When I arrived in Liechtenstein for my Erasmus semester, I expected life here to be similar to what I was used to in Prague. After all, we are still in Central Europe - but I actually noticed not just one, but several aspects of everyday life here that surprised me and made me reflect on my own cultural background. 

The very first thing that I noticed was how people greet each other. In Vaduz and the nearby cities, strangers smile, say hello, and sometimes even smile at you from passing cars. At first, it almost confused me. In Prague, it's definitely more common to avoid eye contact and definitely not smile at strangers. I realized that I had also adopted this attitude (I often walk around with a neutral or even slightly unfriendly-looking expression or serious face). Here in Vaduz, when someone smiles at me, I  often react too coldly and then feel ashamed. It is a strange but interesting experience - what I consider „normal“ behavior is actually just a habit from my home culture.

Something similar happens at crosswalks. In Prague, crossing the street is often a bit of a struggle - drivers don't always stop, and as a pedestrian, you have to be careful. In Vaduz, drivers stop long before you reach the crosswalk, even if you're still several meters away. Sometimes they even wait quite a long time, but without looking impatient. It shows how different expressions of respect are - in Prague, traffic is more competitive, while here, patience and respect for pedestrians seem to be completely normal.

I was also impressed by the atmosphere at the university. The school is small, and that creates a very personal environment. The professors speak to us in a relaxed tone, almost as if we were equals, and the classes feel more like conversations than formal lectures. I really like this approach because it motivates me to participate and share my opinions and ideas. In Prague, I am used to a larger and more formal university environment, where there is a bigger distance between teachers and students.

In fact, shopping here is also a cultural lesson. I was surprised by how limited the opening hours of grocery stores are. In Prague, I'm used to supermarkets being open late, sometimes even 24 hours a day. Here, stores close early and on Sundays everything is off limit completely. At first, I found this quite annoying, but over time I am maybe beginig to understand the values behind it, that it is about spending time with family, resting, and a slower pace of life instead of having access to everything 24/7.

Another thing that caught my attention is the overall atmosphere of a professional and elegant everyday life. People here dress very elegantly and often formally, both men and women, and the whole place feels clean, organized, and high-class. When I walk through the streets, I get a feeling of tidiness and sophistication that is really in contrast to the more informal, sometimes chaotic energy of a big city like Prague.

Overall, I have been trying to adapt - I try to smile back, I trust that drivers will wait, I participate more in class, I plan my shopping a little better, and I even pay a little more attention to how I look (dress) in public. These changes may look small, but they change how I feel and behave everyday. For example, I've noticed that when I smile, it actually boosts my mood a little, or when I participate more in class discussions, I feel more involved.

In the end, what I find most interesting is not only the specific actions, but also the values behind them - friendliness, patience, a sense of community and professionalism. The experience of these differences has already made me think about my own cultural background and realize that „normal“ is always just a relative term.