Language problems - Prague (part 3)

In order to keep expenses low during my trip I intend to wash my cloths by hand. The sinks at my hostel have no plugs however, so I need to get out and buy one. The first shop I try looks like they might just have what I am after. The guy behind the counter speaks little English, too little. I try drawing something on paper, but thanks to my poor drawing skills he still doesnt understand what I need. Shop number two, same story. In the third shop one of the young assistants speaks English. He gives me directions to the right kind of shop and also tells me the Czech word for plug. So at shop number four I finally get my plug, only to find out later that it is too big. Ah well, I shall keep it for later.

Like that English speaking guy at the shop, most people that do speak English (and that is not many) are fairly young and many of them are overseas students who are not familiar with local life and history and cannot help with questions like why are there two house numbers for every house and what is the difference between the 100 and 150 Kroner daily tickets for public transport. Realising that I decide it is time to fill in my couchsurfing profile so that I have a chance of meeting up with some local folks that can explain things to me during my next city stop.



Businesses seem to have grown much faster than language skills since the wall came down in 1989. I see all the big store chains in Prague that I am familiar with from living in the UK, Netherlands and Germany. It seems however that some of their products they sell here are adapted to the local taste. Without being able to understand Czech and judging by the photo on the can, I expected to have spaghetti bolognese for dinner, but instead I find some think tomato soup when I open the can. It did fill my stomach, though!