How to Make the Best Out of Life in Prague with Jazmin
Jazmin is a California girl who has been living in Prague for over four years, and she’s had one wild ride here. “I grew up in a valley, basically at the crossroads of the mountains, desert, beach, and farmland. So moving to a big capital city was a huge shift for me and a bit of a culture shock,” she says. “Nonetheless, it has been an adventure and a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world.”
Since she moved here, Jazmin has been freelancing and trying to find her fit in the city. “I decided to go back to school, and I am now a Master’s student at DAMU, studying directing for dramatic theatre. I have a passion for the arts and hope to leave my own mark on the creative scene in Prague.”
In 2020, during all the lockdown craziness, she started a small theatre company with her friends to keep their spirits up and help them all get creative. “With the help of many amazing artists around me, I hope to help bring art to Prague that helps to connect people and to give everyone a chance to participate and have their voices be heard.”
In this interview, Jazmin shares with us her secrets of finding happiness, purpose and belonging in Prague that might inspire you on your own journey.
Making Friends and Finding Community in Prague
Making friends and socializing can be tough for Jazmin, but she’s found that karaoke is a great way to meet new people. “I’ll be honest. Socialization is not my strong suit. I often fail to reach out to my friends or go out due to anxiety,” she admits.
“Nonetheless, the most important socializing activity in my life has been karaoke. And no, that is not an exaggeration,” she laughs. “I owe a lot to karaoke: it is where I first met my Prague friends, the people who basically inspired me to stay and live in this city. Karaoke helped me to get out of my own head, to develop myself, and to meet some of the closest people in my life today.” These days Jazmin goes to Tuesday’s karaoke at Brix.
“While I still struggle to make meaningful connections with people, I know I have a stable group of people around to call true friends, which is more than I can ask for. They help me to get out of the house on Whiskey Wednesdays or on the occasional night out to go dancing, and of course, who doesn’t enjoy a nice hike with friends or a crazy evening at the local hospoda.” Jazmin’s friends have been a source of support and joy for her in Prague, and she is grateful for their presence in her life.
Balancing Life and Finances in Prague
When it comes to spending and saving money, Jazmin’s biggest expense is food. “I love to share a good meal with my friends. That feeling of going out to a good restaurant with people that you care about or having a grill party at home is priceless,” she says. “I am very Latina in that I can sit at a table with food and drinks for hours, talking with those I care about, and be at the peak of happiness.”
“I also like to cook for my partner and experiment with different dishes and treats. Food is just part of my love language. That being said, I don’t really spend money on much else.” Jazmin and her partner have a philosophy of only buying what they need, which helps them save money and be more sustainable. “It sometimes leads me to sew up pants for hours like a Babuška,” she laughs. “I enjoy hands-on work and crafting as well as the satisfaction of doing something yourself.”
Finding Purpose and Fulfillment in Prague
For Jazmin, spending time meaningfully is all about embracing different activities, whether it’s in nature, relaxing, or spending time with loved ones and finding joy and connection in the things she does.
“Meaningfully and time are two words that create a flurry of responses in my head as the word meaningful is highly subjective,” she shares. “Sometimes I define meaningful as productive in the things I want to do, which for me is developing my creative brain; therefore, I would be working on new theatre projects, drawing, painting, or creating music with my partner.”
“The connection with nature is also something that I would define as meaningful,” she continues. “Going for a walk in the forest with my dog or exploring new trails always puts my mind at ease.” But she also knows the importance of relaxation and downtime. “When I can, a good book and wine or cuddles with my partner and a movie are also excellent choices.”
Exploring Prague: Jazmin Recommends
Jazmin believes that people often stick to the same places, especially expats and tourists, and miss out on the city’s beauty. “I would recommend my fellow Praguers to go to PRAGUE!” Jazmin smiles.
“Often when people go out, they go to the same ‘hub’ places: Žižkov, Vinohrady, Centre, etc. For expats, people often only stick around in places that cater to expats. Or people think Prague, being in the center of Europe, is a great destination to visit other European cities… without exploring the full city they live in!”
She suggests getting out of the downtown and taking a tram to a new location. “For example, everyone takes day trips out to other cities to see castles and nature; nonetheless, there are castles, ruins, and great hiking trails here!”
“One of my favorite parks in Prague is in Košíře where there are beautiful trails, a small castle, and amazing scenery. Plus it’s a couple of tram stops from my house,” she grins. “One of the best restaurants that my partner and I went to was some random hospoda in the middle of who-knows-where somewhere in Prague 21. It was a great opportunity to help us practice Czech, and the people there seemed to appreciate our efforts.”
Jazmin encourages her fellow expats and tourists not to be afraid to go somewhere random and try something new in the city. “Prague is much bigger than we give it credit for!”
Where Genuine Stories Are Captured And Shared
Jazmin’s story is a reminder that moving to a new city can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to try new things and meet amazing people. Her passion for the arts and her willingness to connect with people and explore new things help her in finding happiness, purpose, and belonging in Prague.
If you’d like more inspiration, don’t miss the previous interview with Marian. I also share more exclusive tips and stories with my subscribers in a newsletter. If you like nurturing your Prague curiosity, join us by subscribing here:
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