If you’re reading this from an air conditioned room back in the U.S., be grateful. This European heat wave is no joke! While it’s the same temperatures that it reaches back home, the lack of AC makes sure you’ll never cool off. The best relief I’ve found was swimming in the Isar river in Munich, Germany.
My 36 hours in Munich this weekend were hot, but fun. I thought it was a pretty city filled with old churches, markets, bikes, and beer. I got to visit the original Hofbräuhaus beer garden, which I thought of course beat Pittsburgh location. We ate ice cream and sandwiches from a large outdoor market and cooled off in the dark and beautiful Asamkirche church. Being able to swim in the famously fast flowing river in the English Garden might have been the most European experience I’ve come across. A free, clean, and well-loved swimming spot in the middle of a major city is definitely where they have America beat. Nothing felt more refreshing than that crystal-clear, cold river water.
Between the unrelenting heat and public swimming spaces, I’m continuing to be reminded of just how different life is here compared to back home. Those differences have become just as apparent in the workplace. While we were warned about the cultural and social differences in the Czech Republic before arriving, I wasn’t fully prepared to experience them firsthand.
One of the biggest adjustments has been the communication style. Back home, it’s normal to start conversations with “How are you?” or make small talk before getting down to business. Here, interactions tend to be much more direct. People usually get straight to the point, and casual conversation isn’t nearly as common. Combined with the language barrier, it was easy at first to wonder if my coworkers were simply uninterested.
As the weeks have gone on, though, I’ve realized that’s far from the truth. Even if they aren’t as outwardly chatty, my coworkers have been incredibly welcoming. They’ve answered my questions with patience, recommended places to visit, introduced me to Czech food and traditions, and have genuinely made an effort to include me despite the language differences. It’s been a good reminder that friendliness can look different across cultures, and that not every workplace expresses it in the same way.
My coworkers have started to tease me every time I walk in the office in the mornings and ask how they are, telling me I am very American, but it’s a hard habit to break. The funniest part of asking how they are is that they are always extremely honest. While the average American answer is “Good, how are you?”, the Czech will give you the honest truth, even if it’s “I’m bad”.
I’ve started to appreciate their bluntness and honestly. Maybe some of that will rub off on me, and I’ll be able to startle Americans by straying from the typical “good” response. While I’m starting to learn to like the cultural differences, I’m not sure I’ll ever get on board with no air conditioning. That, and ice water, are American norms I’ll never lose.
