When moving overseas it can be very difficult deciding what to bring. There are some things that you should definitely make sure to pack. These include passport, birth certificate, and travelers insurance. You can purchase travelers insurance for 1 or 2 months and then decide whether or not to continue based on whether your employer will provide insurance for you. You should also bring about 1000 USD (not including accommodation).
You should not bring this amount of money in your currency, but instead rely on the many ATM machines in Prague. You should contact your bank and credit card companies to make sure they lift any limits off of your accounts. The 1000 USD will cover all of your basic expenses in Prague for the first month or two. The money necessary to start a life in the Czech Republic greatly depends on your spending habits. Restaurants and bars in the center can be very expensive depending on where you go.
Groceries are relatively cheap and will allow you to save a significant amount of money if you eat at home. You should bring all types of clothing. Prague temperatures can change quickly and you should be prepared for all four seasons if you plan to stay. You should also bring some professional clothes for teaching. Men’s ties are only required for interviews. The teacher dress code is somewhere along the lines of business casual. I would not recommend bringing cheap items that will take up a significant amount of room in your suitcase. For example a bath towel will take up a lot of space and you can buy a new one here for 200 crowns (10 USD). Use that space to bring some extra clothing.
You will also need to bring or buy here some materials for teaching. I would recommend buying them in Prague to save space in your suitcase. You will need notebooks, pencils, pens, scissors, and other similar materials you may need for teaching. You will also need some books for teaching. These can be purchased at the Luxor bookstore on Wenceslas Square – right around the corner from Tutor. They are approximately 20 USD and you will be able to use them after your course as a teaching resource. A voltage converter or at least an adaptor should also be brought if you plan to use your computer or other appliances. The Czech Republic has standard European outlets. If you have a university degree you should also bring that.
If you forget anything Prague has all kinds of stores and everything you might need can be purchased here.
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written by Luke Bodenschatz, TEFL graduate - Prague, 2007
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