Moving to a new country for an internship will always come with some differences that one has to adapt to. I’m working in marketing and content creation, specifically helping to grow our company’s English social media page. (Our Czech page is already super popular!) My coworkers have been awesome. We talk a lot in the office and they are always helpful when I have questions. We even ran a 5k together this week. It was a large event held by RunCzech and it was a blast.

But even with friendly faces, there are definitely parts of Czech culture, especially at work, that have been interesting to get used to.

One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is how direct people are here. In the USA, we often use softer words or hints when giving feedback or asking for something. Here, people just say it like it is. I already had an idea that this would be the case, but it still felt a little sharp in the beginning. But in the Czech Republic, things are usually said plainly. If an idea isn’t good, they’ll just say, “No, that won’t work.” There’s no sugar-coating It can feel a bit sudden, but I’m starting to really like how clear it is. You never have to guess what someone means, and it makes getting things done much faster. I’m learning to not take it personally, but to see it as their normal, efficient way of talking.

This directness also shows up in how people work. My Czech colleagues are very independent. I don’t mind this at all. In fact, I prefer working independently. People aren’t constantly checking in on you or offering advice unless you ask.This is different from some places where everyone works super closely and talks things through all the time. Here, you’re expected to manage your own work. It’s very efficient, and it means people trust you to do your job. For me, it means dialing in and doing work for longer periods than I’m used to. It’s pushing me to be more self-reliant, which is a great skill to learn.

Another interesting aspect, especially compared to some stricter office environments I’ve seen, is a surprising degree of flexibility. While there’s a strong emphasis on getting the work done independently, how and when you get it done often has more wiggle room. There’s less micromanagement and more trust that you’ll meet your deadlines and responsibilities. This has been a pleasant surprise, offering a good balance to the direct communication style and allowing me to manage my workload in a way that sometimes feels more efficient for me. It’s less about rigid schedules and more about delivering results.

Then there’s the language. My coworkers are super kind and always switch to English when they talk to me or the other intern. But most of the time, they’re speaking Czech to each other. This means I often don’t know what’s going on in casual conversations – the quick chats, jokes, or even short work discussions. I rely completely on them speaking to me in English to know what’s happening. I learned some basic Czech, but it’s vastly different than English, and being surrounded by a language I don’t understand is still something I’m getting used to.

Beyond the office, I’ve also noticed a strong appreciation for work-life balance. When the workday is done, it really is done. There isn’t the same pressure to constantly check emails or stay connected after hours that I’ve sometimes felt elsewhere. My colleagues seem to genuinely unplug and focus on their personal lives, families, and hobbies. This was something that was very easy to adapt to. It’s refreshing to see that clear boundary between work and personal time. This isn’t just a cultural norm; it feels like a value. It encourages me to also make the most of my evenings and weekends exploring Prague and experiencing Czech life, without feeling guilty about stepping away from my laptop. I’ve been able to take weekend trips to various other countries. It’s a healthy reminder that productivity isn’t just about hours logged, but about focused work balanced with meaningful downtime.

All in all, my internship here has been an amazing chance to grow, both professionally and personally. Getting used to the straightforward talk, the independent work style, and the language barrier has been a challenge, but it’s also teaching me so much. Every day is a new lesson in understanding different cultures, and I’m excited to see what else I’ll learn.