From communism to capitalism: change through the eyes of a Czech pensioner
By Trista Lv
Kutna Hora, near Prague - Feb 9 - IJS-Global - Jaromira’s state pension covers only her basic necessities so the former primary school teacher supplements her income by guiding tourists around her historic home town of Kutna Hora.
The oldest tour guide in Kutna Hora
Jaromira’s retirement coincided with the transformation of the former Czechoslovakia into a capitalist society in the early 1990s.
“My pension is not high, it only enough for me to pay for my flat and food. If I don’t work as a guide, I couldn’t afford to buy gifts for my sons or grandsons,” she said.
The pensioner was one of a number of retirees recruited as tour guides by the government for their foreign language skills.
They were given a short training course before taking up their posts as guides, ticket sellers, tourist information officers or consultants at popular tourist destinations around the Czech Republic.
The government-run tourism board matches guides with visitors. The visitor pays the tourism office, which in turn, pays the guides.
Jaromira moved to Kutna Hora from the capital, Prague, 40 years ago. She augmented her personal knowledge of the ancient city by studying history books.
She receives 200 Koruna (US$9) an hour as an English-speaking tour guide and 150 Koruna an hour for tours in Czech.
Jaromira's English improved following a visit to England
Jaromira has to rely on dictionary sometimes, though her English is understandable when communicating with people.
There are almost 20 people working as part- or full-time tour guides in Kutna Hora, a city that traces its origins back to 1142 AD.
Four of them, including herself, are pensioners.
“The two men speak German, because it was World War II when they were at school and they were forced to learn and speak German,” she said.
“When I was a student in school we could choose a language to learn in addition to Russian, which was compulsory. I chose English. But after 1993, schools started to teach English instead of Russian.”
Her fellow female guide speaks Russian.
She learned basic English in middle school, but got the chance to improve it when she visited England in 1993 to stay with friends for several months.
Under communism, she received better holidays and welfare benefits. Under capitalism she earns more.
“In the communist society, we could go only to communist countries around Czechoslovakia,” she said.
“But after that time, at my friends’ invitation, I could go (to England) and stay with them. I only had to pay for the tickets.” She is proud of her travel experience.
Since returning from Britain, she has actively worked on improving her English skills.
Jaromira with her dog, Lucky
Her job has enabled her to meet people speaking different languages from all over the world, including Singapore, Korea and much of Europe.
She enjoys her job. “I love to stand in front of (the Gothic) St. Barbara’s church; I smile at the tourists while they are smiling to me. I feel full of energy at that moment.”
Winter is the low season in Kutna Hora, some 73 km from Prague. There is little opportunity for Jaromira to make money.
“In communist times, I could not go abroad because of the borders were shut,” Jaromira said. “However, under capitalism, I can go aboard but I have no money.”
