10 Questions for: Artist Jessica Serran

I wake up early and go for a run through some wooded part of the city. Then, to Radost Café (since it’s one of the few places that serve a good American-style breakfast) where I slowly sip an espresso before wandering over to the river while marveling at the old buildings and the morning light. Once there I stroll through the farmer’s market on Náplavka and stock up on goodies. From there it’s over to the Rudolfinum to see an exhibition. After this I head to my studio (the Bubenská building in Vltavksá), where the light is streaming in, paint for several hours then take a long walk back home up through Letná park, behind the castle, and then down through Petřín and back home.

It’s hobbling along. I can get by in most situations and get whatever information I need, but decided long ago that perfection was not my goal and that butchering it was okay. I’m not intimated by it like many expats are, perhaps because I grew up hearing Slovak. I’ve studied it in fits and spurts and have decided that I would allow it to develop slowly and organically. I have to admit though, as a highly sensitive person, being in public spaces and not easily understanding what’s going on around me can be a blessing.

I miss my niece and nephew the most! But as for things that I miss most about the country itself (Canada), it’s casual, friendly interactions with shopkeepers and then diversity. I really miss diversity. I do love Prague for the lifestyle that’s possible here. I love that I can walk or rely on public transportation to get everywhere I need to go and how connected I feel to this place through those modes of transportation. I also love that the expectation for having big homes and large chunks of property is largely non-existent and that owning a flat is a reasonable and obvious aspiration for most. This kind of modesty and simplicity is much more in alignment with my own desires and values than what I experience in Canada.