JamesBranam's Blog

Some Things Never Change

Hi all,

I am even fortunate to have been able to travel to Czechoslovakia while it was still communist. I remember those rainy days in Prague in May 1987: Skoda, Lada, and Trabant cars leaving a trail of dirty smoke in the air as they passed me. There were no emission standards back then. If you had a car, you drove it, regardless of what chemicals you were pumping into the atmosphere.

Now it's 2007. While Trabants are Ladas have become less common, the same Skodas are still pumping poisonous gases into the air, for all to breathe. I know what you're thinking: With the European Union's very strict laws on automobile emissions in effect, these "smogmobiles" must be long gone from the streets of Prague. Wrong. People in this country have and always will find a way to circumvent any law that might have any effect on their lifestyle. They do this with bribes.

A good friend of mine recently took his car in for its biannual technical inspection. The car, a Skoda built in 1985, failed the inspection due to bad emission levels. Upon being notified of his car's poor results, there were two things he could have done: he could have had the car repaired so that it would pass the inspection, or he could pay a small fee to the inspection service (via a third person) and pass the inspection with flying colors. My friend, disregarding advice from me and others, chose the latter. It cost him 1,600 Czech Crowns ($80) to get through the inspection, repairs would have cost him three times as much. Now the car is back on the road, leaving that same trail of smoke wherever it goes. One more problem solved by an international phenomenon called corruption.

The Czech Republic - along with several other Central and Eastern European countries - is known for its corruption. The country has consistently ranked high on corruption indexes which published from time to time. Despite many laws enacted by the Czech and European parliaments on the books to fight it, corruption is alive and well in this country. Simply put: old habits die hard.

Here are some everyday examples:

• When you apply for a loan or a mortgage at a Czech bank, you bring a gift for the loan officer. Society dictates the type of gift: some years it's a couple of bottles of very good single-malt Scotch, other years it's a mountain bike. By the way, the gift is to ensure that you loan or mortgage application is considered for approval. It is by no means a guarantee that you will get the loan.
• When you visit the doctor or the dentist, bring along a small gift. A bottle of some alcoholic beverage will do fine. It will also get you on the inside track the next time you need the same doctor or dentist. It's called "state-run health care with a twist (of lemon)."
• Should a policeman stop you for any number of reasons (or for no reason at all, which is perfectly legal and quite common), prepare to grease his palms. Not paying him in cash will usually result in a much higher fine, as will asking for receipt for the cash you paid. Pay in cash, and never ask for a receipt and you'll do fine.

These are just four examples of how life works here. If you were born here, you're used to it. If you come here to live, you get used to it, or leave.

Just venting.

See you tomorrow.

--James

Posted at 08:56PM Oct 23, 2007 by branajam in Personal  |