This interview is with Sherry who is an expat in Prague, Czech Republic. It is a new place for this blog to visit, so it is very exciting to present this one to you!

Sherry moved there to be with her Czech husband and has many great stories to share about her life there. As always, it is so fun to hear what life is like as as a foreigner all around the world.

Hope you enjoy this interview If you want to hear more about Sherry’s life check out her blog Czech Off the Beaten Path (such a cute name ). So, sit back, relax and read on for some great information about life as an expat in Prague, Czech Republic!

1. Where are you from originally, where are you now and what brought you there?

I’m originally from so many places it would take awhile to list them all! I grew up in Minnesota and Oklahoma, then lived in Texas (on the Gulf Coast)for a time, and eventually moved to New Mexico.

Language is one of the hardest parts of this [acculturation] process for me, along with a value system that is a bit different than what I was raised with. That’s OK, though…this is all part of the adventure and learning!
~Sherry

I’m currently in Prague, Czech Republic…and Czech husband is the reason for my being here!

We’ve been married for four years, but were apart for the first two years of our marriage.  I have two kids back in the US (who are attending university).  One of my kids was still at home after my husband and I married.  So, I stayed in the States until both kids were settled in to university life, and then moved here to the Czech Republic.

2. What do you like/dislike about your new home overseas?

Likes: The Czech Republic is a beautiful country filled with forests, castles, villages, history,and the arts—and is located in the heart of Europe.Prague is a fascinating city full of history.  The city has some of the most beautiful and well preserved buildings in all of Europe as Prague survived WWII almost unscathed.
It is so easy to travel from Prague to other parts of Europe—whether flying or using other means of travel.

Dislikes: The Czech language is difficult and complex.  I’ve been taking classes for four months,and am still only able to use very basic Czech!

When I was younger, I  learned two other languages (Spanish and French) and had no trouble!  But Czech is very complex compared to English!  It could be that I’m older now—and things don’t come as easily as they used to!

There isn’t much air conditioning in this country. Summers can be very hot, and going out is quite a challenge for me with my asthma on such hot days.There isn’t even any a/c on the public transport. They mostly keep the windows shut—which doesn’t make much sense!  On a 90 F day, the bus will be filled to the brim—and you feel like you’re in a sardine can—and all the windows are shut tight!

It is very humid here all year round.  I’m used to snow and cold, but where I come from in New Mexico,the air is very dry.  The cold here, in the Czech Republic, is much more penetrating due to the humidity and dampness.  I wear more layers here than I ever did in the mountains in New Mexico! Summers are also very humid—the air here is about as humid as it was where I lived in Texas on the Gulf coast.

3. Do you have any advice for someone who wants to get a job in a foreign country? Do you have any advice for someone who wants to get a job in the country you are now living in? What was your experience with getting a visa/job? Was it difficult?

I have no experience, myself, with working here.  I work for a company back in the US.  The best advice I could give anyone looking for a job overseas is to do a lot of research into companies you would like to work for.  Also, there are many job boards (for work overseas online) that make the process a little bit easier.  Just be sure what you are getting yourself into as far as the company and job offered.  Some companies will help you with the visa process, others won’t.  So, do a lot of research—and make sure you understand the visa process and all requirements (and documents) necessary in order to work in your new home.

Czech guys are, for the most part, “afraid” of American women. They have somehow gotten the idea that all of us American women are fanatical feminists!
~Sherry

4. What was the most challenging part of living in a foreign country when you first started out as an expat? Do you have any advice for those facing similar challenges?

The most challenging parts for me were the language and culture differences!  I’ve had many faux pas due to my lack of knowledge!  You learn fast through those experiences!

Another very challenging part of living here was adjusting to being so far from my family and friends back in the States.  That’s still something I struggle with, but we all stay in contact via the Internet.  I’m so thankful for the Internet!

My advice for others who are facing similar challenges is to read and do a lot of research about the country you’re moving to!  Try to find information on the culture and society, some of the basic etiquette, history—whatever you can find out ahead of time!  That will help you to acculturate much more quickly!  And get in touch with other expats!  Prague has a large number of American and British expats!  You can meet via clubs, church, work, school, and even online!  Meeting other expats helps to deal with some of the loneliness, culture shock, etc of being in a new country.  You can also learn from those who have lived here for a while!

5. If you were to do it all again (moving to and living in another country), what would you do different?

I would definitely find and meet other expats right away.  I didn’t do this when I first moved here, and it was very lonely for me.  Otherwise, I would probably do most everything the same as when I came!

6. Do you want to move back to where you came from? If not, what is it about the expat life that makes it all worth it to you?

Yes, at some point, I would like to move back to the US.  My husband and I have talked about moving back when he retires.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy being an expat, but  I would love to be near my family—I have my parents, kids, my brother, my dog (Pal) and others I am really missing!

7. What are some of the good, the bad, the ugly…and the funny things you have experienced living overseas? Please share any funny or fun stories you have about the place you are living.

Here are some links to some of my funny experiences:

• Adventures in the Twilight Zone
• The Overly Sensitive Feminist and the Insensitive Cactus
• Prague Peculiarities (My adventures with buying cell phone credit)

8. Did you experience culture shock when you moved? What was that like? How did you overcome it?

Yes…big time!  I felt like I was living on another planet—and it wasn’t Mars!  I work on the culture shock by learning the hard way—and by talking with my Czech husband—and listening to his guidance.  I can’t really say I’ve completely mastered the culture, yet…I’m still very much in the learning process!

The Czech Republic has a very male-dominated culture/society.  I am somewhat used to this having grown up in a very traditional family.  Even so, that did not prepare me for the Czech Republic!

Just to give you a little idea of what it’s like here, men in this country are very much against any woman who comes across as a feminist!

9. Any practical tips for the new expats out there?

Yes…do as much research as you can before moving to a new country.  That will go a long way in helping you to adjust to your new home!  And try to visit the new country at least once to get a taste of what life is like there.

10. Where do you think you’ll go next?

Right now, we’re staying put in Prague, but we do travel a little bit.  I’m looking forward to seeing more of Europe—and would also like to visit India and China one day!

Living here, in the Czech Republic, has been an interesting experience, so far. I’m learning alot, but am only on the outside of the onion as far as understanding customs, language, etc. in this country!… I only hope one day I will graduate to the next layer of this onion of experiences and learning here, in the Czech Republic!
~Sherry

11. Anything else you want to add or share about expat life or culture shock? Please share anything you think would be helpful to expats in general or expats living where you are now.

Be sure to keep an open mind, a sense of humor and adventure about your new home and your life there!

Your new country of residence will not be like the US.  Things will work very differently in all aspects of life in your new country than they do in the US.  It’s hard to learn about these things before your move (even with lots of research), so keeping an open mind and a sense of humor and adventure will help you during the initial transition from your life in the States to life in a foreign country!

Also, be sure to become involved in the expat community wherever you live.  That will help you and your family to adjust much faster to your new live in your new country!

Make sure to stop by Sherry’s blog for plenty of funny stories about her personal culture shock and adjustment to Czech life. She talks candidly about everything from how they greet each other with a (very awkward) kiss on the lips to the placement of silverware on plates after eating to lace not being appropriate for women to wear in public (it is considered sexually promiscuous, although being topless at the pool or beach is fine…).

Hope you enjoyed this expat interview. There are many many more in the works and I cant wait to share them with you!

Have you ever been to the Czech Republic? Tell us about it in a comment below!