USA or Czech Republic? Advice to a Czech-American: Which country should he live in?

One of my viewers asked my advice: Should he live in a place he loves? Or a place where he can earn more money? This is such a personal question, and I can’t stop thinking about it. So watch my response and in the comments, tell me what you think? What would you do in his position?

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▶ A B O U T D R E A M P R A G U E:

Ahoj! I'm Jen, native Californian, living in Prague, Czech Republic for the past 9 years with my husband and our rescue dog Tobik. One fateful night, we drank a bottle of wine, threw a dart at the map, and bought one-way tickets to move our entire lives to the center of Europe! Everyday we learn something new, about Czech people, Czech culture, Czech history, Czech language and how to battle the Czech bureaucracy. Dream Prague started as a place to share what we learned with other foreigners living here.

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[DonPedro]

A very wise and useful analysis of the dilemmas of many young people. Jenn you are very smart and great you shared your thoughts.

[michellemaine]

I was stuck in the immigrant duality (I was 12 when my family immigrated from Czechoslovakia to New Jersey). It took a midlife crisis and nearly killing myself to realise the American lifestyle is not for me. It was too late to move back to CR (American husband and children), so I compromised and moved to the UK. Even though it's been rough starting over again in middle age and COVID has put a damper on things, I am so much happier. I can't wait until travel to CR is easier again.

[uzivatel]

Jen's hair is looking magnificent!

[caleuxx]

Great video. Love this topic, which comes so "close to home" for me. Im a Czech-American (grew up: 10 years in USA/SoCal, 8 years in Czech)... moved back and forth several times. Am 40+ now; went to University in Prague. I once heard from a person in a similar situation, that in Czech he feels American and in the USA he feels Czech, everywhere else he just feels like a foreigner and that is exactly my experience. Even though you/we are biologically Czech and speak Czech, we are not really Czech but we are international-fusion-people. This Tomas's situation is different from mine in that he went to a prominent US university. Taking that into consideration, the fact that Tomas is a European-American, I would recommend trying to find a job and try starting a life in another European (EU) country that speaks English a lot and is more westernized (eg. Belgium, Netherlands, etc.).... that way you get closer to the European life style and at the same time in a Country that is not in many ways bogged down by old-communist mentality, etc.. Yet, its close to Czech, so you can see family and friends in Czech relatively easy. The older I am the more it seems to me that a person will find the people to spend their life with, when the person is finally themselves (authentic) and living the life they want to live. I totally agree that a person of 25 years has so much opportunity to try different lifestyles and places and to save up, no need to feel stuck. I know many people who just worked and worked in the USA to save up for a house and after they did they went back to Czech to live. Just within the USA there are places which are supposedly more family and free-time oriented: Colorado, Utah, etc. (so Ive heard). I wonder what Tomas's parents do, where they live. Both my parents are now back in Czech. I have a friend from years ago, who (he) was also born in CA/USA to Czech parents, raised in CA/USA and he had a similar dilemma until he met his now wife Denisa (Czech woman) - they married, have children and live in CA/USA. Oh, and dont forget to listen to your emotions: sadness, frustration, contentment, fear/anxiety, happiness, excitement, etc.... they are your guides to what is good for you. Recommend czeching our "Jovie's Home" youtube channel about life in the Netherlands. Wish I could go back to being 25.

[pacechcz]

... and with a remote work booming, there is a whole set of new possibilities. I moved from Seattle back to Czechia 20 years ago. As a software engineer, I got a well-paid job working remotely for a foreign company while living almost off grid. Best of both worlds!

[conceptalfa]

The key question to ask oneself is "do I need to be the richest guy at the cemetery"???
And there's much of it already

[lamebubblesflysohigh]

California: earn 100k a year - live in tiny tiny house or apartment. Homeless people everywhere, street gangs, heat, wildfires, water shortages
Czech republic/Prague: earn 35k (dollars) a year - live in a McMansion or spacious apartment in a big city. One of the safest places on Earth, mild weather and the closest thing to any shortage of any kind is when you go to your local potraviny (grocery store) at 6 pm and rohliky (sort of croissant but not really) are dry and hard.

Unless you chase that CV flex

[alexdevilliers]

Very good and analytical video Jen. Awesomely done. Keep well and looking forward to many more 👌🏻

[mymelodyssaxophone]

There are still international companies in Czechia, where you can definitely earn more.. there is also the option of going to Austria/Germany to make more money. You can start your own “something”. There are many options - person just gotta work a bit more to make things work for themselves

[tadeastrac]

Jenn, thank you for sharing your thoughts! This was very inspiring and eye-opening.

[aliciaz]

Speaking as an immigrant in Canada, I don't think I'm transferring my wishes and dreams to my teenage children. I think we brought our easy-going mentality with us, so there is no work, work attitude in our house. Our daughter goes through engineering university on her own earnings and student loans. I don't know if she'll ever want to return to Europe, but with dual citizenship she has that opportunity. And I don't think earning lot of money is worth it if you don't have time to enjoy your life

[NetAndyCz]

Maybe look for a job that allows you to move between the countries from time to time and decide later on the more long-term solution. I knew some lucky guy from Swiss company, who kept his Swiss pay check but worked in Czechia. I suppose it is not easy to find such a position, but I do not think it is impossible, plenty of US companies have branches in Czechia and some employees get more or less US pay check.

[yamirkaibarra]

Thank you always very interesting vídeo always learn with you

[EvaStudiocrochetpatt]

Very nice video, well and intelligently spoken. Thank you

[mirekkraus]

It is not obvious at first glance, but this is your best video you have done. Ever. This should be viewed by every young Czech, who thinks this republic or society sucks and everywhere else is better place to live. You have highlighten the point - it doesn't matter where you live, but how you live, who do you want to be, what do you for your life and what people you have around you. Simply - where and what your life values are. Thanks Jen :-)

[martinamolnarova]

zaujímavé video... a ďakujem za titulky, čítala som že stoja kopu peňazí... teším sa na ďalšie.

[paulselinger]

Good job, Jen. Under-promise (the title) and over-deliver (the content). Way to go!

[miroslavaklimova]

very interesting video, again. Thanks Jeny.

[martinherak]

Super video...and you are realy clever lady with sharp brain

[vitozana]

Ať jde pracovat do Tesly v Německu. Tam potřebují vysoce kvalifikované inženýry, platí asi dost a do Prahy to není daleko.