DID I MOVE TO THE WRONG CITY? (PRAGUE v. my other favorite city)

[@DreamPrague]

👉 Go to nordvpn.com/dreamprague to get the two-year plan with an exclusive deal PLUS 4 bonus months free. It’s risk-free with NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

[@siloton]

Hello Jen, deep message nicely emphasized by underlying music, well received :) I wonder why superthanks feature is not active on your channel?

[@carkawalakhatulistiwa]

Soviet microdistrict vs USA Suburban

[@luboslier347]

Between Prague and Amsterdam choose Brno...

[@KULTvitka]

about the bikes.. Prague is a hilly city so when you use bike you sweat a lot, so people dont use bikes to get to the work/school just because it is slower and they are smelly after. that is my opinion

[@abirwait5636]

The lack of talent for languages had made you give up? Sexy Sadie, what have you done You made a fool of everyone. I REALLY REALLY DID LIKE YOU!

[@helenstrevens3866]

I am living and working in Prague for 6 months. I think it is wonderful and I could live here. I am from New Zealand. I like Czech people a lot and I think the food is excellent! But the architecture is absolutely incredible!!! Thank you Prague people for your hospitality!

[@filipwaldhans9611]

welcome

[@matotuHELL]

I am glad you love it from the other side of the world. 😀 I think many people here dream about visiting New Zealand.

[@jakubrydlo6612]

@@matotuHELL A lot of people in Czechia dreams about visiting New Zealand. Especially fans of Lord of the Rings movies. 😄

I would love to visit NZ one day. I feel like we share a similar sense of humor 👍

[@cukrman1]

welcome :)

[@MarleyDrives]

I'm Dutch and I absolutely agree with you on the personal safety thing. It's definitly safer in Prague. And yes, Heineken sucks.

[@conceptalfa]

Well, but are the dutch people causing this criminal mayhem???

[@Pidalin]

I had some special beer from Heineken and it was not bad.

[@mrkvomiltato871]

@@conceptalfa Nope. We can thank "multiculti..."

[@conceptalfa]

@@mrkvomiltato871 exactly, I'm living in Sweden and it is pure Wild Western here, also because of multikulti and from people that actually alledge their religion is peacefull!!! There's almost no space for swedes to commit any crime, all the "market shares" has now being taken over!!!🙃😄

[@sendittomik]

@@conceptalfa I'm sure they are, at least for the most part. In my personal experience, the Dutch drink in excess and often are like drunken aggressive

[@ChristineConway15]

I came to Prague from San Francisco in 2019 for the location, affordability, TEFL certification programs, and the opportunity to learn/study a Slavic language. I had lived in France in the early 90s and always thought I might make my way back there but I am in love with Prague. Totally agree that the public transportation system is superior, it is safe, the beer is delicious, and the healthcare is excellent. As for the language, whew, that is going to take some time. But most of all, I really like Czech people! Their dark sense of humor, direct natures, and hearty approach to life and leisure is an inspiration to me. Once I can get a grasp of the language, I know I will appreciate them on another level. I realize I am biased in that most of my experience is in Prague, but I am so happy to be here getting to know the people and the culture.

[@veronicahenge1164]

Ou, your words are so beautiful. I am so glad. Thank you. 😊

[@jeffnotnuts8205]

I changed my plans to move to Amsterdam (Americans a plus, see The Dutch American Friendship Treaty) and I moved to Prague. Now, you can ask my Niece, who has lived in Amsterdam for 18+ years, about the dude who was murdered in front of her place if you want :) The big plus is, in the Czech Republic, if you are over 60, you do NOT have to learn Czech. The Netherlands has no exemption, making the choice instant. PS I have been to Amsterdam over 20 times, starting at 12 years old. I made the choice to move to Prague after a 1-weekend visit.

[@xxxwetacidxxx]

We offer great safety here in the Czech Rep. It is also an important thing.

[@mtsvec]

You don't have to learn Czech if over 60 - - - Please explain! I am 56 and have considered the move but know I will never be proficient enough to pass an exam.

[@jeffnotnuts8205]

@@mtsvec A certificate proving the required knowledge of the Czech language is not requested from a foreign national who is over 60 years old. --PS. This is only an issue for the 10-year Visa after residing here for 5 years you can apply for that one. The shorter-length Visa have no language requirements at all. © 2022 The Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, all rights reserved

[@jeffnotnuts8205]

@@xxxwetacidxxx 100% true. Praha is a very safe city, putting other cities to shame. I've seen young ladies walking near Congress, Vyšehrad, at 3 AM, dark underpasses, and side streets, without any issues.

[@Ingrid_Abrams]

I'm learning Czech, my spouse is Czech and I'm planning to take the citizenship test in 5 years. If you are married to a Czech you can take the test in 5 years. But we have been living there off and in since 2012. Moving back in the Spring. I guess I have the advantage of my Moravian family speaking to me in only Czech, and my spouse is language professor, and I have a personal teacher, so it is coming along. And I am over 60. I also m a pretty good cook so I can replicate any foreign meals I like. Glad you decided to stay! :)

[@paulinemably9572]

As a Brit living in Slovakia I really loved this video and felt really seen because I wanted to move to Prague , a city I still love and was in only this weekend for a Halloween party, but I took a job in Bratislava as a first step to the dream and ended falling in love with a Slovak, having a family and falling in love with Bratislava and SK and have now been here 11 years. I completely agree with everything you say about feeling safe in Prague and it is exactly the same in Bratislava where we also have great public transport and every other city just compares unfavourably for me. I know Vienna has great public transport , beautiful buildings and fantastic healthcare but for me it is just too strait-laced by comparison to the Slavic world. However, we travelled from BA to Wales by train in the summer and I was so excited to visit Amsterdam for the first time but unlike you I was not at all charmed. I hated it and I felt unsafe all the time. I was terrified and on edge because of the bikes and am glad that it wasn't just me and there were so many drunks and people on drugs even first thing in the morning and I know it is celebrated for its sex trade but for me it was just all so seedy and seemed so exploitative. We saw human excrement twice in two days!!!! We took our little daughter and it took us 90 mins to find a playground for her something that has never happened anywhere else. We also went to London and Paris and they were both just so much more child friendly and I was shocked at how much safer I felt in both places. I could easily imagine raising a family in Paris but not at all in Amsterdam. Also, the food may have been delicious in Amsterdam but you have to pay a lot for that. Paris just seemed cheaper for so much more. I have never been so glad to be home as I was at the end of trip tbh so I guess I have to agree with you that sometimes you don't choose your city, it chooses you! And I know that BA isn't for everything being as small as it is but we don't all have to agree, right?

[@karolkostial1772]

Hi I live in Bratislava and agree with all you wrote. I also travel to czech rep. and my sister live there, be happy 👍

[@matotuHELL]

I am from Prague, visited Bratislava twice and I liked it. Most people around me said there was not much. When you visit as a tourist and compare it to Prague, I get that, but I kept my eyes open and I liked it and it also seems to be a fine place to live. (Maybe unless you are LGBT 😬😔) I heard a podcast a few years ago where a Czech journalist who moved to Bratislava claimed that it is better than Prague.

[@david.janovsky]

@@matotuHELL I am living in Prague almost my whole life and I feel Bratislava the same way like you. I love this city and try to visit it every year if possible.

[@momosaku16]

@@matotuHELL I`m from Bratislava, now living in Japan. I went home to Slovakia after 3 years this summer and I also went to see some friends in Prague and even though I would like to say that Slovakia and Czech republic are equal I`m afraid it`s really not the case. I love Bratislava, but Prague is just so much bigger. Just the city centre is so much more preserved and rich that I feel that there`s no comparison. Bratislava is technically not even a city because it has fewer than a million inhabitants. If anything I would compare Bratislava more to Brno, which is more on a similar scale. I can imagine the journalist liking Bratislava more because of the smaller scale. I feel like the fewer people and shorter distances might make living there less stressfull, but in the end it`s really a matter of personal preference.

[@andreahoffman8152]

One of the best thing in Bratislava is the it is so closed to forrest. And there are hidden treasures in Bratislava too. I was born there, grew in Rača, we had everything what we needed (plus Vine...)

[@ulfbrodin3577]

Yes, moving to a new country or continent depends a lot on who you are and what you are looking for. Personally, I would move to Prague if I had the opportunity to turn back time twenty-five years. Now I am fifty-eight years old but I am glad that I have had the sense to travel every year to the Czech Republic and Prague for the last twenty-one years. I fell in love with Prague in 1989 beautiful city and nice people a big plus for me is that I learned Czech helpfully it has opened many doors. So I'm jealous of you who took the step to move there. Czechoslovakia was a good country, we in the West got a lot of propaganda that everyone was locked up, but the openness and welcome the people gave me there was not found in all places in the West.Great respect to the people of the Czech Republic. Kind regards from Ulf Brodin Halmstad Sweden.

[@quicksilver2446]

Don't let age ever hold you back from living your dream. Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced !

[@pavlinameens4016]

I have just moved to Germany after living in NL, LUX and BEL and have to learn German language. I am 52. Forget the age on a wrong idea you are tied somewhere. Your borders are in your head!

[@gvantsakevkhishvili6399]

I'm from Georgia and I visited Netherlands 3 years ago, I liked it, was impressed but it never crossed my mind to live there. After that I went to different countries and only 5 months ago I visited Czech Republic and fell in love with Prague from day 1. At the end of the first day I knew I could live there easily, it felt like home

[@doposud]

I used to work with guy from Gruzie in Brno Czech Republic , Konstantine he was about 60 years old and the hardest working man i have ever seen in my life. He was running at work at his old age to get things done quicker , everything had to be perfect there was no room for errors very wise and great personality.

[@Longjohnsilver58]

I love Europe and have always wanted to live there. It will likely never happen because my family is in the states, but if it did, I always thought we would do Portugal. That was before I went to Prague. I loved the Czech Republic.

[@david.janovsky]

Portugal is also cool and I see many similarities with the Czech Republic. I feel happy there.

[@Pidalin]

As a Czech who visited Portugal for 10 days and explored a lot there, I would say that Lisbon is very overrated, it can be nice there, but compared to Prague, it's very dirty, you can find really disgusting places there with trash everywhere, dead caths stucked in fences, I saw even starving horse surrounded by garbage in some homeless place, you don't want to see such things in your city everyday and you will definitely see such things in Lisbon when you stay there for longer time. People are nice there and I never felt unsafe there, but I just can't live surrounded by so many garbage and when you ask abou that, they are consused and don't know what you mean because they are so used to it that they don't even see it. Every road in Portugal has garbage next to it because people are throing trash from cars, forests are full of garbage.....and this is in massive contrast to all those fancy tourist resorts where it looks like in paradise.

[@Pidalin]

I also forgot to mention that terrible smell in Lisbon, it took me like 2 days to get used to it, the thing is that all those kebab and other fastfoods don't have suction with long pipe to the roof like we have, they just have hole in wall and send it to back yard or directly to street, so you smell all that burned oil, that's another thing they probably don't realize because they are used to it. I could not sleep in Lisbon in first few nights because of that smell and when I closed window, it was terrible hot inside. 😀 I didn't want to offend people from Lisbon or Portugal generally, I am just saying how it feels like there for a Czech person. Especially that garbage shocked me, Czechs kids are beaten for throwing garbage to nature, when you do it in front of your grandma, she will hits you when you are kid. I am not saying I am for physical punishments, but you will remember that. 🙂

[@dudoklasovity2093]

thank you for your heartwarming and wonderful comment about Prague❤️ Wish you all success!

[@tolosate]

I moved from France to Czechia because it's a safer country. Maybe it's not as bad in the Netherlands but I'm not sure it's going the right way, I'm happy with my choice and I'll stick to Prague!

[@krakatit7730]

This awaits the whole of Europe, make no mistake about it.Low IQ politicians will make sure the European countries will vanish into the thin air.

[@Pyrochemik007]

Just avoid wine from Lobkowicz and you will be fine.

[@POLMAZURKA]

what is unsafe ? who are the violent ones?

[@krakatit7730]

@@POLMAZURKA lol We all know.

[@JohnsonPadder]

As a Czech/Moravian who lived in Australia for 30+ years, your view of Amsterdam is like my view of Prague when comparing it to Brno. It has all the beauty and infrastructure of Prague, without all the tourists and higher prices. Interesting video, thank you!

[@samknetsch]

I'm from Netherland, But my place where I feel the most home is Prague, it makes me feel relaxed and give me creativity

[@maboitegitou3100]

Nu a já z moravské vísky pod Brnem miluji naše Brno, kde žiji svůj dospělý život od r 1982. Nejsem zarytou kontroverzní Brňačkou, ale toto město má nesrovnatelnou vyjímečnou atmosféru. Praha naše matka pro mě ční na výši, ráda jí navštěvuji, ale jsem šťastná na Moravě.

[@marecekjan]

Holka, už jsem se bál, že tě ztratíme. Ano, máš pravdu. Všechno je to o tom vnitřním pocitu a každý by ho měl mít. Prahu mám rád a je to můj Amsterdam, ale srdcem jsem v Ústí nad Labem...a tak to zůstane ať si o tom městě myslí každý co je mu libo.😉👌

[@ondra10192]

Ústí je pěkné město s obrovským potenciálem. Doufám že ho využijete a budete město postupně zlepšovat. Například přístup k vodě kolem řeky by se mohl upravit. Cedule s nápisem "vstuo na vlastní nebezpečí" není úplně ideální řešení. Pokud se vy jako obyvatelé budete snažit něco změnit, tak to město může být úžasný.

[@toruvalejo6152]

@@ondra10192 Ta cedule byla u vody?! 🤔 Já myslel, že u vstupu do města...

[@jakubsalvet3246]

Obvzlášť Staré Předlice jsou pěkné

[@rumcaiz]

For me, Slovak living in Czech since 1992, I must admit, place I'd love to live in would be.. Stockholm, Helsinki or Turku. But once you settle your roots in some place, and have a family of 3more depending on you, one thinks twice about what's the dream, and what's reality. This ability to dream and still stay realistic, I find actually quite a Czech specialty of naturel. Maybe, after those many years I have become more Czech than Slovak, even if Slovak is still carved deep in my heart. Thank you for this post, it's helping me to realise who am I, who I feel to be...

[@jurakratec]

Slovak living in Prague since 1992 cannot be Slovak, but Czechoslovak. ;-)

[@zlatakelembet3680]

It is surprisisng that there are a lot of people (including myself) who moved to Prague without giving it much thought, but then just fell in love with it. For me the most important things would be Safety, Public Transportation and Low Unemployment level. Also I like how I get excited each time there are new laws prepared. In 15 years I lived here, 50% new laws worked in my favour, and the other 50% just didn't affect me in anyway. 😀

[@MrJlin1982]

At my opinion Praque is the most beautiful city of Europe as a continent

[@kudyss02]

I’ve always dreamt about moving to US… now that im older i realised that I love my small town (Týn nad Vltavou), I have pretty much everything here, larger towns like České Budějovice, Tábor and Písek are like 20 minutes by car and hour and half away from Prague, i love south Bohemia and Czech republic because its in the middle of Europe and its easy to travel across and get to know new people and places

[@Helena-he2hg]

Vltavín. Karel Demeter. Jeho knížku o kouzelné čepici miluji. A i když to městečko vypadá úplně jinak, pořád si Týn představuji na břehu moře.

[@genickaS]

Narodila jsem se v Praze, žila tam do 19 let, už 40 let žiji 30 km za prahou na vesnici, ale Praha je pro mě stále nejhezčí město na světě a cítím se tam doma. Vaše vyznání Praze mě skoro dojalo. Je milé slyšet, že ji někdo vnímá stejně jako já.

[@ajanewton2197]

ale podobne pamatky ma treba Budapest :) Hezke mesto je i New York City. Praha je navic draha vzhledem k platum, pokud tu nekdo normalne pracuje. Potom je to drazsi pokud jde cestovat smerem na zapad.

[@slouberiee]

I love Brno, rather small, not so touristy, slower pace of life, chill young atmosphere :)

[@alexlola4723]

Brno je zlatá loď ☺️ som z Košíc, milujem Prahu, ale Brno mi tak pripomína Košice, že ak by som sa mala presťahovať, tak do Brna

[@MrJlin1982]

@@alexlola4723 Kosice is Slovak/ hungarian and Brno Moravian / Austrian. So cultural very different.

[@alexlola4723]

@@MrJlin1982 absolutely not, both cities are smaller brothers of the capitals and therefore they are quite similar... believe me, i know both cities very well... you have probably never been in Kosice

[@MrJlin1982]

@@alexlola4723 To Kosice not yet, to Brno I have. But I saw a lot of vlogs or pictures of Kosice. I speak about architecture Alex!

[@alexlola4723]

@@MrJlin1982 and i spek about atmosphere and spirit ☺️

[@mattmerk]

Great video. I’ve been married to a Czech for 20 years but we live in USA. In recent years there has been a strong pull to stay there instead of just visiting every year. Political climate, daily way of life, raising a kid… all factors. I love it there. (But even after 20 years with her my Czech is crap)

[@Pyrochemik007]

But you do not need to learn it to stay. Since you are married, you will never be kicked out of the country. There is plenty of jobs you can do in english. Your income will inevitably drop, however, you can´t really pay for healthcare in USA and in czechia you are easily covered.

[@zlatakelembet3680]

It is really different to live with somebody who knows the language, and live in a country where everybody speaks the language. It is much easier to learn it when you hear it everyday. Also you can find work here only knowing English. There are a lot of foreign companies, and a lot of them require only English language for work. I have a lot of colleagues at my work that don't speak czech and it doesn't prevent them from having a career. I would really suggest you try and see if you can find a job here, and if you do - give it a shot! 😊

[@michellemaine2719]

I am Czech, my husband is American. We moved to England 4 years ago, after living in the US together for 23 years. I don't miss the states 1 iota.

[@adelaisle6863]

Prague used to be my dream until I spent 6 years there. It's a place I love to come for a visit to but my most favourite place is Zlín (that I left for Prague originally:)). I absolutely love this town, its atmosphere, calmness, specific architecture, its citizens... It's my home. The real one. :)

[@miloslavhesek459]

Krásně to Praha "vyhrála". Přeji Vám hodně štěstí. Musím k pocitu, jenž jste zmínila, že je Praha (Česká republika) pro Vás "jako doma", blahopřát! A blahopřeji i "nám"! Jste skvělá a samozřejmě i Váš manžel! Moc rád bych Vás někdy potkal v Praze! A nebo v jiném městě naší krásné vlasti a že jich je mnoho!🤩

[@10jpmorgan]

I'm an American ex-pat who immigrated to the Netherlands 30 years ago. I lived and worked in Amsterdam for several of those years. I'm retired , and I now live in the south of the country. Last year, I discovered Prague and I LOVE IT!!! I immediately fell in love with the Baroque architecture there, and the pastel-colored facades of the buildings. Amsterdam has carefully preserved its old houses, but they're mostly just that drab, Calvinist, dark brown brick. If I was rich, I would get a flat in Prague, and alternate my time between my small town in the Netherlands, and Prague. Amsterdam is far too crowded, with miniature, cramped, drastically-over-priced apartments. That is - if you can find a place available at all. Amsterdam charmed me too, but living there is a lot different than visiting. The food in the Czech Republic is much better, and a lot cheaper! Traditional Dutch dishes like hutspot, while healthy, are awfully bland and boring, - more like ballast. I do love the "Hollands nieuw" raw herring with onions and pickles, though. The best food in the Netherlands comes from other cultures like Indonesian, Surinamese, Turkish, and Moroccan. Nederlands, the Dutch language is no picnic, but I'm sure it would be easier to learn than a Slavic language like Czech. Personally, I find Dutch harder to pronounce than Czech, and that Dutch "g" sounds like you're getting choked. Not a pretty sound! Your observation that most Dutch speak better English than many Americans is due to the degradation and underfunding of public education in the U.S. I was relieved to find that most of the Czech people I met spoke good English. I bought an expensive translation device for my visits, but I hardly ever had to use it. I would agree that Prague is safer than Amsterdam. Since Amsterdam is a world crossroads, we get riff-raff from all over. Czech pils is much better than Dutch pils, but if you prefer stronger beer, and a huge assortment of flavors and brewing methods, the Trappist Dubbels, Tripels and Qudrupels from the Netherlands, and especially from our southern neighbor Belgium can't be beat. Grocery stores here generally don't accept credit cards. Couldn't you pay with your Czech bank card? I've never been to a grocery store in Czechia, but I paid for almost everything in Prague with my Dutch bank card. Your bicycle, anywhere in the Netherlands, is akin to your car in the U.S., and the construction of bike lanes is just as important as streets and highways. Practically the whole country is as flat as a pancake, so biking is ideal. I wouldn't dare bike in Prague! And why would you? You can walk everywhere, or ride the trams. The same goes for Amsterdam. When Dutch people visit other countries, they get irritated at hills. To the Dutch, hills just block the view!😄I climbed some exhaustively steep streets in Prague. The numerous views of the city below are spectacular! I miss Prague since the day I left! All in all, if I were you and your husband, I would stay in Prague, especially since you've invested so much time and effort into immigrating and learning the language. I was pleasantly surprised to see your impressions of Amsterdam, and as a fellow American ex-pat, your comparisons between our adopted European countries. I certainly haven't had it easy in the Netherlands, and I've worked very hard for what I have, but I MUCH prefer life in Europe to life in the U.S. If nothing else, I know I'll never go bankrupt here trying to pay medical bills, like so many Americans have. Thanks for a very interesting video!

[@DavidJones-oc3up]

Like your video. I can sympathize with your feelings because I’m an American who has lived in the Czech Republic for twenty years. My original hope was to move to Austria, but at the time it was easier to come to the Czech Republic. I got settled in over time, and when I had the opportunity to move to Vienna, I decided to stay in the C.R. I’ve been to Croatia a few times and wondered what it would be like to live there, but I’m happy here, and see no reason to move. I wish you all the best on however you decide.

[@Onitsutube]

I did travel a bunch, and yes, I love Amsterdam, I very much enjoyed Bern in Switzerland, I totally loved Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but alas, the only city I can imagine I could call home (other than Bratislava where I live) is Prague... don't know why, I definitely can not explain it like Jen did, it's just the feeling, something inside just tells me, yes, I could stay here and feel ok :o)

[@terezaDD]

Moc zajímavé video. Popravdě, já jsem se teď zamilovala do Olomouce, kde studuji již delší dobu. Lze tu jezdit na kole (jsou zde i vyznačené pruhy pro cyklisty), centrum je historické a město samo o sobě má vše, co mladý člověk potřebuje. Je to dost velký rozdíl od mého rodného města (Karlovy Vary), kdy člověk nepotká moc mladých lidí a ani nový míst. Takže za mě teď Olomouc a rozhodně hodlám navštívit i Amsterdam, takže děkuji za tip s kreditní kartou (na to bych ani nepomyslela).

[@abirwait5636]

Děkuji! Teprve až když jsem rodné město navždy opustil jsem si uvědomil jak je Olomouc krásnej.

[@harjoshrimp7854]

I’m Dutch and lived my whole youth in the middle of Amsterdam, the Jordaan. Sometimes when I visit the city now it’s not anymore my place to be. If you go to an shop they start talking in English instead of Dutch 😂. Sometimes I have te feeling that I’m in the Middle East. That’s now the case in all the cities in the Netherlands. It’s not my own country anymore, I moved to Krakow Poland and only going back for visit the family ones a year for 1 week. The Netherlands aren’t the Netherlands anymore 😭

[@londrry]

Same in Roterdam also EIndhoven most of the DUtch moved out of citys to countrysides.

[@MrJlin1982]

@HarjoShrimp, dat is een probleem in Amsterdam, elders in ons land heb je niet dat probleem als je gaat winkelen en spreekt men gewoon Nederlands!

[@MrJlin1982]

@@londrry heb dat zelf nog nooit ervaren in Rotterdam of Eindhoven

[@PhonoDirect]

I have been in Amsterdam a couple of times in 1994 and it hasn't been like this at the time. Actually, I can imagine such a comparison back then would yield much better position for Amsterdam instead of post-communist Prague. Things changed not exactly positively for Amsterdam, for which I am very sorry, I really used to like it.

[@ontyyyy]

I lived in Netherlands for a year. Lets just say for English speakers just moving and living to NL is easier than anywhere else in Europe..Like EVERYBODY speaks English there, however on reddit I've seen a lot of people sort of dislike this, because for example in Amsterdam the native Dutch sometimes no longer feel like they are in their homecountry....People dont learn dutch because they simply dont have to. Ive had colleagues that lived in NL for almost a decade and didnt learn the language, simply because they lived within their native-tongue community and used English anywhere else.

[@sendittomik]

Of all the foreigners I know who are living in Prague since the 90s, only one has learned proper Czech, the language is just crazy 🙄😬

[@MrJlin1982]

@ontyyyy I hate that indeed and if I know someone is living in The Netherlands I refuse to speak English. If you gonna live somewhere, you have to learn the language!

[@sendittomik]

@@MrJlin1982 ...and just because you want it or there's some other reason❓

[@MrJlin1982]

@@sendittomik intergration, you can never be part of a society if you don't speak the native language, you always be an tourist and be treated that way. You don't get the news and don't understand the native people, only expats and you will never became a real citizen or discover the real local people, people will not open up to you. If you don't speak Dutch, you never get the full extend of the Dutch culture. If you just wanna speak English stay in a native English speaking country. Next you will never get a job outside the center of Amsterdam or just by some multinationals.

[@MrJlin1982]

@@sendittomik that will be your problem, not the problem of the czech society. Next you refuse the invest in the culture of that specific country, why should the natives invest in you?

[@paolocafaggi2529]

You speak from my heart, because I currently have exactly the same feeling. - I've been living in Prague for over 8 years and I'm beginning to doubt if it was the right decision. - It is clear that Prague is a fantastic city in my eyes, but also a city whose way of life and quality of life is changing very quickly and drastically. - Of course, the current high inflation has also contributed to this and for me personally this city is losing its charm and quality of life. - A beautiful cityscape is not enough to survive, you also have to be stable and secure. - Nevertheless, the city won't let me go. - When I go to my hometown Italy to visit my family, after 4 days I get homesick for Prague.... A sign that I am at home here and have to adapt to the not so pleasant things. - A 2nd option for me? - Definitely San Francisco! - Also a city that I love very much.... However, I only experience the city as a tourist and my friends there always advise me not to live there because the quality of life there is said to be not as good as in Europe. - In general, I'm a person who quickly feels at home everywhere, but I think I'll stay in Prague. I try to enjoy the pros and avoid the cons where possible ;)

[@martincerny2938]

So your issue with Prague is high rent? Is that it? :D

[@paolocafaggi2529]

@@martincerny2938 Not only but also... So much has changed so quickly. - I also liked the less elegant areas, all of which have now become luxury zones through constant renovation. - Prague has lost a lot of charm for me in a short period of time, it seems like everything is about profit now... but I'm not saying that I don't like Prague anymore. - It is and remains a very beautiful city.... only the change here is suddenly happening a little too quickly. - It almost looks like it's becoming a rich-people town, while the middle class is pushed further and further to the periphery. - I don't think I'm the only one who thinks like this....

[@ATG-gc2cy]

I’m from, and live in Dublin, but if I could live anywhere else in the world it would be Praha in a heartbeat. The language and accent is the most beautiful aurally, albeit really difficult for Anglophones. The people are charming, the public transport is phenomenal and the food & drink is delicious. I’ve never visited Brno, but I’d take Karlovy-Vary as a consolation prize. 😊🇨🇿🇮🇪

[@ivanazivanovic3960]

Come to Brno

[@globalstudiescpcc]

I much enjoyed this video. I’m American and lived/worked in Amsterdam 1999-2001. It is a sublimely beautiful city. Walking the canals late at night, especially after a rare winter snowfall, renders an almost magical and existential experience. Much akin I suspect of walking the Charles Bridge on a full moon night. I don’t remember thinking Amsterdam was unsafe. Excepting a single physical altercation I had on a tram during an attempted pickpocket, I felt very much at ease in Amsterdam. I perceive both Amsterdam and Prague to be much safer than almost every major American city (more guns than people thanks to a largely unbridled 2nd Amendment in the U.S. Constitution). Amsterdam is quite a bit more cosmopolitan than Prague. Think trade routes, colonialism, and easy access to the North Sea. And yes, better food albeit native Dutch food is about as appetizing as a trdelnik. In Amsterdam, search out Indonesian cuisine; in Prague Vietnamese. I’ve spent considerable time in Prague and speak a modicum of both Dutch and Czech (thank you Duolingo). I love both cities! I’m also of German rootstock and feel much at “home” in both locations.

[@MrJlin1982]

@globalstudiescpcc. The Netherlands/low counties (+ Nord-Pas de Calais) and Germany are cultural very different ! Very simulair in a lot of ways to Portugal and Spain!

[@kombasanpracka]

What a lovely comparison with happy end as a bonus :)

[@martinnovak8104]

Ještě jaké je to moje místo,je to Plzeň,Za určitých klimatických podmínek je úžasně cítit slad z pivovarů a člověku hned spadne kámen ze srdce že tam makají,vaří a neflákají se.😀

[@janab6660]

To je pro me vune domova. I kdyz pivo nepiju😊

[@peterjoel6386]

Skoda te kriminality tady, bezpecne se tu opravdu v noci necitim. Navic tramvaj jezdi jen do pulnoci? To je co za napad... Prace tu take pro vysokoskolaky moc neni. Pivo je dobry, ale jinak prilis kladnych veci oproti Praze nevidim

[@martinnovak8104]

@@peterjoel6386 Tak já se cítím bezpečně,neřekl bych že je tu vysoká kriminalita.A místo tramvají jezdí v noci busy.Co se týče práce-neberte to osobně-ale práci v Plzni nenajde jen debil.

[@eto4767]

What a happy moment when you and Honza opened a bottle of wine and decided to move to Prague. I'm so glad you're both here. Home sweet home.

[@czuswoe]

Watching your video was like to watch a football match. 🙂 I grew up at Prague city center and it is a great place to call home. But two years living in Brighton, wow, loved it. Totally different vibe, topography, people mix, Brighton beach, culture, you name it... Yet, back to my old district Vinohrady, I am really happy too.

[@RobertBruce3]

If you like a picturesque topography, I would definitely recommend Banská Štiavnica. It's quite small Slovak town but it's a UNESCO site with many beautiful views.

[@Geker3]

Hi Jen, if you want to see a city with public transport working as good as Prague's go to Vienna. But it's flat. Flat as a drop of oil on your kitchen desk.

[@JanHurych]

Really? Good food means history of colonialism? So where did the British go wrong :-D :-D

[@mortisCZ]

Well they brought amazing Indian, North African, near Asian etc. food to the Islands but I have a feeling that British are even more traditionalist than we are when it comes to food. And the original British food? It was so amazing that they created the greatest navy in the world to go find something better; as the old joke goes. 😀

[@conceptalfa]

Haha, the british food is horrible, almost uneatable!!! Fish and chips used to be excellent like 30 years ago but that was it, according to my experience....

[@abirwait5636]

That's a good one! 😀

[@peterl0815]

Very good point!!

[@drakulkacz6489]

I remeber the very first sentence about Irish cousine in a written guidebook for Ireland: "Irish are nation that can´t cook and was occupied by nation who can´t cook either." OMG, I was laughing so hard when I read it! 🤣

[@valherru]

So true about the safety! As a Czech I never realized that until I start to travel more and more.. No wonder that CZ is consistently rated at top 3 safest countries in the world.

[@alexdevilliers402]

Thanks Jen for the awesome upload once again. I agree with you on every single point of comparison. For me Amsterdam would be ideal due to my line of work and being from South Africa originally my home language is super close to Dutch as we share roots from many moons ago. However after 2 years in Prague it feels like home whenever I come back from abroad. Even though Im not good with the language yet (jedno pivo prosim🍻) the city makes me super happy in so many aspects. Thanks for the great content and looking forward to the next one. Ahoj👋🏻

[@CzechbyZuzka]

Moc jsem si to video užila, hezky jsi to zpracovala, Jen! Pocházím z maličké vesnice ve Středočeském kraji, ale když jsem začala bydlet v Praze (ve "velkoměstě", kterého jsem se předtím bála), okamžitě jsem si to tam zamilovala. A úplně nejvíc s tebou souhlasím ohledně topografie. Ty úžasné výhledy z pražských kopců, parků a mostů člověku přirostou k srdci a pak je marně hledá v jiném městě za hranicemi. Na Praze se mi také líbí, že má i spoustu klidných míst k bydlení, které nejsou daleko od centra.

[@jankroutil9842]

At the first time i was like a "eh, Jen we will miss you😭" ...after a while i was relieved with "uf, how could i have doubts" and "that´s our Jen" 😊🥳. I think you scared some people, but you told us in such touching way. Great video Jen !! P.S. Thanks for that info about Amsterdam, now i appreciate our city more too ^^

[@bkruz1]

Sorry Jen for bomboardign this comments section... but if you we're to consider Amsterdam, consider one very very important fact: that's the nature outside the city! The Netherlands have virtually no forests left. The sea is nice, and there are some gorgeous towns but you can virtually walk out of Prague into wonderful forests and countless chateaus, castles and sites that I think few other countries can offer. The areas around Beroun, the Sazava valley, Pruhonice, or the Vlatava valley around Stechovice and the Vlatava river cascade. A little to the north, you have the Kokorin forests, the spectacular Prachovske skaly, Czech Switzerland... My goodness the list is endless! I live in Dejivce just a short walk from the Castle and yet, a street away from home, I can enter the Divoka Sarka valley. And considering that virtually all forests and lands are accessible, you can hike endlessly and enjoy nature in a way that I could never have hoped for even in Canada! This to me is even better than all the monuents and beauty the city has to offer.

[@dominika5173]

I love the video and I loooove reading all the stories in comment section how people fell in love with Prague! I had a bad day and all the love from people around the world warmed my heart

[@mojmirkyncl1534]

Prague is definitely the most beautiful city in the World I lived there for 25 years then I moved to UK living in N.Ireland but not being happy there I moved to London really nice city and plenty of sightseeing to visit but you can not find any city as Prague . Anytime I am going there I always feel some kind of wonder what I love.🙂

[@milosKL]

Topografie vs. cyklistika - to je právě ono. Zatímco Amsterodam, Kodaň nebo Pardubice jsou města na rovině a proto ideální pro cyklodopravu, Praha je v podstatě město kolem sedmi kopců a rovinu najdeme v podstatě jen podél břehu Vltavy. Všude jinde je to prakticky jen do kopce nebo z kopce. Proto se tu cyklistika přirozeně nikdy masově neujala a jen v poslední době se tu násilně implantuje. Stejně je ale většina pražských cyklistů messengeři, ostatní jezdí kolem vody.

[@rockinghorses]

I have known many long term CZ expats and many more Czechs that have left the country and never come back (just an observation). Prague is amazing, but, in the end, aside from all the many good things, it will begin to feel like what it is, a small and relatively undynamic city. It is "the comfort zone".

[@krakatit7730]

Prague is very dynamic, it just does not feel like it, except the tourists in the center. Honestly, busy,stressed out, fast cities are not something modern people want. Everybody is sick of it and honestly you must be insane at this point to want to live in cities like Paris,Amsterdam,London or NY city or LA etc... It will make you ill physically and mentally.Plus progressive ideology is like cancer that kills everything it touches.

[@martinhampl5668]

Happy you stay with us! :-) Martin from Prague

[@PilsnerGrip]

This is a very refreshing honesty from your type of channel and I hope you choose what is the best for you! I am very pro freedom of movement and choice and so I wish you both good luck and happiness and as a Pilsen resident maybe we'll see each other in a pub! I always recommend your channel to foreign friends that want to visit the Czech republic!

[@MyYTwatcher]

"Trams were late. We never experience it in Prague." lol, good one :D

[@toruvalejo6152]

Well... if interval between 2 trams is like 3 minutes U never know whether it was late or arrived 2 soon...

[@pioneersaigon]

Jen, if I am the president of the country, you would definitely get a medal on 28/10 for your advocacy of Czechia. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

[@henryletham6077]

I was born in Praha and lived there for fourty years and I truly love it but I must admit that what most people love so much about the beauties is just a small fraction of what one can find in Italy where most of the gamechanging architectural epochs emerged. Our treasure is just a parochial reflection of the main cultural centers of ages. I am pleased someone with experience from abroad appreciates it, but I am afraid it sometimes comes out of comparison with places that have not much history or those that got bombed to the ground during the war.

[@georgiancrossroads]

Hi Jen, that city I wonder about is, of course, Prague. Even when I visited earlier this year I was thinking something similar to what you went through with Amsterdam. I live in Tbilisi Georgia. I've been here almost 4 years. And one thing I've learned about living in a few different places (New York City & Haines Alaska) is that whatever you felt at the beginning eventually fades into the background, and other things come to the fore. I know Prague well enough to actually have friends there, and almost well enough to travel around effortlessly, but not quite well enough to know it as a place of daily life. I do know Tbilisi well enough for that. I have long since passed the honeymoon phase here. And I have explored it, made videos, lived through the pandemic, etc. I think I would love Prague if I lived there. I used to consider the Czech language to be monumentally challenging. And I enjoy the dark humor of the Czechs. But cracking into Czech culture and having good friends is serious work. And here in Georgia, a much older culture, I find Georgians much more open. In February when I visited Prague I suddenly realized that in contrast to where I currently live, Czech culture seems very predictable. I said to myself 'The Czechs practically seem like Slavic Germans.' What used to seem eccentric, in contrast to Germany and France, now seemed quite normal. And the language? At least it is connected to the Indo-European languages. Whereas Georgian is a linguistic isolate and looks like this: ქართული ენა !!! (That's not even Cyrillic.) But then, upon return, like clockwork, Georgia started proving why it is so interesting. The pandemic strictures had all loosened. And suddenly there were art shows, animation festivals, dance performances, puppetry, music, great conversations, etc. all over again. And I remembered just why I love it here. And then I had to visit Germany in August, several different cities, and while I enjoy Germany, inside, all I could think of was 'Get me back to Tbilisi.' I prefer the openness and unpredictability. But Prague remains my favorite place to visit, along with Paris, Lyon, the French Alps in Switzerland, Krakow, and Palermo. (But NOT London, Berlin, or even Amsterdam.) Thanks for sharing your thoughts. They prompted a few of my own.

[@zlatakelembet3680]

I think that is what Jen said in the video - you just need to find your place, which is Tbilisi for you. 😊 I have a lot of people who moved to Prague and didn't like it because of exactly what you said. However I really love their "predictability", as it makes me feel even more safe.

[@georgiancrossroads]

@@zlatakelembet3680 Thanks. And as I write this I just got a slap in the face with the unpredictability of Georgia. But it is being worked out. But that is the problem with unpredictability. I know Switzerland well. Beautiful mountains, everything works. Totally predictability. And totally boring. It's a trade you make for living in a very interesting culture. I still love visiting Switzerland though. I like being able to count on the trains being on time. And yet...

[@ultramarinus2478]

Jen, you should experience Pragues Čertovka river tour (and/or underground rivers tour) Different than channales, but still pretty special. It is not comon knowlage, but Prague has big underground spaces, part of wich originated in (or before) midleages.

[@katerinaburesova5788]

Thank you for your video 🙂. I was born and still live in PRG and it was very nice to hear that Prague can be compared with developed west european cities and win 🙂. I am happy we have such a nice neighbours like you and your husband. And please be merciful with Prague negatives. We lived 40 years in communism and other cities had more time to improve. Děkuji a měj se pěkně 🖐

[@vitdostal4116]

My choice would be Lapland, or Finland in general. I like the remoteness, the lifestyle and the stunning nature :)

[@Desvilleux]

The Netherlands is not just Amsterdam, and I think you can get the vibe you want if you will consider living in nearby cities like Haarlem or Leiden. You can always go to Amsterdam minus the non-stop crowd and sky-high prices of housing. I was in Prague for a week, and I love that people are more fashionable, the shops are neat and well-kept, and uber/taxis are affordable plus, if you have the money, you can afford better customer service. In Amsterdam, customer service does not exist; shops close early, and there are too many people around. I love NL, but I will never live or bike in Amsterdam.

[@Cz-De-Lifestyle]

Canadian here, been living in near Cheb village, Karlovy Vary over six months. In the beginning, I wanted to live near Prague , and my wife wanted to live near Cheb, closer to her family. I was so mad , we had to go with Cheb cuz it seemed boring and nothing going on like Prague ....but now that Im here , I love it, Im actually closer to the German border , lots of nice cities I could hit up, in 2 hrs drive, over the border to visit that are just as good as Prague or better. Karlovy Vary city is very good with tourism too with nice spas, restaurants and landscape the way you described about Prague. Off course if I want to go to Prague, I could do so in less than 2 hours , so convenient to live near the Western border of Czechia, I have the best of both world.

[@Zuzana-no2nq]

I have been living in Amsterdam for 48 years now. A nice place to be for sure. I can every corner of this capital. North South East or West you name it. The China town, the Turkistan(Amsterdam-West) the part of the city we call ´Manhattan on the Amstel´ (the river). There is a nice part of Amsterdam, Amsterdam-South and there in Buitenveldert I live, we have here many well tended parks and also jewish citizens. I love this cosmopolitan city. But, I have to visit my roots every year - Prague, where I was born and lived for 24 years. Until the time of my expat-moving to the city where I have got my citizenship and a Dutch passport on the day of my first marriage back to the year 1974. For your next trip to Amsterdam, Jenny there is a small shop in the Damstraat, not far from the Dam square with more then 120 types of beer. There you can get Pilsner Urquell as well.

[@stevehlavenka3636]

Greetings. My parents came out to Australia a couple of years after WW II, so I was born and bred in 'Oz'. They literally jumped the border from Czechoslovakia into Germany as the Russians were constructing the Iron Curtain just behind them. My first visit to Prague was in 2015, I was with my daughter and her husband as we did some sort of vague homage to my oldies, since they had died a year or so before. We got to see and experience a fair amount of the place but it generally struck me as a bit of a tourist pastiche, I didn't feel the need to go back. In my European travels since then, I've discovered that Berlin is my fav city of the planet, followed very closely by Milano and then probably Bregenz. BUT(!!!) the place I feel absolutely the most "as if I am home", through ALL the layers of my being -- and I ever never knew this feeling of belonging existed before discovering this place -- is a village high in the Austrian Alps, ie. Heiligenblut am Grossglockner. However, in the mean time, in November last, I became a Czech citizen (now dual with Australia) and am going through the painful logistics of moving to 'my alpine hideaway' by the end of the year. Through Facebook, I met up with several nephews in Czechia in 2019 and during last October particularly, they showed me the Prague I never experienced before, stuff with more of a locals perspective, than a tourist's, so my appreciation of Prague is now much deeper and multifaceted than back in 2015. Would I choose to live there?.... I definitely could, but I think Pilsen may win in a choice between the two -- assumimng I had to stay in Czechia.

I used to live in the U.S. for about 8 years. However as each year passed, I was missing my homeland and culture and family more and more. So I decided to go back to Czech. I learned one important thing: just like the correct key slides in the locker, that's how your language match tells you you are in the right hole, right place, where no one will doubt you that you are from different tribe than the rest. This feeling of connection, connection of the subconscious history and identity is so strong. How can you guys do it to just move to places so far from your families, friends, places you grew up, where people understand every of your language nuances, jokes, feelings...? I will never understand you. You don't feel it? You don't miss it enough? Or did the place you came from was such a nightmare you can live without? Such huge sacrifices. Why? For how long?

[@jurakratec]

Jen technická: Česko je Czechia, nikoli Czech, které je adjektivum. ;-) Každopádně vítejte doma. :-)

[@zlatakelembet3680]

For me to move away from home was easier than I expected. The main reasons for that would be: 1. I moved with my then boyfriend, now husband. If he is with me, it doesn't matter where we are. 2. My first language is Russian, so it is easy for me to find people who speak the same language as me almost everywhere in the world. But, suprisingly, I have only 2 friends from Russia here. Mostly Ukrain, Kazachstan and other former Soviet Union countries. 3. Czech Republic is not that culturally different from where I grew up. Even the language is very close, so getting used to a lot of things was much easier. But in the end, it just has to be the place that makes you feel home.

[@jenniferliggett6385]

American here, who has traveled to Germany, but no tthe rest of Europe. Think of the reasons you wanted to go back to Czechia after being here in the U.S. for 8 years, and realize that those longings apply to many Americans. Our country has strayed from the principles of its founders, the economic divides are pronounced, and I feel dismay when I consider the levels of social disconnection, and let's face it, narcissism. Our country is drowning in debt and the government and consumer spending is not sustainable, and I worry about getting trapped in the fallout of the inevitable.

[@gingersimasnaps]

Haven't seen the whole viddo yet, but the first thought that popped into my head after like a minute in was DON'T LEAVE US PLEASE!

[@jakubjanota5086]

I really love the fact you mentioned topography, because it is one of the main reasons I consider Brno my home, when I couldn't say the same about Olomouc after living there for five years. The ability to just walk up and see the city from above makes it so much more exciting to me. Even catching a glimpse of Špilberk castle on a hilltop as I walk through the city center makes me happy for a short while.

[@hubertusvenator5838]

What I like about Czechia is its culture. I like its nation. I like its societal harmony. I like its gastronomy. I like its central European traditions. I prefer to spend my time in its forests. I like to hunt. I am very grateful for the Czech right to self-defence, but criminality is negligible here. Czechia is eminently civilised. I am Portuguese, but I am at home here in the heart of Europe. Czechia is wonderful.

[@Mimi_2822]

I'm Czech and i use to live for 18 years in Holland. My children are born there and my husband is Dutch. In 2021 we all moved from Holland to Czechia and I regret it so much! I miss Holland culture and mentality so bad. I hope one day we return back to there.

[@radimsitar9570]

I may mention Prague's nature. I've visited Amsterdam many times and the only characteristic of nature there, from my point of view, is the sea a few km from the city and some parks and gardens. Prague, on the other side, has so many dramatic and beautiful landscapes to offer - Prokopák, Šárka, Petřín, Stromovka, Tiché údolí, ... And you can just few minutes by train or car and you're in places like Křivoklátsko, Brdy, Kokořín and if you can further (to all directions from the city) you reach amazing mountains. This is something I've never experienced in the Netherlands. I like the vibe of Amsterdam, but it ends with the question - can I experience an adventure here?

[@verahurnikova4552]

I love your videos, Jen, and sometimes I use them in my English classes too. Some of them made me cry or laugh as you are greatly intelligent, resourceful and sympathetic. I'm very happy that Prague has won in your heart over other European cities but you might have not been to Ostrava yet, the town I was born and I live. It has its charm, you will see!! However my heart town is Štramberk which is MUST as you can visit nearby Kopřivnice and Příbor!! Come to the North Moravia to relax and slow down a little bit.. Morava is not only Brno the only city I assume you have visited so far..😀 Anyway I'm looking forward to watching again your video about Nov 17th!👌 Keep up the great work!🤗

[@bassmanjura]

The best impression of city I had so far was from Helsinki. Specially because we arrived there from St. Petersburg. It was strange being in Moscow and St. Petersburg, police everywhere, in every mall they scan your bag, you see a lot of precautions, but it felt not safe at all, it look like they know that something is about to happen in any moment. After we arrived in Helsinki and been in the city for some hours, we could not believe that we are in a capital city. All felt so peaceful, safe and easygoing. Fresh air and trees everywhere. You feel safe as pedestrian, biker and also driver. We agreed with my wife that this is the place we could imagine to have family immediately. one year after, I got a job opportunity in Finland (not Helsinki) and now we are here 5 years with 2 kids born here. Most likely we will stay here possibly forever if we integrate well.

[@antoninstefka]

apart from Prague, try the plasticity of the České Středohoří/Bohemian Central Mountains :) ...similar

[@fretka007]

Hi Jen! I'm Czech living in the Netherlands for 6 years now and I lived in Amsterdam for about 2,5 years. Later I've moved to a small town near Naarden and it's so much nicer to live there! Especially the centre of Amsterdam doesn't feel like a real town, it feels like an amusement park for tourists. I lived out of the centre around the infamous Bijlmer Arena because it's more affordable for renting an apartment and that was extra sketchy. I must say I never got actually hurt or robbed or anything, but I was having hard time to fit in and it's ugly there. Now when living outside of Amsterdam, I'm kinda loving the "real" Netherlands. It's well organized and people are very nice. Cyclists are less aggressive too. You can use one "chipkaart" for ALL public transport, which is amazing. And thanks to the Dutch banking apps you can pay everywhere with your phone, even the farmers' markets. I believe I haven't used cash for over a year now. Also my favourite thing here - if you like museums, castles etc. there is a "museumkaart" that costs couple of € per year and then you can visit most of the sites for free. By the way Heineken is probably the worst beer you can get here. Grolsch (try to pronounce it correctly:D) is one of the more drinkable big beer brands. Have you been to Utrecht? It's a lively and beautiful city like Amsterdam, but not as touristic and the tourists are different there. They go for culture, not only to party until they pass out. Anyway, you can find good and bad stuff everywhere, it's always about the perspective and personal preference. I'm glad you still find Prague comfy enough for living:) Cheers!

[@tomaskeprt4855]

Hi Jarka:D

[@fretka007]

@@tomaskeprt4855 Jejda, zdar. Tak tebe jsem tu nečekala.:D

[@StarvingMarving]

Thank you for this insightful video. My wife (Czech) and I are moving to Prague from Australia next year. I agree with you about the language: I really don’t know if my Czech will ever be sufficient. That’s actually why we’re starting in Prague and not a different Czech city - at least it will be easier in the beginning. I can’t believe you moved there on such a whim! That’s amazing! Always looking forward to the next video.

[@siriusczech]

Stumbled here completely by coincidence, just the vid´s name made me curious in recommended feed. To answer your question: As it might look strange, I really, really love the place where I live, which is SE part of Prague called Jižní Město. Yes, it is the biggest set of prefab buildings, accomodating more people then average regional center-city in this country, but let me explain. It feels absolutely great to be able to step out of the doors and instantly have a lot of greenery around. And unlike a center of Prague, you can walk in almost any direction without constantly hitting walls or cars. You just go and have freedom of movement. You have tons of things for everyday needs in few minute walking distance and that is amazing, no need for travelling. And if you need to travel? That´s where the public transit comes in handy. 30minutes to city center day or night, an hour to the other side of the city. My love comes from urbanistic genius layout this has - I can set off my doorstep and be in forest in 20 minutes WITHOUT crossing a single street on the same level. Same can be said about 10 minutes walk to a metro station, this division of pedestrians vs. traffic is next level. And I have been to a lot of places, I worked as a moving guy so I have seen multiple cities and their parts (and some of those in different countries as well). But I haven´t find a better place to live yet, other places were always missing something important (greenery, services, shopping, schools, sidewalks...) while these places have everything. Welcome here, I really liked this vid. Enjoy and Na zdraví!

[@prividinc]

I was born in Brno, lived in Canada, most of my life, I have lived in the US, worked and lived in Prague at one point, back in Canada (Toronto), and I want to move back to Czechia, most likely Prague (I lived in Vinohrad when I was there and loved it). I would visit family in Brno, enjoyed it, but I really like living in Prague, again, I loved Vinohrad. So, I will be moving back in the next 12 months (I have animal passports I need to sort out). I'm looking forward to it. Yes, I speak Czech fluently, and have the Czech PP, as a result it's much easier for me versus someone else.

[@tomas5473]

Originally from Pilsen, I then moved to London to learn English and lived there for 6 years and I can say would never live there again (I enjoy an occasional visit but that's it). After London I lived in Gold Coast for almost 2 years and loved the hot weather, ocean and the people but the distance (literal & in time ) made me feel more "lonely" + it was more like living in the countyside ("vesnice") which is not my cup of tea. Moved back to Pilsen but found a job in Prague where I moved 2 year later and I'd never move again (I think!). It has everything I need in about the right amounts :-) But from all the places I visited (on holidays too), I must say that only NYC excites me and I consider it the most interesting place for a visit!

[@erikziak1249]

I would argue that the quality of public transport in Vienna is equally good as in Prague. If I had to tell in which city it is better, it would be very hard to decide. Both cities have a great public transit network. I think I would pick Prague because it reintroduced trolleybuses.

[@jaroslavmencl9543]

Hi, I like it! I was born in Prague and spent there more than 30 years and I can imagine living there again. When I visited Amster for the first time, I absolutely fell in love with it. Maybe I like smaller towns in NL even more. But exactly as you said - as a tourist.

[@alesdolecek3035]

Funny thing is that when I spoke to some people from Netherlands they said that they "miss the horizon", referring to all the hills and mountains in our country.

[@ducklingcz]

Phew! You had me a bit worried at first and certainly did leave us guessing and hoping till the last minute! Thanks for the happy result. :-)

I got so nervous seeing the video notification! I thought it will be about Brno! 😀But really, I fell in love with Amsterdam at first sight! But then I discovered that I can't really explore it having a car. This spark ingnited my big plan - in the following years I found myself an old motorboat, fixed it, hooked behind my trusty Skoda and 8 years after my first visit I got to Amsterdam with a boat - and then only the city of Amsterdam was just right! 🥰

[@martinstranak1197]

Been in Czech, specifically Prague for almost 11 yrs now. Longing to move elsewhere for a couple of years, due to my own nature though, the city is just fine and has nothing to do with my moods. AND Jen, we love to have you in the Czech Republic for sure 👍

[@SusanChan]

We just moved to Prague with my husband 1 months ago from Hungary - I am still adjusting, but the atmosphere is really nice, even cozy, and as you mentioned you will get to appriciate the things that surrounds you and its in the attitude (I am not a big lover of changes, so I need to work on that one :D )

[@montanahelton1272]

I really loved this video. I am in a small university town in Washington state called Pullman. It’s near Moscow Idaho and other cities I’d never really heard of before we had to move here. We moved so my husband could finish his degree. I’ve since found it to be the best kept secret, I’d never have moved here by choice, without a good reason but I did and I am impressed! it’s got private school status public schools, the best education for my kids, super safe! Main Street is in a valley Almost but homes are set on all the hills surrounding it, even though it’s in eastern Washington there’s still quite a lot of trees and beautiful leafy ones that light up the town in autumn. It’s a really diverse town, my kids go to school with people from all over the world. And we are 10 minutes from Moscow Idaho which is amazing! Feels like a big city but still rarely small, all kinds of festivals all year and farmers markets go really late I got he fall seasons. Food co-ops with all the fresh local farmers coming together and bringing a variety of organic produce. Moscow has brick/stone roads and old buildings still so it’s beautiful. I really do want to see the world though and that’s why I started following your channel some time ago. My great great grandfather migrated to the U.S. from the Czech Republic and I wanted to get to know the culture. I’ve really enjoyed your videos and I plan to come visit some day!

[@janviktor8220]

Milá Jen, tvoje obavy těsně před přijetím druhého občanství se NÁPADNĚ podobají zápletkám asi stovky romantických filmů, kde tytéž obavy půl hodiny před svatbou zažívá nevěsta či ženich! Ale nakonec to všechno dobře dopadne.

[@evamickova1201]

The feeling of beeing home is inside you. You can live in hundreds of cities an you won't be ever " at home". All places, countries and cities have their pros and cons. Home for me is my family, friends, familiar people and countryside. It's the place I spent my chilhood and I feel home here, it's in a person heart.. I lived abroad for more than 20 years, I traveled extensively. I returned home and belong here. I wish you both to find it in your life.

[@majenazprahy9909]

awwwwww..... I knew you would choose Prague :) Even though I was thinking in the beginning: oh, no, oh no, they are moving to Amsterdam and take Tobik with them....🐈‍⬛. I am a Prague patriot, even though I sometimes wish there were a bit less hills and bit less tourists and bit less of cars ....you know I am Czech :) I lived a bit around Bohemia and Moravia, and England and Scotland and Italy...and was always lucky to live in beautiful places and if not, in places I learned to appreciate and missed them later. I sometimes think I have multiple hometowns all around... I am back to Prague for some years now, and had to learn to appreciate it, too and it helped me in the beginning that I was hanging out with expats (my ESL teaching friends :) and learned to see the city through their eyes. It is one of the reasons I love your videos- they remind me again how lucky I am to live in such a place :) Good luck with your citizen and Czech language tests...it really is a challenge only the strongest pass :)

[@AnnaFrajtova]

Jen, this is such an amazing video. And not only because Prague has won! 😊 You have so interesting remarks about both cities. I visited Amsterdam and I agree in all the points! Bike culture - better in Amster, public transport - better here. I don’t like flat cities or flat countryside either. Hills are better! 😊 And yes, Vinohrady and Žižkov streets actually were designed to have a view on the castle. 😊 I also love how the video is made - perfect shots and nice music. I’m looking forward to another one!👏🏻

[@AdelKa-ni2mr]

I am so glad that Praue wins it for you!!!:) I live in Prague for 9 years, I am native and I like Prague very much. I cant say I could not live in other city (I studied in Olomouc and it is a beautiful city) but I could not imagine myself in other country ( or maybe ionly n Slovakia or Polland:). I move to Prague bacause of job opportunites and I am glad I did. I hope you stay in Prague for a long time. Love your videos!!

[@ahmedmohamed-jt4mr]

as a person who came from Cairo, visited around europe and came to live in prague for 5 years now,,, every time i get out of prague i long to come back to it. even for a short vacation it is hard to stay away from prague. as you nicely put it, it is a living fairy tale

[@janmlcoch8766]

4 years ago I moved from Prague back to my home city of Trutnov and do not regret...

[@GregoryDanese]

Jen You are Czech and Pražanda to the bone….You aren’t going anywhere 😅 Loved this video and all the comments ….it’s really interesting read why do people choosing their favorite places and why… I’m hoping and praying that one day my husband will move his butt and I finally visit my home country 🙏🏻

[@handycandy7244]

as I am Czech and my bf Dutch, this was very interesting episode for us :-D

[@MissTelecka]

I have the same feeling in Scotland, that you have in Prague. Everytime I leave Scotland I feel homesick and coming back to Czech rep. does not feel right.

[@elisaschroder752]

I lived in Prague for 7 Year, Nowi move to Germany,. But Prague go to be my favorite City in Europe. Love everything in Prague our Czech republic.

[@ladislavterban9025]

Prague was my home for a few years when I was a teenager. Now, living in Canada for 31 years, I'm missing Prague. Every time a visiting family in used to Czechoslovakia, I must go to Prague.

[@romankacin8365]

Excellent video. I’m living in Prague for over 25 years and often ask myself the same question, why do I live here? For sure the locals and especially the bureaucrats don’t give you any breaks. The language is difficult. The taxes are high. But Prague is Prague. A beautiful city that gets better every day. And in the end, Jen is right, your happiness is based on your attitude and your willingness to embrace another culture. Nothing else matters.

[@HumblebeeRules]

Omg you are so right about the verticality! One of the things I love about Prague. Just as I dislike flat countryside, I dislike flat cities.

[@thamirivonjaahri6378]

Prague in my opinion is good city to live, much unlike Brno. To illustrate, each fall we get invaded by "backpack mantids" (rather unpolite term for students), who just keep on expressing themselves as loudly as possible everywhere they go, so it's almost impossible to hear yourself in their vicinity, not to mention the fact they constantly keep poking you with their overstuffed backpacks (they have even food and extra clothing inside since most of them have no idea how to cook, or wash clothes) and where every attempt to tell them to at least put that thing down is met with fierce resistance which would put French barrets to utter shame, often by means of verbal insults or strange gestures. Then we have winter and festival madness, where all the squares in the city transform into literally one giant market for whole season, which is overcrowded more than Japanese light rail during rush hour, ten times as noisy as shuttle liftoff and where every single tourist is drunk to boot (whatta sight to watch some dude puking in the middle of the street). And then spring sets in and you think madness is over. You couldn't be more wrong, for mantids strike again, this time with their sock ladden flip-flops (you can hear it resonating on the pavement for miles around), public transit expansionist policy (two people occupying five seats is a common sight), their loudness being measured in hundreds of decibells and with coffee from trailer shop being literally everywhere, sometimes in a cup but mostly spilled on the tram floor and on ocassion even in your lap as they never put the cap on. And at last summer comes, mantids return back to their village hives and for few days all is calm on the southern front. That is, until bike gangs from all the Europe along with practically any other nationality that can be found on this continent, most notably "tracksuit Germans" (also rather impolite term for Austrians) move in for bike races and whole season-wide drunken blowout stuff happens again. Note, they often roll in early on July...way in advance of the races themselves. This once was such a quite metropolis...

[@petrklic7064]

Ha ha ha, funny ! It is a bit dangerous, living in city which has highest ratio of students versus inhabitants. Higher than Prague. Backpack mantids are pure disaster for persons less that 160cm high. Dangerous to travel by tram without helmet. But it used to be much worse. Recently they mostly use some kind of portable anti-tank obstacle, and barricade themselves in tram, preventing others from getting out or in (trolley suitcases). But those young backpack mantids females are somehow cute :)

As a Czech who lived in 5 different European countries, I still love my home town and would like to settle down here at some point. But until then I don't want to be bound to one place. I love experiencing living in other places, even stuff like going to doctor or the government burreaucrats, and building new routines that I can bring back home. The main downside of this lifestyle is: driving far is time consuming because I have mostly international friends so it's like every 50-100 km I can meet some friend I haven't seen for few years but kept in touch with. So either covering any distance takes considerably more time (but I get to see friends), or I miss the opportunity to see them.

[@pavelzednicek1480]

@DreamPrague I visit gymnázium (high school) in Vyškov, the city isn't as nice, but I think that it is very good town for living. But I don't live there. I'm hating my village where I live, because of bad public transport and people in the school year, but when it's summer i usually chill, running along the pond and saying it is the most beautiful place on earth. I wanna live in Prague after studies. And all the reasons you told are the reasons why i am so proud of Prague and our country. I am kinda patriot so every day i think about my hapiness for living in the best country. Your video told every beatiful thing about Czech Republic. You choose well and don't worry it is the right place. Not so late, one day i was walking along the Vltava river on Smetanovo nábřeží and Rašínovo. I stopped and sat on the bench and said: OMG this is the right place. The god gave us the best place in the world for living. OMG this is kinda esay lol.

[@Nadrazni]

I am from Prague and thanks for this summation. It is always good when someone point out something good what you don´t see, because you are fully used to, like card paying or public transport. I have been to the Netherlands two weeks ago and had the very same experience as you with that damned Maestro cards... I have heard that one reason for this is that the banks had opportunity to build this payment system in our country "on a green field" since falling of communism. They weren´t tied to the history and previous system.... I don´t know if it´s true, but in some way it makes sense. So I keep you finger-crossed in obtaining your citizenship.