Misunderstandings

One of the challenges we face when living abroad are cultural differences. Each culture has its ways, certain unwritten rules by which the majority of the population lives. Until we learn the new ways, we try to apply those that we have brought with us.

Take queues, for example. How many times have I seen people arguing over someone “jumping the queue” since I came back to Prague? Different points of view, different ways to communicate, different manners etc. – to accept the culture we decided to live in, be it for some time or forever, takes time.

In England, I learnt the unwritten rules, and I also got used to how things were done there. Coming back to Prague, I found myself suddenly frustrated with a lot of things, just because I refused to accept different ways and rules we had here in the Czech Republic.

Many misunderstandings evoke unnecessary anger and anxiety in us. In the end, I wonder if it is not us who misunderstood. Maybe the rules here are different from the ones at home. To learn as much as we can about the culture and how to respect and live by the rules will set us free.

21. 9. 2016
Lenka Collins
Counsellor, Therapist, Life Coach
working with adults in Prague
Mobile Phone: +420 774 223 515
Email: info@lenkacollins.cz
Web: http://www.lenkacollins.cz