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Post by BigRay on Mar 17, 2003 18:49:03 GMT -5
So I was walking around the other day and happened upon a shop. Inside, a foreigner was having a conversation with the Czech shopkeeper and was asking how much she gets paid an hour for working there. She said it depended on the day, with the wage ranging from 40 to 60 Czech crowns, about US$1.25-2 per hour.
The man just chuckled then went on to explain how he would love to open a shop in his country and hire Czechs at 60 Crowns per hour.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I mean, I understand that things here are cheaper than back in the US or in other developed western countries. In fact, that reason was a factor in my decision to move here. But Czechs definitely don't consider their city or country "cheap." Most are simple people working hard to make ends meet, just like anywhere else.
Flaunting the difference like that in front of the locals is uncalled for and inappropriate. It made me sick. It's no wonder there is a small minority here whose principal occupation is scamming tourists for their money.
So if you ever find yourself here or other parts of the world that make travelling in relative luxury easy, my advice is this: Enjoy yourself. Have a great time and do it up. Be don't flaunt what you've got or make a spectacle of yourself. It's likely as unwelcome as back home.
Ray
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