Alejandro Cruz on life in Prague: a Mexican perspective on culture, identity and belonging

In Czechast, Mexican entrepreneur Alejandro Cruz reflects on his life in Prague and the cultural differences he encountered and what made him start podascting. He speaks about identity, belonging, and the challenges of adapting to a new society. His experience offers a personal insight into what it means to live between cultures.

Prague as a second home

Alejandro Cruz first arrived in Prague in 2006, working for a Mexican company expanding into Europe. When he returned more than a decade later, the city had changed—but so had he. Today, Prague is not just where he lives, but a place he considers his own.

Moving from Mexico to Prague meant adjusting to a very different social environment. Cruz highlights one key contrast: openness versus reserve. In his experience, Mexicans tend to connect quickly, while Czechs take time to build trust—a difference that led to early misunderstandings.

“The book is closed. You need to open it slowly… but once you become friends, they are loyal. It took me about two years to really feel I had Czech friends—and they are still my friends today.” Over time, he came to value this approach, especially the depth and stability of relationships.

Between two identities

Living abroad, Alejandro says, reshapes identity. He no longer feels fully Mexican—but not fully Czech either. This “in-between” space is something many foreigners experience. It offers freedom, but also a sense of distance, as adapting to a new culture often means letting go of parts of the old one.

He also speaks about difficult experiences, including moments of hostility tied to cultural differences. Rather than responding with anger, he chose a different path.

“I’m not going to respond violence with violence. I’m going to respond with love… What can we do to integrate better? What can we do to be respectful?” For him, dialogue and understanding are the only way forward.

What stands out about Czechia

Despite the challenges, Alejandro values several aspects of Czech society: a strong sense of history, care for public space, and pride in language. He also notes that while friendships may take longer to form, they tend to be lasting and loyal. At the same time, like elsewhere, globalization is gradually reshaping the country’s identity.

So, Alejandro sees his story as part of a broader global reality—more people today live between cultures, balancing different identities. Understanding that experience, he believes, is key to building more open and tolerant societies.

For the full conversation with Alejandro Cruz, listen to the latest episode of Czechast.