When we first arrived in Olomouc, we were told
so many different things about the locals. Our very first lecturer told us that
no one smiled, and everyone kept to themselves. I have to admit, this scared me.
I love meeting new people, and I am probably smiling 90% of the time. I was so
hesitant to be myself in order to seem like a local rather than a tourist.
However, I am happy to inform you that our lecturer was, for the most part,
wrong in his stereotype of the typical Czech.
People here are definitely
more reserved than people back in Nebraska. You will not receive a lot of
smiles on the streets or random hellos, but I can assure that the people are SO
nice. Walk into a shop and you will be instantly greeted with "Dobry
den" and again with "Na shledanou" when you leave. In my
experience, shop owners will talk your ear off even if you explain multiple
times that you do not understand. A few weeks into our stay, I met a lovely
elderly woman on the tram. I gave up my seat on the tram and helped her sit
down. During this time, she noticed that I was American, and she welcomed me to
her home town. She told me about her younger days teaching English and about
her children. She even mentioned the myth of the typical Czech and wanted to
make sure that the city was welcoming us. It was one of the best conversations
I have had in Olomouc. On the other hand, I have noticed that they are much
more blunt. Ask anyone how they are doing and you can expect nothing but the
truth. No one sugar coats things, so be prepared for some truth.
Now on to the local
university students. During the day, they seem to be much more reserved
and relaxed, but do not let this fool you-they know how to let loose. Once the
evening time hits, the students become very talkative and extremely welcoming.
Just this past Thursday we were invited to the History department’s annual BBQ
where I met many different students. We sat around in a circle with a few
drinks and a guitar. The students played different songs to which we sang along
to. It was just like being home. I have made so many Czech friends here whom I
will miss dearly. The number one thing to learn from this post is: do not let yourself
be blinded by stereotypes. Get out there and start chatting!
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