You just saw two pink lines on the test. After the initial wave of joy (and perhaps a little panic), the reality of your situation sets in: How exactly does having a baby work in the Czech Republic? If you are an expat from the US, the UK, or elsewhere, the Czech prenatal care system might surprise you—usually in a very good way. The care here is highly medicalized, thorough, and involves a lot of monitoring. At the center of it all is a little paper booklet that will become your most prized...

Congratulations! You have navigated the interviews, signed the contract, and you are ready to start your new job in Prague. But just as you are celebrating, your new HR department hands you a piece of paper titled Žádost o provedení pracovnělékařské prohlídky  and tells you that you cannot legally start working until a doctor clears you. For many expats, this is their first collision with Czech occupational health law. Why do you need a doctor to confirm you are fit to sit at a desk and type...

We are nearing the end of Q1. The corporate push in Prague is at its peak, the winter has been long, and you are likely running on espresso and sheer willpower. When expats talk about "burnout," it is usually framed as a mental health or productivity issue. We tell ourselves we just need a long weekend, a spa day, or to "push through" until the summer holidays. But burnout is not just a state of mind. It is a highly physiological condition. When you live in a state of chronic stress, your...