Expat Story: Spain to Prague

ABOUT

Emma is Spanish, yet she was born in Ireland and grew up between Holland, Argentina and finally Spain. She speaks Spanish, English and soon she will start studying Flemish, as her partner is from Belgium. She is dedicated to content creation, both professionally and in her free time with Instagram. She studied Professional Photography in Barcelona, that’s why she has a passion for both photography and video creation.

Moving to prague

When and why did you move to Prague?

It was in 2016. It started as a 7-day getaway to visit my brother who was doing Erasmus. The city captivated me so much that I decided to postpone my return home twice until, almost 8 years later, I am still here with a whole life assembled.
I should also mention that not only Prague had everything to do with me wanting to stay. I was at a point in my life where I was longing for a change and it seemed that Spain did not have much more to offer me in terms of work and personal life. I decided to give Prague a chance and to this day it has been the best decision I have ever made in my life.

How did you get set up?

At the time I was lucky enough to have a friend who had been living in the city for a year and had an extra bed in her apartment where I could stay. Because of that, it was easier to look for an apartment together. In the meantime, I created an account in the Czech bank and got a phone number as it was required for any job I could find. The job came simultaneously.

Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance?

No, it was not difficult. I was offered health insurance with the job. And the job came quite fast. I should mention that it was my first time being independent; so, at that time, my priority when it came to finding a job was that it offered me certain benefits, among them: health insurance and a stable salary. Regardless of what the job was. I decided to start by saving and then go for a job more in line with my studies and interests.

How did you find an apartment in Prague?

It was through an agency and the help of a Czech co-worker to do the necessary translations. At the time we paid 20.000czk (800 Euros) for an 84m2 apartment in Prague 2, with two bedrooms (each with its own bathroom) with dining room and integrated kitchen.
At the time it was one of the most expensive apartments. Other colleagues were paying between 15.000 and 17.000 czk.

What surprised you about life in Prague?

The first thing that surprised me was the punctuality and good connection of public transportation, how cheap it was to eat a full menu in a restaurant in the center and how pet friendly it was in relation to dogs (as a dog lover).

What should people consider before deciding to move to Prague?

The language barrier. Czech is not an easy language to learn and Czechs are not exactly known for their kindness, patience and hospitality. While you can get by on a day-to-day basis with English, it’s not easy to deal with all the paperwork. Not to mention the insecurity that comes with not understanding documents or invoices 100%, so you will need a Czech friend or the services of a translator from time to time.

What did you bring with you?

Not much. My camera, my diaries and a photo album.

Living in Prague

What specifically is Prague famous for?

How beautiful the city is, as it looks like something out of a fairy tale, how accessible it is and its nightlife, among other things. Did you know that a glass of beer is cheaper than a bottle of water?

What apps / websites / stores do you find useful in your daily life in Prague?

Vinted, everywhere I go! But I also find the store DM very handy. I always find everything I need and there is a store in every corner of the city.

Do you need to speak Czech to live in Prague?

No, you don’t. I am proof of that after 8 years. Learning it is not easy and it will take you years to master it in order to have a decent conversation. In my experience, I lacked motivation to continue my classes by working in an international company (where English was the main language) and having a non-Czech partner. Also, Prague has an expiration date and the day we leave this city, we won’t need the language again. But I do recommend learning certain words and phrases for everyday use such as: “Thank you”, “Please”, “See you later” or “I don’t speak Czech”, “Can you repeat it in English, please?”

What are your favorite places in Prague?

There is this viewpoint in Petřín from where you can see almost all the red roofs of the Mala Strana district and the palace complex, with its cathedral, followed by the vineyards that, in the spring, are filled with cherry trees. The whole Petřín hill is my favorite place as it is like an escape to the forest only 10 minutes away from the city. It is peaceful.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Prague?

It would be necessary to define comfort and what you need in life to be happy. So, I can only speak from my own experience. For me it is essential to be able to live in the center (because part of the experience of living in Prague is that); to have a dog and to enjoy the benefits of a pet-friendly city that allows you to bring your furry friend everywhere: coffee shops, restaurants, the office, public transport, etc.; and to be able to go out from time to time for a drink or dinner with friends. So I would say that, with the new inflation, you would need between 50.000 and 60.000 czk (2.000-2.500 Euros) to live well. I don’t buy clothes or other goods regularly and I travel to my hometown only twice or once a year. So you might increase the budget if you travel more frequently or you don’t have a partner with whom you share expenses.

Do you feel safe in Prague?

Yes, as a woman who has returned home alone at 5 a.m. after a party, yes, I felt safe. Prague is a city that inspires safety. You will see many homeless people in the street (as in the center of any city), but they don’t usually tell you or ask you for anything. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be careful. But compared to other cities I have been to, Prague seems to me the safest when traveling alone.

What's your list of favorite restaurants and cafés in Prague?

-Lehká hlava Restaurant (Boršov 280/2, 110 00 Staré Město)
-Cathedral Café (Týnská 11, 110 00 Staré Město)
-Styl&Interier (Vodičkova 708/35, 110 00 Nové Město)
-Choco Café (Liliová 250/4, 110 00 Staré Město)
-The Globe Bookstore And Café (Pštrossova 1925/6, 110 00 Nové Město)
-Marthy’s Kitchen (Masarykovo nábř. 2016/6, 120 00 Nové Město)

How does Prague compare to other cities in Czech?

In general terms, it is more cosmopolitan, international and beautiful. It is more accommodating to the foreigner who comes to live and the tourist who comes to visit. Besides, all the history is here.

Final Thoughts

Can you tell us something else about Prague that we might not know?

If you have a good job to back you up, you have access to a good benefits package such as: health insurance, maternity leave from 6 months to 3 years, home office days, being able to bring your dog to work with you at the office, restaurant tickets for discounts at the supermarket and Benefit Cafe (Edenred) tickets that offer discounts for transportation, travel and leisure activities such as massages or manicures.

What are some disadvantages to living in Prague?

As I mentioned earlier, language. It is a barrier that clashes with its other disadvantage which is the Czech character. After a while, you start to miss the hospitality and sometimes even the humor of your own country. Especially if you come from a warm country like Spain.

Was it easy making friends and meeting people in Prague?

Although at first I refused to make Spanish friends, because I wanted to improve my English and expand my horizons, I must admit that (for me) it was the easiest way to start, by making friends from my own country. Then I made my own group of Czech friends, basically because they spoke Spanish. Until now, I have a diverse group of friends of all nationalities. So I started making them at work, as it was easy, because we were all expats, more or less of the same age, and had arrived in Prague in the same circumstances. Then I met my partner and we became friends with other couples (also from work) with whom we started to have more things in common. But, in general, it is not difficult to meet people. There are many Facebook groups of people in the same situation as you or activities that you can join in. You can even make friends by taking your dog regularly to the same park. But it is certainly easier to make expat friends than Czech ones.

What are your plans for the future?

The truth is that we are coming to the last chapter of our lives in Prague. I am 8 months pregnant and, as my partner and I always agreed, when the baby is one year old we would like to move to a bigger house (if possible, something of our own) and in Belgium where we have always seen ourselves living.

Our dream is to buy and refurbish a farm where we can have our own vegetable garden, our dog can run free for hours, and our son can be in contact with nature. To have some extra rooms and make them Airbnb, where I will keep creating content on Instagram to attract tourists (who will fill that international side of us that we will miss when we leave Prague) while we live a quiet life in the countryside.

Thank you Emma for sharing that long chapter as an expat in Prague, I hope that you look back at this article some day when you live in Belgium and it will fill you with joy at all the memories! All the best for what’s to come! Her IG here!