Jana Garnsworthy has lived in the UK for twenty years. She runs a website for Czechs and Slovaks who are considering moving to Britain. In this interview we discuss life in the UK, the differences between Czechs and Brits, and how Czechs can better adapt to life abroad.

Why did you move from the Czech Republic to the UK?

I decided that instead of sitting in classrooms trying to study languages, I’d go and learn them in the real world (I was studying English and French at university in Prague at the time). So I left for England as an au-pair, because that was the easiest way of doing it. The plan was to stay for a year and then move to Canada, but I met a handsome Englishman and the rest is history.

What surprised you about life in the UK when you first arrived?

Absolutely everything. I was like Alice in Wonderland. I still remember the green grass in the middle of February. I know it sounds stupid, but the Czech Republic was covered in snow when I left, and when I arrived in Dover there were daffodils everywhere.

When I got to my new “home” I was told I didn’t have to take off my shoes in the house. I thought the family were just being polite because I’d had a long journey, but it turns out no-one takes their shoes off inside.I still find this a bit odd.

There were lots of signs everywhere like “No golf in this park” or “Do not let your dog foul on the grass”. You wouldn’t get that in the Czech Republic — people don’t play much golf and they let their dogs foul just about anywhere.

I was also struck by how chilled and friendly the British were: people smile at you in the street and in the shops. Walking along the town’s high street (it was a small town of about 6,000 people) locals would say hello and ask how I was. This was new for me!

I was also surprised so few people knew where the Czech Republic was, or that it wasn’t actually called Czechoslovakia any more. It was amazing how little British people knew about anything Czech.

What are the main differences between Czech and British people?

The graph below describes it perfectly. British people are pretty chilled and positive overall, while Czechs are a bit grumpy and pessimistic. This was something that surprised me: I had been expecting the British to be more standoffish and cold, but I didn’t find that at all (and still don’t).

The class system is a lot more obvious in the UK, but the people here do not envy you for what you’ve got as much as in the Czech Republic. If someone gets a new car in the Czech Republic the typical reaction will be: “He didn’t get that by working hard, did he?”

What advice would you give to Czechs when dealing with British people?

Don’t assume the Czech way is better just because that’s what you’re used to. Don’t think the British are stupid just because they don’t know things Czechs would consider general knowledge. The English educational system is different; the English culture is different, but this doesn’t mean they are stupid or have no common sense (which is what a lot of Czechs who live here think, unfortunately).

What annoys you about life in the UK?

No proper winters, I miss those. Apart from that, not much else really.

What are the best things about life in the UK?

I love the British countryside; it has pretty much everything — sea, mountains, lakes, gorges, forests, moors, rocks — so there is no need to go abroad for a holiday if you don’t want to.

The people working in the service sector are always polite and helpful: if you have any problems (in any sector actually), people always try their best to sort things out and help you.

Another thing I love about life in the UK is the good live music in pubs, which is something that doesn’t really happen in the Czech Republic.

What do you miss about living in the Czech Republic?

Apart from family, I miss proper Czech food. I know I can cook it but it would be nice to be able to order it in a restaurant.

Is there much of a Czech community in the UK?

There are several Czech schools and groups for Czech families with kids all over the UK. In general, Czechs don’t tend to create big communities like the Polish. I’m not sure why. Perhaps we prefer to keep ourselves to ourselves a bit more.

Why do so many Czechs want to experience life in the UK?

The UK has always been a kind of “dream country” for Czechs. They come to learn English and think they’ll get rich quick. What often happens is they don’t  learn English properly because most of them work in jobs with other Eastern Europeans (mostly Polish), and they don’t get rich quick because that just doesn’t happen, does it! So they become disillusioned with life in the UK and return to the Czech Republic.