“Czech life is uncomplicated and spontaneous.”
Organize internship, apartment and insurance
I had been to Prague a lot before my internship, so I already knew the city, the people and life a bit. Nevertheless, it’s quite different when you go from being a tourist to actually living in a city.
To the internship at the German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DTIHK) through a personal connection. The application process at the Chamber of Commerce is very quick and simple. It is best to write a nice e-mail with all the relevant information (application, CV and references if applicable) to the e-mail address given on the website. There are several departments at the DTIHK, such as Market and Sales Consulting or Corporate Communications, which are always on the lookout for committed interns. Unfortunately, the internship is not remunerated by the DTIHK. However, it is happy to help with Erasmus applications or other funding.
The organization of my stay in Prague was very straightforward because the Czech Republic is an EU member state where no special visa/residence permits are required. The easiest thing for me to do was to take out extra international student insurance for the 3 months via the DAAD. On well-known German portals such as WG-GESUCHT, the offer is small and unfortunately also unattractive. You can also find a lot of good apartments on Airbnb, but they are relatively expensive. Therefore, I can recommend everyone to look for an apartment in the Facebook group “Flatshare Prague”. I found a room in a shared flat right by the Vltava River with a nice flatmate and a dog at short notice. The search was very simple: Saturday – Facebook message, Monday – viewing, Wednesday – moving in. In itself, this process sums up Czech life quite well, because it is uncomplicated and spontaneous.
Life in Prague – many opportunities to do something extraordinary
I arrived by car and found my way to Prague thanks to the satnav and a small detour. I would recommend anyone who is not dependent on their car to switch to other means of transportation such as bus, plane or train. Firstly, because the parking situation in Prague is catastrophic, secondly, a vignette is necessary and there is a lot of speeding in the Czech Republic. Prague is also one of the best-connected cities I know. You can get to even small outlying areas by metro, streetcar and bus for very little money. Even at night, you can get to all stations every half hour by streetcar and bus. I paid 50 euros for a 3-month ticket without a student discount. However, you should always make sure you have your tickets with you, as there are often checks on public transport.
After initially living with a family just outside the city and being unhappy there, I moved to the city center at the end of January. Rent is probably the most expensive thing about living in Prague, but compared to other German cities like Munich, Berlin or Hamburg, it’s still cheaper. On average, you pay between 300 and 400 euros.
Every restaurant here offers a lunch menu, where the average price is around 3 euros. Of course, you shouldn’t go to the typical tourist restaurants, but to the hidden restaurants in the courtyards or winding alleyways. Some of the other interns didn’t cook themselves because it is often cheaper for one person to go out to eat than to cook. Food is about the same price everywhere, unless you go to small kiosks or markets, where you can buy it very cheaply.
Hamburger at the Naplavka market, cocoa at Café Savoy, cocktail at the Groove Bar
Prague’s nightlife in particular makes it a magnet for students. Every day there is a different event, exhibition or concert that everyone can attend. What’s more, you never pay more than 1.50 euros for a beer here. Tip: Everything along the Dlouhá is perfect for going out. Especially in warm weather, there are many outdoor events or markets that are unique. Everyone should take advantage of Prague to do something out of the ordinary. For example, a visit to the theater costs about 15 euros and an ice hockey game costs only 8 euros. If you stay informed about current events, you can even catch the shooting of a movie.
Traveling to other countries from Prague is also very easy and cheap, for example Student Agency offers weekly trips to Budapest for 8 euros and a daily flight to Milan for 20 euros. One of the Czech Republic’s major advantages is its security. There is no area or time of day where you have to be careful as a person. I never felt in danger. As I have often been to Prague myself, I didn’t do much sightseeing, but rather worked through a list of cafés and restaurants.
I can recommend everyone to go to the Naplavka market on Saturdays and eat a hamburger, then enjoy a hot chocolate in the Café Savoy and have a cocktail in the Groove Bar in the evening.
Getting to know the connection between politics and business during the internship
The first few days at the Chamber went by very quickly. The biggest hurdle was probably the language, because although everyone speaks very good German, their everyday office language is Czech. Of course, a lot of things were translated for me, but it took about a month before I got a feel for what exactly the topic of conversation was. Everyday office life was very organized, i.e. punctual working hours, specific tasks and assignments. There is no specific introduction, as you are quickly integrated and the other interns approach you quickly.
My main tasks were researching, analyzing market and customer structures, data management and translating. As the people sitting next to me had their own Competence Centers, they often gave me their own projects, such as organizing a delegation trip on the topic of Industry 4.0 and supporting the kick-off meeting on the key topic of “intelligent infrastructure”. The most exciting thing for me was taking minutes at meetings with external partners, as I gained an insight into current economic/political issues and the interests of top companies. It was definitely a very good experience to get a completely different view of the economy than in an independent company. It was particularly instructive to learn about the connection between politics and business.
It was very helpful to go out for lunch with my colleagues, as they gave me a better understanding of Czech cuisine and life. If you live here with an open mind, you learn a lot about the times of communism and the Bohemian era, although today you can only feel something of it if you know your way around.
I did a lot in my free time with the other interns from the Chamber of Commerce. There is also always a close exchange and contact between the interns at the German Embassy and other institutions such as the Goethe Institute, the German school or the Bavarian Consulate.
I didn’t take a Czech language course because I got by everywhere in English and you can quickly learn the basics for shopping in a supermarket. However, I did attend a German regulars’ table, which was attended by Czechs and other students. I also went to a few tandem meetings at the beginning. However, making contacts is the easiest thing in the world in Prague. Towards the end of my internship, I knew other students from eight different countries.
Conclusion
I learned a lot for myself at the Chamber of Commerce. Especially how unfortunate it is that German companies know so little about their opportunities abroad and how easy it can be through the Chambers of Commerce Abroad. It is therefore remarkable to see how much effort the chambers make to remain attractive for all markets. My colleagues and friends have shown me many insights into Czech life and its positive and negative sides. Personally, I find it a great pity that so many Germans still have great prejudices against the Czech Republic. I therefore encourage everyone to come and see for themselves and immerse themselves in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
