English for Traveling - 1

When traveling to the United States, there are some general factors to consider, including such basic things as asking for directions. Here are a few simple rules, guidelines and tips which can help you.

When traveling, these tips can help you to communicate better | foto: Profimedia.cz

Look Ma, no visa!
Unless diplomatic negotiations hit a snag, by the end of this year, Czechs will no longer require a visa to visit the United States. This is of course, great news.

While joining the visa waiver program will undoubtedly help Czechs, please remember that America has much tighter security requirements for entry now than it ever has, and this has been true since the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Although even most Americans still do not possess them as of yet, because most Americans simply do not own passports, the U.S. Department of State now has what are called biometric passports.

Biometric passports contain the biometric identification information which is unique about and to you.

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According to U.S. Immigration, individuals who are registered via these new extra security programs who have passports with biometric encoding in them, will have an easier, faster time entering and exiting throughout their travels.

Sugar vs. vinegar
As the old expression goes, "You’ll catch more flies with honey, than you will with vinegar." This is especially true when visiting the USA, or trying to gain entrance.

Try to be polite.

When we say polite, we also mean extra understanding.

Please remember that although America is indeed an immigrant nation, most Americans do not own passports, and will never travel outside their own country.

As a tourist, you are not only a foreigner to them, but being especially from what most Americans still think is "Czechoslovakia," there is not much awareness of other cultures in the same way which exists here in Europe.

Part II tomorrow

. Jokes: Things You NEVER Say to Czech Women

Here are some distinctly unromantic lines that you NEVER want to ever try to use on a Czech woman.

1. Excuse me, but do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by you one more time?

2. Q: Would you like to have sex with me, or would you like to have some pizza?

Q: What, you don’t like pizza?

3. Excuse me, can I flirt with you?

4. If I was Elvis Presley, would you go out with me?

5. If I was Karel Gott, would you go out with me?

6. Stand still so I can pick you up.

7. Are you busy later tonight, say, around 3:30AM?

8. Hi, I’m new here in Prague. I’m lost. Could you give me directions to your apartment?

Angličtina vychází od pondělí do pátku.

Najdete ji také v bezplatném deníku Metropolitní expres.

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