Andrea Havranová
Where are you from, how long have you been in Czech Republic and when did you come for the first time?
My parents are Americans but I was born in Germany. As a small child, we moved around a great deal: India, Lebanon, various parts of Europe. We moved to the United States when I was 8. We lived in various places: Colorado, Pennsylvania and California. I graduated from university in 1989 and decided to explore Central/Eastern Europe. I finally came to Czechoslovakia in the summer of 1990 and have been here, more or less, ever since.
What was the reason you came to Czech Republic and you are still here? Usually people leave Czech Republic not come and live in...
I originally came to Czechoslovak out of curiosity. My first year was an extremely stimulating time with everything changing so rapidly. I really felt like I belonged here. I eventually found a job at Palacky university and met my wife in 1993. We have three children together.
What is the biggest difference you can see between your „old“ life and current one? How did your life change?
Well, almost all of my adult life has been here so it's difficult to compare. Also, of course, this country has changed so much since the early 1990s. I truly appreciated the different value system in this country in contrast to the United States. There seemed to be a greater emphasis on friendship, family, hobbies and culture. This has, of course, perhaps inevitably changed a great deal.
Did your family (from USA) accept the fact you are going to live far away from them?
As I said earlier, my family was always travelling, so my decision to live abroad was not all that unusual. They actually live in the U.K., so we are not all that far away from one another.
Is it hard to be a foreigner in this country?
I have lived here for over 20 years and can speak Czech so I do not actually experience any difficulties. Of course, if I were a newcomer, without a knowledge of the language, it would be a different story. The fact that I am white also makes things easier particularly lately when so much racism, sadly, has come to the surface in this country.
What about you and czech language? When did you start learn it? Was/Is it difficult? What language do you use at home, with your children and wife?
I started learning it my first year. I was still young and energetic. My first year was in the small town of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm and very few people could speak English. I was basically forced to learn Czech in order to function. It was difficult, but a fun challenge. At home, we usually take turns speaking Czech and English. I usually speak English to my children and they respond in Czech.
Would you recommend the life in CR? Or in Europe in general...
Yes, of course I would. The Czech Republic has a healthy economy, excellent health care, a good education system, very little crime, etc.
Do you think a part of you is already Czech?
Yes, definitely. I tend to be more pessimistic and sarcastic than I used to be. I have trouble relating to Americans now with their sincerity and optimism. I have trouble being politically correct. I also find my personality changing when I speak in Czech. I immediately begin to complain and whine.
What about work? Nowadays, It is hard to find a job even if you speak Czech so I can´t imagine how did you deal with that? Especially Olomouc, it is not capital and probably there are not as many opportunities for English speakers than in Prague...
Well, when I arrived in 1990, Americans and English native speakers in general were extremely popular. Now, it's not as easy any longer. I have also held the same job at the university for over 20 years so am not the ideal judge on this question.
What is your current position? Is this what you were dreaming about like a kid? How did you become a teacher at Palacky University?
I am an assistant professor of English Literature at the Department of English and American Studies. No, I did not dream of being a teacher, on the contrary. I did always enjoy, however, reading and writing. I initially taught at the Department of Applied Linguistics which taught academic English to students from the Natural Science and Pedagogical Faculties. After a year and a half, I received an offer to teach my current position when a Czech colleague left suddenly.
What is your favourite Czech word?
šuplík
Which word do you hate the most?
reprezentativní
What is the best way of having a rest for you?
Playing the banjo, sitting in a pub drinking beer, reading.
What would you do if you won jackpot tomorrow?
Pay off all my debts, mortgage, etc. Set up a bank account for my family and go off travelling.
Which country would you choose for life if you got a chance to start from the beginning?
Wow, I don't know. Zimbabwe sounds cool.
Czech version of this article available here
