The Launching of the Multicultural Calendar
Photo: Centre for Foreigners JMK
As is tradition for December, the Centre for Foreigners of the South Moravian Region, z. ú. is organizing the launching of the Multicultural calendar for the year 2024. It is an event that connects all nationalities and invites both Czechs and foreigners. In the calendar, you will not only find the holidays of all religions, but you will also get to know twelve foreigners who decided to share their stories about how they became part of our land.
To be a Compatriot in a Foreign Land The main motto of this year’s calendar is: You aren’t born a compatriot, you become one. This thought resonates throughout the campaign titled Our Compatriots, launched this year by the Centre for Foreigners. The campaign shares the stories of foreigners who for various reasons decided
to live in the Czech Republic and how they realized how they too help make the South Moravian region a great place to live. Rachele Mellai is one of the faces of the calendar. She is a make-up artist hailing from the Italian island of Sardinia. Rachele obtained her skills in Milan and she worked for worldrenown brands. She now lives in Brno and works as a freelancer; she shares her passion on Instagram and organizes makeup courses for women.
Czechs Don’t Do Small Talk Rachele moved to the Czech Republic to be with her Czech boyfriend. According to her, life in Brno offers a wide variety of work opportunities, restaurants, and cultural events. Her biggest cultural shock was the realization that Czechs don’t have random conversations on the street. “You stand next to someone at the bus stop for
half an hour and everyone is quiet. I wasn’t used to that. Maybe it’s a remnant of the communist era when people became closed off because it was safer for them.” Despite the initial challenges, Rachele built a community around herself. “We moved here during the pandemic; everything was closed and people were wary. It was tough to find friends. People didn’t meet up, there were no events, and I worked from home. I felt lonely, so I decided to create a community group titled Girls in Brno.”
that this feeling comes when you meet familiar faces on the street, and I am lucky to have many friends,” Rachele adds. You can find her story along with the stories of eleven other foreigners in the calendar. The launching of the Multicultural Calendar will be a great event, the celebration of diversity and the stories of those who chose our country for their home. The launch will take place on 14 December in Café Práh. The entry is for free.
To Feel Like at Home The Facebook group currently has 1,600 members from all over the Czech Republic and the world. They organize various events; sporting events, trips, cultural activities. They connect people, projects, and places in Brno. “After spending two years here I can say that I feel like it is my home. I think
Centre for Foreigners JMK www.cizincijmk.cz
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