For instance, locked phones take an hour to unlock and you have to go to a small place in a back alley to do so (it's legit..i checked with t-mobile!).
Second, when a man in normal clothes approaches you in the metro station and holds out a "button" and begins to speak Czech to you, DON'T automatically dismiss him as trying to sell you something. Since the Czech metro is on the honor system, the Czech police sometimes stand at the bottom to make sure you have a train ticket. If you don't possess a ticket, you are fined 700Kc. After being screamed at in rapid Czech, I tried to explain to the officer (with my horrible Czech skills) that I don't speak much Czech and I misunderstood him. He then converted to English and was as happy as the world could be. I showed him my pass and he smiled (actually smiled!!) and said goodbye.
The language barrier has been earth shattering at times. Contrary to popular belief there is a large population that does not speak English..I've met them all. I don't mind, though. It has added to the experience overall and I love asking those that do speak English what the word is for different things. I'm slowly learning.
It's the little things that have begun to count. Getting a smile from the guy at T-Mobile as I say "Dekuji" or accidentally taking the wrong tram and ending up at an amazing restaurant with discounts for international students.
It's the little things that count, and it is those same things that help me realize I'm at home away from home (even if it is seriously intense sometimes..)
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