Cross-Cultural Wedding Anniversary

At first glance, it would seem that a Czech and an American would have plenty in common when it comes to culture and society. Wrong! Think about it for a minute. My Czech husband grew up under the communist regime, while I grew up under capitalism. Not only that, we have the “East/West” cultures to deal with, along with many other differences. 

Now don’t get me wrong—Jiri and I had plenty of things in common from the beginning, but we didn’t really “get” many differences until two years after our marriage, when I moved to be with him in the Czech Republic.

Our Language Differences

Over the years, we’ve regularly faced language issues. Our relationship has been mostly conducted in English. One of the biggest problems we faced after I moved here was with my use of American slang.

We’ve also developed our own form of “Czenglish”—not proper Czech and not proper English—that we understand most of the time. However, when I through in some American slang, and all bets are off. 

Funny Arguments

Jiri and I would get into an argument and I would burst out with some slang—nothing offensive and no bad words—just normal everyday slang used back home. When that happened, Jiri immediately jumped to the conclusion that I was using bad words and calling him bad names. Nothing could be further from the truth! However, that feeling does add a different dimension to a fight.

So, right in the middle of the fight, we’d have to back track to the slang I had used. I had to explain what it meant, and that it wasn’t offensive in any way. By the time the explanations were over, the fight was forgotten (most of the time!) and we were laughing and making up again. This was just one aspect in our cross-cultural marriage we had to deal with. There have been many more over the years. 

Proper Etiquette & Other Issues

If you want to fit in to a new culture as an expat, then you'll need to try to dress and act like those in your new home country, along with learning proper manners, etc.  

Jiri had a lot to teach me about proper Czech/European behavior, etiquette and other issues. One of the hardest issues for me has been talking too loudly in public spaces. Americans, we don’t know it, but we’re very loud and boisterous in public, compared to many other parts of the world. Here, in the Czech Republic, people are generally soft-spoken in public. You rarely hear anyone raising their voice unless there’s an argument involved, football (soccer) or alcohol. People here laugh and talk, but do it quietly in public areas.

Well, me, I’m quiet by American standards, but Czechs knew right away I was a foreigner--an American or a Brit (they couldn’t tell from my accent)--because I talked and laughed louder than Czechs nearby. This type of behavior’s not appreciated by Czechs. They will give you dirty looks. Someone may make some comment in your hearing or tell you directly that you’re being too loud and unruly. 

I had a really hard time “toning it down” to a Czech level, especially when happy to be with my husband. Nowadays I blend in sound-level-wise, unless I’ve just come back from a visit back to the States. Then I have to “flip the switch” to my proper Czech way of being and doing. J

Home Shoes (Pantofle)

Another issue is removing your shoes when entering your or someone else’s home. This was really strange for me. You’re supposed to take your shoes off to keep dirt and other yucky things from coming into the house on your shoes. Czechs typically take their shoes off in the entryway of a house or flat, then don “home shoes” (pantofle), which are slippers and clogs. You can also choose to go stocking-footed, which is what I usually do.

Most homes keep a set of home shoes for visitors. You just never know how many feet have already worn those slippers. So I usually just stay in my socks, or sometimes even take my own home shoes. I have to say that these days I’m a complete convert when it comes to taking off your shoes before entering a home. It really does keep the dirt and other stuff out and keeps your floors in better shape and cleaner.

One note—if you’re fortunate to be invited to a Czech friend’s home, be sure to wear socks with no holes! Socks with holes will embarrass your Czech friends and you’ll look like a slob who doesn’t care about your appearance in their eyes. J

Wearing Lace in Public

Lace was another issue—it wasn’t acceptable to wear lace in public for a long time. In Prague, this rule has been relaxed over the last few years. But in smaller cities and villages, don’t wear lace when out and about. It’s seen as something provocative and attention-getting.

The first time I wore lace it was to a party at Jiri’s office. I had on a nice shirt that had Battenburg lace on the collar and it was cut out, just showing the collar bone. Nothing else was bare. Even so, that lace drew a lot of attention and I was pretty embarrassed. I have never worn lace in public again. J

As I’ve said, these days, especially in Prague, the dress code as broadened to include lace. I don’t think many, except maybe some older people, would find it any strange now. 

Although, I have to say it's still awfully confusing on why it's OK to sunbathe naked in public spaces, but you couldn't wear lace. It boggles the mind.

Today’s Our 13^th Wedding Anniversary

On this day 13 years ago we became husband and wife. The years have proven there’s still much to learn about one another. Each new life experience we face together means having to find that common ground that brought us together in the first place. We’ve managed to successfully bridge the gap thus far and continue to work together to forge our love in this most intimate of cross-cultural exchange called marriage.

That’s all for now! Have a great day!

God bless,

Sherry

Autumn and the Burčák Buzz

Fall in the Czech Republic

Hi Everyone,
We’re finally entering the fall season after a very hot summer. Temperatures have cooled off and everyone’s getting back to work and school, and wearing their dark colored clothing once again. Along with the cooler temperatures and dark clothes of autumn comes a special drink, here in the Czech Republic, called burčák.

Glass of burčák
Wikipedia

What is Burčák?

Sometimes known as “mléko starcu” (literally “milk of old people”), burčák is actually partially fermented grape juice, which is created during the wine-making process. This special Czech drink is usually a light, milky yellow color (made from white grapes) and is very sweet, with a low alcohol content. You may see some red burčák, made from red grapes; however, yellow burčák is the more common and traditional color. The typical alcohol content of burčák is about 1-7%, but can be as high as 10%. You could say this is “new wine.”

As new wine, burčák is carbonated from the gas produced during fermentation. Burčák continues to ferment, even after bottled. In order to safely transport burčák, it has to be stored in upright, unsealed containers to allow the gases from the fermentation process to escape. Otherwise, any tightly closed container with burčák would explode.

Burčák is served warm and it’s best to drink burčák within a day or two of buying, in order to drink it while its sugar content is still high. And don’t forget to loosely put the cap back on the bottle. If you put the cap back on tight, your burčák will explode, making for a yucky, sticky mess to clean up.

The laws regarding the sale of burčák are very strict. Accoring to Czech law, the grapes used for burčák must be grown and harvested in the Czech Republic. It’s also against the law to water down burčák. And the law also dictates the months when it can be sold--from August 1 to November 31st each year.

Health Benefits of Burčák

Burčák is rich in B vitamins, which many Czechs say is good for your hair, nails, skin and nervous system (unless you’ve had too much to drink!). The fizzy drink also contains many other vitamins, minerals, proteins and yeasts. It’s also high in flavonoids.

Overall, people say it’s great for your entire vascular system—heart and blood vessels. It’s also supposed to be good for your digestion. But you have to be careful when drinking burčák.

Be Careful with Burčák

Locals will tell you it’s easy to be taken in by the drink’s light, juice-like flavor. There’s a tendency to forget that burčák contains alcohol and it’s easy to drink larger amounts—more than you realize. At first, it feels like you’re drinking fruit juice or cider, but pretty quickly you’ll start to feel burčák’s effects, due to its high sugar content.

The burčák buzz can be pleasant, but too much will leave you with a headache and with a blood alcohol level too high to drive. So be careful and responsible when drinking burčák —and don’t drink and drive.

Bottled burčák
Wikipedia

Where to Buy Burčák

They say the best places to drink burčák are close to the source—meaning in Moravian wineries. This is because burčák is still fermenting—the longer it ferments, the lower the sugar content becomes, which causes the drink to quickly become sour and unpleasant.

You can also find burčák for sale at your local pub or winery.  Burčak’s also available at the many fall festivals all over the Czech Republic, but especially in Moravia. Moravian towns such as Znojmo often feature festivals with folk music, traditional foods and wines, along with burčák, of course.

My Experience with Burčák

The first time I drank burčák I wasn’t aware of the alchohol content. The drink was a surprise at first—slightly fizzy, fruity and a little acidic, but pleasant. I soon finished off one glass and asked for another.  After a couple of glasses, someone told me to be careful not to drink too much. You really don’t feel the affect of the alcohol or even taste it. I didn’t get the burčák buzz, but did end up with a slight headache. Nothing bad.

Beech Tree
Czech Republic

Fall and Burčák

Each fall, just like the locals, I look forward to burčák season! The heat of summer is past and you can sit outside enjoying the fine fall weather with a little of this fruity, fizzy drink. There’s nothing like it—neither wine or beer come close to the same enjoyment of burčák outside on a sunny fall day. 

Combine the burčák with a loved one, friends, some good music and food, and you have all the ingredients of a wonderful day!

That’s all for now! Have a great day!

God bless,

Sherry

© 2017 by Sher Vacik. All rights reservered.

My Routine Expat Life

Hi Everyone,

Occasionally I get messages from readers asking what my expat life is like nowadays—they’d like to know how my life today compares to when I first came to the Czech Republic. Some readers have a vision of my expat life as something of an ongoing nomadic adventure filled with unlimited travel, parties and new experiences. Today’s post will answer some of those questions and correct some of the misconceptions about my own expat experience.

The First Year

I had never dreamed of becoming an expat and had thought my mid-life years would be spent in the comfort of my own country, near my kids and folks. Life, however, took a different route when Jiri and I married.

The Reluctant Expat

Living abroad was actually the last thing I wanted to do; however, I was married to a Czech and we wanted to live our marriage in one place, in the same time zone—together. We had to figure out where to live and how. We finally decided it was best if I moved to the Czech Republic. I moved here in 2006, rather than Jiri moving to the US. He still had ties keeping him in the Czech Republic and I was relatively free in that my kids were out on their own, making me an empty-nest mother. I wanted to be with my husband, so off I went into the wild world beyond the borders of the US.

The First Several Months of Expat Life

The first several months of expat life were scary, to say the least. I entered a new life in a new country, not understanding much of the language and having little idea about the culture. You can read and study in advance of a big move to a new country, but book-learning will only get you so far. I had done my homework, but still had so much to learn! Not only that, but I had delved head first into a cross-cultural marriage with little preparation, other than love.

Cross-Cultural Marriage

I have to be honest—the first few years of life in a cross-cultural marriage were a challenge on most levels. Learning to be the wife of a Czech—this is still an ongoing adventure/challenge. I know Jiri would say the same that life married to an American can be quite puzzling at times. 

For each new experience you go through as a couple, there’s a new level of learning to go through. You’ll encounter cultural differences you didn’t even realize existed and then have to find ways to work through them. As the years go by, you learn more and more about one another and how to work together as a cross-cultural couple. It’s not always easy, pretty or romantic, but if you truly love and respect one another you’ll find a way.

Adventures & New Experiences

Along with the challenges of our cross-cultural marriage, there were many adventures—seeing, doing and experiencing so many new things. The first year or two were the most challenging and adventurous.

Jiri and I did a little traveling around Europe; I was able to join him on work trips to conferences in beautiful places. We visited Paris, Rome, Tours, Barcelona, Sevilla, Florence and other places on the Continent. All were wonderful experiences and I was able to see places I had never dreamed of seeing.

Cultural Differences

Other adventures involved learning how to live more like a Czech and how to manage more of the aspects of Czech culture. Jiri has been an incomparable guide through this process, though we’ve both faced some frustrations along the way. Here, I’m thinking of being a loud American in a quiet Czech society, remembering to take my shoes off before entering a home, not wearing lace in public, etc.

We’ve managed our way through most of the issues. If I haven’t completely adapted to living as a Czech, I can at least give the impression I have. I know how to behave properly in different circumstances, so that even Americans have thought I was Czech and that my English was almost perfect J.

Some people have taken issue with me in my becoming more Czech-like. They say I’m an American—I should be who I am, etc. My answer—I am who I am and stay true to who I am as an American. However, I am married to a Czech and want to blend in as much as possible. This makes our life easier when dealing with other Czechs, including my Czech family. It also shows my respect for my husband and his culture. I want to “behave properly” so others will accept me a little more readily. This may not work for everyone, but it’s worked quite well for me. I can “behave properly,” but am still very true to myself in all ways.

Going on Twelve Years in the Czech Republic

In December, I will have lived in the Czech Republic for twelve years! That doesn’t seem possible, but it’s true. The years have flown by so fast.

After this amount of time, many expats living in one country for that long would choose to finally become a citizen where they reside. People have asked if I will do this; no, I have no plans to change my citizenship or to have dual citizenship. My home country is still the US. Even so, I do enjoy living here with my husband. This is a beautiful and amazing country.  However, at some point we will eventually move back to the US.

Routine Expat Life

After living here for over a decade, my life is still an adventure. There are always new things to see and do. Even so, life has become routine—and that’s OK. Jiri goes to work each morning and comes home in the evening after work. I’m a housewife and stay busy cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc. We spend time with family and friends when possible and stay busy with hobbies. Life has become routine—my expat life is routine and I’m quite happy with that.

While it may be routine, my expat life is far from boring. The expat adventures continue, but in a slightly different way than they were in the beginning. Now I can explore not only this beautiful country, but also get to know myself a bit more in the process. This whole process is a precious gift—one I appreciate every day, even the routine parts of my expat life.

Things I’ve Learned as an Expat

There are a number of things I’ve learned about being an expat over the years. Here are a few that most long-term expats can relate to:

1). Eventually, your expat life becomes routine, unless you’re a nomadic expat: wherever you choose to live for a relatively long time, life will become routine—that’s normal and OK.

2). You will experience times of homesickness: this is most common in the beginning, but may also crop up during unexpected moments in later on in your expat life. It might be the passing of a loved one and you can’t get back for the funeral, it may be a holiday or thoughts of family and friends back home. You may long for certain foods and treats from home or even feel the need to touch base with your home culture, etc. It takes various forms and can come up even after living abroad for a while. Homesickness is generally worse in the beginning, but you can find ways to deal with it over time.

3). Being an expat means starting over: as an expat, you’ll find it’s impossible to take your old life with you. Everything--from relationships to possessions--will most likely have to be left behind. This isn’t an easy process. Not only will you start a new life as an expat, but you’ll face a new culture and language in most instances. So understand that you’ll being starting almost completely over if you choose to become an expat.

4). Embrace change: living in a new country, you’ll eventually find that some of your ways of being, doing and thinking may change. That’s OK. You’ll still be yourself, but your views, politics and more can actually broaden when you experience life in another part of the world. Don’t be afraid of this change—rather, embrace it and learn to live in a broader way than ever before in your life. Incorporate this broadening of your horizons into who you are—you’ll be a lot happier and at peace with yourself if you do.

 5). Embrace yourself: you can’t run away from yourself and life’s problems by becoming an expat. Any problems or issues you have in your life will only go along with you. Life in a new place eventually becomes routine; you’ll be getting up with yourself each morning and facing those issues you’ve not yet confronted and dealt with in yourself. Before becoming an expat, know who you are, embrace yourself and have self-confidence—these will sustain you in your new life.

6). Live like a local: get to know the local people in your new country of residence. Don’t be afraid to try your language skills and become friends with the locals. They often appreciate attempts to communicate in their own language and welcome a new friendly face. Visit places the locals enjoy—not only the places expats gather. At the same time, don’t be afraid to join the expat community, too. That way you can enjoy new friendships with locals and other expats—your life will be enriched all the more.

7). Be flexible and enjoy life: these are the two most important aspects of life, whether you’re an expat or not. Being rigid doesn’t get us very far in life, while being flexible and embracing change help us to meet many of life’s challenges. Not only that, but you can also enjoy life if you go along and have fun on the ride, wherever it takes you.

These are the things I’ve learned from life as expat over the last twelve years. I was very reluctant to take on life in a new country, but being married to Jiri has led me on many adventures, including the adventure of learning more about myself. I’ve finally come to accept and embrace who I am through the process of becoming an expat with a routine life in the Czech Republic.

That's all for today!

Have a great day & God bless!

Sher

Czech Funeral Etiquette

Hi Everyone,

Today’s post deals with Czech funeral etiquette and some of the issues you may face if you find yourself attending a funeral here. This post comes from the recent loss of my sister-in-law, Světlana. Světlana fought a long battle with cancer.  She went through quite a lot in the last 3-4 years, but now she’s in a much better place—she’s no longer suffering. We have this assurance from God.

No Idea about Czech Funerals and the Required Etiquette

 Světlana's was the first funeral I’ve attended in the Czech Republic, since moving here just over ten years ago. Being a foreigner married to a Czech, I always try to adapt to the ways of being and doing here, as much as possible. However, I had no idea about Czech funerals or the required etiquette, and there wasn’t much information online. Jiří was the best source of information, so I’ll share with you what he told me about Czech funerals in general. My goal is to help other foreigners with basic funeral etiquette--those who may need or want to attend a Czech funeral. But first, we’ll take a look at cemeteries here and grave rentals.

Czech Cemetery

Czech Cemeteries

Cemeteries can seem like creepy places--as they’re often portrayed in horror films. I always had a fear of cemeteries when I was a little girl. As an adult, I’ve been OK with cemeteries, but they were still not my favorite places to visit. My feelings towards cemeteries finally changed after visiting some of the very old cemeteries here and in other parts of Europe. 

Czech cemeteries are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. They aren’t creepy—just very old. You’ll find headstones, graves covered by slabs and with ornate headstones, beautiful mausoleums, etc. Every holiday you’ll see some family member tending their family graves—cleaning them, laying fresh flowers and even leaving candles. One of my favorite Czech holidays (as in holy day) is Všech svatých (All Saints Day). On this day, the cemeteries are aglow with beautiful flowers and candles.

Renting Grave Plots 

Just as in cemeteries around the world, Czech cemeteries offer spaces for urns, traditional burials, and also special sections where ashes can be scattered. This is normal and understood. However, there was one new idea that I encountered with Czech burials (which may be common in Europe)—it came as quite a shock. The shock was learning that you don’t buy a grave plot. Instead, a plot is somehow chosen, and then the family of the dearly departed pays “rent” for this grave as long as they live or are able to pay. 

Once the family or responsible persons no longer pay rent, the grave is opened and the remains are removed, to be cremated in common with other remains of those whose families no longer pay to rent a plot. This whole idea came as quite a shock to me when I first moved here. (Back home, you buy a plot and it’s yours forever, unless the cemetery is moved, then you’re moved with it—it most cases). Once the remains are removed the entire grave is re-used, possibly including the headstone and any slab that covers the grave. 

While this can be shocking for some foreigners, after living here for just over a decade, you begin to understand the pragmatic thinking of Czech people. This country is small—there’s only so much land available to use for cemeteries. So renting a plot makes sense. However, I’m not comfortable with the thought of loved ones being put into a common cremation once the rent’s not paid. 

The best option may be to just go ahead and opt for cremation when a loved one dies. Cremation is quite common here—for atheists, Christians and others. The main reasons for choosing cremation are the costs of the funeral and grave rental, and the fact that it’s hard to find space in many cemeteries in this country.

For cremations you can rent a spot in the cemetery for the urn, or you can keep it at home. There’s also the option of discretely spreading the ashes in a favorite place of the deceased. If you keep the urn and/or spread the ashes, you won’t have to worry about paying the grave rent. I’m not sure if there are fees involved for spreading ashes in a public or national park, as I wasn’t able to find this information online (at least in English). 

Funeral Dress Code for Men and Women

The funeral dress code is fairly simple and applies to everyone going to a funeral—natives and foreigners of both genders, and it even applies to kids. Everyone comes in their Sunday-best, though casual office attire is OK, too. Jeans are frowned upon, as are dirty shoes, etc. Men, women and children should dress in dark clothes—black is best, however navy blue also works. For my sister-in-law’s funeral, I wanted to wear a white shirt under a black sweater with black dress slacks, but Jiří said that wasn’t acceptable. There should be no white or other colors. So, I was dressed in black from head to toe (aside from my red hair). 

Men can wear a nice shirt and slacks; some opt for a suit, though that’s not always necessary. Women can wear dresses, skirts or dress slacks with blouses, etc.—all must be dark. Shoes should be in good repair and clean. I can’t stress this enough—be sure your shoes are clean. If you go anywhere (other than hiking or working on the farm or in the garden) with dirty shoes, people will see you as lazy, sloppy and careless. You don’t want to give anyone this impression, especially at formal occasions such as weddings and funerals. (You also need clean shoes for job interviews, etc.)

Carnations 

Funeral Flowers and Wreaths

The type of arrangement you bring depends on how close you were to the one who passed away and your budget. Typical floral arrangements include a bouquet, a wreath or single flowers. The most common flowers for Czech funerals are calla lilies, roses, carnations and chrysanthemums. Flower colors will depend on the season and what’s available. You can choose to buy one rose and lay it on the coffin or in the grave, depending on the type of funeral service. The only rule is that a bouquet (I’m not sure if this applies to wreaths) must have an even number of flowers (unless you chose just one rose). This rule is strictly applied by Czechs. You can choose real or artificial flowers, though real flowers are often more appreciated. 

Jiří and I ordered a wreath with a base of evergreens, with white daisy-type flowers and white carnations that were tipped in a deep mauve. The wreath’s ribbon matched the mauve of the carnations. The florist asked what we would like printed on the ribbon in gold leaf. Jiří said, “Farewell, beloved sister (fill in the name here).” I was horrified (not at all the appropriate text for funeral arrangement ribbons back where I come from)! However, Jiří explained that they say this here and that it’s not disrespectful or hurtful.  

One note—we went to a florist and ordered the wreath with no problems. However, we had to it pick up the morning of the funeral and take it ourselves. I’m not sure if this is how it works in larger cities, such as Prague. The wreath was a good size and turned out beautifully. Thankfully family members gave us a ride to my sister-in-law's service—we didn’t have to manage the wreath on public transport. 

Funeral and Memorial Services

Czech funeral and memorial services vary widely—as in the U.S. and other countries. The type of service will depend on whether or not the deceased was a Christian, their own requests for the service, etc. You’ll find traditional funerals, with an open or closed casket and burial service, or memorial services only. It varies widely.

My Sister-in-Law’s Memorial Service

My sister-in-law, Světlana, had asked to be cremated, so my brother-in-law arranged a Christian memorial service for her in a chapel provided by the crematorium.  The day was beautiful—it started out cloudy, but later turned sunny, while the temperature remained cold. The chapel was decorated in a Christian manner, with beautiful stained glass windows and a very pretty altar in the front. The service was led by my brother-in-law’s priest.

My sister-in-law’s casket was placed directly in front of the altar, with tall white candles at the head and foot of the casket. They had also placed other candles around the casket—it was all quite pretty and very formal. There was some music playing—some songs that had deep meaning for my sister-in-law. The songs were by Queen, Enya and some others—very pretty and respectful songs, which struck us all to the heart. 

As the family started to enter the chapel, we each had to place our flower arrangements around the casket. There was a lady guiding everyone, suggesting where to place the flowers—she was very respectful. After everyone had placed their flowers, the scene was surprisingly beautiful—a rainbow of colors and types of flowers—just beautiful. It looked like a garden with Světlana’s casket in the middle of all the flowers, with the candles all around. 

The service itself was about 30 minutes long. The priest gave a beautiful message—he’d been close to my brother-in-law and Světlana during her battle with cancer. One note—when the service started, it was cloudy; but as the service commenced, the sun came out and brilliantly lit up the window showing the risen Christ. So beautiful and moving!

When it was over, we all slowly left the chapel and headed outside. It was chilly—we stood in knots of 3-5 people, softly talking as we waited for my brother-in-law and his parents-in-law. There was no graveside service since my sister-in-law was to be cremated. My brother-in-law will later take her ashes to be interred in a cemetery in the town where Světlana grew up. 

After the Service

Once the service was over, our family went out to have lunch together in a restaurant nearby. It was a small place and had great food. We had a really nice visit, in spite of the reason for our gathering. We all toasted Světlana. Since then, our family has tried to be a support for my brother-in-law as he grieves.

My Thoughts

I have to say that my sister-in-law’s memorial service was beautiful—as beautiful as any other Christian service I’ve attended back home. According to Jiří, this funeral wasn’t typical for here—many people are atheists and funeral services are usually for family and friends to have closure—to say their farewells. There’s no talk or thought of a soul living on, etc. However, it is interesting to note that even if someone claims to be an atheist, they may still opt for a Christian funeral or memorial service. These services are usually done in the Roman Catholic tradition, as this is the most prominent church in the Czech Republic.

My sister-in-law’s passing has left a hole in our family; however God has given us the assurance that Světlana is with Him. God was very present in the midst of this family—His presence was so strong at the service—I can’t describe it—there are no words, but He was there with each of us. He continues to comfort and console our family and my brother-in-law. God is good. 

This is a short take on funeral etiquette in the Czech Republic and the types of funeral issues foreigners may face here. The information I’ve provided is only a small bit from my one experience with funerals here. Still, I hope this basic information may help others who have to attend funerals here. 

That's all for today! 

Have a great day!

God bless,

Sher

RIP Světlana--you're loved and missed. 

Happy 8th Anniversary Czech Off the Beaten Path

Czech Off the Beaten Path was established back in 2007--eight years ago! The time's passed quickly and I've had many adventures since moving to the Czech Republic. This blog was started as a project to share my expat experiences, along with life married to a handsome Czech.

The Blogging Adventure

When I started writing CZOBP, I had no idea what direction the blog would take. It's become a mixture of travelogue, life experiences and funny "foreigner" stories (me--as the foreigner!) and more.

Czech Off the Beaten Path has not only provided me with a place to share stories, but it's also been a place where I continue to connect with readers and meet new people. Some readers are fellow expats in the Czech Republic and other countries, while others are back in the U.S. wondering what life is like out in the world. Along with meeting people, the blog has been a way to find freelance work and network with other freelancers.

In addition, writing this blog led me to writing for BellaOnline's Asthma site, along with writing my first ebook about asthma and working on my own freelance website.

The Past Year

Loss of Loved Ones

The past few months have been pretty busy with freelance work, but I've not been able to write much. Family matters have come to the fore.

My grandma passed away (at 100 years 11 months) and I lost my eldest daughter to PTSD (she's chosen to distance herself from everyone in our family. I hope and pray that we'll all be reunited one day). These two losses have hit me pretty hard.

Health Issues

My mother-in-law suffered a severe stroke back in June. This has had a profound effect on life for Jiri and I, but we continue to work through this situation together. I've also had to deal with my own health issues that are not life-threatening (nothing serious--just make you not feel so great).

Writing Came to a Stop

With all of this, writing just came to a stop. It's not writer's block, at least not in the traditional sense. I've had so much to write about, but just couldn't sit down and get it out. This has been more of an emotional issue--working through everything had to take precedence. However, I've finally gotten to a place where I've started writing again, and it sure feels good!

The Future

The future looks bright--my brother is marrying the love of his life this summer! I see his bride as the sister I've been waiting for--this has been in the making for 30 years or so! This is a very joyous time for our whole family!

My youngest daughter graduated with her master's degree this past May. She's back to work and happy with her new life. We're all very proud of her accomplishments. I have to say I'm one very proud mother!

Jirka and I continue to work on our cross-cultural marriage--there are always new experiences to deal with together. Each new experience points out some area that needs tending in our relationship. At times this leads to cross-cultural misunderstandings, but we keep working through together. We'll soon be celebrating our 11th anniversary, which is also the 9th anniversary of when I moved to the Czech Republic!

I'm also working on an update to my asthma ebook, along with another book to create an asthma series. I also have ideas for other books based on my expat experiences, etc. The future is bright, indeed!

What's Next on CZOBP

Kutna Hora

Jiri and I took a trip to Kutná Hora this past Wednesday. We had a wonderful time in that beautiful, ancient city. I'm working on a blog post about our trip and the things we saw, so be sure to check back for that post!

Thanks to all of you who continue to come by and visit--thanks for also visiting the CZOBP Facebook page and connecting on Twitter! It's been great meeting you all and I look forward to connecting with new people as the blog continues!

Thanks, again, and have a wonderful day!

God bless,

Sherry

Veselé Velikonoce 2015

Hi Everyone,

We're gearing up for Easter weekend, with Winter still trying to keep hold. The past week's been one blustery, cold, and sometimes snowy week, in spite of it now being Spring.

Czech Easter Traditions
Today's post is a roundup of my past posts written about Easter and Czech traditions. This is the time of year when women and girls run the gamut between men and boys trying to administer the annual Easter Monday beating with a pomlázka. 

Personally, I don't mind these beatings--at the very least I am happy my Czech husband treats me as a traditional Czech wife. I've come to look forward to an Easter "beating" each year and enjoying the fun of other Czech Easter traditions.

My Easter Experiences in the Czech Republic
Here's a list of three of my past posts on Easter in the Czech Republic:

• Veselé Velikonoce


• Pomlázka and Easter Whippings


• Slivovice o Jirko

One of my favorite stories is Slivovice o Jirko. This post is written about the first meeting with my then future in-laws. We all had a great time and my new Czech family accepted me with open arms.

Happy Easter!
That's all for now--thanks for stopping by! I'd like to wish you each a very Happy Easter!

God bless,
Sherry

(c) 2015 by Sher Vacik. All rights reserved.

Welcome & Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2015!

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to Czech Off the Beaten Path's new home! I announced the move back in August, but didn't have time to begin working on the move until today. It feels good to have this blog on it's own shiny new site. My intention is to take up blogging regularly once we are through the holiday season. Which reminds me--Happy New Year!

The Past Year

The past year, 2014, has brought two important anniversaries; Jiri and I have been married for 10 years, I moved here 8 years ago, and Czech Off the Beaten Path turned 7 years old. Time has gone so fast, but most every minute has been packed with adventure, new experiences and people, and so much more. I can't complain.

What I've Been Up To

This past year has seen me branch out into writing my first ebook, Asthma's Nothing to Sneeze At!, and working a bit on Fiverr and other clients on many intriguing projects. I am currently working on two more ebooks that will be out later in 2015, and my fingers have itched to write fiction. I don't know where this might lead--maybe nowhere--but I'll give it a try and see what happens.

Other projects have involved getting acquainted with Linux Mint, which I installed on a USB drive, moving this blog and much more.

What's Next

Please bear with me during this transition time--my "house" is being unpacked and put in order. I'll have to go through each post to edit and fix everything that didn't "translate well" during the move.

Paint Brushes

Part of the mess comes from writing posts in Word, then copying and pasting into Blogger. Word likes to throw in it's own formatting, which only complicates things for the web. The process of cleaning up the posts includes copying and pasting the text into Notepad, which strips out all the Word formatting, then pasting the text back into the blog. There's usually a little bit of formatting left for headings, at times needing to realign/add pictures, etc., but it doesn't take too long. I'll also have to configure the comments (for each blog post), the RSS feed and some other work before this process is complete.

Wet Paint

Hopefully this will be done soon, but in the meantime, things will be a little messy until everything is put to rights and cleaned up. Please bear with me during this transition time and know that I'm working as fast as possible to get things back in working order. Moving is a messy process, especially when you're doing it yourself! Even so, please feel free to browse, read and leave comments (where possible). Just watch out for the wet paint and drop clothes--step over them carefully and please don't trip!

Cleaning House

Thank You

Thank you for hanging in there while I've been off doing other things. Thanks, too, for coming to visit our new home on the web!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year in 2015, filled with love, health, happiness and prosperity!

God bless,

Sherry

PS Please feel free to let me know about additional problems (to those I listed above)! Thanks!

(c) 2014 by Sher Vacik. All Rights Reserved.

Getting Ready to Move to My Own Site!

We're Moving!

Hi Everyone,
For a long time I've been wanting to move Czech Off the Beaten Path to its own website. I finally took the plunge and bought the domain a couple of days ago. You can find the new site here:  Czech Off the Beaten Path. Right now there's only a "Welcome" page, but the plan is to move this blog over there. 

The new home will include this blog and the information from my Czech Off the Beaten Path site all in one place. Having a home for all my Czech Off the Beaten Path stuff will be the best and make accessing information much easier for readers. 

Next Steps

The next steps will involve exporting all the material from this blog to the new site. I'm not sure exactly how that works, so it will probably take me a few days to do that. Once the material is there, I'll have to figure out how to configure the material and save links, etc.

I'd really appreciate any tips you may have to offer if you've made a similar move! I want this move to go as smoothly as possible, but you know how it goes--there are always some inconveniences when making any move in the real or virtual worlds!

Thank You

Thanks to all of you who have continued to visit me here. It's been a great ride on Blogger--now please join me at Czech Off the Beat's new home! I'll be sure to post a note here and on social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) when the new site's up and running. I'll have a virtual open house for you all!

Thanks, again, and have a great day!

God bless,
Sher

(c) 2014 by Sher Vacik. All Rights Reserved.

Home Rentals in Prague

Flat available for rent in Vinohrady
Photo:  Home Sweet Home

Hi Everyone,

Have you thought about coming to Prague for a month or more? If so, you might want to consider renting a flat during your stay. Or maybe you’re considering a move to Prague, but aren’t sure which part of the city is best for you. Rather than buying a flat right away, renting a flat in Prague may be the way to go. You won’t feel tied to one place; if one area of Prague’s not comfortable, you can move to another section of the city. 

Prague offers a variety of beautiful areas to live, for instance, Vinohrady. Vinohrady (Prague 2) is a popular district of the city for expats. It’s close to Prague’s center, offers fast access to public transport, and has a wide variety of shops and restaurants. In addition, you’ll find beautiful parks and green spaces.

Here’s an example of a flat for rent in Vinohrady . This spacious, sunny flat is 88 m2 and is on the 5^th floor of a building with an elevator. You’ll find a living room, kitchen (with all major modern appliances), a bathroom (with tub) and one bedroom. The flat’s situated 2 minutes (by tram) to Museum Metro A stop, or if you’d like to walk, the metro’s only 10 minutes away.  

 

A few years ago, Jiri and I were looking to move to a bigger flat in an accessible part of Prague. I spent hours of online research looking for a place, without much luck. Then I happened onto an ad from a local real estate agency—Home Sweet Home.

Home Sweet Home is an agency that helps you find the best home for your budget and personal preferences. This real estate company offers expats short-term as well as long term accommodation in Prague. The agency offers professional, knowledgeable real estate agents who stay in contact with you through the buying or rental process—from beginning to end. The people we worked with had excellent English skills, making my work even easier. You’ll find an excellent selection of flats on their real estate search engine.

Disclosure:  this is a sponsored article; however, the views written here are my own.

That’s all for now! Have a great day!

God bless,

Sherry

Czech Off the Beaten Path Website

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Running Errands

Hi Everyone,
We're having some lovely weather in Praha these days, with the temperatures running into the upper 40s - lower 50s F. After church yesterday I had to run some errands and happened to have my camera along. It was the perfect day to take pictures, as the humidity was low and the sky was partly sunny.

Here are some of the photos from around downtown; the first photos are from Prague's Jewish Quarter.

I've been through the Jewish Quarter so many times, but each visit I notice something different. In the picture above, the top of the building (with the higher spire) caught my attention. This small room on top of the house looked like a place a little girl might want to play house. Her Dad thought of her as his little princess, and she was dressed in the finest clothes, with swirls of ribbons, pearl buttons and delicate lace. I can just see her playing with dolls or reading up in her little hideaway. From that small window the little girl could have had a beautiful view of Praha. Doesn't it make you want to write a story? Prague has that effect on me, though I've not begun to try my hand at writing fiction...yet.

The next pictures are taken of the Mala Strana, Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.

These low resolution photos don't do justice to the original photos, but they at least give you some idea of how pretty it was yesterday.

This is a quiet time for Prague. There are a few tourists, but nothing like the swarms we get at Christmas or spring/summer/fall. It was a pretty, quiet Sunday.

That's all for today! 

Have a great day!

God bless,

Sherry

Czech Off the Beaten Path Website

Czech Off the Beaten Path T-Shirts & More

Sher’s Stuff

Shervacik.com

Asthma’s Nothing toWheeze At!