CZECHS ARE...DIFFERENT (10 quirks I've noticed Czech people have - from an expat's perspective)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 12 май 2024
- 👉 NordVPN Black Friday Deal! Go to nordvpn.com/dreamprague to get 73% off a two-year plan plus one additional month free, only €2.69 per month.
Czech people have some odd quirks I haven't seen anywhere else in the world. In this video, I'll discuss 10 things I've noticed that Czech people do differently. Can you add any in the comments below? And of course, if you're Czech, feel free to tell us why you do these things, or why the rest of the world is weird for not doing them!
00:00 Intro
01:32 Nord VPN Black Friday offer
03:14 Flowers
04:41 Chivalry
05:14 Table etiquette
07:27 Cutting lines
09:11 Strange grunts
10:11 Blue ink
11:25 Doggie table service
12:00 Counting
12:32 Irrational fear of drafts
13:25 Sandwich construction
* * *
▶ A B O U T D R E A M P R A G U E:
Ahoj! I'm Jen, a native Californian, living in Prague, Czech Republic for the past 9 years with my husband and our rescue dog Tobik. One fateful night, we drank a bottle of wine, threw a dart at the map, and bought one-way tickets to move our entire lives to the center of Europe! Every day we learn something new, about Czech people, Czech culture, Czech history, Czech language and how to battle the Czech bureaucracy. Dream Prague started as a place to share what we learned with other foreigners living here.
Are you considering a move, a visit, or simply interested in American culture vs. Czech culture? Subscribe and hit the bell to get notified of my latest video each week!
➾ SUBSCRIBE: ruclips.net/user/dreamprague?su...
* * *
▶ I R E C O M M E N D
➾ My digital How to move to Prague Course! courses.vulingo.com/p/how-to-...
I cover everything from how to find a flat to finding a community and dealing with visas and other legal requirements.
* * *
▶ C O N N E C T W I T H M E !
➾ Instagram | @jendreamprague | / jendreamprague
➾ Facebook | @dreamprague | / dreamprague
➾ Website | www.dreamprague.com/
* * *
▶ M O R E V I D E O S Y O U ' L L E N J O Y
➾ The honest truth about my life in Prague:
🎬 Quality of life CZ vs. US: • Which country has a be...
➾ Are you planning a visit to Prague?
🎬 How to Survive a Czech Restaurant: • AMERICANS IN CZECH RES...
🎬 Secret places in Prague the tourists miss: • SECRET PLACES IN PRAGU...
🎬 Holiday Weekend in Prague: • HOLIDAY WEEKEND IN PRA...
➾ Are you learning Czech?
🎬 How I learn Czech: • CZECH LANGUAGE | How I...
🎬 My favorite language learning hack (Czech with English subtitles): • MY FAVORITE WAY TO LEA...
👉 NordVPN Black Friday Deal! Go to nordvpn.com/dreamprague to get 73% off a two-year plan plus one additional month free, only €2.69 per month.
11111111111111111111
Carrying the flowers upside down causes them less damage than carrying them normally. And when we give them to someone we remove the paper and turn them the right way again, blossoms up. I've also heard that when you carry the flowers upside down, more water stays in the blossoms bc gravitation and they don't wither as quickly.
Funny fact, this is something completely normal in Eastern Europe and in 1970's some American agency (I think it was FBI but I'm not sure) wanted to catch a Soviet agent. When he bought flowers and turned them upside down, they knew that this is the man they are after and busted him.
We do the same thing with flowers in Poland too, but to be honest I never really knew why, it was just the way it was :D but your explanation makes sense
@@simonspacek3670 Yes! A famous case solved by FBI agent Joe Navarro 👍
It’s just a culture of gifting flowers, I guess. Which is so nice:) Regarding upside down, because you don’t present them immediately to somebody, and water can get away the stems, so we carry upside down, and that’s less damage to the blossoms.
Also, have you ever tried balancing plate on the stick? Thats how it feels carrying flowers for a longer distances, upright,.... just let them hang
"If a czech person spots a line, they'll just get into it, because there must be something at the end worth having."
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I once got an autograph from a singer I had never heard of, to whose concert I had never been, simply because there was a queue for them.
Now I'm curious who that was 😂...
@@Anobluu To this day I have no idea, because I never asked and I can't decipher the handwriting XD
I only remember it was, I think, a relatively light-skinned black lady with hair dyed blonde. But I'm pretty sure she wasn't that big of a celebrity, because the queue wasn't that long.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 from now on, I'll stand in random queue whenever I see one 😁
That's how I got to hear Obama speak during his first presidential campaign - there was a line around the block at the Akron Convention Center, so I was like hmmm, gonna get it in and see what's happening. I must be honorary Czech!
You just proved her right
Czech florist here! Its just so you don’t damage the flowers or to protect it from the rain and wind, we give them normally of course
Very thoughtful. Nice to have a professional opinion here!
@@DreamPrague there is an interesting story where CIA was on to possible agent from the east (actually I think he was Czechoslovak) and they could nlt find anything wrong while following him. But then he bought flowers and carried it upside down and that is when they knew they are on to something.
@ Wow, that's cool!
@ I think i heard about this like 2 years ago, that's quite interesting thing. Better then DNA tests.
Já tedy osobně nerad vystavuji kytici určenou dámě všem ostatním na obdiv. Jde i určitou rovinu intimity, domnívám se.
About the blue ink: If you go to any ordinary papírnictví asking for a pen without specification of ink colour, they'll give you blue automaticaly. We don't use black ink pens normaly. I have one black ink pen just because I use it for drawing sometimes.
That is fascinating and it makes sense now!
I think this has something to do historically with Indigo pigment.
@@DreamPrague So Jen you normaly use black ink in US? Never came to my mind that this would be different from Europe. I’m not saying that in the France for instance will clerk insist on blue ink, but I think blue ink is mostly used.
@@LubosMedovarsky no, the reason is to distinguish the orginal document from its copies.
@@LubosMedovarsky I think the Prussian Blue (also called Berlin Blue and multiple other names) was one of the most common pigments in, like, 18th-19th century.
Indigo was expensive.
Hi, Jenn!
Květiny: na tento dotaz už zde odpověděli v komentářích jiní, takže bych jen doplnil - poloha květy dolů, stonky nahoru je poloha přepravní - květy se nepoškodí, ve stoncích se udrží voda a jedná se o praktické držení, kdy ruka držící kytici při chůzi volně splývá u boku - nést kytici květy nahoru je při chůzi nepraktické, protože je takto nutno kytici držet v pokrčené ruce s loktem ve vodorovné poloze jako při předávání kytice zvolené osobě, navíc takováto chůze s kyticí vypadá hloupě, jako bys tu kytici nabízela každému, kdo jde po chodníku proti tobě... 😂😛
Kavalírství: mě by spíše zajímalo, jak na mužské kavalírství reagují v USA tamní přeemancipované ženy nebo přímo feministky?! To je můj dotaz pro tebe! 😂😉😄😛
Stolování: americký způsob používání příboru mě odrovnal, neměl jsem o tom ani tušení! Zvláštní způsob úchopu vidličky, který jsi u některých Čechů popsala, jsem ještě u nikoho neviděl, ale je možné, že tito lidé se nikdy v mládí nezůčastnili kurzů tance a společenského chování, jejichž součástí jsou i pravidla slušného stolování...
Předbíhání: kromě nevychovanosti některých lidí může být také důvodem předbíhání příliš velká mezera, kterou necháš mezi sebou a člověkem před tebou ve frontě - ostatní lidé se mohou domnívat, že ses zastavila, aby sis rozmyslela, zda v té frontě postupovat dál, nebo ji opustit a jít někam jinam...
Mručení: Někteří lidé si při přemýšlení pomáhají různými zvuky či pohyby, někteří mručí "Hmmm..., Huh!", někteří zase přecházejí sem a tam, gestikulují a podobně.
Modré podpisy: jsou jakousi nepsanou tradicí z dob, kdy neexistovaly průpisky a psalo se inkoustovými pery s modrým inkoustem. Červený inkoust používali učitelé při opravách chyb žáků v písemných úkolech a inkoust jiných barev se většinou nikde nepoužíval, takže podpis vlastním perem/průpiskou s modrým inkoustem/náplní zůstal tradičním stvrzením daného člověka pod nějakým dokumentem, smlouvou a podobně.
Počítání: proč Evropané počítají od palce a Američané začínají až ukazováčkem nevím, zřejmě se jedná o nějaký kulturní rozdíl... 🤔
Průvan: V USA je kvůli teplejšímu podnebí prudký závan chladného vzduchu vítaným osvěžením, zatímco v Evropě je brán jako příslib rýmy a nachlazení... 😷😂😉🇺🇸🇨🇿
Sendviče: se sendvičem nebo hot-dogem se to v USA má stejně jako s kávou ze Starbucksu - je široce oblíbeným typem rychlého občerstvení, lze si ho totiž snadno vzít do práce, školy, na výlet, tedy s sebou. V Evropě však jsou lidé zvyklí si svůj pokrm vychutnat včetně toho, že vidí, co vlastně jedí. Proto jsou zde oblíbenější obložené chlebíčky či rohlíky, které se většinou konzumují v klidu u stolu, nikoliv za chůze či běhu do práce! 🍺🍽️😂😉😄😛
S nošením kytic jste to popsal přesně. 😊
Hezky napsané a vyčerpávající 👍
wow napsal jste to detailne a skvele. Vse dava smysl
Přesně :)
Skvělé slohové cvičeni .....1*
Je zajímavé, že rohlík se šunkou a sýrem nahoře chutná jinak, než když ho vložíte dovnitř! Asi je to horním patrem v ústech.
Já jsem kdysi slyšel že na patře je zbytek plazího čichového orgánu který je snad i nějakou dobu činný u novorozenců, takže to klidně může hrát roli.
@@MrToradragon Na patře se nacházejí i chuťové receptory, takže to určitě roli hraje.
Můj kamarád má zubní náhradu a když provádíme ochutnávku vín, nemá problém dokud nedojdeme k červeným. Ptám se už Kájo už? A on po dvaceti vteřinách(zhruba) řekne už. Víno dorazilo za klapačky a patro úst ochutnalo to blaho hořčin. Jinde v puse receptory hořkosti než na patře nemáte. Takže souhlas. Máte pravdu, chutná to jinak.
Jj, také upřednostňuji obložení načechrané na chlebu (housce), pokud není praktická potřeba splácnout ho dovnitř (výlet do přírody, ap.). Na střední jsme byli na návštěvě u spřátelné školy ve Francii a tam nám dokonce i v autobuse dávali zvlášť kus bagety a plátky šunky (plus kousek čokolády a jablkol). A naprosto mi to vyhovovalo;-). Obedně moc nemusím "míchanice" - různé saláty, pomazánky (až na určité výjimky) a jednotlivé ingredience mám ráda jakoby zvlášť, byť třeba naskládané na jdnom plátku chleba. A je zamívavé, že také záleží, o co jde. Třeba plněné bagety nebo haburgery mě nikdy moc nebraly, naopak třeba různé torilly, panini, kebyby, ap. mám ráda.
taky si myslím kekw
Chlebíček vymyslel (údajně) lahůdkář Paukert a jde o občerstvení pro slavnostní chvíle a návštěvy- recepce, divadlo, prezentace atp. Tudíž kromě toho že si člověk pochutná musí i hezky vypadat. Na výlety si chystáme obložený chleba, podobně jako Američané sendvič, tradicionalisté samozřejmě řízek mezi chleby.
jsem tradicionalista vždy a všude :)
Já bych ještě upozornil na specialitu - dvojitý chleba se sádlem (chleba - sádlo - chleba). Moje standardní svačina na základce (díky, mami a babi :-)), na výlet též vhodná. Sestřenka o téhle nutriční parádě vyprávěla svému muži (ano, Američan) a on jí prostě nechtěl věřit, že něco takovýho se dá vůbec pozřít :-D.
@@jirikolar8643 este cibuli na to sadlo!
Chleba se sádlem a kmínem je pro mileniálský vegany velké no no :D
@@kniha742 A nebo škvarky... Mana nebeská, ráj na Zemi...
"Chlebíček" is a Czech specialty and tastes better than a closed sandwich. That's why Czechs make closed sandwiches only for trips and travel. :))
Zapomněl jsi česky,nebo se za češtinu stydíš.
@@jiriuher635 tyto videa jsou převážně mířená na cizince a myslím si, že tuto informaci většina Čechů zná takže předpokládám, že původní autor tohoto komentáře mířil na "nečesky" mluvící diváky a proto ho psal anglicky. :)
@@jiriuher635 Hned zautocit , jak typicke
the reason we put the flowers upside down is so that the wind doesnt damage them… or at least thats what my parents told me when i asked them as a kid… and then it just becomes a habit to hold them upside down even when youre inside… i also find it easier to hold it that way
About cutting the line... The thinking goes something like this: "Does she not see that big gap? The line has already moved up. Oh god, she's standing there like a Lot's wife, daydreaming about something. Well, if she is not going, I am going now, why should she hold me up..."
OMG! I mean literally Oh My God ! We always point out here how crowded it becomes when Americans arrive because we in Sweden think that it is too close. I think our minimum comfort distance for communication is at least 2 meters. And yet we are still very “crowded” compared to Finland :) Ps. And yes! It is almost unbelievable how close people stand in Czech supermarkets.
Tbf, it happened to me many times that I was waiting behind someone who left a gap and after a while it turns out the person wasn't waiting in the line at all! Just standing there for whatever reason. Totally hate this. And might explain why people may simply assume that the person leaving the gap isn't waiting and cut in front of them.
@@TheAngelsHaveThePhoneBox don’t you have some rules for lines in Czech Republic? Like rule Nr.1 when you arrive and see the end of the line is to ask - are you the last one? (That way you have avoided many of people who “just stand” already), and while you move and you encounter a non-moving person one is allowed to ask “pardon, are you in line?” And if you forgot something and you remember it while in line you tell a person behind you “sorry, I forgot a thing, I will be right back” ( that way you that he/she will let you back in without losing you spot). Than of course there are several more but these are the very basic...
@@jammmy30 The first rule for standing in line in a shop in Czech Republic is "do not engage in small talk (or any talk, really) with strangers, ever". So if you arrive at the end of the line, the last thing a Czech person would do is ask one of the people standing there a question, as you suggest. Addressing strangers out of the blue is considered weird and annoying. You're not supposed to bother your fellow in-line-standers by talking to them, unless you already know that person (because they're your neighbor, colleague from work or so). Standing in line is a chore, so you do everything to make the experience as quick as possible - you move quickly along with the line, don't leave unnecessary gaps, don't talk unless really necessary, pay and bag your things with lightning speed, so that people behind you can be done just as quickly.
Also, if you forgot something and want to leave the line to go get it, you will most likely lose your place in the line. Unless it's really only a second and you don't walk away farther than just a couple of steps.
@@proximashining776 Interesting 🤔 that it can be so that in this particular case we Scandinavians are a bit more social/outgoing than Czechs. I would say it’s very unique. But anyway good to know this stuff. Ps. Now that it is Corona limitations everywhere again do you have marks on the floor marking 2 meters distance in front of cashier?
There is difference between draft (pruvan) and quick ventilation (vetrani). We also like to ventilate our rooms to exchange the air but we don't like constant flow of air because of the deadly illnesses like cold (same asbeing barefoot) and stuff muscles 😜 as well as shutting the door by draft. It was common to have door with a glass inlay inside and you really don't want the shatered glass because of the draft.
Draft is nothing than moving air. Doesn’t cause any more illnesses than standing outside in the wind. Come on, Czechs!!
Oh no, put another slice of bread on top of chlebíček ??? Chlebíček is not just a sandwich, it is a piece of art! It puts all the ingredients in a mouthwatering display plus delights your eye by its colorful and intrigue composition. Each housewife and deli shop owner are proud of their chlebíčky´s arrangement. You are supposed to take a little time to enjoy your chlebíček eaten from a little plate- or at least a napkin and for a while feel like a 1930´s movie star. It is considered absolutely barbarian to squash it all just to make it more comfortable to bite into while running in the street. Plus- why would you want to eat a double portion of bread with it? You can of course pack two slices of bread with something in between them (a pork schnitzel for example) when you go hiking or travel on a train- but that is something completely different :).
It's like saying why don't you cut cupcake in half and smoosh the bottom half on the top, so it's "easier to carry around". There are foods which you eat with your eyes as well.
Hi Jen, Silesian here (but I think I can talk for most Czechs). We do eat "something like sandwiches" made from bread, rohlík or houska, but only when we go to school or outside in general and we don't buy it, we make it at home. When we eat at home, we put everything on top and when we're buying something, it's either sandwich-like (baguette most of the time) or fancy like chlebíček. Chlebíček isn't something you eat when you go hiking :)
We have something very very similar to your “chlebichek” - “smörrebröd”. Only the break is not wheat but rye and the shape is square not round and topping is often lax or hearing. But still the concept of tiny bread w something on top of it is very similar.
@@jammmy30 that's interesting, it looks tasty
@@jammmy30 Yep, looks like it's basically the same thing, just it seems to me, that "smörrebröd" is more an "ordinary food", while "chlebíček" is more a "ceremonial food" - sort of XXL tapas, that you prepare, when you are expecting guests or preparing a conference.
Interesting. I thought we Czechs do it exactly the opposite. When I eat at home, I have time and knife, so I can make a "sandwich" out of rohlík (cut it in half) and when I am out and don't have much time to prepare or a knife, I just put everything on top of a rohlík.
Hi, a Czech person here! I found your video entertaining.
Flowers - we carry them upside down because this way there is less chance of them being damaged before they reach the person for whom they are intended and no, we don't give them upside down! 😁
Queues - as a Czech, I totally hate others jumping the queue. They are the sort of person who think they are being clever outsmarting the other 'dumbos' who nicely stand in the queue.
Draughts - ehm, I seriously don't know what you are talking about. We don't enjoy sitting in a stuffy room. It all depends on the weather and whether the room is stuffy or not. If it's stuffy - we open the windows. If it's hot, we gladly create a current of cool air. On the other hand, if there isn't the necessity - no stuffy room, no stifling heet, there is really no need for chilly airflow licking your neck. That is not good specially for an elderly person. 😉
Chlebíčky - the topping is done in a decorative manner, so covering them with another slice of 'veka' would ruin the look.
Rohlíky - not everyone piles the cheese slices and salami on top. I don't and many other Czechs don't. It also depends whether you are on the rush somewhere and don't have access to a knife or don't have the time, it's easy to buy a rohlík, few slices of whatever you fancy, create your snack/lunch on the go and Bob's your uncle! 🤓👌
Chivalry - as others have pointed out, the man should enter first in any room (not only a pub) in order to prevent his lady to be oggled by other men in that room. Other tips: when going upstairs, a lady should go first, man behind her so he can catch her if she stumbles, when going downstairs, it's the other way round so the man can stop the lady falling if is stumbles. Another rule: if a woman extends her hand to shake a man's hand, he should accept it. But if she doesn't extend her hand, he should not extend his - basically it's the woman who initiates a handshake and she decides whether she wants to shake hands with a man or not. Though nowadays that rule is not really applied...
About the chivalry thing, I´ve been taught at the dancing lessons, that when going upstairs, the man should go first, because that way he can´t look up her skirt... That was 15 years ago though....
Ahoj Jen, bohužel se mi to nepodařilo formulovat v angličtině, tak snad to pochopíte v češtině, nebo Vám to někdo z přátel přeloží :)
Mám pro Vás vysvětlení citoslovce "huh huh, huh".
Když Češi přemýšlejí, tak tomu někdy říkají, že se jim "točí mozkové závity" a tohle je zvuk, který ty mozkové závity vydávají :)
Even though I'm Czech myself, I suppose it was either western internet influence or me not spending long enough in the country to pick it up, so going "huh huh huh" instead of "hmmm" when thinking just seems bizarre to me.
Translated to Eng: Hi Jen, sadly I was unable to write it in english. I hope you would understand in czech or somebody from your firend would translate it :)
I have explanation of "huh huh, huh" sound.
When Czechs are thinking then they say "točí mozkové závity" (literal translation "spinning brain screws" correct translation: "spinning brain threads") and this is the sound what the "brain threads" are doing :)
And i thought it came from a joke abour rabbit buying carrot icecream.
nemyslím, je to ten zvuk , který vydáváte, když si věci uspořádáváte pěkně do šuplíčků v hlavě. Něco jako: "Tak a tak a takhle" nebo "jedna, dva, tři". Takže pak beze slov je to jen huh, huh, huh. "A je to" nebo "Ták" si můžete říct nakonec :)
Remember the scene in Inglorious Basterds in the bar? Drei Gläser! Most of europeans count with thumbs first
well that was big giwaway from him,...
Vidím že na květiny není třeba odpovídat pač těch odpovědí je tu habaděj ale nikdo se nezaměřil na to "huh huh huh" .... a do tedka mi to nepřišlo ani divný ... až ted když si na to upozornila .... ani nevím jak, kdy a od koho jsem se to naučil ale používám to snad celý život ...a dáváme tím na jevo své udivení a nebo se snažime přemýšlet a tento zvukový podnět nám asi pomáhá si vzpomenout ... teda aspon u mně to tak funguje xD xD xD Jinak skvělé video. :) :) Jen tak dál. :)
Já mám něco podobného - taky jsem to nijak nevnímal, všiml si toho jeden francouz a říkal, že to v žádném jiném jazyce nezaznamenal (a to jich znal 7): "ach jo" - bájný to povzdech marnosti a rezignace.
A není to z nějaké povídky nebo estrády, někdy v 90. letech? Nějaký vtip, kde zvíře chodilo po lese a divilo se: "hm, hm, hm, mrkev v zimě, sáňky v létě" a říkalo s tou melodií. Nepamatuju si pointu, ale hned se mi ty dvě fráze vybavily...
Taky někdy říkáme éééééééé a pak taky ten zvuk, který vydáváme, když usilovně tlačíme :-))))). Prezident Havel byl znám těmihle zvuky, stejně jako hojným používáním slova "že".
Já si myslím že záleží na situaci.
Jelikož moje mamka většinou když nemůže něčemu uvěřit nebo když si myslí že jí někdo lže
Udělá to huh huh huh
Prostě záleží na situaci a kdykoliv to “huh huh huh” mužem použit tak ho použijeme a víme o co jde a co tím ten dotyčný myslí
Když se nad tím zamyslím tak je to kinda weird 😭😂
myslím že je lepšie objednať jedno pivo palcom ako prostredníkom a to huh, huh, huhhhh znamená prijal som váš podnet a riešim ho , niečo ako presýpacie hodiny vo windows
Aspoň na Moravě znamená "huh, huh, huh" spíš "To je divný." :D
@@red_kangaroo asi dosť záleží jak pri tom gúľaš očami
Divný je psát to "huh huh", když v tom žádné "u" ani "h" není.
Jó, ty přesýpací hodiny jsou přesný 😁
@@breznik1197 Ano, to je jedna z mála věcí, ve kterých je Jan pořád víc Američankou než Češkou. A ostatní se po ní opičí :-D
You have to get used to the fact that the people of Prague always go first. I live in Moravia and it doesn't happen to me that anyone overtakes me 😂
True
Is it because you overtake them? :-D
In Moravia we deal with line cutters. We also don't allow insane ideas like personal space.
You cut line in Ostrava - you get beating 😬
Exactly, this does not happen in Moravia. People from Prague are always in hurry and even if someone inadvertently cuts the queue here in Moravia, they will probably be notified of that by the sounds of disapproval from behind ... That reminds me of the fact that people here instead of eg. saying "sorry" and waiting for someone to make more space in an aisle will just try squeezing through without saying a word.
Again, a nice one today :-)
About "huh", we rewrite as "hmmm", is officially a so-called hesitation sound, it's on the same level as silent coughing or others. From a linguistic point, the person basically wants to say "Hmmm, and now what should I do?", but stops at saying just the first part.
About flowers, apart from the reasons mentioned by others below, I personally feel my arm is getting tired when carrying a flower upside up, especially if the bouquet is big and heavy, by carrying upside down, you can rest your arm along your body.
Anyway, your point about origami chlebicky-packaging made my day. Unlike flowers, you have to carry it upside up all the time as if you carry a precious piece of Jesus' cross remain.
Hmm can as well be used for humming of songs.
ALSO it is from the wellknown joke on 'how do you catch a wild rabbit'. Aka 'hmhmhm... mrkev v zime..."
@@bflmpsvz870 a presne v tomto pripade to prave zni (spis nez hm hm hm)... huh huh huh... a jeste s to intonaci jako ve videu. Jakoze se kralik podivuje, co tam ta mrkev dela. Ja to huh huh huh podvedome pouzivam taky I po letech zijicich v cizine.
Hi Jen, I agree with Ivo. In the case of hm-hm-hmmm with that intonation it reminded me of an old joke we used tell each other as kids about 30-35 years ago. If I remember it correctly it went something like this:
How do you trap a mouse in winter?
- You find a mouse hole and put razors around it tightly, just enough for the mouse to squeeze its head through. In front of the hole you plant a row of carrots in the snow. As the curious mouse sticks its head through the hole surrounded by razors. It won't be able to hide its suspicion:
"Hm-hm-hmm, carrots in winter?!"
This used to be illustrated by an exaggerated twisting of the head by whoever was telling the joke.
Hi Jennifer,
Sir_Mac here, the local!
1) Flowers - Ha! Now, nobody can say that Czechs are not polite or friendly! When in normal position, the buquet is bigger in its upper part, right? And moving it down means you are reducing the space you occupy during your movement, and also, buquet down means it doesn't cover your field of vision. I would classify this as logic and proper behaviour of a man! :)
2) Yeah, perfectly explained. And when leaving the pub, restaurant, etc., woman always leaves first, with the pretty much the same explanation... What if the brawl has started there? Woman leaves first and the poor gentleman is hit by a chair ...
3) Now I am going to be judging by myself - I use knife in right hand, fork in left hand and I use fork in right hand only when eating spaghetti or any other neverending pasta... In that case, a fork is in my right hand and a spoon is in my left hand...
And if I eat baked chicken / goose / duck, I remove all the bones from the meat by my hands first, I clean / wash my hands and after that procedure I eat the meal. I don't want to be disturbed by un-bonification.
The weird fork-grip - the fork is some sort of stabilizer, when you want to use the knife and why to turn the plate so the meat / meal is in proper position? Turn the fork, it is quicker.
4) More space in queue? It makes the queue bigger / longer, AND if the queue is (partially or fully) outside, you don't want to be outside for much long, if there is cold or rain. Space efficiency, I would sum this up.
That disrespect to the queues, when there is always someone who wants (and will) skip the queue, that is, for me, a punch rewarding behaviour. The only exception, in my eyes, to the rule are pregnant women.
5) huh-huh-HUUUUH
It can mean two different things -
A) What do we have here? (Vocalisation of surprise or decent shock)
B) I pretty much doubt it. (Vocalisation of comparing two information)
In both instances, it is almost "sung" vocalisation of displaying mental activity, when you are surprised or deliberating or doubting about something.
6) Blue ink signing tradition - When printers and copiers were printing in black-white scheme (fifty shades of grey), the blue ink was some sort of quick warranty that the document was sign and not printed or copied with the sign as well...
7) Oh yeah... Your dog is (in 99% cases) more beautiful than you, it swings its tail, it deserves to be given water or even something small to eat (which you will have to pay of course)... :-D
8) Counting by your fingers - Gavin Roy mentioned this, because it is done differently in the US, in Brasil and in the Czech Republic. We start to count with thumb, no matter if left or right thumb, and when we reach the number five, which is the end of the first hand, we start using the second one, and with the thumb as well!
9) Being directly exposed for a colder air during long time means that exposed body part will get cold through and you will need to cure it by Voltaren Gel or some similar salve...
10) Chlebíček is "open faced sandwich", and regarding the rest with rohlík, I cut it on the longer part, so I have two (long) halves of rohlík... And you can put, on the two halves of rohlík anything you want... It is, again, an "open faced" solution... No "top cover" by another half of rohlík...
another thing about flowers upside down: if you keep upright while walking on the street, anything falling from the sky (rain, snow, cigarette ashes, bird shit) can fall on the flowers. Keeping them down during transportation keep them safer, and cleaner!.
Cigarette ashes and bird shit falling from the sky onto your flowers…this comment has me laughing out loud 🤣
remember that people go out to an open balcony or windows to smoke!
@@DreamPrague It's funny until it happens to you, Jen! :-)
@@DreamPrague Bird shit on our flowers is one of the thinks we fear the most. The others being burning brewery, foreign invasion, black cat crossing the road from right to left on Friday 13th and date with Mrs. Bulšitová, to name a few ;-)
The issue with drafts is also connected to energy preservation - when you want to cool the room down or refresh the air, you are thaught to "ventilate quickly and effectively" by fully opening the windows for just couple of minutes, allowing the air to replace and then close them again before too much heat/cold is lost from the room. This significantly contributes to energy conservation in winter and to preservation of cool air during hot summer days as most buildings and houses in Czechia do not have AC.
Omg, I am from Austria (I have Austrian and Czech roots) and you are totally right with the "Huh huh huh"!! I have never noticed I did it before you mentioned it, but I do😂I can't even explain the meaning, but I think I do it for example if I consider, what do do next in any kind of situation or for example, if I start writing down something🤷🏻♀️
Is there some place to hear it? Like in some show or something?
@@jammmy30 I cannot tell you, because I never noticed it even existed, before I have watched this video😂but I will start to pay attention to it in the future
@@victoriakatharina4662 thanks ahead!
People in Central Europe probably do it ... maybe we have it taken over from the former Austria-Hungary
Wir meinen "mhm, mhm, mhm" oder "tss, tss, tss"... Leicht, Kompakt, für alle Fälle :-)
Draft: I feel like there is some misunderstanding as to what is understood as draft (or průvan). Simply having a window open in the room doesn't cause a draft as long as there is no other outside source of air present. E.g. To have a window and a front door to an appartment opened at the same time can cause a strong draft breaking glass door and windows, messing up with light objects etc.
Blue ink: I have honestly never noticed that signing anything with different than blue ink might be a problem. Vast majority of pens is of course blue, so that might be the reason why I didn't notice :).
Rohlíky: Cutting of rohlíky probably depends on how lazy you are and how sharp a knife you have. Cutting rohlík with a dull knife might be a challenge.
Huh huh huh: Meaning that you are considering what the other side said and trying to figure out a solution.
Chivalry: This I would call a basic etiquette. It's basically good manners to know about these things in European culture. Details will change from country to country but there will always be some similarities.
Yes, these quirks might be strange to an outsider but something like this is present in every culture (which is beautiful :)). What I for example don't like about Americans is their overfamiliarity, especially in services. It just reeks of dishonesty.
I grew up with my Czech grandmother- OMG, I use my silverware just like Czechs, count starting with my thumb, etc! This explains a LOT! Thank you!!!
Funny the little things, right?
Czech fathers always say that "A man enters the pub door first if some pig was running out." :D
Hi, Jenn,
ještě přidám pár poznámek ke kavalírství. Většina mužů v ČR prošla v mládí tanečními kurzy, kde se také seznámili s pravidly zdvořilosti. Proto dávají ve dveřích přednost dámám zcela automaticky. Vzpomínám si, jak jsme šli v Minneapolis ve smíšené skupině po chodbě, já jsem šel v čele a před lítacími dveřmi (swinging doors) jsem zastavil, abych je otevřel pro dámy, které šly za mnou. Ty s tím ale nepočítaly a narazily do mne, div že jsme všichni neupadli. Podle pravidel etikety jde muž první nejen při vstupu do hospody, ale i do jakékoliv veřejné místnosti. Důvodem je, aby pozornost upoutal na sebe a dáma tak nebyla vystavena nepříjemným zkoumavým pohledům. Také jsem si všiml, že Američané nectí pravidlo, že v páru jde muž vždy vlevo a žena vpravo. To je pravidlo z historie, protože většina mužů byla a je praváky, takže vlevo nosili meč. Také je pravá ruka silnější a šikovnější, kdyby dáma uklouzla, pravou rukou ji lépe zachytí než levou. K počítání na prstech: ano, v Americe se počítá jinak než v Evropě, ale asi by tě překvapilo, že v Číně (možná i jinde v Asii) počítají úplně opačně. Začnou od rozevřené ruky a postupně sklápí prsty, takže při 5 je ruka sevřena v pěst. Amerika je prostě hodně rozdílný svět než Evropa, hodně za to může historie a počasí (skoro celá ČR leží zeměpisně na sever od hranice USA s Kanadou a Řím je severněji než New York). Hodně se dá odpozorovat z filmů, ale bylo by to na dlouhé povídání nebo spíš na celou knihu.
Nikdy jsem neslyšel, že by se v Číně na prstech počítalo opačně, to si myslím s něčím pletete. Počítají normálně, ale začínají od ukazováčku. Velmi zajímavé je ale to, že mají i symboly pro čísla 6-9 (případně 10 - zavřená pěst může být 0 i 10). Jedna známá mi vyprávěla, jak si v Číně chtěli objednat 2 piva, ukázali po česku palec a ukazováček a dostali jich 8, takže pozor na to :-)
Tady je to hezky na obrázku: ltl-taiwan.com/wp-content/sites/10/Chinese-hand-counting.jpg
@@Jorgos71 Někde jsem četl, že podle způsobu počítání na prstech odhalili Němci za 2. sv. války britskou špionku, která vyrostla v Indii nebo v Číně. Ostatně, našel jsem ne webu tento příspěvek: "Je doslova až k nevíře, do jaké míry se některé národy odlišují v počítání na prstech (ruky): našinec při počítání začíná u palce (pravé nebo levé ruky), přičemž vychází ze zaťaté pěsti a postupně se propracovává až k malíčku. Ve Spojených státech amerických a v některých jiných zemích (Švédsko aj.) se oproti tomu nejprve vztyčuje ukazováček, poté se postupuje v „tradičním“ směru - čili k malíčku - a končí se palcem. Ve Finsku jsem se zase setkal se zcela odlišným postupem: prsty jsou rozevřeny (vztyčeny) a počítá se tak, že se jednotlivé prsty postupně „zavírají“ - začíná se ovšem malíčkem a končí se palcem. Obdobná situace je údajně také v Rusku. V Kanadě zase část populace začíná počítat se zaťatou pěstí a postupuje od malíčku k palci… Vůbec by mě v této souvislosti nepřekvapilo, kdyby se v některých jiných jazykových (kulturních) společenstvích - pro nás třeba exotických - objevily ještě docela jiné postupy… Zkrátka: oblast čísel je z jazykového hlediska mimořádně zajímavá a podnětná, v češtině pak, jak jsem se pokusil v kostce naznačit, hraje mimořádně významnou roli číslovka, resp. množství pět."
Vlevo se chodí, protože se osobě vpravo tím dává úcta. A je jedno, jestli je to žena, které zároveň nabídnete rámě, nebo Váš nadřízený či starší muž. To, že to zároveň umožňuje lépe tasit kord s tím má už méně společného. Jsou ale situace, kdy se smí chodit i po pravé straně. Typicky vojáci, kteří musí salutovat. Dále např, pokud to vyžaduje situace. Např v deštivém počasí je lepší dámu vést vlevo, aby případné projíždějící auto nepotřísnilo její šaty.
Takže mam v 21. století chodit podle toho kde bych před 500 lety měl meč? To dává smysl. :-D Pravačkou bych jí spíš praštil než ňák citlivě chytil kdyby padala a asi bych při tom sám spadnul, z druhý strany se mi to zdá mnohem přirozenější, většinou když dělam něco kde je potřeba udržet rovnováhu, tak stojim na levý noze. :-)
Pravidlo, že v páru má jít muž vlevo, jsem nikdy neslyšel. Navíc, jak sám podotýkáš, tak je v dnešní době zbytečné. Třeba "pravidlo", že muž chodí po schodech nahoru až za dámou a po schodech dolů před dámou, aby ji případně chytil, kdyby upadla, mi připadá opodstatněné i v dnešní době.
Speaking about lines-- I visit Czechia a few times a year, and in supermarkets I have been kindly invited by Czechs to cut the line and stand in front of them a few times just because if I have very few things to buy, but they have full trolleys. Once a man cut the line in front of me without saying anything. But he was wearing a worker's uniform, and I thought it was a custom in Czechia to let people in the queue if they have a lunch break. So, being so many times in the country and buying grocery regularly, I only have noticed one episode of cutting the line.
People are usually orderly getting onto the tram, but one day a huge man in an overcoat tried to step in front of me. I'm five feet tall but I gave him a big shove, said ''fuck you,'' and got on. Not one person in the tram looked around or reacted in any way.
I always forget about the even/odd number of flowers thing. Whenever we go to visit my tchyne the first thing I do is get her some flowers. A dozen, of course. Because that's what Americans do. I think my tchyne and manzelka have given up on me because I don't get corrected on that anymore.
Above the number of 10 flowers, the even/odd rule doesn't apply.
dozen is fine, its the easily discernable even numbers that are problem, two, four, six, eight if all the flowers are the same kind. For example, never ever give your tchyne two chrysantemums, that is basically mortal offence and I'm not even joking.
The easiest way is to ask, when you are buing them. Florists always know. (and the easy way to remember is that one can always give a single rose to their girlfriend)
@@lenkamaresova4116 It is like death sentense 😁
Where are you from? Your name sounds Nordic (Estonian), so you don’t have that thing about flower numbers over there?
These are so spot on 😂 I never realised that the “huh huh huh” is our cultural thing. I didn’t even realise that so many people do it as well. But I do it all the time. Typicaly while starting to solve some problem, wether it’s some written exam or I come to an isle full of chocolates in the store and I need to choose one 😃 As fort the weird fork holding I’ve seen people do that as well and it’s freaking weird. I can’t imagina that I would ever eat like that. Also do Americans also use fork kind as a knive as well? I often use only fork to eat food. I will cut it with side of the fork and then eat it… :)
Yes, anericans do that….a lot of them….and also, a lot of them hold the fork like shovel….no kidding….I still can’t get over that one!!….I am Czech living in the USA for 20 years…..
yeah, Americans will use one tine of the fork as a knife as much as possible. They only use a knife if the fork won't cut it.
někdo mi říkal, že jezení jednou rukou v americe pochází z dob divokého západu, kdy stolovník chtěl mít jednu ruku vždy volnou aby mohl tasit zbraň :)
(1) flowers - it’s pretty common here in Sweden as well. Reason is to protect against rain but also to keep water in the blooms/flowers.
(2) sandwiches - sandwiches are not hamburgers, ok.
(3) utensils - the Czech way is the general European way. The American way of eating is generally seen as totally uncivilized / childish and should be avoided at all cost in Europe.
I’m thinking about two other things:
(4) smoking - I’ve noticed in Central and Eastern Europe that women generally don’t smoke in the street/when walking. Smoking is done when sitting down at a cafe or restaurant.
(5) eating - in Central and Europe people don’t really eat in the street or when walking as is more common in the US.
Pretty hard to eat an open sandwich on the go like you would a UK-style pre-packaged sandwich (I mean the triangular, 'meal deal' ones).
What you're calling the "American" way of eating is really just the natural way. I do it and I'm not American, just right-handed (so I eat with my right).
Never seen anyone holding the fork like that 😂 must be so impractical
But I think it's cultural, growing up in Czechia and living now in Denmark, I notice people hold the cutlery differently than I do 😂
Wooow! Hello there neighbour! Do you know if they are gona restart this year those Czech-Slovak parties in Copenhagen this year?
@@jammmy30 no idea, it was those two guys organising them. But bunch of us meets every last Friday of month for beer 😊
@@RosovaEva nice. which bar?
Absolutely agree never seen Czechs to hold cutlery like that but I live in UK and many people do it...be fair I think that is as you mentioned above being impractical🙂
It's practical if you need to hold something in place and cut it, but you would not try to twist a fork you hold like that to put something in your mouth. Once the consistence or size of the food you need to cut forces you to change the way you hold the fork, you'd do the cutting first and then grab the fork normally.
Your videos are sweet reminders of our time living in Prague. ❤️ I saw myself counting from my thumb the other night.
Re Blue Ink: I believe this dates back to the Hungaro-Austrian bureaucracy when all ink intended for handwriting (even before fountain pens) was blue. Black ink (tuš) - more expensive - was for technical drawings and such. And since everything in this and other bureaucracies had to be regulated blue ink became a norm (written or informal I don't know).
A very strict no-no was red ink: That was reserved for someone with authority to point out errors or make corrections.
Interesting!
I believe that no red ink signatures in recent period was linked more to the fact that early photocopy machines were incapable to copy the red color properly. Now not relevant...
But maybe you are right. Do you have some reference I would love to read more on the topic.
Jen, bylo to naprosto vynikající, skvěle jsem se bavila 😀 K rohlíku bych osobně řekla, že používáme oba způsoby, jak obložit ho svrchu, tak rozříznout a ten salám, sýr etc. vložit dovnitř. To, že se dá jíst s tím salámem a sýrem a bůhvíčím ještě navrchu, je nejspíš dáno tím, že jeho velikost je ještě taková, že se náš rohlík vejde do úst. Jako svačina dětem do školy, na výlet, do práce, se maže a náplň dává dovnitř do rozříznutého rohlíku. Přesně kvůli tomu, aby se od toho člověk nezmazal a šlo to v nějakém ubrousku, sáčku nebo krabičce bez poškození přenést. Stejně tak jako si Čech rád a tradičně na výlet vezme řízek mezi dvěma krajíci chleba. Protože se od toho nezmaže, hodně se nají a je to tradice 😀 Za sebe ale musím říct, že za celou dobu školní docházky, kdy jsem z 90% měla ke svačině rohlík s něčím uvnitř, ještě připravovaný večer předem, tohle jídlo tak ukrutně nesnáším, že když už si dám rohlík teď, což se stává tak jednou do roka, mažu a obkládám ho zásadně čerstvý a zásadně pouze vcelku 😂 Jinak mi prostě nechutná. No a tousty se tu taky už celkem uchytily, ale to víš, stále tu vládnou generace, které na toustech nevyrostly, za komunistů tousty nebyly. Byl chleba, housky a rohlíky 😆 Na nadvládu toustů si musíme počkat až na generaci našich dětí. Možná 😆
About the fork, the first way you show it is something that is quite common but from my point of view even more common is holding the fork "upside down" (meaning the "curve" is down, kind of like a spoon). And the second way you showed, I've never seen that.
With the huh huh huh, you really made me laugh, I never realized this is a Czech-specific thing. Now I wonder what the origin of that is, but I just do it without knowing where it came from.
About the draft, I don't know what part of Germany you're talking about but I lived in Stuttgart and now I live in Berlin and my experience and experience of my other expat friends, Germans LOVE draft. Unless it's below 15 °C inside, the windows must be open.
And about sandwiches, we do eat sandwiches, we just don't use the toast bread as often, but rather the normal Czech bread. And it's usually not something you buy, but something you make at home when you want to eat on a trip or while walking.
The second hold is usually used for meal which is difficult to cut, like steak or "řízek". It gives you better leverage to cut through. But it is usually not used in fancy restaurants or formal meals.
What you mentioned is the most common fork hold style becuase this is how you grab it for the first time, you just don't know it's against good manners and such shits, you holt it like it's simple and comfortable, most of people don't know that they should holt it vice versa.
I just love your videos! You just get such a good insight to the czech culture which you couldn't otherwise without living there for a while, simply by watching your videos. Exactly what I've always searched for so thank you! :))
PS: In Germany we all count that way (with the thumb first), too. To me it's so weird if you start with your index finger!😅Also I NEED drafts. I love them. But you're absolutely right, almost every German I know has a desperate fear of it. Every window, every door, always closed and beware if you leave it open. I hate that xD
Regarding flowers, yes, as far as I was taught it's to relieve stress on the flower. Many are fragile, Gerberas make a good example. Nowadays they often strenghten them with wire but not always and a few decades ago it was never done. And it's also to keep heads of flowers safe. Surprisingly, e.g. in a full tram, there's plenty of space at leg height while at chest height you can easily get them crushed. And no, we don't give them upside down.
Regarding lines, it's a while since the last time I got the line cut in front of me. Sometimes somebody comes to me asking if they could go in front of me because e.g. they only got one thing to pay for. Then I usually let them. It's rare and it's with consent. But yeah, not keeping the gap to the person ahead of you too big is one important thing. And the other is, if someone cuts the line in front of you, feel free to scold them and send them to the back. Cutting the line is certainly not considered normal.
Regarding the blue ink, some time ago I got a document via e-mail and the instructions were to print it, sign it in blue ink, then scan it, and send the scan vie e-mail back. Great way to avoid a forgery I say...
On similar note, official documents used to have to be stamped with a red (rubber) stamp. Blue or black were not acceptable. I think it's not that hot today yet I believe most government agencies still use red stamps.
13:35 - Chlebíčky jsou jiný druh jídla. Chlebíčky NEJSOU sendviče a nikdy sendviče nebyly už z podstaty věci. I ve je videu je řečeno, že nemají horní překrytí druhým kusem pečiva, tedy ani nenaplňují technický význam slova "sendvič", tj. "dvě či více vrstev látky(hmoty) spojených jinou látkou(hmotou)"...
Ahoj Jen, květiny předáváme normálně květy nahoru. A květ dolů je nosíme aby se ty květiny nezlámali...nebo mi to tak vždycky říkala moje mamka.🖤
Ps: miluju Tvá videa je zajímavé vidět všechny věci, které si často ani neuvědomujeme z jiného pohledu.😀
Very entertaining! Yes!! The flowers upside down - holding the fork - the Czech “sendvich” - all things we noticed right away when we lived in Prague! Love this!
Hi Jen, flowers normally pass flowers up. And we bring them flowers down so the stems don't break ... or that's what my mom always told me
Ps: I love your videos, it's interesting to see all the things that we often don't even realize from another perspective. 🖤
the flowers - wind wont damage them so much, as their stalks dont need to carry the weight of the flower, the lines.. i think that is just prague problem? didnt met it really anywhere else, also because we czech are really trigger happy if someone will cut in line, but if there is generous space between you and next one person, some people may think you are not in line, the blue ink... i think it is because it is easier to tell if it was photocopied (it isnt original) if it is in color, while if the text is in black, the sign is in black, and you copy it, it is hard to tell which one was original, the drafts - going from hot temperature to cold can cause headaches, we also hate drafts because it keep shutting doors really loudly, the chlebíček isnt toast, it is meant to be eaten immediately
Čech a stydí se psát česky.Jak smutné...
“huh huh huh”, neboli "hm hm hm" může být nevyslovené "mrkev v zimě..", pocházející z vtipu:
Jak se loví zajíc v zimě? Řešení: položíte na cestu mrkev a nad ní
natáhnete ostrý drát; přijde zajíc, vidí mrkev, začne kroutit hlavou:
„Chm, chm, chm… Mrkev v zimě…” …a uřízne si hlavu.
wow to jsem ani nevedela. Jsme docela morbidní narod🤨
Ja znal tedy mnohem detstejsi variantu (asi mam kreatovni rodice :D ) kde pointa spociva v kralikovi ktery potka snehulaka :D :D
Flowers being carried upside down - it is more relaxing for your hand (natural position). It would be a faux pas if you give it to somebody upside down. Using fork in left hand - ettiquette we learn in early childhood. Huh huh huh - probably to show that I am thinking about your question. Blue ink - obsolete rule from the black and white printer time. Doggies first - czechs love them. Fingers using - japans start counting with little finger :)
I never realized "huh huh huh" was odd and regional. :D
Anyway, there's a silly "huh huh huh" joke that's ubiquitous at least in Moravia:
How do you kill a rabbit in winter with a razor blade and a carrot?
You put the carrot down and plant the razor right in front of it. A rabbit will come, see the carrot and go: "Huh huh huh, a carrot in winter?" Shaking his head and cutting his throat.
Yeah, it's not a good joke. :D
Á, to jsem hledala, díky.
We used to say that in my school days (long time ago). Only it was about a mouse, cheese and strawberries. And I have to laugh when I hear someone say "Hm hm hm? Strawberries in winter?" when they are surprised by something or they are solving a difficult problem... And I still do hear people say that :-)
That is pretty normal carrying the flowers upside down, even one Russian spy was identified and caught because of it in the USA.
We do cut _rohlík_ horizontally as well, but I think the most common alternative to American sandwich is _houska_ - we usually put butter or margarine inside with some cheese or ham, though they can be done with jam and many other ingredients.
Rohliky (bread rolls) comes originally from abroad, from Paris, like other bakeries for example pretzels which comes from Germany. Chlebicky (in plural "little breads") are considered a treat food ideally used for a bit special occassions such as birthday celebrations, colleague leaving from work team, etc. The content is carefully composed of Czech potato salad (contains more stuff such as salami, egg, green peace, sometimes carrots, sweet and sour pickled gherkings - made with malt vinegar, and all is flavoured with scoop of mustard, all neatly cut in small cubes and then mixed the gether) - very good! Then you have on it slice of ham or cheese, slice of haidboiled egg and more slice of pickled gherkin or slice of tomato. Some chlebicky (of chlebiceks) have cheese and garlic spread as the first layer instead of potato salad and then long threads of grated cheese. I love them all! This bread again, is not Czech bread, but sliced french baguette instead. Czech bread is made of sourdough, with European cumin seed, moist inside, dark and hard outside. Aromatic. Delicious! Can be eaten on its own or again as open sandwich. It is because is more sturdy and harder in texture, so it needs thicker slicing. Otherwise it will be difficult to put into your mouth. But we also eat it with fried schnitzel and mustard
You deliver your observation of the weird quirks and peculiarities of Czech culture in such a sweet manner. It was so considerate and respectful. Thank you. You are awesome!
I have never seen such perpendicular fork holding. I'm used to use fork under index finger. Second kind of holding is fork with pins horizontal so it can load a few sauce. Typical Czech fork has a part similar to flat spoon for sauce.
The "Huh huh huh" doesn't come naturally to everybody?! What?! I thought it is universal thing to say/do when you are thinking something through and*or filling the silence when you are thinking.
We, in the Netherlands also carry our bouquets upside down. That way the water stay in the flowers and they will look better for a longer time.
You have some etiquette explained here very thoroughly. Who walks in first, goes first upstairs/downstairs. Great job. I remember some American on youtube complaining about etiquette, that it is very complicated, that he doesn´t know who has the right to introduce themselves first etc. (simple, you just need to decipher who is more important)
Jen, you might like it. There´s an old Czech etiquette book from Guth-Jarkovský (the first republic era). It is hilarious!!! If you ever get hold of it, give it a try. We spent one evening reading it, laughing hysterically.
3:14 - flowers upside down, oriented "by the wind" and protected by paper are more resistant to wind or minor bumping from other ppl
7:27 - well, if you stay far from the line's end, it gives an impression, that you are still thinking about whether you have everything or you are going to dart back into the shop for something, or perhaps you are waiting for someone…
9:11 - well, those "odd little grunts" are sort of "talking to oneself" and actually have a meaning based on their intonation. :-D The one you reproduced means something like "Ok, let's look into this". There is also "positive hmmm", "negative hmmm", "affirmative hmmm", "questioning hmm" and "Are-you-serious hmmm"… :-D
10:14 - Actually, it's way more complicated. First of all, this is not entirely true. And by "not entirely", because while it was never official, some municipality offices required it. However, there are 3 reasons, why they do it:
1) Blue ink is a standard one. So any other colour is weird on its own. Unless it's accompanied by a round stamp with a state symbol - then it's OK to use any ink, even purple, as I do... :-D
2) Additional thing is, that forgery is a real problem and thus you need to be sure, that you've got original, not a photoshopped document. And particularly in the case of black gel pens, it's really hard to tell apart the original signature from inkjet print - even for me, with my set of tools and practice. In the case of colours, the situation is different, as in the CMYK space, "standard blue" is actually about 95% cyan, and 5% is yellow and magenta. With modern printers, quality went up, but you can still find the artefacts. Thus when using at least a 30x magnifier or microscope, you actually see the dots now and there. And sometimes In the case of just lame copies or print-outs from an e-mail, you can tell straight away, that it was printed - not so easy in the case of black colour.
3) Machine readability (persistent idea) - back then, when technology was way less developed and you wanted to make a form with closed questions and checkboxes, that could be then digitalized you needed the machine to recognize, whether a checkbox in a certain place is or isn't crossed. Well, the oldest machines were black and white, thus if the ink wasn't black or dark enough, it was not recognized. In the case of newer software, the approach was quite different: Forms were printed in black colour and when scanning, black was ignored and the scanner focused on blue (standard ink colour). Of course, today scanners are much more precise and software way more intelligent, but some ppl are stuck at the technology level 30 years ago…
11:25 - a bowl of water for a dog is sort of standard (almost every Czech had a dog through their lifetime, so they know, that dos tend to suffer thirst a lot), everything else is mostly limited to "hipster zones"
13:25 - Not really. What you fail to recognize, is that "chlebíček" is a sort of "ceremonial food" and it has nothing in common with sandwiches! It's just XXL version of what is known as "tapas" elsewhere. The standard size version of the "czech tapas" would be called "jednohubky" (which name is self-explanatory for Czechs), probably made from sliced "rohlík"
Also at 14:48 you fail to differentiate between the "pre-made" and the "on the run" version. That said, there is no "instead" - if you prepare it in advance, envisioning transportation (as a snack for yourself or your child to school) you will slice it and fill it inside. However, if you are "hungry as a wolf" and you have 15 minutes to eat (including shopping) and with no need to transport it anywhere, it's a waste of time on esthetic BS.
In that case, you can also see ppl buying "rohlíky" with some sort of mayonnaise-based salads for a snack "in the field" with no utensils available, whereas "rohlík" is also used as an improvised spoon.
jednohubky = canapés
I often use utensils the American way. :-)
When you repeat it, it sounds silly, but huh huh huh is just a variant of ummmm, like interjection of thinking.
I would say about drafts that there are teams of draft lovers and draft haters who fight in offices or anywhere.
I do cut rohlíky in the middle.
I like the chivalry in men! The "huh huh huh" sounds cute, if many do that it's a good guess it could be a media influence, huh :). I am from the USA but I agree with them regarding drafts. I would like to visit some day. You decided to stay? That's pretty cool. Merry Christmas.
Great video, Jen, and great observation skills!
Even I, a proud Czech, agree with many of the facts you pointed out being strange.
For example, the way we hold the fork and knife. I am left-handed and I learned to eat like the rest of the people in my family - fork in the left hand. I always thought my way was better, keeping the fork in my dominant hand.
I also prefer to keep a healthy distance when standing in a line and sometimes I feel some people just act like they don't see me and go ahead of me without a single word!
And I'm afraid the origin of "huh-huh-huh" will remain a mystery, as well as the sighs "ach jo" and "no jo".
Maybe the hand you hold the fork with, is not as important, as we use it often the same way as the spoon (the evidence is its changing between both hands in some cultures, not anly american but e.g. french as well), but have you ever tried to cut something with a knife in your non-dominant hand? I'd say that's a real challenge 😁😐🤨😬🤪 🤣
Haha I had to grin at most of those. Yes, I am guilty of most of these as well :-D However, I have a completely different experience with open windows. Growing up in Czechia, having fresh air inside was the ultimate priority and if a person doesn't sleep with their window open, they usually open it first thing in the morning to "vyvětrat". And this has been one of my pet peeves here in the UK where people just would not open their windows EVER! And that's something, we continetal Europeans, always complain about here that it's almost forbidden to open your window in the UK. :-D
And also holding your fork like this, I've never seen it before. I've seen people holding it like a pen, which is weird and quirky too.
9/10 times when Czechs cut rohlik, they just turn into two chlebíčky instead of closing it up again as sandwich. You know, too much carbs is bad for you and who wants to taste all the pastry and no filling. Skipping that top break gives you better ratio.
This!
Hi there. Native Czech here :D The "huh huh" is probably close to "hmmm" xD But with more optimistic feeling (whereas "hmmm" sound feels kinda sinister - the Witcher kind xD) and both are used when pondering over something.
With the flowers - many have already answered. It's easier to carry and we think water stays closer to the blossoms (gravitation), so they don't wither till we can put them in the water again.
Another quirk explained is chlebíček - it's topping is decorative and is more of a treat than a snack. We do make sandwitches to carry around - to work/school. "Blanketed" rohlík is the same mentality - if we are in a rush/or lazy we just throw toppings on top and eat it like that. If we need to carry it samewhere, we take more time to prepare (or we're in the mood) - to slice it and pack the inside.
Thanks for the vid. Well made and funny :D
Ahoj Jen, hodne jsem se pobavila :-) Miluju tvoje videa. At se ti dari!
Rohlík se taky krájí na půlku, když se nosí s sebou a stejně tak chlebíčky nejsou varianta toastů nebo sendvičů, tou je obložený chléb (dva plátky chleba a mezi nimi třeba sýr, máslo, šunka a zelenina).
Jo a příbory se u nás typicky používají opačně než jsi ukázala. (Vidlička je obráceně.)
Myslím že s lepeňákem ještě neměla tu čest. Ale divím se trochu že jim to nedali na cestu do hor. Možná by to mohl být podnět pro tu cestovku, kdyby to ještě zkombinovali s cestou vlakem přestupy a mimořádnostmi, tak by to měly ve fullu. Mohlo by se to prodávat, jako Check Czech Experience.
U nás se jídlo předkrajuje jen dětem, aby rychleji vychladlo. Třeba řízek v celku vydrží déle teplý, když se krájí postupně a i jídlo na talíři vypadá upravené, až do posledního sousta. Ale nikdy jsem nikoho neviděla, že držel vidličku jako pračlověk. Z některých rozdílných chování jsme vypadali jako kreténi. Dětem do školy se taky dávaly dvě půlky chleba nebo rohlíku a mezi to třeba sýr, ale slovo sendvič k nám přišlo až po r.89. A chlebíček se jí většinou v klidu a né jako bageta, která je spíš rychlé občerstvení a nejvíc tam člověku je cítít na jazyku ta žemle.
Hi Jen, lovely video as always. As for the chivalry, men should enter any unknown space 1st to protect the lady. If it is known space lady goes 1st while man holds the door. I think chivarly comes from our mandatory dance lessons. In high school it is mandatory ( at least it was when I was in school) to attend traditiobal dance lessons and as part of those lessons they teach you etiquette
This was so on point!! And I do most of the things myself *covering rohlík with a slice of ham* 😁🤭
:-) Great vlog, Jen. Thanks! Reading the comments suggests one more quirk you could've mentioned: Even though you said that this vlog was for your foreign audience, Czechs, 'de facto' eavesdropping on the conversation, get defensive about your observations, going as far as asking you to go home and even to address your foreign audience in Czech, with English subtitles. With what word would you summarize this Czech quirk?
"lady at the Úřad" :D :D ten kyselej obličej uplně vidím :D ... btw to s tou vidličkou je divný, párkrát sem to už taky viděl a nechápu to :D
even worse than "úřad lady" are museum security grandmas :-D they are the same in all countries
OMG... I lived in Prague for 3 1/2 years.. and you are cracking me UP! SOOOO true!
Thx for the enlightment, till today, I thought that "chivalry" means somenthing like "horsmenship" 😮😁
...and about those three hummms - I think Im using it when something suprises me, like when I realise, that the solution of some problem will be a lot harder or more complex than I originally thought. Like when you underestimate something. I hope, that I enlighten you as well 😉
As a russian in Czech Republic I'd say there are not enough 24h flowers places :D But the fork hold is so weird... Was shocked when I saw it first time and still have chills every time I see a person using a fork in that weird way.
When I first moved here I was very confused with the way czechs write the date, instead of using a dash or slash (for example 29/11) they use a dot (29.11). So weird to me, but now I'm more than used to it. Of course, as an American you probably were more confused with the order: day/month/year :')
In Germany we do the same.
After years of the date-order thing and military time (oh, it's 23 o'clock) and centigrade temperature readings, my brain is permanently damaged.
In Poland, in Hungary too we have to sign our papers in blue ink only, otherwise it may be considered as forgery.
We do make sandwitches, from our regular bread and even from rohlík, but it is usually only when you want it to go, either for school/work or for a hike. When you are eating at home, you just want your meal to look nice and in my oppinion you also want less bread and more of the "good stuff". Chlebíček is very specific as it is mostly used for parties and celebration, so again it is made to look nice. Buying chlebíček to go seems to me like either you don't have any other fast meal option or you want something to feel just a little bit special, like your little personal celebration or a "feel good" food.
Have you looked at the text on the spine of Czech books? When a Czech book is laying on the table, front cover facing up, the text on the spine is bottom to top, is upside down. While on US, British, Scandinavian, Benelux books the text on the spine is top to bottom.
some people don't want to show what are they reading to other people, so they are used to put book vice versa
It's about the orientation in your library, the books standing in the shelves. Perhaps reading the titles from the base to the top is more comfortable to us.
6:52 ahahahah I never saw someone hold a fork like this. That's definitely not normal here
It actually is tho! i live i am Czech and it's a fatal and sad truth...
I've seen it plenty of times. This type of handling is reserved for big piece of meat, because the reverse fingertip is reserved for small bites as a part of "etiketa". It's essentially used as a support when you cut into meat but don't want to look like a caveman stabbing something with cutlery.
I think it is. People would hold it like this if they use the fork turned around not to stab food but to put things on top of like like on a spoon. If I want to eat meat I stab it, turn the fork around and put for example beans on in behind the stabbed meat. If i want to cut another piece of meat i would turn the fork around or use it like Jen showed here for a quick slice of meat.
not common but used for some type of hard meat
Same here, must be done only by some people.
Hi Jen, Californian in Prague here too (14 years)! I always thought a weird Czech quirk was that they don’t put their napkins on their laps. They keep them to the side of their plates throughout mealtime.
Hi, Jenn! Neznám žádného Američana, jen Vás z Vašich vtipných videí. Dělá te to dobře, děkuji. Ostatní Vám vše vysvětlili. Mě už nezbývá než napsat: Přeju Vám štěstí, milá Jenn! :-) . Z.P.
It's really sad that basic etiquette is being considered a quirk these days 😔 globalization is powerful and I watch how more and more people even here act as if chivalry and good manners somehow threaten women's independency. Those two shouldn't be in the same sentence. "Even though Czech women are independent, men open the door for them," 🤦 Don't get me wrong, I really like your videos, they are funny. Modern pseudofeminism is just a pet peeve of mine. I can have a husband who cooks for our family and I can be the one who makes more money and fix the plumbing but I still appreciate it when he opens the door for me or helps me sit at a table at a restaurant. Manners and independency are not something that can't coexist... I raise my son to be a gentleman and I fear for how it will be perceived once he grows up. 😬
I saw an interview with Mia Farrow. She told a story how she was at a dinner with the English Queen Mother and others. You aren't meant to ask royalty a question (so they say), but she asked the QM 'what is the best thing you can give your children' and she replied 'good manners'.
All my children have been complemented about their manners, although I have to keep telling the males 'a real man doesn't swear in front of ladies, even Australian ones'.
It is also more relaxed position for the arm. If You want to flex your muscles so You can carry them in normal position. Just enjoy your meal, do not think too much about table manners. Table manners are for snobs. :) Overtaking is very rude. This does apply for the queues in shops but also for cars. Some people are in rush mode.
One my colleague from US was surprised about the cutlery after you finish the meal. We put fork and knife to the same part of plate. If you don't finish you put them opposite of each other.
Dutchie living in Prague... and we too are taught to carry flowers upside down to make them last longer, but once I start thinking about it...
Czech guy here: The "huh huh mmm mmm" sounds are - as I see it - sort of universal half-self speaking. Because you can express joy, surprise, anger, sadness, boredom or interest with different tones of same sound. You can even express "no" "yes" or "question" and other stuff with that. Honestly this is probably first time anybody get me to think about it...hmmm...thanks🙂
Kvetiny: because is better hold flowers down, then you put your flowers into to water, because the water in the stem feeds the petals.
It happened to me lot several times, waiting in the line, keeping "sanitary" 2m covid gap and several other customers trying to skip the line, but I always told them "sorry madam/sir, but I am waiting here too." Can be also problem, if the grocery is smaller, and line is also between shelves, so they may think the customer in front of you is "the last" and they skip you.
OMG! You opened my eyes - My Czech boyfriend does that weird thing with his fork when eating with fork and knife and I was just convinced that he was just superclumsy and couldn't hold his fork properly! :D Lol, never noticed it other Czechs do it as well. Also, the thing with putting your ham or chees ON the rohlik or bulka instead of just elegantly cutting it and perpare a proper sandwich is driving me crazy :D
When I want to eat something, I just want to eat something, not cutting it to half and then eating, life is too short for doing such things. :-)
If those are the worst things we do, it's OK.
Souhlasim 😎
Pamatuju, že hrál v televizi pořad Etiketa, kde takovou zábavnou formou vysvětlovali zásady slušného chování a jak se chovat ve společnosti. Byl tam i názorně vysvětlen případ, proč mají muži vstupovat do hospody jako první :) Určitě se ten pořad dá najít i na RUclips.
Taky tam bylo o tom přehazování vidličky do pravačky, když nůž zrovna nepotřebujeme. Ale v praxi to asi skoro každému přijde jako zbytečný úkon navíc. Setkal jsem se s tím akorát možná ve Francii.
I feel your frustrations
You showed to be more patient than me
I couldn’t take it anymore
After finishing school & worked couple years I was really fed up and left
Prague is nice to visit & spend some times even a month a year but to live there is not me
wow, this is interesting for me as a czech too. it gave me a view on how these things are different everywhere
Over 30 years "rohlík" Went throw some changes. Its not shaped as cresend moon And you cannot roll it open. As kid i liked eat it that was so i ended with two tipy connected by soft insides.
today rohlík or even bread is something completely different than only 20 years go, today is really bad, it's really hard to find good bread or rohlíks today
I'm British and I thought we knew how to queue, the majority of the time, the Czechs beat us hands down. As for people cutting in to talk to the person behind the counter etc, it's definitely a thing, as in when indicating to pull out they accelerate as everyone is in a hurry...
I only cut the line if I need a specific thing and not sure if the establishment can help with that and there is nobody else to help. In that case I wait for a suitable time in-between customers served and I apologise and explain that I'd just like to ask quick question if they don't mind.
If they can help with my request I then go and join the queue / line.
I used to work in retail in London and the amount of people who would approach me WHILE I was talking to another customer or processing payments was unbelievable. In that case I would have to tell them that I'll be with them as soon as I finish with this lady... Hmm hmm hmm! (Sound of disbelief or disapproval). 😁
@@evar7395 Yep, British people are known for their queueing yet what you described happens all the time and drives me crazy. Surely they can see and hear that I'm talking to a different customer at that very moment and the least they could do is wait till I'm done with them.
@@evar7395 Yes, that is how it works, it makes no sense wait in line when you don't know if they really can help you, so you ask and then go to the line, that's ok, all people do that.
In every line, there are people who just stay there randomly and it's not obvious if they wait in line or not, very often they don't wait in line and just obstructing there, so Czechs are used to ask or automaticaly overtake such people who look like they don't actually wait in that line, but sometimes you realize that they actually waited in line and you skiped them, so it's not about some cutting culture, it's mostly just misunderstanding, some people just can't wait in line that it's obvious that they are really in that line and you don't want to stay there half of the day only to realize that you wait behind someone who is just staying there, not in line.
I think a lot of people feel they have the right to skip the entire line, go talk to the person behind the counter and then also stay there when it's about a complaint or refund. Apparently you being disappointed means you have to get extra attention to make it right and have priority over every other non-disappointed customer :-D
Technically holding the fork points facing the plate is proper etiquette. The primary point of fork is to stab stuff and thus when used correctly the points aim to the food so you dont have to wave your elbow around. Nobody really does that unless its a formal setting/they are posh however I would say.
The draft is a funny thing. I grew up with windows open for fresh air all year round even in the winter, but the draft would slam the doors pretty hard. Lot of the doors had glass fillings, might not end up well. So we do have open windows, just the doors to the room must be closed. Fresh air with no draft. And I do get a headache or earache now when I’m thinking about it, I guess I haven’t built an immunity to draft, lol
4:20 yeah that's pretty much it. Or at least everyone always told me to hold them upside down so they won't get destroyed. And don't worry we give them normally 😂
O pravidla s květinami se s vámi ráda podělím, protože jsem pracovala jako uvaděčka v divadle - květiny skutečně nosíme květy dolů (vždy), ale ve chvíli, kdy víme, že budou předány, obracíme je květy vzhůru - není většího "faux paus", než když herec dostane na jevišti od uvaděčky květy stonky vzhůru (ale stejně tak se to dá přenést i na soukromé předání - květinu doneseme stonky vzhůru, ale daná osoba je již dostane vzhůru květy).
Stonky vzhůru chrání květy před újmou, darované květy nosíme domů také stonky vzhůru. :)
Carrying the flowers upside down also occasionally results in their loss 😂😂 I´ve heard several anecdotes about flowers slipping out of the paper on the way unnoticed and the following surprise of both the presentee and the giver 😁