The Czech chapter of UPCE student Daniela Švec’s story began long before she was born. Her great-grandparents left Czechoslovakia for Peru, where they later met. Her great-grandfather came to the country as a mechanic for Czechoslovak tanks that Peru had purchased at the time. Several generations later, Daniela made the journey in the opposite direction – from Lima to Czechia. She first came here nine years ago. Today, she lives in Pardubice and studies at the University of Pardubice.

What surprised her most about life in Czechia? For example,that people take their shoes off when visiting someone’s home, arrive at events on time, and that public transport can be unusually quiet. In Peru, “Peruvian time” is completely normal – an invitation for 7 p.m. can easily mean arrivingat 8 – and buses are much livelier, with people talking, singing or selling things. On the other hand, Daniela especially appreciates the safety and public transport in Czechia.

In the new episode of UPCE On Air, we talk about her journey from a city of ten million people to Pardubice, learning Czech, the different traditions and everyday habits in both countries, and what “home” means to her after nine years in Czechia.