Mistakes and bad habits foreigners should avoid in order to pretend we’re locals, improbable though that may actually be

By Julie Moody

10. Eating a diet composed purely of smazeny syr and goulash.

9. Trying to speak in broken Czech to someone who ends up being from Texas.

8. Standing at the entrance of a restaurant for ten minutes instead of seating yourself.

7. Accidentally purchasing a case of non-alcoholic beer.

6. Taking pictures in the metro station.

5. Not weighing and labeling your produce at Billa, causing a large commotion at checkout and delays for everyone in line behind you.

4. Referring to the Jan Hus statue in Old Town Square as “that one that looks like a scene from Harry Potter.”

3. Buying and eating a can of what you thought was tuna before realizing it was actually cat food.

2. Discovering that “studeny” food is a cold appetizer, not a discount for students.

1. Catching the tram in the wrong direction, causing an elderly Czech woman to notice your confusion and kindly inform you: “Prague is the other way!”