​You just unpacked the snowsuits from jarní prázdniny (the Czech spring break). The kids had a great time skiing in the Krkonoše or the Alps, and you were finally looking forward to a normal routine. But just days after returning to school or kindergarten, the inevitable happens: the coughing starts, the fever spikes, and you are back to playing nurse. ​If it feels like your child catches a new bug every time there is a school break, you aren't imagining things. Late February

It is a scenario every parent in Prague knows well. Your child comes home from school with a crumpled paper at the bottom of their backpack. It is a registration form for the upcoming "Škola v přírodě" (School in Nature) or ski trip. Among the list of socks and snacks to pack, there is a bolded requirement: "Posudek o zdravotní způsobilosti." For expat parents, this often leads to a panic. Is this a prescription? A vaccination record? Do I need to see a doctor tomorrow ? Here

You have a pounding headache or a runny nose. You walk into a supermarket in Prague, head to the "health" aisle, and expect to find shelves stocked with Tylenol, DayQuil, or aspirin. Instead, you find vitamins, tea, and maybe some band-aids. For many expats, this is the first "culture shock" of the Czech medical system. In the Czech Republic, the rules surrounding medication—even simple painkillers—are significantly stricter than in the US or UK. Navigating the Lékárna  (Phar