I have had a tough time lately. Bitching about this or that has become sort of a past-time for me, to the point where I am bitching about the meat to the butcher and expecting them to agree...or at least the analogy gives you an idea! It is all a part of the assimilation process...or so I keep telling myself. But the endless bitching about shitty food, about the attitude of people here, about the availability of quality goods...is it really going to go away? Is it that I just need to get used to things? Or is it that I am living higher than I belong in this country?
What I mean by that is that I seem to get pissed off that certain things that I am used to - quality meat, a good selection of fresh herbs and spices, and higher quality products - are not available here. The fact is I am wrong. They are available here. They are just a lot more expensive. In fact they are priced beyond what I am willing to pay for them, based on my current salary. I am considered above average in the Czech Republic, as far as salary goes. However, this amount still leaves me below average in quality of life when I compare a person with even worse "status" in their position back in Canada. In fact, I believe that when I worked in restaurants, which has taken up 7 years of my Canada Pension Plan calculation, I think I had a higher quality of life than I have now. Should I be expecting this? Or was I just spoilt? It would obviously take some time to adjust life down a few notches to the level that suits me economically, but is that what I have to do? Am I doomed to consuming cheap oily cheese and meat in a tube for the rest of my life?
Or is there something that I should give up? When I examine things, I see that we pay a very average rent for an average flat in an average neighbourhood. It is not riddled with delights on every block, it is not poor (possibly even rich...but not our building), but, at the same time, it is not the projects. I also see that we have yet to purchase a car, we have standard tv/internet service under a great price considering the market, and really no other expenses except utilities. Should we not be able to afford quality food? I play hockey, which costs about 350 Czech koruna per week. Should I give that up so that I can buy better meat and vegetables? Or is there something wrong here?
Assimilation is a bitch!
Showing posts with label Czech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Czech. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Why Am I Here?
Welcome to my blog. The first of, I am sure, many attempts to create a time filler during down time at work.
What is this blog going to be about? I don't know.
Who is going to read it? That is a better question...I don't know. If nobody reads it, at least it will have been written.
I am a Canadian that has moved to Prague...possibly for good, simply because my wife, who is Czech, missed home too much, and our life is set to be (I hope) much happier here. I have left many things behind in Canada: family, friends, hobbies, interests, habits, likes, dislikes, goals, dreams, etc. and have had to re-establish these here in Czech Republic.
I named this blog what it is because I have invaded Neruda's town, the place he wrote about, and the place he loved, and I aim to bring about new, different tales, or povidky, in this town and figure out a few things about it. Like:
What draws people to Prague? This is easy to understand, however complex in explanation.
Why do people stick around? This is much more difficult to understand when you consider the distinct desire for Czech people to watch others suffer at their hand.
And, most of all, why do they (we) come back?? Is it to be uplifted by the spirit of the city? Or to be continuously disappointed by its people and services?
That leads me to the title of this post. It is a question that comes to mind over and over, despite the obvious answer: for my wife. I may come to the conclusion at some point after my "transitional period" or, simply, once I get used to Eurodirt again - that's you Tyler ;-)
But still, as I jump the tram to find yet another alky-bum stinking up the joint, or accept the favour of a store owner unlocking his doors so that I may have the distinct pleasure, as many would love, to look at the overpriced goods he has for sale, I keep thinking to myself:
Why am I here?
What is this blog going to be about? I don't know.
Who is going to read it? That is a better question...I don't know. If nobody reads it, at least it will have been written.
I am a Canadian that has moved to Prague...possibly for good, simply because my wife, who is Czech, missed home too much, and our life is set to be (I hope) much happier here. I have left many things behind in Canada: family, friends, hobbies, interests, habits, likes, dislikes, goals, dreams, etc. and have had to re-establish these here in Czech Republic.
I named this blog what it is because I have invaded Neruda's town, the place he wrote about, and the place he loved, and I aim to bring about new, different tales, or povidky, in this town and figure out a few things about it. Like:
What draws people to Prague? This is easy to understand, however complex in explanation.
Why do people stick around? This is much more difficult to understand when you consider the distinct desire for Czech people to watch others suffer at their hand.
And, most of all, why do they (we) come back?? Is it to be uplifted by the spirit of the city? Or to be continuously disappointed by its people and services?
That leads me to the title of this post. It is a question that comes to mind over and over, despite the obvious answer: for my wife. I may come to the conclusion at some point after my "transitional period" or, simply, once I get used to Eurodirt again - that's you Tyler ;-)
But still, as I jump the tram to find yet another alky-bum stinking up the joint, or accept the favour of a store owner unlocking his doors so that I may have the distinct pleasure, as many would love, to look at the overpriced goods he has for sale, I keep thinking to myself:
Why am I here?
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