WHY I LEFT AMERICA (and why you should too?) | American expat living abroad in the Czech Republic

Do I hate America? Do I hate FREEDOM? Why did I decide to leave the USA in the first place and start living abroad in the Czech Republic? What are the pros and cons of being an American citizen, and how do they influence my experience as an expat? I answer these questions and much more in today's video from sunny, picturesque Pula, Croatia, a popular holiday destination for my fellow Czech countrymen. I took a walk around the famous Pula Arena, to the ancient Roman Arch of the Sergii, and all around the bustling tourist center of Pula to talk about my experiences as an American-citizen-turned-expat living in the Czech Republic and spending a summer holiday (as all good Czechs do) in beautiful Croatia.

[@petrah174]

So he’s on a trip in Croatia. I think he is fully czech now

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Proving my allegiance in the best way I know of 😆

[@tamtenjakub]

Yes

[@janjoska2549]

Put socks in your sandals and have bread and řízek in the backpack.

[@Ratimir101]

@@janjoska2549 Or try to climb Velebit in flip flops

[@hanaslezakova1597]

@@patricksweeney5308 The Czech Republic is in the Central Europe and Is post-socialist state, that are two different terms. But this is not the ONLY reason, why Is ČR so white, because we didn't have any colonies... Before the second war lived in ČR Germans, Czechs And Jews together...

[@DigitalNomadOnFIRE]

I’m also Prague based and I’m gonna make a “Why I left the UK” video - thanks for the idea

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Feel free to steal any ideas you want to try :)

[@KMarik]

I am a Czech expat, I have been living in the United States for forty years. Your videos are great, and I really appreciate your commentaries. You are offering some great insights. I especially appreciated your thoughts on the Czech language from a few weeks back. Oddly enough it was in Pula where we boarded the cruise ship that took us to Venice from where we did not return back behind the Iron Curtain all those years ago.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thanks so much for the feedback, I appreciate it! More videos on Czech language coming soon :) Where in the US do you live?

[@KMarik]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 I left with my wife, and we have been living in St. Louis, MO. Your thoughts on the language really moved me. I was pleasantly surprised, and I was grateful that you gained such deep insight and understanding of what the Czech language is, and what it means to the Czech people.

[@conceptalfa]

@@KMarik K Marik - I also left CZ via ex Jugoslavia, and we tried many times to get either to Italy or Austria, but never thought of boarding a ferry boat to Italy, didn't they ask for passports? Me and my friend had "dolozka" that was valid for Jugoslavia at the time, no passports.....

[@KMarik]

@@conceptalfaMy jsme vycestovali se zájezdem CKM. Ten výlet do Benátek byl součástí toho zájezdu. Když jsme vystupovali z lodě v Benátkách, museli jsme nechat pasy u kapitána. Údajně jsme měli u vedoucí zájezdu skupinové jednodenní vstupní vízum do Itálie. K našemu překvapení italský imigrační úředník měl pasy u sebe když jsme dorazili na úřad žádat o azyl. Italové zřejmě vyžadovali aby pasy lidí kteří se nevraceli zpátky do Jugoslávie zůstaly v Itálii. Než jsme zjistili, že pasy neodpluly zpátky tak jsme se obávali, že bez jakéhokoliv průkazu totožnosti nás Italové vrátí. To byl zřejmě účel toho celého procesu se skupinovým vízem atd.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

@@KMarik I'm glad to hear it. I'm doing my Czech study right now between replying to comments, actually. Looking forward to being confident enough to do a whole video in Czech :)

[@jitkakozubkova2457]

Your philosophical thoughts make me think a lot not just about my country, U.S. and even about other countries (I lived in or visited or wish to visit) but also about life itself. Thank you very much for that 👏 I hope you have had a great time in Chorvatsko 😁

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

I'm happy to hear that, thank you and cheers :)

[@4mageo]

Its such a joy to listen this smart guy with his objective opinions.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Such a nice compliment, thank you very much.

[@joshyaks]

You're a very eloquent speaker with some very important ideas to share. Cheers from Canada!

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you, cheers!

[@DavidBusa]

We Czechs had an idea of that dream a whole bunch of time due comunism. Many of us are still living in the same bubble as you were in USA. That's changing slowly past few years as I'm witnessing around. We strarted to have some suspition, that America (and other similar countries) isn't as perfect as many told us. And this confirmation (kinda) from your perspective is something many of us need in todays world. I'm watching your videos and other foreigners to get the feedback of living in Czechia and to realize again, that I'm living in beautiful country with beautiful people. Thanks a lot, keep it up and be heathy ;-)

[@conceptalfa]

I think US was still good 30 years ago and before that, its maybe latele it starts to derail.....

[@ivogianfranco1633]

Very insightful, as usually. In a way, my "problem" is quite the opposite. I love Europe deeply, especially Central Europe (Saxony, Bavaria, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia) and Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Greece). Yes, there're some problems in every corner of the world including these, but there's so much beauty, history, architecture, culture, nature, great food, nice people etc. in these regions that I have to remind myself occasionally to not become an Eurocentrist :)

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

I agree, this is such a special part of the world that it’s hard for other countries and regions to compare. The combination of deep history, modern development, and a diverse array of cultures and people makes it the most interesting place in the world to live, in my opinion.

[@ivogianfranco1633]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 So true :)

[@idraote]

If I may... go for the heavily exotic. I have the same problem, I think Europe has really much to offer... almost to much to ever want to experience anything else. I'd say that only places like South East Asia, Subsaharan Africa (there are many others) are different enough to offer us a challenge.

[@bgregz]

I feel like we're very likeminded. I'm early in my career but I already have these grand dreams of moving and starting a new life. I just need to take the first steps.

[@frankfrantisek]

Amazing as usual, Brendan! Love your thoughtfulness. Your channel is going to have a lot of subscribers because people are hungry for connection with deeper layers of life which is exactly what you're inspiring. You're a great teacher of humanity.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you, that's such a deep compliment and a wonderful encouragement for me to continue what I'm doing. I really appreciate the comment, the feedback, and the fact that you're sticking around to see where this experiment takes me :)

[@verasykorova9559]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 I absolutely agree with frankmay. I am fed up with all the supercifial videos about the beer, culture shock etc. And, btw, I don´t think your choice of life / lifestyle is an experiment. For that your effort to be a part of my country is too hard. Keep going on your own way and be happy. You know now what it is like.

[@Ichsukatanuka]

One of the best summaries of American cultural isolationism I've heard... so true. In Europe we're very much more exposed to other coutnries.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you, I'm glad you found it interesting!

[@beorlingo]

As a European, I'd say it's not controversial at all, not even debateable to say that there's this among so many expressed pan European idea and feeling that we share core values and an identity as Europeans. The differences of the cultures are truly enriching but at the same time actually merely superficial (the differences). I am 100% sure that I could integrate and be happy in practically all of the member states of the European union. God bless Europe!

[@pioneersaigon]

I really like your videos and your thoughts. Art of enjoying the life - art of thinking about life and people. I spent 1 year in US and 5 in Australia. Would be my pleasure to meet you for a beer in Prague and talk about the world with you.

[@charlottewriting2069]

I've spent 4 amazing summers in the states and I enjoyed every single moment of it but now I can appreciate Europe even more now.Congrats for your decision, I hope you'll find your happiness here.btw recenty I heard the term European dream in relation with the situation in the USA.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

As someone who spent 30 years in America, I can tell you that Europe is one of the best places on earth to live right now. There's so much to appreciate. America is a great place to visit, and a wonderful place for SOME people to live, but it's not for everyone, and Europe offers so many advantages in comparison.

[@conceptalfa]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 so true....

[@karelbroda8877]

I agree, living in Europe is great for “socialists”, living in a village (commune) where everything is shared. In fact, the European socialism is living of off work (taxes) of its productive members (capitalists). Without the hated capitalists, all socialist experiments have failed.

[@conceptalfa]

@@karelbroda8877 ha ha, actually its partly true!!! 👍👍👍

[@tomassiegl512]

@@karelbroda8877 Our European society is much more effective. It's still pure capitalism, but people, state and non-profit organisations are helping people in need. When you help someone, they will be more likely to help you! An individualistic and selfish society can't be as successful.

[@stevo728822]

Istria is beautiful. Rovinj, Motovan, Pula, all gorgeous, free and safe.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

I agree and I wish I'd had time to visit some of the other villages in the area. Next time :)

[@PavelSkollSuk]

It is kind of interesting. The more I travel, the more cultures and people I meet, the more I like living where I live and I do not want to get in contact with other cultures. Some people have it different.

[@jaroslavbenes3963]

You nailed it. Travelling is true being on a trip. This is where the rubber meets the asfalt :) Salut from Czech expat in Jordan.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Cheers, thank you :)

[@radka9516]

Only the most open minded and brave people can make such disizion to move to totaly different country and we should be proud if they choose our country to "collect" their experiences, to learn about life. :)

[@gagaringagarinovic2600]

přesně

[@danielhainc3011]

I was wondering about this topic for a while now and im happy that i finally heard an answer, thank you :)

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Glad to fill in some gaps for you!

[@magictea3734]

I wish I could like this 15 more times. I think your nuanced explanation for living abroad and experiencing the world outside of the hermetically sealed country of America is spot on. I lived in Osaka Japan for 5.5 years and I wouldn't give that time up for anything. There's little reason why anyone shouldn't see the world-especially since it's so easy to travel! In like 6 hours you can be almost anywhere by plane.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you, I feel the same way. COVID has made things a bit more complicated, but hopefully that won’t last forever!

[@tvojmatko]

Im from Slovakia (close to Czech) and I visited US twice. Crazy and wonderful place, but I wouldnt wanna live there. Quality of life is much better in most of countries of Europe and even Asia. Also I know few people from US living in Slovakia for some time and they never wanna go back. US is great for holiday but not for living if you are not super rich. I like your honesty and content! Good job!

[@bluejump1343]

I'm polish and I can tell you you don't need a big ocean to have people beliving they are "special" in certain way. In Poland minimum wage is 610EUR in Germany it's 1600EUR yet many polish people feel they better than germans. It's mostly due to growing nationalism and the fact that, as you said, lack of knowleage. We are heading towords authoritanian regime yet nobody seems to care because it nicer to hear that everything is ok. When I was young I also wanted to belive that my nation, my country is the best, that we are great just "in a different way". Now I don't want to make any more excuses. I think to improve something you first need to acknowlage there is a problem. And that's probably the most difficult part for many people.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

That's exactly why traveling is so essential. Tribalism is a fundamental element of human psychology and it will always creep in to fill whatever space is allowed for it. The only way to resist that force is to widen your circle of experience and broaden your "tribe" as much as possible, in my opinion.

[@DamirBulic]

I saw you in Pula and thought "This guy looks just like the American who moved to Prague". Welcome to my city.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

That’s awesome. I’m happy to be here, thank you 😊

[@DamirBulic]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 Glad to have you here, let me know if you'd like me to show you around.

[@PontiacCZ]

18:13 "...enjoy being a human being". Yep, I believe it's simple as that. That is the life essence. I am doing my best to do that. :-)

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Happy to hear it. Stay on that path :)

[@cannesull]

Do you mind sharing what company you used for help with your visa application?

[@adampodany5498]

HI very nice content must say. Enjoy to watch every video. Just a few questions. What you thought when you arrived about czech (for me normal as a czech :-) , but i believe for USA people uncommon, ) habits like: no shoes in the apartment, showering in the evening, not in the morning, travelling by foot and not by car etc.. A what you think about that now. Would you change anything or would you "fight" for some USA habits .... Please correct me if I am wrong about some stuff. Thanks

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it! As far as Czech habits go, I love the idea of taking shoes off before you enter an indoor space and the American custom of leaving shoes on at all times seems totally disgusting in retrospect; I usually take two showers per day in the summertime, both morning and night; and I love walking as much as possible and I find it very freeing not to have a vehicle of my own. There are a few USA habits and customs that I think the Czechs should consider adopting...dryers in every household and air conditioning would be at the top of the list :)

[@abeatingheart8259]

As I watched your video and listened to your thoughts, I realized you have the soul of Marco Polo. One "village" mentality and culture is not enough for some of us. 🌏

[@Isomoar]

Everyone else who has gone to Tokyo always remarks to me that we are so far behind 😂 It's so true though.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

I spent 5 days in Tokyo and I felt like I had stepped forward about 50 years into the future. Amazing place.

[@chrisk5651]

Large parts of Russia were in ruins due to the Nazi invasion and England also suffered much destruction from the Blitz bombings (we helped rebuild England and the other parts of Europe, we offered to help Czechoslovakia and the rest of Eastern Europe - but the Russian would not allow them to accept any aid from us).

[@conceptalfa]

Lucky they didn't have any aggressive developers like today, otherwise there would have been a big skyscraper instead of that amphi theater today!!! 🙃

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

So true, some people wouldn't even think twice about bulldozing an ancient relic to put up a mall or a hotel.

[@ThePetasRejzan]

What percentage of your audience is actually American? This video is perfect for an American and ya'll should watch this, but I see mostly Czech people in the comments...

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

I think the vast majority of my viewers are Czech, lol. But hopefully they will still find this interesting, and if any Americans happen to wander over to my channel, they'll find it interesting too :)

[@ThePetasRejzan]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 I bet they will :)

[@conceptalfa]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 they surely will, its just about finding it....

[@pragueuprising560]

To be fair though, shipping in the Czech Republic is heavily restricted, owing to the fact that it’s a landlocked country.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

That is one thing that makes living in the USA preferable, the ability to order absolutely anything you want from anywhere in the world and generally it will arrive in a few days. Czech Republic is definitely more limited in this regard, but I don't especially mind that.

[@t-point7569]

Write a book about this I think you have more to tell and open people’s eyes to the truth about life

[@daliborbartos1396]

pULA IS WONDERFULL....GO TO MEDULIN.........

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

No time on this trip, but next time I'll make it happen!

[@Pcbdude82]

Not sure if you still are active on youtube. But I just want to say I enjoy your videos. I'm seriously considering moving to Prague. I grew up in PA. But was living in AZ for about 4 years. After covid hitI had to shut down my photography business and move back home. Now at 40. I'm working just to pay off some debt and trying to start over. So if I'm going to do that, might was well take the leap. My big concern though is work. How hard is it for someone who speaks zero Czech language to get a job? I am in the process of trying to start a new business. Along with getting my photography going again. But if I invest most of my money in moving there, I'll need to work until I can get content for the business and build a network. But much like you. I love America. I've traveled all over this great country. I lived in 4 different states. But I never truly loved any of those places. Mainly cause the cost of living I think. Spent so much time working and paying bills. Never had much money left to just enjoy life.

[@m1kus960]

Hi, why do you want to move from the US to the Czech Republic? I know that many people dream of moving to the US and say that the US is much better than the Czech Republic, I also thought about moving to the US, but I decided to stay in the Czech Republic because over the past 2 years the Czech Republic has seen the largest number of Ukrainians per capita, despite the fact that Europe and America were open to Ukrainians, but they chose the Czech Republic anyway. I think you can easily find a job in the Czech Republic with only English language skills

[@Pcbdude82]

@m1kus960 The US is a horrible country. We are overworked, underpaid, and constantly being screwed over by the people in government. And everything is corporate owned. So, a handful of large groups own millions of businesses. Which doesn't really give the small privately owned companies s change to thrive. These large corporations can treat their employees however they want. Lower level management might care about you. But that's about it. We aren't guaranteed sick time or vacation. I recent hurt my back (outside ofvwork) and had to take a couple days off. Even with a doctors excuse, I got fired. I could go on about how poor our public transit system is. How our health-care system is designed to keep is sick and paying ridiculously amounts of money for medication and treatment. Our school systems and our media are all corrupt. Don't get me wrong, it's not all bad. But in general, it's just really hard to find happiness here.

[@m1kus960]

@@Pcbdude82 It is said that the US has the best purchasing power in the world, meaning that you can save the most money from your salary after all your monthly expenses

[@Pcbdude82]

@m1kus960 I'm not going to pretend to know a bunch of it. But that's more than likely factoring in things like celebrities, CEOs etc. There's definitely a ton of wealth in this country. But like 60% of us live paycheck to paycheck.

[@m1kus960]

@@Pcbdude82 And yet, they also say that the US has the cheapest real estate prices relative to wages

[@siebensunden]

Great video. Funny thing is that many US people don't even know from which country originate their currency and they ask you if we have toilet paper in here.

[@karelbroda8877]

What an anti-American rant?! Look up the expression: “American Exceptionalism”; and you will learn that it does not mean American superiority. It means that historical evolution of America came from simple but free people, not from ruling classes (kings, nobleman), and the achievement has been far greater than by many centuries older cultures and societies. And the liberating personal freedom is the reason for this achievement. No one should feel like a “subject”, no one is placed into a cast - the “cast system” is less obvious in Europe than India, for instance. When you grow up - 40 is the break point, and hopefully become productive, tax-paying citizen, you will make another video, condemning the European socialism and nationalism, I am sure. By the way, the coliseum In Pula was build by slaves and subjects, not by free people. For information, I have escaped across the “iron curtain” in 1970, and came to the USA just because I would be judged only on my character and achievement. By the way, starting from nothing, I achieved the American Dream, my income is in top 10%, I have successful family and a small ranch in Oregon.

[@Electromozart]

Also, beside being exposed to neighbor countries and cultures, in Europe you get at least some taste of America from the news, movies, music, etc.

[@timlongstreet1801]

You talk alot of Bravo Sierra about America and Americans. We are the best country and many of us have traveled all over the globe,especially us prior service. I wonder if you are not a fan of all of our amendment rights?

[@hunta3677]

But, why Czech Republic? Of all the places you could go to...

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

I ended up in the Czech Republic mostly by accident. There's a video on my channel called "Why Prague?" that tells the story. It wouldn't have been my first choice, if I'm honest, but I got stuck there during COVID and I've made a life there, and I keep finding reasons to stay. Life is weird that way.

[@hunta3677]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 Ok fair enough... snad tady najdeš, to co hledáš. Celkem odvaha a kuráž vybrat si tuhle zemi. Ani Češi v ní nejsou vítáni, natož cizinec.

[@sleepete12]

@@hunta3677 facepalm, you have certainly issues...don't project on others....

[@hunta3677]

@@sleepete12 lol, you took the msg too seriously, its a sign of admiration towards this guy. Also I like this country and people, mby even more than I should. But as a fellow Czech i hope that you understand that we are kinda unique in our own way, and that doesn't sit with everyone. Even as he already said, we can be exceptionally "close minded" and many other things. Doesn't need to be necessarily a bad thing but it does make a lot of people not feel well here, even our own people. History proves that many times even. Every country has its flaws, every country is different.

[@slidenapps]

You have definitely been taught the wrong thing. I know many people in the US who started with nothing and even without college and sometimes with, they are now managing their own company or they are in charge of a department. It all depends on what you want. No one forces anyone to work. To say that you have to work 20-30 years is a millennial thing, I think. Not that you perpetuated it but it has been perpetuated against your group of people and the younger ones following you. Besides right now in Biden's America, most people aren't working. People get paid too much to stay at home so the opportunities are absolutely outstanding for anybody who actually wants to work and have a future there. Those fools laying around at home now, will either realize one day that have participated in the downfall of America or they will realise they slept their opportunities away.....

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

I can't say that I know much about Biden's America because I left long before he got elected. But you're absolutely right that the pandemic and the resulting economic situation have complicated everything and will probably have very serious repercussions for many years into the future. If I had stayed long enough to experience the consequences of covid-19, I would have either been even more desperate to leave or I would have been one of those people who seized the opportunity to do something productive while everyone else watched Netflix. It's impossible to say for sure. I think America is still a place of abundant opportunity, as you mention, and that's why I was careful to say that it remains the best place in the world for some people to live and work. My aversion to it is really more a matter of my own personal temperament and goals. I was never really a member of the traditional workforce to begin with--for better or worse, I've always been an artist, a craftsman, a teacher, a philosopher, someone who lives at the fringes of society, someone who's always been at odds with the mainstream culture. My highest ambition was always to wander around the world creating things with no obvious economic utility. So perhaps I'm not the best person to comment on the work culture and economy of the US.

[@socialmoravec]

As a Canadian- Czech that formerly lived in Prague, Czech Republic, your quality of content is amazing and has substance. Keep up the great philosophy chats and great content.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you so much for the feedback. Many more videos like this coming soon :)

[@DigitalNomadOnFIRE]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 BTW I do a Digital Nomads meetup in Coffice in Prague every Thursday if you're about... fb 'Prague Digital Nomads Meetup'

[@TokerJoker420]

​@@skeletonkeysprague21i hope czechia never adopts the Euro otherwise im fucked bc the the US dollar exchange rate with the Euro is terrible so thats why im hoping czechia will never adopt the Euro i can't afford to live here in America thats why im leaving bc the US exchange rate with czech crowns is great if i save up enough i can retire at 30 to the Czech Republic

[@m1kus960]

@@TokerJoker420 I thought that the Euro was a good thing, because the Euro is the second most popular currency in the world after the dollar, and many countries use the Euro.

[@TokerJoker420]

@@m1kus960 bruh the exchange rate is terrible with the USA dollar unless that exchange rate becomes alot more the Euro should not be adopted the EU is going crash and burn in 5 to 10 years anyways

[@spacedog_80]

As a Czech born who used to live in the UK I can assure you that those weird questions are not only US related, some Brits are very ignorant about Europe too. People were asking me if there are cats and dogs in the Czech Republic, if there's still a war, if the Czech Republic have electricity, cars, if my parents are still alive because of the ongoing hunger in the Czech Republic, one of my landlords was even trying to explain to me what is a microwave oven and how to use remote control on a COLOR TV and that if a "bunch of other Russians" would live in the apartment too. In fact, when I travelled across America I found it surprising that people were more informed about the Czech Republic than what I've experienced in the UK.

[@conceptalfa]

Increadible how purely stupid people still can be, despite today's technologies, sometimes I think if animals aren't much smarter????

[@Croixy]

wow thats crazy to imagine

[@paulselinger6658]

I had a similar experience in Sweden when I arrived there in early eighties. Swedes would ask if people lived in wooden houses, or if stones and bricks were used, if there was famine, and other mind-boggling questions. All that while the statues at the royal residence outside of Stockholm, the Codex Argentus (the Silver Bible) at the university library in Uppsala, or Archimboldo's paintings were all brought to Sweden when their army ransacked Czechia during the thirty-year war.

[@DigitalNomadOnFIRE]

Most people in most countries know almost nothing about the world, specially the relatively small countries. I mean, what do you know about Bhutan or Transdinistra? ;)

[@drakulkacz6489]

@@DigitalNomadOnFIRE The first one has very beautiful post stamps and nature and the second is still for me a part of Moldavia - I know, I googled it - never heard that this is separated. Nut take ir, that we usualy know more about others than others about us.

[@Kamamura2]

If only more Americans were like you...

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

What a nice compliment, thank you :)

[@conceptalfa]

Daniel Ryslink - there certainly are, but they still live anonymously in their bubble where ever they are in the States.....

[@richbulena8847]

There are, actually, namely Americans that grew up with foreign-born parents, and there’s quite a few of us here. When you grow up in a bilingual home, you learn that not everybody thinks the same way as Americans.

[@higgolini]

Sounds similar to my story. When I decided to leave America people thought I was crazy and looked at me as if I told them I was moving to Mars...

[@frantiseknovotny2674]

Which America? South, Central or North?

[@Turagrong]

@@frantiseknovotny2674 ha ha what a joke... then looks to the profile picture... Aha, ok

[@Petr1331]

LOL!

[@conceptalfa]

Can't help it, but you're a true philosopher, really!!! 👍👍👍 Very comfortable listening to you!!!

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you so much! I am truly a philosopher in the sense that I probably think too much, talk too much, and do too little, lol. But that's exactly what I've been trying to work on :)

[@conceptalfa]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 no really, you speak very, very much sense....the power of the word? Lot of things come automatically thanks to that.....

[@TheWapik]

Hey, I recently came across your channel and watched most of your videos. Just wanted to say that I really enjoy your content and wish you all the best. I think you're a really smart and introspective person who asks important questions. A few months ago I moved back home to Prague after spending years abroad. I see a lot of things differently now - both good and bad. Also here in the Czech Republic, there is a bias and ignorance towards certain things but overall I am quite happy here. After 26 years I can proudly say that I fully embraced my "Czechness" and am proud of my country :). There is a beautiful quote that says that abroad you learn more about your own country than you do the place you’re visiting and it is so true.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you so much for the great compliments and feedback. Couldn’t agree more with the quote about living abroad. I think it goes even deeper than that, in the sense that interacting with other people usually teaches you as much or more about yourself as it does about them. The process of discovering the world is really a process of discovering oneself. In the process of working out how to be a human in the world, you work out how to be the best and truest version of yourself.

[@janberry9765]

B, I really enjoyed watching this. Your editing is excellent, moving smoothly through the monologue while the scenery you walk through changes. Thanks for sharing!

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thanks Jan. Still figuring out how all of this works :)

[@conceptalfa]

Have you been considering doing video together with Jennifer from Dream Prague??? Would certainly be very interesting....

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Yes, I will probably reach out to her once my channel grows a bit more :)

[@conceptalfa]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 you could do it on her channel an thus promoting your own, she already has a lot of subscribers....🙃

[@ArepoEn]

I second your suggestion. Both Jennifer and her _Dream Prague_ are awesome.

[@Meg_A_Byte]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 I think if you'd ask her for an interview, or maybe if you could do a cross-interview, it would benefit both channels and would be very interesting for everyone. Since we always hear from just one person about their own experiences, bringing someone else would complete the picture.

[@incognitusmaximus2118]

I went to Pula as a little kid with my mom roughly 35 years ago. It was my first time outside of the communist Czechoslovakia. I will never forget those white beaches covered with seashells and the sweet smell of rosemary bushes:)

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thanks for this poetic little detail, it's made me appreciate Pula even more :)

[@laserad]

Brendan, you get it. USA is not #1. Life can be so much more

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Absolutely. And to be honest, that’s true no matter where you were born.

[@peterjobovic3406]

It's really ironic that people who know as little about the world as in the US feel they can teach everyone how to live.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

I agree completely. The US suffers greatly from a collective ignorance that is reinforced by an unearned sense of superiority.

[@karelbroda8877]

How did you come to the conclusion that “… people … in the US feel they can teach everyone how to live.” Who is teaching you how to live? Certainly not the US! Grow up from your inferiority complex, son.

[@laserad]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 Americans bled for Europe in ww2.. nowhere near the other nations but they didn't have to that's why they deserve infinite respect.. but those people died long ago.

[@peterjobovic3406]

@@karelbroda8877 It's going to be pretty hard because I'm old enough. I heard exactly what the author of the video said from a friend's daughter. She was on an exchange residence and lived with her family somewhere in the midwestern United States. This family felt that she had come from the jungle. They explained to her how a TV, toilet, microwave works. At the same time, it was a family that lived in the middle of a corn field and the only cultural event was to go to a school football game once a week. An unreal mess at home, a fool next to a fool in school, a zero overview of the world, but they felt that everyone envied their super life. Of course, I do not judge every American, there are a lot of clever people in the USA.

[@richbulena8847]

Thanks for the great video. Things are changing in the US. Back in the 70’s I moved to Berkeley for graduate school. The Bay Area was a backwater then, all the money and jobs were down in LA, and all the Bay Area had were universities. Most people got their education and left, but the less ambitious of us stayed behind. The housing was cheap, you could get some dumb job like working at a bookstore or teaching that left you time to pursue things like music, or arts, or cooking, or hiking and climbing, or just reading. There were lots of such backwater places in the US back then, like Austin, or Ann Arbor, or Denver. That changed in the 80’s and 90’s as money came in and things got expensive, and you had to go farther out to find a better option, like Portland or Omaha. Now those places are getting expensive, too. I don’t want to fall into the rut of nostalgia, things are so much better now in many ways in the US. I just wish Americans would learn to relax a bit. Of course, that’s easy for me to say since I’m not stuck with tens of thousands in student loans or have to work a job for 40+ hours a week in order to get health care There’s a good wikipedia (English) article about the origins and use of the phrase “city on a hill,” which goes back to the Bible and has been used about American exceptionalism ever since the 19th century.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you for being realistic about the way the economy has changed since the 70s, especially in previously "artist-friendly", affordable places like the Bay Area and Austin and Denver. I've talked to so many people, even commenters on this video, who had a fantastic time living in America in the 70s and can't understand why some people are struggling in 2021. It's so easy to generalize your own experience, completely ignore the sweeping economic and societal changes that have happened in the meantime, and then judge younger generations for having a more difficult time than you did.

[@wessager8659]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 I was born in 1958 and the changes have been mind blowing. Today, a car cost the same as the two-story duplex house, that my Grandmother purchased, the year that I was born. Healthcare costs are insane, as is education. Pula looked beautiful. Thank you for sowing us a little bit.

[@JennaCollinsFitness]

This is great. I can completely relate to this. New Zealand where I come from and currently live is exactly the same. We live in a tiny bubble here and of course the only places near by is Australia and the pacific islands so we are pretty isolated to the rest of the world/cultures. I don’t personably feel like I can live my best life here in New Zealand, no matter how beautiful it is and fortunate I am to be from here. The whole “what do you do?” question is just so unhealthy and it’s basically the first thing people ask you.

[@TokerJoker420]

I just hope czechia never adopts the Euro otherwise im fucked i can't move there bc the Exchange rate with the US dollar with the Euro is terrible im hoping czechia keep using the crown forever i can't afford to live here thats why im leaving as a American

[@jaymalkis]

Man, you should write a book or make a documentary or something. Love your view on life.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

That's an awesome compliment, thank you. I've already written most of a book, but it's about a particular set of experiences in my life that happened a very long time ago, and I'm not sure it's of interest to anyone here.

[@Aotruba]

I completely understand your point of view. I have lived and worked in foreign countries and miss foreign lifestyle. I live in Colorado (since 2005) and will retire soon. I won't be able to afford many things if I stay in USA and living abroad will be more convenient for me money wise, as well. My goal is to live in the Czech Republic. I love Prague and Karlovy Vary. Thank you for sharing!👍💕

[@jeanneknight4791]

Another thing about the United States that created the bubble is that it is an entire continent along with Canada. It is huge. Because it reaches from the Atlantic to Pacific, it is like an island. The only reason the UK became as powerful as it did was that it is a big island that kept it from being invaded constantly. It became a naval force for trade and defense. By comparison, The Czech Republic is the size of North Carolina and has exact same population in number. BTW: I agree with every thing you stated about the US. I could go on with comparison with the size of countries in Europe to an individual American state. But it is obvious that the difference in languages, culture, art, history, architecture, etc is such much more diverse than the homogenity in the US. Yes, there is a big difference between Maine and Louisianna but it isn't the same depth of difference to explore than found between Croatia Belgium.

[@zenstdy]

I still have friends in the U.S. ask me, “Are you still living in Czechoslovakia?”. Lol. I guess mindsets are hard to break.

[@erictrekell9132]

"A City on a Hill" is far older than Reagan. It came from a sermon by Puritan John Winthrop in 1630. Since you asked. :-) I also grew up in Colorado. I've lived in Japan, then met and married a Czech national and we have lived in The Netherlands and London; we are in the US now, but our plan is to return to Europe in 5 years, as I have no interest in remaining in the US. Not sure if we'll return to his home city of Brno or if we'll go to Spain or back to NL. They're all options for us. I appreciated your video.

[@katerinasofie6879]

Insightful and wonderful as always!!

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

❤️

[@0199Tam]

Wow...so inspirational I had to watch it twice...always a treat when your videos shows up in the queue...I can't agree with you more--only 33% of Americans has valid passports and a large percentage of them only goes to popular destinations. Where I am (NYC) life is such a rat race. I can't wait to go back to Prague again. Thank you and you be Safe my friend.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

That 33% statistic always boggles my mind. But I have to be humble and admit that there were a good few years in my 20s when I was one of those people. My passport expired and I didn't bother to renew it until a few years later. Life's a rat race everywhere to some extent, but you probably get both the best and worst of it in NYC. Prague is a different world entirely. Hope you make it out here soon. Be safe and best wishes to you as well. Thanks for watching.

[@slidenapps]

And yet if more Americans to travel here, there would be more tourist which none of us who live in Europe really want. Besides, having lived in America, there is so much to see there, so much diversity in cities and in food. There is Mexico right next door and Canada right next door. Traveling abroad is a blip on the radar of something else to do in a country that is so huge, one can see why they are not drawn to have to travel around the world. You have a Chinatown in many large cities, such as San Francisco and NYC. You have Vietnamese everywhere. You have Mexicans and South Americans and San Diego has such a high population of Germans you can't get away from them. New York has Russians and the Midwest has Scandinavians. Florida has Cubans.. Not to mention the many Indian and Arab people who have come to the US and Canada The world is at your fingertips.

[@anteveic327]

Americans live in a huge country full of opportunities, they can fly from one side of their continent to the other without passport. If EU was a country (including the "holes" in it like Switzerland, west Balkans and microstates), many people wouldn't need nor have passports

[@padellina9596]

Another great video & food for thought. It’s worthwhile to read the comments also. So many backgrounds, experiences, age groups! You’ve hit the nail on its head with this channel. 👍

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

The comments are my favorite part of making these videos! Thank you for the encouragement :)

[@jacoboleary9076]

Really, REALLY appreciate your content. I'm looking to do the exact same move (CO -> CZ) in 2022, and it's always good to see someone who's done it, is thriving, and is willing to share about the experience! So thank you :)

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

That's awesome, glad you found me. People like you were pretty much my target audience until the Czechs stormed the channel a couple of weeks ago, lol. Let me know if you need any help with the move. Where in Colorado are you from?

[@jacoboleary9076]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 that’s very kind of you, thank you! I’ve been in the Denver area for a few years now.

[@MrVenomae]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 Its a pretty standard story though - american expat starts making content for other expats and gets stormed by hordes of czech (and sometimes slovakian people) viewers asking you to watch old czech comedies, eat chlebicky and tvaruzky and try out kofola on screen. For some reason, we czechs are obssesed with watching foreigners experience what we perceive as "normal".

[@non9886]

it wouldn't break yt algorithm without doing videos about some places in czech republic or so. i have some days when i watch mostly traveller's videos and it is matter of time when yt start offering me some new channels. and as during "pandemic" was limited choice, here we are :-) we are stack in our little country, so we have to enrich ourselves via foreigner's experiences...

[@cazb73]

Yes, it is. We have a strong "small nation syndrome." ;) We need to hear; 'yes, you have something interesting worth trying...' You can try other channels of successfully settled expats (DreamPrague, Andre Traveler, Nash and Zuzana,) you will always hear the same thing. There's also a certain reluctance to be lectured on 'how to do it better.' But, if that hasn't put you off and you'd be interested in some language exercises, just write in. I'm not a professional teacher, I do it just for fun and free:)

[@lindahehemann7949]

Hey Brendan, I so engaged with this video and agreed with you. I, though, live in the South in the US, and don't have many different political views of old friends across the US to support me. My work colleagues are conservative, but I have many different friends in Little Rock and beyond in the US who espouse more progressive forward-thinking values for the US going forward. We need that for our standing in the world. My comment is about your saying that you knew you needed to change your mindset because you might settle into middle age and not be able to change. I am post-middle age. I have wanted to live a different life since I was in college. I was pretty much steamrolled into accounting because 'I was good in math,' but told by my mother that 'I wouldn't have to work if I had kids.' Now, at 60, I'm planning my escape. I have been biding my time; working out my state government work experience until I can pay off my debts post-divorce - and until I can break free to leave the US to live in a place that is less expensive but more life-encouraging than my life here in Arkansas. Just leaving this here to give a broader perspective of those of us who have had less social encouragement to do what feels best to us. It takes greater social upheaval for those of us who have been raised in the '60's and '70's, but I'm all for progress for us to evolve as humans! I applaud your encouragement of those in your age-range to consider doing what you've done. I take encouragement from it, too!

[@m1kus960]

Hi, why do you want to move from the US? I know that many people dream of moving to the US and say that the US is much better than the Czech Republic, I also thought about moving to the US, but I decided to stay in the Czech Republic because over the past 2 years the Czech Republic has seen the largest number of Ukrainians per capita, despite the fact that Europe and America were open to Ukrainians, but they chose the Czech Republic anyway.

[@WalhazRecords]

''you speak english which means you can go to any country in the world and speak your language'' - everybody before entering Russia the 1st time

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Lol. I've never been to Russia, maybe it's time to expand my horizons.

[@richbulena8847]

Hah, Russians are a lot like Americans in that they expect everybody they meet will speak their language.

[@jurajsladkay2608]

freedom and democracy vs. history of oil war all over world. bitter sweet

[@beorlingo]

Watching this video it struck me that USA is probably the worlds GREATEST... example of the Dunning Kruger Effect at play.

[@ilzekraukle6331]

It is so cool to go anywhere in the world and be able to speak in your native language and most likely they will understand you. But from other side it is also cool that you have to learn other languages. In my country we must study 2 foreign languages in school (one must be English). Just learning another language widens your perspective on life :) that is a great start for understanding how big and diverse the world is. I can totally agree that living abroad even for short period of time is amazing experience. You learn so much new skills and grow as a person! P.S. I was saving money for a new car and ended up living in Australia 😅 even in tough times I never regreted this decision. Experience is so far more valuable than a new car :) even though this is not a country I want to live forever I am happy about my decision to live and experience this country and widen my perspective of life at the moment❤

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Awesome to hear about your experiences living abroad. I've never met anyone who's done it and regretted it. And I agree that a benefit of NOT being a native English speaker is that you have a strong incentive to learn a second language, at the very least. Learning languages is very hard for English speakers, because it's so easy to just speak English wherever we go, so we have to have a strong motivation to keep learning.

[@conceptalfa]

Ilze Kraukle - and especially when that "new car" today is going to wind up at a junk yard in about 15 years... 🙃

[@ilzekraukle6331]

@@conceptalfa yes

[@Pidalin]

I think the biggest problem of USA is that it's going from one extreme to another, you have politics and people who look almost like nazis from european point of view and you have politics and people who look like commies from european point of view, one group wants guns for everyone, other group wants fire you from school or work if you don't agree with them, for me it's whole really weird, there is some neverending conflict which I just don't understand as a European. We have dozens of opinions, political parties etc...and people still can normaly communicate with other people. But I think it's not so bad as ve believe here, we see just extremes in videos or in news, when I met some Americans, they were always good persons with similar problems as we have here. I think it's more about specific people than about some USA vs Europe life, some Americans act more like Europeans then many Europeans and vice versa, we all know some people who even sleep in work and it's their life goal even here in Europe. What I really like in Europe is that nobody cares about your job and such things, only family or close friends are asking about such things. You can drink beer in pub with doctor or lawayer and it's completely normal here, nobody cares that you are just worker or something.

[@Alex-df4lt]

Gun ownership is a crucial right. It allows people to defend themselves against an oppressive government. In Belarus full of guns Lukashenko would never have lasted that long. People without guns can't overthrow oppressive government easily, that's why historically Europe and other places don't allow gun ownership in the same way as US. In 1905 Russian revolution failed because people didn't have guns. In 1917 it was successful because reliable soldiers were dead and Tzar had to arm unreliable peasants. At that point they decided to take the matter in their own hands. In the end it didn't go well because Russians didn't understand the importance of freedom and let communists take it away. 2nd amendment rights should not be taken away even if the price is school shootings or increased gun crime. People should never surrender their rights to the government. I'm a European living in Czechia, but I 100% agree with American gun ownership rights.

[@TomKroupa80]

I did an Ironman 70.3 in Pula couple years back, the finish line was inside the colosseum. That was cool. Thanks for refreshing those cool memories:-)

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Awesome, glad to do it :)

[@redleg627]

Great content Brother. While visiting a War Museum in South Korea I began learning that there is another side to the story. I kept saying to myself . "That is not what my American teachers told me.." That started opening my mind to other cultures, points of view, and places. Time to exercise my "Freedom" and see what is outside the nest. So far Kyiv, Prague, Amsterdam, and Moscow have been fun and interesting.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Excellent point. History as told by non-Americans is a rather different story than the one we've been told, isn't it?

[@MegaThegin]

To see u.s. ghettos with all of the homeless people with mental illnesses and drug addiction and listening about Americans thinking Czech republic is a third world country is so crazy for me 🤣

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Agreed. The Czech Republic is basically an affluent cul-de-sac compared to many areas of the US right now.

[@MegaThegin]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 yeah and even things like low living costs, even in Prague, quality and cheap health cover, public education, public transportation, police, etc., etc. The only thing that's missing is more sun, a sea and just a little bit less pissed people and it's a paradise 💯💯

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

@@MegaThegin don't even get me started on the weather here. Eight continuous months of cloudy skies every winter is hardly a tolerable climate for human beings. It's the one and only reason that I would ever leave this place. 😂

[@Turtle1631991]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 Look man I am living in Athens now. Bloody ATHENS with 300 sunny days a year. I just survived whole two months of temperatures of 35 peaking at 45. I am having wet dreams about Czech cloudy skies. When I see a single could in the sky here I get excited enough to take a picture. :-D :-D :-D :-D Please appreciate the fabulous Czech grey sky. Can't wait to come home next month to be honest.

[@GoatOfTheWoods]

As a Romanian hearing him say Pula is soo funny. But apart from that, cool video 👍

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

My Romanian friends pointed this out to me yesterday 😂

[@MacGyver5AF]

Hi, Brendan, Ondřej here, the local. I have to say that the "american exceptionalism" is something, which makes me rather upset and angry, because I don't believe in this concept. In my opinion, "please" and "thank you" could "open" more doors than being over-assertive, almost rude. My viewpoint, mentioned above, has almost historical reasons. We were left and abandoned during the Munich agreement (1938) , we were occupied by Russians from 1968 to 1992 (that's the time, when the last russian soldiers left, no matter that velvet revolution took place in 1989). So anyone, who displays some rudeness or force in his behaviour is not that heartly welcomed, you know. Regarding the WW II, Prague was almost untouched in the terms of physical damage or bombardment. Only suburbs at two places and the place, where now "Tančící dům" is, there was some serious damage made. I am incredibly happy that you realized that "US are in some sort of closed bubble." Yes, they are and if you read czech newspaper or watch czech TV, you would realize that, because you can perceive information about your homecountry from the czech perspective, which can be surprising, but definitely very educative. Maybe I am wrong, but in my belief, truly free nation / society / country is, when and where you can: 1) publicly show dark sense of humour 2) publicly talk or display some (at least decent) sort of sex / nudity 3) publicly criticize politicians and political opponents. You can judge by yourself, if the Czech Republic and the USA meets those requirements.

[@tomasmalin]

I've always found american exceptionalism weird, every country has its cons but Americans don't seem to address theirs. On the other hand, America is culturally really significantly influencing the rest of the world.

[@pavelb4228]

I really like the way you think. It's deep and right in my opinion. And pretty refreshing after all those vlogs from expats comparing amarican candies to the czech ones. I hope we can have some beer and talk for a while once we cross our paths in the streets of Prague...

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you so much. Say hi if you see me in Prague and if I’m not busy we’ll duck into the nearest pub :)

[@pavelb4228]

@@skeletonkeysprague21 deal ;-)

[@paulselinger6658]

"Go abroad, young man, go abroad!" - the new mantra coined by Brandon... As some of your commentators show, this is an issue with all countries and societies. It's just that all eyes are on the US. For all its faults, I found Americans more welcoming of immigrants than Europeans. As you pointed out in one of your replies, it's in the numbers. A few foreigners spark curiosity, while too many spark riots. Enjoy your vacation and keep vlogging!

[@tkrticka]

once again as a czech who has lived three years of his life in alaska plus visited some other states also i can’t believe how spot on you nailed it. if you ever do a meet up or something i will be there for sure! enjoy croatia!

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thank you, cheers!

[@fr.jamesjohnson1567]

Great video, but I gotta set the record straight. That is NOT American Exceptionalism! American Exceptionalism has nothing to do with being “better” than others per se. It has to do with “taking exception”, being the exception to how the world has historically operated. The vast majority of human beings who have lived have lived under one form of tyranny or another. They have lived in bondage. They have lived in oppression. They have lived in slavery. They have lived in poverty. They have lived lives of abject misery. That’s been the story for most people, and the quest, the human quest has been to escape that and to improve. America comes along for the first time in human history and provides the “exception” to that rule. The American Founding Fathers established a nation on the basis of individual liberty and freedom. It had never before happened. Never. The closest you could get to it would be Magna Carta, but that was merely a statement on the human condition. It really didn’t have a lot of governmental power behind it. It wasn’t until the Founding Fathers came along with the founding document, the Constitution preceded by the Declaration of Independence, which defined what it meant to be a human being in the world. And the United States therefore became the exception in the world for the human condition, the only place founded, the only place that existed under the premise that all people are free, created that way, God-given rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. That’s the exception. That’s the exceptionalism.

[@martinbabb6683]

OMG dude.. have you not noticed that the Italian tourist in Prague walk together in the very same way? It's a cultural thing.. rather like the way Czech men lose their minds if you share a beer with someone. UNTHINKABLE! You certainly seem rather keen on judging everything and everyone but your own rather limited worldview. I mean, THEY at least. aren't walking around utterly alone talking to a camera for company.

[@c.kottman7843]

Your comments at the end about feeling out of place in American society resonate so much with me. After University I decided to teach English abroad in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I did that for three years and loved it. Now I'm back in America and starting to remember why I left. Two things that I think I would add about America are; 1) Consumerism is getting absolutely out of hand, I constantly feel like I'm just in a state of being sold things here in America. Everywhere I look there are billboards or advertisements trying to sell me something. 2) You'll find some of the ugliest cities with the absolute worst public transportation systems in America. I'm really interested in urban planning, public spaces, and how they effect people's daily lives and it's just depressing looking at the cities here in America. Such a lack of character and history. Also I loved working in a cafe and hearing up to 3-4 different languages being spoken around me and taking weekend vacations to different countries. Here in the Midwest of America I just feel out of place, but also don't want to pay extraordinarily high rental prices to live in a coastal city here.

[@lindaelane]

Why would you make up a position? Quote: "America is a shining city on the hill and the rest of the world is 3rd world with no toilet paper"? No one literally thinks that. But yes, many Americans think it is the best country and is "exceptional" , etc. You have been trained to hate the phrase "shining city on a hill" by media friends, etc. But it does not mean America is rich. It mostly means we see ourselves as pioneers in democracy. I know you are not very patriotic, which is fine with me. I am not especially so and can't wait to move abroad. I'd live in the Czech republic if I could. - - I do not know. I think you are saying "Other countries are good too and so I want to experience their goodness" which to me is quite obvious. Is that why you want to live abroad? I guess it is why I do, just to experience what other places have that we do not. (I did hear that "attitude toward money" was also part, which you 18 minutes in, and we are politically divided about 19 minutes in. I agree. But until that point I had only heard - Americans are wrong to think they are "best", every place has good and bad. It seemed to be the main thing you are saying. ) Are you familiar with the OCEAN personality theory? Most PhDs in psychology use it. "O" is for open - people vary in openness. You are, for the most part, very open. As am I. It is natural variation in openness that accounts for the reason some people in the States do not care to travel (and/or live) abroad. There are "less open" people in every country. Some will change if exposed to other ways of thinking. Others are just low in openness. One theory is that its part "nature" -nature vs nurture....its both. The nature part is difficult to change. Don't be harsh/closed to people who are different from you. Be more open to the "less open". I am open but do not consider "less open" people to be all that bad. OK, I admit, I don't make friends with them :) But I don't seem myself is terribly superior to them, just different- - Also, I think it is sad that you do not understand how the majority of Czechs see politics. I would wager you do not approve of the average "Eastern" (Central, actually) European view of politics. (I lived in the Czech Republic for about as long as you have lived there.) It is very different from the States. It was engendered by a very different experience. Frankly, they know the dangers of the far left first hand. You do not seem open to understanding their approach to politics, if I may say so. - - But maybe I missed it and it is in another video.

[@blabinorbit9328]

So you moved for egocentric reason : you greedy to visit the world, you having a higher standard of living for less money, you less working. I hope you will improve your understanding of why you feel well in CZ. Remember that you are a european. Personaly, I will move for an other reason: my country is being replaced by african and muslim people. When I go in the supermarket, europeans are a minority now. My country has been taken and dissolved.

[@heatherfeather1293]

I'm ready to leave just because of the hustle culture, the extreme divides in the US, and no work-life balance. Plus the fact we don't have affordable health care is disgusting

[@philosophynerdlady]

I just found your channel and I absolutely love it! Hoping to move abroad in 3-5 years... You're an inspiration!

[@RogerRoger15]

Ive become disillusioned with what the US is anymore. Cities are dangerous, dirty, and falling apart and the government hardly represents or cares about the people or the founding values of the country. First time in my life ive ever thought about leaving for a simpler and higher quality of life.

[@as_kp386]

Fabulous video! Thank you!!!! Actually, is there a way to contact you off line? I'm moving to Czechia soon.

[@honesty_-no9he]

I have to correct you. Most Americans do not enjoy a high standard of living they are however subjected to a high cost of living that is not good value for money. One difference between say a country like Denmark versus the USA is Americans will say that the taxes are too high there. The problem with that apart from comprehending what people get in return is that taxation in the USA does not just come from government. For a country founded on the complaint of no taxation without representation Americans have been zombified into accepting as normal a massive array of de facto "taxes". Enforced by corporations with arbitrary unaccountable and unregulated powers. US telecom corps without any state of federal oversight literally invent no basis fees onto phone/internet bills that in any normal country would be a corporate crime. There is also a massive amount of private utility monopolies in most parts of the USA which is also a massive contradiction to the ideological belief that they have market choice. Here in the UK for example we have many electricity supplier utilities to choose from and many of them are 100% clean green energy. Most local areas in the USA have one single power utility and no market pressure or government pressure to clean up their dirty power. For a fundamentalist free market ideology nation these monopolies rip the mask clean off.

[@chrisk5651]

Czechoslovakia was considered part of Eastern Europe. The Czech Republic would be more Central Europe not Western Europe.

[@eversunnyguy]

Like you insights on spending time abroad. I don't think Americans are narrow minded for most part but geographically they are isolated unlike Prague where a new country is at an arm's throw. When you are geographically isolated, it costs lot of money to travel the world which not many can afford.

[@fantasy9917]

Hi, do you know a channel called "Not Just Bikes"? He's a Canadian who fell in love with Netherlands in this case. A clever channel, you might like the guy.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Never heard of it, but I will check it out, thank you.

[@Pinnacle_Music]

great stuff, it's been a dream of mine to make the move and live in Europe. American here. Berlin is up there for me, spent about 2 months there at the most. I've heard many good things about Prague.

[@marekildza5153]

Love your videos man :-) And thanks for them

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

Thanks man, glad you’re enjoying them :)

[@eversunnyguy]

Wonderful theater. How many American expats are in Prague if I may know. Is it too touristy ?

[@S5Dic09]

You just unveiled yourself as a player when seeing a bunch of guys and talk about them like that, but we all know that, best travel channels do not keep shoveling the walker up our eyes all the time

[@CZEPolice]

Ehm... CZ = West european country... ehm !!! (do you want to make me angry; just kidding :D ) Ppl should think about that europe (all continents) are not only west and east, but north, south and center too. Great story, I've also been thinking about moving for the last few years, not to abroad, but only in opposite side of country (because of job). Its difficult, because I would love to be close to my family/relatives (we are all close together we celebrate every birthday, triumph s... together, so thats like 20-30times a year) and I would love to try travel a few countries, but University cost me my 20s and now I am in age that I would like to get married and have children. I haven't even really started chasing my career yet (maybe that's plus for moving).

[@jh8287]

Really liked this content. I also appreciate the subtle diplomacy in how you managed to talk about American politics - just dropping objective facts, without stirring up that discussion we're not here to have. Nice job.

[@skeletonkeysprague21]

This guy gets me. 😄 But seriously, thank you for the nice and helpful feedback. Glad to hear it didn't come off too preachy or political.

[@Slavic_Fury]

City upon a hill - John Winthrop, colonial times. We learned this in Poland in university. 😎 haha

soo true