Cultural Integration

In the cultural integration section, the author has asked the respondents regarding their attitudes towards the Czech core values, their friendships with Czechs, opinions on intermarriage and criminality among Ukrainians. The knowledge of the language also is a part of cultural integration, although it is also essential to socio-economic integration.

Ministry of Interior (2015) statistics showed that in 2015 around 7,1 percent was crime was committed by foreigners. 1 055 Ukrainians were prosecuted for the crimes of different level of seriousness, but most of crimes were regarding visa overstay. The statistics show that immigration is the Czech Republic does not increase criminality, because when the number of immigrants grow, the criminality became even lower.

In 2015, 2 158 foreigners joined the Czech language courses and socio-cultural integration classes for children and adults in the Integration centers organized by Czech government (Ministry

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available.The respondents the author has interviewed haven’t joined the courses but Interviewee F tried registering, “I was trying to register for the free language courses, but I wasn’t successful.

There was always some mistake in the system, the registration didn’t come through.” Interviewee D was studying for a permanent residence Czech language test and said, “Now you need to pass a Czech language test in order to get a permanent residence or citizenship. I must say that after seeing the tests, the one for the citizenship is a little too hard. The test for permanent residence is easy. The hardest part of exam is the history part. We didn’t go to the Czech school, so it is hard.”

Because Ukrainian and Czech languages are close, it is easier for Ukrainians to learn the Czech language, in comparison to other immigrant groups (Bernard and Mikesova 2014). Slovaks have the most advantage, however, because they can speak Slovak language in the Czech Republic and be understood. The respondents the author has interviewed admit that Czech language is hard for them, especially the grammar. Interviewee N says, “Czech language is difficult. Even though it is Slavic language, it is very different from Ukrainian.”

The previous research on sociocultural integration shows that Ukrainians despite living in the Czech Republic for many years, still dreaming of going back to Ukraine in the future (Bernard and Mikesova 2014). From the author’s research, indeed, the majority of respondents wanted to go back to Ukraine in the future, but they did not have a plan when. Interviewee H says, “I am always thinking about going back to Ukraine. I think that retirement should be in Ukraine.” Interviewee E, despite living in the Czech Republic for 20 years, says: “I do not feel like home here, but I cannot go back due to the situation in Ukraine.” On the other hand, Interviewee N says,

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Another difficulty for cultural integration might be working overtime, so there is not enough of free time and the nature of work, especially if the immigrant is working with other immigrants and does not get contact with the local population (Bernard and Mikesova 2014).

Drbohlav et al (1999) pointed out that Ukrainians in the Czech Republic have a poor cultural life, rarely go to theaters, museums, or organize own Ukrainian cultural events. This is might be due to the fact, that they try to work long hours and go back to Ukraine as soon as possible, and have no time for leisure events. The respondents suggest that this might be due to the different lifestyle and values of Ukrainians. Interviewee T, who works as a kindergarten teacher and communicates with her Czech colleagues daily, says, “We are not used to have a cultural life. We can afford to go to the theater or movie, but we always don’t have time, we are not taught to relax. We need to learn more from Czechs.” Interviewee N, after living in the Czech Republic for 17 years, confirms the differences in mentality, “I really like that Czechs are investing money in experiences. They like traveling, going to the theater. Ukrainians prefer to buy something for the house, like a carpet, for example. Or clothes to show off.”

Ukrainians in the Czech Republic are not segregated into particular area, the most segregated immigrant community in the Czech Republic are Vietnamese (Bernard and Leontiyeva 2013). Interviewee Q thinks that it is due Ukrainian lack of collectiveness, “There is no area in Prague where Ukrainian community lives. Ukrainians do not hold together.”

According to the Czech Statistical Office (2016), many Ukrainians stay in the Czech Republic with a spouse, but their children stay in Ukraine (Bernard and Mikesova 2014). Indeed, many respondents have left their children in Ukraine with grandparents, some have brought their children after several years in the Czech Republic. Interviewee K left her child in Ukraine when he was a baby and brought him when he was 9 years old. She says, “It was a hard decision to bring a

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left her child at the age of three back, now her daughter is 16 years old and still lives in Ukraine. On the other hand, Interviewee G brought his wife and four children,

I have stayed in the Czech Republic for several years without my family. I have realized that there is no future if I am here and my family there, so I have started to plan to bring them to the Czech Republic. To bring own family, first of all, I had to find an apartment for everyone to live and other

necessities. My family came in August 2004 before the beginning of the school year.

Although the majority of respondents felt connection to the Czech values, the opinions on intermarriage between Ukrainians and Czech was mixed. Some respondents said that they know personally Ukrainians, who are happy in marriage with Czechs (Interviewee D). Others said that they prefer to get married with Ukrainians because of the same culture, religion and traditions (Interviewee I). A high school student Interviewee M, who came to the Czech Republic at the age of five, says, “I thought I would be dating Ukrainian. But now I am seeing a Czech guy. My parents are against, they offer me to go back to Ukraine and find a Ukrainian boyfriend. I am not against marriage with Czech, but my parents are.” Some respondents just do not believe in happy marriage between different cultures (Interviewee E). Interviewee C, a cleaning lady, who also sells home-baked cakes online, says, “I do not believe in happy marriage between Czech and Ukrainian. I have friends, who are married with Czechs, but they (Czechs) will not accept Ukrainian as one of them.

No matter how good your relationship is. I am firmly against such marriages.”

The question on criminality also got mixed responses. The immigrants, who live in the

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between Ukrainians. Therefore, Czechs did not like us that much. There were Ukrainians who embarrassed us, there were criminal groups as well. Now the situation has changed.” When Interviewee C first came to the Czech Republic and worked in the forest in the 90s, she remembered, “In the 90s criminality was high. Those mafia came even to the forest, where I was working, and took our money. They were Ukrainians, mostly from the South. Ukrainians stole from other Ukrainians. Fortunately, those times are gone.”