ๐ I really feel home in New York and New Jersey…..
My husband and I made a big mistake returning to Czech Republic in 1994 after 25 years in USA thinking that communism is gone. What a mistake! No matter what any one thinks we have changed, we were not the same people anymore , we were different. After living there for 15 long years we could not take those constantly complaining, whining and envious people, we sold out house and returned in 2009 to US. Yes, this country has changed in past 15 years as well and many changes are not positive. But to be honest with you I’ll take this country any time over my mother country and I am not ashamed to admit it. We are happy here and ours was the best decision we have ever made. And this is not any propaganda! It is true and many of my friends here agree with us after they had visited their families there. This is still a best country in the world to be in.
Hi Ilona! I can’t believe that you kept trying for 15 years! That’s some determination ๐
Envy is the biggest flaw of the Czech nation. Hopefully it will decrease in intensity over the next few generations.
I was living in and out of Czech Rep for two years and I must admit it was very nice. Interesting at least. It was not my homeland anymore I know of from past however but I like it there. Some (minority) people where very kind some ( majority) where very rude. Still I like it there.
What I did not like was sort of underground business in sense, that if you need something you have to know someone. This was very annoying. This subject is very broad unsuitable to be open in this forum.
All in all. If I like to come back for good from Canada? Country where I live for 33 years? From country where things work 24/7 day in day out? Hmmm very tough question …
Hello folks i am back and yes that time i was drunk. So what has changed in USA and Europe has anything really changed towards the better or what ?
Did you know staying in USA is more dangers then being in Europe/central Europe ?
America is the brick of a revolution or should i say FEMA ? =D
Is Obama not a nice guy dont you think so ? cough cough im being sarcastic.
How is the dollars doing ? Oh its in the toilet sinking.
How is it giving away your guns to the state ? Reminds me of many historical events that had the same scenario and lead to very unhappy ending.
How is the braindead brainwashed society there round you doing how you feel being with monkeys round ?
All in all i am happy i have moved back to my homeland and as many of my greater friends in America have moved back to the UK etc to get away from the tyranny and stupidity after they realize the true.
Well i wish you good luck or should i say hold on tight to the handle ?
S pozdravem. honza
Hi Jan you are right but what you said is how it is in most or every country in the world. =) =D
Boston is my hometown, USA my country. I’m a patriot. There’s no place like USA no matter the political crap, no matter the GMO foods, you always have a choice – in everything.
America is the brick of a revolution or should i say FEMA ? =D
– Honza, are you still drunk, or do you mean ‘brink of a revolution’ ?
How is it giving away your guns to the state ? Reminds me of many historical events that had the same scenario and lead to very unhappy ending.
– Well, if they don’t take it Cheney could get shot in the ass again….
How is the braindead brainwashed society there round you doing how you feel being with monkeys round ?
– You mean it’s not the same everywhere else? When two Czechs sit down over beer it’s all about love and light and complimenting one another?
America have moved back to the UK etc to get away from the tyranny and stupidity after they realize the true.
– or they move back, because they’ve been conditioned to live the ‘European way’ and feel more comfortable. What happens when you assume? You make an ass out of u and me…..
I will stay in US…
As a newly freed slave once said after having been offered trip back to Africa:
“I cannot go back …. I cannot leave my brothers in this shit alone ” ๐
And he for sure was a wise man …..
Dear Johny boy,
I do not want to sound rude but maybe, just maybe you did this country a big favor returning to Czech Republic. As you can read in my July 18,2011 comment I know what I am talking about because I had the opportunity to live there for 15 long years and let me tell you it was nothing to be excited about. And with your “excellent” knowledge of English you are probably better off. I taught English to some people like yourself and it was very funny to listen to their expert opinions about this great country. My husband and I had revisited the old country again one year after our move to bring my mother’s ashes back to her homeland and at that time we reconfirmed that our decision to leave Czech Republic for the second time in our lives was the right one. I am speaking for myself only, so here you have it. S รบpลimnรฝm pozdravem Ilona
Holy shite 9 mil….. argumentation………….
Look folks you are not Czechs not even Moravians you are people without nationality you are lost people.
I have lived in USA for 11 years and done school there so how about you so me some proof i can so how about maybe the the proof please show me before hovno dekuji……My proof: Facebook: Jan Havlasek/John Havlasek https://www.facebook.com/Janek.Slav
Look folks you are not Czechs not even Moravians you are people without nationality you are lost people. I have lived in USA for 11 years and done school there so how about you so me some proof i can so how about maybe the the proof please show me before hovno dekuji……My proof: Facebook: Jan Havlasek/John Havlasek
—- um, was that public skoolin’ Mr. Havlasek??? How about a coherent sentence first.
Vlastimile, facticky si bezva. Kazda tva post me potesi lol
Ilona, ‘tady to mas’ v Anglictine je vzdy ‘there you have it’ nikdy ne ‘here you have it’ – weird, but true hon.
ps: I didn’t realize I posted before on March 27th hahahaha I was just reading it, thinking the other Marika is right on and as I read the post I realized it’s completely my own writing hahaha
someone hand me some pivot right now!
Marika (ta druhรก)
Thank you for correcting me, you are absolutely right. I wanted to get my mail out quickly before hitting the shops this morning and later realized my mistakes – BTW there is another one there- but did not have time to correct them. Good excuse, huh? However, I still stand by my opinion regarding Johny boy’s level of English literacy, apparently 11 years in public schools here were insufficient and he has just entertained us with another creation. And to Mr. Havlasek – I really do not have any need to promote myself on Facebook or any other social media but let me assure you my Czech students had a much better command of the English language and they did not need 11 years to study with me. So, perhaps you should revert to your mother tongue so we can understand ” co tรญm chtฤl bรกsnรญk ลรญci”. Everybody, have a great upcoming weekend! Ilona
P.S. I do not think we need to bring profanities into our exchange of opinions, do we, Mr. Havlasek?
Absolutne, mas pravdu Ilonko! A ja se taky sem a tam preklepnu, vsak se podivej jak jsem spatne napsala slovo ‘pivo’! To vyborne, delicious Ceske pivko! ( Ktere mi uz leze na nervy shanet! Czechwar totiz neni vsude, hlavne ne tet kdyz je nejaka Americka nebo Canadska firma vzala k soudu )
Je to lehke pomlouvat stat, ale jestli ty pomluvy ma nekdo brat vazne tak by se mel clovek naucit dobre vyjadrit, cesky i anglicky.
Tano ty jsi velmi hezka na te tve profilove fotce. Nevim jestli jsem ti to rekla, ale fakticky ti to tam slusi!
diky!
I can come back to CZ tomorrow if I want to. I don’t want – yet. And maybe never. The whole US thing is just interesting adventure to me and I enjoying it some 15 years all ready. In fall I will apply for US citizenship but only if I can still keep the Czech one as well. That all. All the best to everyone who see these web pages.