Brno: Home of Modern Genetics

Brno, the Czech Republic's second-largest city, has many of the same appealing characteristics of the capital, Prague, at a fraction of the price. The Czech Republic is made up of the regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. Brno was the capital of Moravia for hundreds of years when these regions existed as semi-autonomous states. As a result, the city is the product of almost a thousand years of trade, investment, and intellectualism. Gregor Mendel, the father of modern genetics, developed his theories in Brno's St. Thomas Abbey.

Brno is located in the southeast of the Czech Republic, at the convergence of the Svitava and Svratka rivers. It is a short drive from both the Slovakian and Austrian borders, and Vienna is a brief and inexpensive train trip away. Brno's climate is similar to much of non-coastal Europe, with warm summers and cold winters. During the winter, there is frequently some snowfall, though it is seldom heavy.

The city of Brno has made an effort to appeal to expats online with its Brno Expat Center, a web site devoted to easing the transition of foreigners into life in Brno. This cooperative effort between the City of Brno and a local non-profit can help you with visa questions, finding a place to live, finding an English-speaking accountant for your taxes, and many other services. Though many cities pay lip service to attracting expats, few produce this kind of resource.

Czech cuisine is hearty and filling. Centuries at the heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire made sausages, strong cheeses, and goulash staples of the local diet. Of course, beer is a national passion, and while it is not actually cheaper than water, it's pretty close. Most Americans know the Budweiser brand, which appropriated their name from an identically-named Czech beer. Don't be deceived, though-- the Czech brand is a completely different beer, and actually drinkable!

Czech people tend to be somewhat reserved. Of course, people vary wildly, but don't be discouraged if it takes time to get to know locals on a personal level. The very best thing you could do to improve your chances of fitting in, of course, is to learn to speak Czech.