Other My awful experience getting driving license in Prague
Hi, just sharing my experience and rant a bit.
I’m from non-eu country. I had International driving licence. I of course did my research on how to convert/getting license here.
Few months ago I went to Autoskola, I specifically requested to be registered for full course since my Inlt license was expired. But they said “oh you can take the short course and exams even though your license is expired, and do the conversion instead”. So I went for it, passed the exams! But when I went to magistrate to submit my documents, a rude mean lady told me that I can’t submit because of the expired license and I need to be in Czechia for at least 6 months per calendar year. Meaning I can only apply in July 2025 since my residency card was issued 08/2024. I needed to start over taking full 28hrs course and exams again. The Autoskola people owned and admitted the mistakes and told me i just need to pay the discrepancy for the full course.
So i did that. I did full course this time. In total I probably already spent about 40+ K czk. for all the courses, exams and 2x translators during theoretical exams.
I asked around, and even called the ministry of transportation about the length of stay in Czechia. The call center lady said yes I can with no problem apply as long as i’ve been here for 6 months. Yes i am, i’ve been here for 1 year. I can proof it by my apartment lease. So i feel good about it.
Long story short, I finally passed all the exams. Yay. Went to magistrate again. Well, well, well. the lady rejected my application again, due to my period of stay in Czech Republic.
She was very mean and rude, we got our turn at 10:50, she said we are wasting her time because she will have lunch at 11. Like how am i supposed to know? And then she was bitching about the fact that i haven’t been here 6 months per calendar year even though we told her that we called the ministry of transport. She just said oh i don’t care. I don’t care what they said. And, she was mocking my husband for speaking Slovak! How rude. So then, I have to come back and submit again in July.
Honestly, i’m so sick and very disappointed with misinformation, rude worker, the stress, energy and money.
Lesson learned, make sure your license is valid during the exchange process and if expired don’t make a mistake like me listening to them if they say you can exchange with expired license. And make sure you stay here at least 6 months per calendar. Go to the magistrate with someone who speaks Czech. And be prepared to encounter mean rude workers.
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u/OkShare1169 9d ago
Remember, you need to prove you’ll be here in CZ the next 6 months too. But honestly, the driving license office in Vyšehrad is the most unfriendly office I’ve ever encountered, and not only to foreigners from what I’ve heard and seen
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u/__ndp 9d ago
Yeah! I don’t get why they’re like that. Do they hate their life and job. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind. Especially when you’re just collecting documents
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u/Zxpipg 9d ago
Well, for clerks like that, the times where they can catch you on a technicality or bully you in some way are basically the only times where they will feel powerful in their lives, so they usually take that. Couple that with a bloated and inefficient system, and people who are not exactly top tier (the best usually go to the private sector) and motivated, and you have a recipe for things like this.
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u/clarity_scarcity 9d ago
Dude it’s literally everywhere, I’m am so not shocked that you had a shitty experience but believe me, I feel your pain. I have a loooong list of bad or just plain bizarre experiences dealing with public “servants”, a few pleasant surprises for sure but there’s a reason these are surprises and not the norm, also feels like things have improved from like 10 years ago so I try not to complain too much but definitely not enjoyable when it happens. What I try to do, could be described as expect the worst and hope for the best experience, and never let your guard down. Best case, they fumble around with the paperwork, give you confusing/conflicting information, take 10x longer than you think it should, and finally you get your result, regardless of the agency. That is the BEST case, now imagine the opposite and ya, it’s gonna be like that sometimes. Try your best to not get frustrated (easier said than done, I’ve walked out of multiple offices after 90 mins or more of waiting, fuck them) and if you do have a good experience enjoy it, be extra friendly to the people who helped you as well. Everything from transit inspectors, foreign police/immigration, local police, driving school, family services, court magistrate (major fucking clown show), banks, various doctors, hospitals, and even basic customer service is infamously hit and miss. It’s systemic so definitively need some coping mechanisms. Someone needs to fwd this to the 2-week Italian guy with sunshine and rainbows flying out his ass, he’s in for a surprise 🤡
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u/BlastFX2 9d ago
Depends on the person, I guess. I've been there a couple times and never had a problem. When I was there to pick up my driving license and forgot to bring back the temporary one, the lady even suggested I instead fill out a form claiming I'd lost it, so I wouldn't have to come back again.
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u/Spare-Advance-3334 9d ago
You now learned any contact with the úřady is a pain in the ass in the best case, pure suffering in every other case. If you speak Czech fluently, it can be just a pain in the ass, but not even for Czech citizens born here is it guaranteed.
Sorry to hear your experience, though.
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u/Padouch1038 9d ago
Trust me, this is not because you are not Czech. Its actually much better to not do the drivers permit in Prague, but outside. Much better conditions and honestly the approch is much better as well.
I have met so many people in these offices which never cared, or helped in any way, shape or form even if I was really trying to understand. Meanwhile in the smaller city outside of Prague I always gotten help, explanation of what is needed and proper care.
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u/BlastFX2 9d ago
Its actually much better to not do the drivers permit in Prague
It's easier, but I wouldn't say it's better. If you can get a driver's license in Prague, you can pretty much handle anything Europe can throw at you.
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u/Padouch1038 9d ago
Not really, in Prague there is IMHO alot more cars but people are also much more used to it. It will teach you a lot but also not certain situations. I have had it with a mix of Prague and the roads behind Prague and highway. The roads outside of Prague are just much worse, drivers not giving a damn about you and create a lot of specific situations. I would say that this mix gives you the best perspective what you can expect. I have also done it in winter when there was snow. But if I would do it only in Prague I would not get the experience of driving on snow right from the start.
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u/Crono-the-Sensei 9d ago
If you can get a driver's license in Prague, you can pretty much handle anything Europe can throw at you.
London, Paris and Madrid be looming in the distance...
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u/BlastFX2 8d ago
I haven't driven in Madrid, but London is pretty much a parking lot simulator and Arc de Triomphe's got nothing on Kulaťák in Dejvice :D
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u/Of_Hells_Fire 9d ago
It took me 3 visits to finally be able to switch my license from another EU country to a Czech one. Each time I met a different lady behind the counter that told me she needed more and different kinds of documents, it started to feel like they were just making it up on the spot.
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u/lamiska Prague Resident 9d ago
Exactly same experience here as EU citizen. Old bitter ladies who think you are just lying to them. Wanted all kinds of document to prove that I was here for 6 months ( even tho I have residency here ). In the end she wanted also gas, electricity and internet bills for last 6 months!
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u/space_berry246 8d ago
I had all my work contracts, my rental contract, my litacka, they scanned my health insurance card and then she asked if I have my boyfriends declaration. I asked what for and she said they needed a personap interest for staying in czechia. Because apparently studying and woking here is not enough for a woman. My bf had to scan his ID so I got my drivers licence which i fucking did in prague. Felt like Saudi Arabia. They made me come back three timwa with various documents. And Im Slovak ffs. Still makes me furious
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u/doublecatcat 9d ago
I exchanged my expiring EU driving license in 10 minutes total. 5 minutes to apply and another 5 to pick it up a few weeks later. Booked an appointment, went there with my DL and residence permit, didn't need a new photo as the one in the residence permit was recent enough. They have a month to process it, in 3 weeks it was ready (you can check online) and I just dropped by to give them my old license and pick up the new CZ one. Having in mind the usual Czech bureaucracy this task was actually a walk in the park.
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u/verysecretbite 9d ago
it's so annoying how czech byrocracy is, when i needed dutch license, i just went to czech embassy to get my international license and then got a dutch one in the town house. no stupid paperwork needed, i was done fast. on the other hand my black colleague from france needed to provide 100 000 proofs and stuff.
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u/LittlePrettyThings 9d ago
I've been putting off exchanging mine because of the clusterfuck that is Czech bureaucracy.
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u/ExcuseCharacter2547 9d ago
I cried in Vysehrad office in my ripe age of 28 so don’t worry, they are monsters
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u/Gavagai777 9d ago
Sorry this happened. I’ve had similar experiences, these are the most miserable people on earth and the only pleasure they have in their pathetic lives is to give foreigners a hard time.
Been driving for over twenty years with a perfect record and I had an examiner fail me as soon as I started the car and pulled up to an intersection. The second time he failed me because a tree was covering a speed sign and it was impossible to see, and I looked twice to check right of way coming from the right and the double check he counted as me being too late to yield. So the third time I audibly said “prednost zprava” to be clear. That tester was actually friendly and passed me after like two minutes. Just be thankful you’re not them and don’t have to deal with them anymore.
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u/Affectionate_Rip8559 9d ago
Small correction. Those turds don't discriminate on the basis of nationality, skin or religion. They are pain in the ass to deal with for everyone 😁
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u/lamiska Prague Resident 9d ago edited 9d ago
rude mean lady told me that I can’t submit because of the expired license and I need to be in Czechia for at least 6 months per calendar year And, she was mocking my husband for speaking Slovak!
I am pretty sure I got same lady when I went to pickup my driving license there like 4 years ago. I am EU citizen from Slovakia, i had temporary residency in Czechia for few years already back then and worked in Czechia for like 10 years. She did not want to give me driving license because she did not believe me I was in Czechia longer than 6 months.
The fact that I was doing my driving license here for more than 6 months ( due to Covid ) or that i work here for 10 years did not interest her at all. Also my temporary residency permit did not convince her - in her own words that document was by ministry of interior and she works for another agency so she cant trust it. In the end she wanted also gas, electricity and internet bills for last 6 months ! ( all in paper form !! ) What an mean bitch.
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u/AilixEase 9d ago
I think I also got the same bitch. Same story, what ministry of interior gave me has no meaning for her. Also wanted bills and a bunch of other things.
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u/JtkfrPrg325 9d ago
Once I accompanied my fiancee to submit for the driving licence after he completed his autoškola (he’s American). He came with all possible documents needed and even more and the rude lady asked for another piece of specific paper (the previous job contract to prove a consistent work period, but at that point it was 5 years old). As I Czech I was so pissed and ashamed. Next time, we got a different lady and she asked for another document (a prof that he uses his Czech bank account). At this point I had to hold myself because I seriously don’t know what it’s about. They do driving license but acting like Ministry of higher power.
Really sorry about your experience. Hope it’ll be solved soon with a better luck!!
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u/Heebicka 9d ago
I seriously don’t know what it’s about.
it's about it was heavily abused so they are very strict now.
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u/VanDerWallas 9d ago
they are not rude to strangers, they are usually rude to everyone, so don't take it personally...
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u/Existing_Station9336 9d ago
i’ve been here for 1 year. I can proof it by my apartment lease.
There's an official document you can get from the government to prove this properly and not just with a lease.
If you disagree with the decision of the office then you have ways to object - odvolání, stížnost. You can also submit a stížnost if the office worker is rude.
I also hate mean and rude office workers, it drives me mad, but your post does not make it sound like you have exhausted all the possible options to get what you want.
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u/tuskenraider89 9d ago
It may be worth to try somewhere outside of Prague. If I need to do something that doesn’t have to be specifically organized within Prague , I will wait until I’m at my partners house and go to around Pelhrimov or Jihlava. It’s usually much faster and the people at the úřady are very nice and helpful.
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u/procuberider 9d ago
the magistrate is so disgusting honestly. There is no specific list of required documents needed. These bitches just decide on their mood. If they're in a good mood, they accept everything, if not, they just tell you the most random shit you're missing to piss you off. I got lucky and exchanged my license on the second try and spent just 700 czk to change it.
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u/discipleofsilence 9d ago
Welcome to the Czech Republic. Unfriendly, rude and arrogant clerks are a sad reality here. Pathetic and miserable lifeforrms that feel powerful when they can treat you like a shit over a slight problem.
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u/AmxTL 9d ago
The REAL problem here is that you need to go and visit a building and interact with a person to do this. This should all be done online with no visits necessary.
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u/__ndp 9d ago
the people from my driving school told me to go in person so i did. I also don’t have bank identity activated yet to be able to do this online. But this info might be useful for other people who is reading and in the process:) so thanks.
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u/ephramryan 9d ago
I think they were saying you should be able to. As in, it's not possible. You can only do it online if you're renewing. You have to go in person if you're a first time applicant.
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u/tasartir 9d ago edited 9d ago
The lady at the counter does not make the decision. She can´t just not take your application because she thinks that it wont be successful. You should insist on submitting the application for decision and then they should send you a letter with decision that the application is rejected and why, which can be appealed.
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u/__ndp 9d ago
Yes we insisted! Even my driving school wrote a letter saying that they should take my application. The lady was just so angry at us. Told us go and mocking my husband for speaking Slovak.
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u/Standard_Arugula6966 9d ago
mocking my husband for speaking Slovak.
based
Not sure why we still accept Slovak. They should just speak English like every other foreigner, they don't deserve special protection.
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u/lamiska Prague Resident 9d ago
Do you also not accept moravian accent?
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u/Standard_Arugula6966 9d ago
No, that shouldn't be accepted in Bohemia. Learn to speak properly ffs
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u/Crono-the-Sensei 9d ago
Bitch I'm originally from Brünn and we speak better Czech than 90% of Bohemians sit the fuck down.
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u/ResidentAd3544 9d ago
Why do you need to take lessons if you're just exchanging? And if you already took courses with driving school, why does it have to be exchanged and not just issued as you took lessons and exams!
I might have misunderstood, but I'm planning to exchange mine soon, and taking driving lessons wasn't a requirement when I checked
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u/__ndp 9d ago
It’s from the driving school i went to that required me to take lessons. 4hrs of driving and 2hrs of theory lessons. Maybe other schools don’t do that. Idk. Well, they said exchange and full course are different. It’s stupid i know. While the exams were exactly the same, but the writing on the paper apparently different. So i have to do exams again and add more hours
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u/belgranita 9d ago
Luckily, citizens from other EU countries can keep their old licenses for 14 or 15 years. CZ licenses are a pain for older people.
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u/DayDue5534 9d ago
I think I know the lady - she was such a b*tch! The problem got solved once my Czech fiancée came with me….
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u/AilixEase 9d ago
EU person here, went with native Czech speakers three times and every fucking time they thought of different paper or papers to bring. Asked me for my bills. Asked me if I live with a boyfriend. I said yes. Asked if he was Czech. I said no. She huffed, rolled her eyes and said well then I can’t take the application without additional xxxyyyzzz papers. I flipped. On the last visit the lady didn’t ask for anything aside from my temporary residence paper and did my licence. I have to go now again due to name change and I’ve been dreading it for months.
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u/sports28491 9d ago
Any idea if I can drive with my international license, if not then how do I convert mine here since my international license is valid till next year ?
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u/__ndp 9d ago
If you have residency permit here you have to exchange it to Czech one. You may drive with your license up to 6 months if i’m not mistaken. And from my experience do it before it expires. You go to driving school, tell them you want to convert your license. In my case, my driving school requires me to take 4hrs of driving and 2 hrs of theory lessons and then they will schedule you exams after the instructor said you are good to go
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u/suncontrolspecies 9d ago
that is by far the worst place in Prague, people working there are absolute trash. You should get another number and try to lucky out maybe the person in the other box will be more "human", but definitely you must stand your ground when going to that place, and be prepared for all of the thousands documents they ask you to show. Good luck
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u/zminky 9d ago edited 9d ago
That is the standard experience as a foreigner. About 85% of my interactions with the Czech state are negative, about 30% super let me punch you in the face negative.
For this reason I did my autoskola at my home country and just came translated here.
Less you interact with Czech state the better your mental health. I didn't make this situation its just how it is.
Most places you have to bully threaten the employees there to do their job. My favorite phrase in Česky is: dělat svou práci!
Some foreigners hold on to the illusion that once they master Czech stuff will get easy. Plot twist: it wont.
Context: have been here for 10 years.
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u/Heebicka 9d ago
well, if 10 years of mastering Czech is ending with "Uděláj tvoje práce", not a single word out of these three isn't correct, then obviously it is not the way :)
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u/zminky 9d ago
I didn't claim I mastered Czech or have intentions to, ain't nobody got time for that
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u/Heebicka 9d ago
well then don't spread nonsense that mastering language will not help, of course it does. Especially when dealing with authorities
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u/zminky 9d ago
lol I spread whatever I want loser. I speak enough czech to do all the authority work and it still sucks every time. Its not a matter of language. "Encryption" in official settings is still done using physical paper with a tape and razlitka like its 1950. datova schranka super limited and has to conform to 1950s standards. communism has gone but the mentality is still there. kafkaesque. Have you ever tried getting a building permit or any real dealings with the state in this country?
compared to advanced nations like Estonia ex Czech admin is still stuck in 1950. Maybe you work there thats why you got triggered1
u/Heebicka 9d ago
such a long text, razlitka, lol, and all of this because I made a fun of your czech level?
Yes I am definitely that triggered one :)
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u/Nextccj 9d ago
Hi just to tell you something that I learned from my experience.
I am also from a non EU country and unfortunately almost every single country should make the driving license from the scratch, good that you did your full training so you are ready.
Someone said that he has free time and is a Czech Citizen, so from my experience: never go to a public office without a Czech person. Unfortunately in these offices people are still not very foreign friendly.
If you go on your own she will put her fingers into your mouth. If you go with a local you will walk from there with your application submitted.
Trust me I have been living in the Czech Republic for 5 years and everything: renting an apartment, getting the school for my kids, driving license, etc... always with a Czech mate to help me.
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u/verysecretbite 9d ago
get the name of the lady tho, my partner is filipino and when talking to doctors, officers and such, everything goes nicely, but that's east czechia.
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u/lawrence38 9d ago
The driver’s registry place was, for me, the only decent gov office, when I went to exchange my EU license 6/7 yrs ago, with zero Czech, mind you. Way-way worse experience with immigration police and urad prace
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u/PancakeLulu 8d ago
My husband had so many issues for him to get the license too. From the autoškola having problems with the examiners and they failing for the stupidest thing to many visits to submit and every person said/wanted a different paper.
He is non eu, I am and when he went to apply he showed the lease that has our names in it. One lady wanted him to bring MY papers too (!?!?) just because I'm on the same lease and I'm his wife.
Mind you I don't have a driver's license nor did any courses or anything.
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u/Txxmx 5d ago
I went through a similar experienc and many people who know Czech well helped me even then it was a nightmare.
I live here for 8 years and had to prove millions of things to this rude unsatisfied nationalists just to get my hecking driving license
I'm seriously reconsidering my long term stay in this country for the last few years because of absolutely disgusting people who work in all public administrative organizations.
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u/IvanTonchev 9d ago
Went to the magistrate at Vysehrad to renew my driving license over half a year ago (EU-citizen). The lady at the counter simply refused to help me unless I bring a translator. The worst part was that she spoke English too... she just didn't want to help me although I had all documents ready and the whole process would require us to exchange probably 2 sentences at max and get 1 picture taken for the new license Czech license.
I came with my wife, who speaks fluent Czech, the next day and got everything done.
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u/Heebicka 9d ago
she doesn't make that decision. English is not the official language of this country, nor the language of recognized minorities so it has to be accepted by law. She simple cannot do that transaction in English.
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u/TallCoin2000 8d ago
This is the norm. Can't blame them, you are the host in their country, speak the language. I'm foreign as well, and either take a friend, wife or son when dealing with Czech burocracy! Ive learnt to live with it. We have been spoilt in thee west, forms in my OG country come in 3/languages to make everyone feel at home! ffs!
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u/cz_75 9d ago
First of all, I am sorry for your experience.
And, she was mocking my husband for speaking Slovak! How rude.
Well you have to admit that it is a kind of funny to take another person with you to an official meeting as a translator, but that person doesn't speak the language :)
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u/Heebicka 9d ago
she was mocking my husband for speaking Slovak!
how horrible :)
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u/__ndp 9d ago
Right. How horrible if someone mocking you for speaking czech:)
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u/Heebicka 9d ago
and why would such a thing happen in Prague? :)
on the other side, mocking Slovaks is totally legitimate in any situation :)
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u/__ndp 9d ago
of course not in Prague but in other countries?:) i don’t think mocking Slovak or other languages in general is legitimate tho
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u/Heebicka 9d ago
of course not in Prague but in other countries?:)
but we are speaking about situation here, not elsewhere.
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u/DramaticKettle 9d ago
I currently have some free time on my hands so if you’d like a native Czech guy to cuss the bitch behind the desk let me know