What's it like to be a European girl in the American hustle world?
New York can totally captivate you. The fast pace, confident people everywhere, and a culture where every contact might open new doors. "Americans are often 'overly positive,' sometimes even seeming fake, but it's just their nature. You have to get used to it and stop judging. Next to them, I look exactly like a 'Slavic girl' – calmer expression, fewer visible emotions. Yet, I'm actually a sunshine person," influencer Anna Jermanová says in an interview with Refresher. She also adds that it's important not to go crazy over it.
Anna is currently interning at the Czech Consulate and the Czech Center in New York, where students from the Czech Republic can apply, usually for two to three months. During the day, she works on PR, social media, and organizing cultural events, and in the evening, she assists directly at the events. She also applied for a master's program and got accepted into a prestigious school with a scholarship, where she now starts and plans to spend the next two years.
From networking, high food prices, to everyday life in a city where dreams meet reality. Why does she miss the taste of Czech tomatoes? How do approaches to life and work differ between Europe and America? And what do you start to appreciate only when you're thousands of miles away from home?
I see videos of different 'Slavic girls' in New York popping up on Instagram. They often start trends, whether it's skincare, food, or fashion. Do you see any advantage in this yourself? Americans often appreciate the European background. Not everyone, of course, but a lot of people might say to me: Oh my god, you live in Czechoslovakia? How is that? They're so amazed because they often don't even know exactly where the Czech Republic is.
For Americans, European origin is exotic, especially if you're from Central or Eastern Europe. Slavic girls supposedly have a unique charm, though I don't really know why. They say it's obvious that I'm not American. Often people approach me with genuine interest: You're not American, where are you from? I wanna know. And these little interactions open up lots of new contacts, conversations, and opportunities.
Workwise, it's tough for a European woman. Companies have to pay high fees and arrange visas for employing foreigners, which most firms don't want to because it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. So, as a European, getting to America for work is really difficult. At the same time, I'm grateful I wasn't born in America.
Why specifically?
Not only would I never want to raise children there, but the healthcare system, education, everything is expensive. Without a scholarship, and I'm lucky to have gotten a scholarship at a great school, I couldn't afford to study there. The tuition fees are just astronomical.
Can you recall a moment when loneliness and distance from home hit you the hardest?
Loneliness across the ocean is tough, but thanks to my internship and community, I found new friends who became my second family. I've lived in Vienna and Paris, and while I was sometimes far from home, it was never like being alone in America. If something happens in Europe, you can call, buy a cheap flight, and be home in a few hours. That's not possible from New York; everything is just different.
I'm a sensitive person and close to my family, so I'm used to communicating with them every day. Suddenly, that daily presence wasn't there, communication was only by phone and with a huge time difference.
When I get up at eight in the morning, it's afternoon for you. I go straight to work, don't have time to communicate during the day, and in the evening, when I can finally get to it, it's already late in the Czech Republic and people are asleep. I found my community mainly through the internship; those people became my closest contacts in New York.
And what about finding friends?
The next three months will be key for me because it's the period when I'll start building my community and new friends. It's not super easy in New York, but it's doable because people are open and interact. You meet people just randomly and they become your friends right away.
I wanted to ask about that. Americans are known for their small talk. Some might find it superficial. How do you feel about it?
At first, it often feels a bit superficial. But it's easier to make contact there, because approaching and talking to strangers is normal. You walk down the street, and someone stops you with: Oh my god, I love your outfit, I love your jacket, where is it from? — and that's how it works there.
You meet someone, sit down, arrange coffee, and your network of people in New York begins to form. You follow each other on Instagram, stay in touch, and the community starts growing. Among those people, you find others going through similar experiences because New York is a transitional place. Many are there for just two or three years, studying or working part-time, all dealing with similar things like loneliness and distance from home.
You support each other, fill lonely moments, spend evenings together, and suddenly these new friends become like your family.
It's known that finding accommodation in New York is very difficult. I saw on Instagram you have a nice apartment in a good location...
It's hardcore. I was lucky to get contacts through my internship. They connected me with a few people, and after a lot of effort, I managed to find a place to live.
Also, dealing with housing in New York from Europe is incredibly tough. But once you're in America, start meeting people, join communities and groups, it becomes much easier. You get an American phone number, access to Facebook and Instagram groups, and everything goes more through personal contacts.
So yes, finding housing in New York is tough, but from Europe, it's even harder. When you're on site, people exchange contacts, you start networking, and gradually things start to move. In America, many things operate on networking.
In the Czech Republic, people often feel shy, thinking if they approach someone, it'll seem odd like they're trying to get something or "use" someone. But in America, they don't see it that way at all.
Do you live alone?
I have my own room and bathroom, both quite big. I don't have my own apartment, we share the kitchen, but it's a huge house with about five floors. I was lucky to have a great group of roommates; everyone has their "floor," and downstairs is a large shared kitchen with a living room. I was fortunate because I have a really spacious room and bathroom.
Imagine a house like Carrie Bradshaw's, exactly that type of urban building. Of course, it's not luxury, but people there kind of get used to it. At the same time, housing costs more or less match people's earnings there. Sure, it's expensive, but if you're open to co-living and search, you can find good apartments and accommodation.
Do you feel natural in that? I mean the mentioned networking...
For that, I step out of my comfort zone. I'm more of an introvert, learning everything on the go. In the Czech Republic, people often feel shy, thinking if they approach someone, it'll seem odd like they're trying to get something or "use" someone. But in America, they don't see it that way at all. Nobody thinks badly of you, quite the opposite.
I feel like everyone benefits from it, and people offer each other support. That's why everyone connects so naturally there.
It's much easier to start a business there, precisely because nobody looks down on you when you're just starting. Nobody really throws obstacles in your way. If someone wants something, they just go and do it, that's how the "hustle culture" works there.
Do you remember the moment you had to "sell" yourself for the first time among strangers?
At university, they have these mixers, events where new students are invited. You go to an event, have to introduce yourself, kind of "sell" yourself, and fit in with others. I was completely lost there, didn't know anyone. But you have to bite the bullet and go for it. It's tough, a huge personal shift for me.
Describe your typical day...
I was currently interning almost every day, roughly from ten in the morning to four or five in the afternoon. And in the evening, we had various events, so I was constantly busy. I didn't really have any free time in this regime. Of course, on weekends, when I could, I explored the city.
But every day is different there. One day I might go to SoHo, the next Downtown, another time to Central Park. It's always different, and there's always something to do. You head out in the morning, and could be on your feet all day, suddenly realizing: wow, it's already evening, and the whole day is gone.
There are so many possibilities for activities. I walk, because the city is amazing for walking. Same goes for bikes, I often rent one or use it to get where I need to go. At the same time, I try to exercise. I've slacked off a bit because I didn't have time, but I'm gradually discovering places for exercise and things like that. Currently, hot yoga and Pilates are the trends in New York, with constant self-improvement.
You have no boundaries there, no blocks in what you can or can't wear. Every day on the street, you see so much inspiration and originality that it shifts your mindset completely.
Many people recognize you as a fashion influencer. Since you started regularly going to work, has it reflected in your content somehow?
Suddenly, I don't have as much time for activities I love, but I had to sacrifice them a bit to get to New York and be there. Originally, I was going "just" for an internship, but my dream was always to live and work in New York at least for a while. This experience was the first step to fulfilling that dream.
To do that, I had to put aside things I enjoy the most. On the other hand, I love organizing events. Now I'd like to set a routine, and when I'm working less, I'd love to focus more on the fashion content I've been doing so far and connect it a lot with New York.
Fashion in New York must be really inspiring...
It's incredible. You have no boundaries, no blocks in what you can or can't wear. Every day on the street, you see so much inspiration and originality that it shifts your mindset completely.
And that's exactly what I'd like to bring to my content and actually teach people: not being afraid to step out of your comfort zone, not being afraid to be seen. Because in the Czech Republic, we're still conservative.
And how does this environment influence your mindset?
I feel like in New York, you get compliments almost automatically. Even just for clothing. Even if some days I feel "off," maybe I'm in sweatpants, not quite feeling myself, telling myself "it’s not my day," there's always someone who stops and compliments me.
So it kind of boosts your confidence?
You don't fear being on the street, recording videos, taking photos, or expressing yourself in any way. People don't look at it badly. On the contrary, women often approach you with compliments, and this really boosts confidence.
Even though I work among Czech people, they're already tuned into the American mindset. If you like something about someone, it's completely normal to express it, and it's not just about fashion. In the Czech Republic, it's more like people pass each other in the elevator and don't even say hello. In America, when you get in an elevator, people automatically greet each other and ask: "Hey, how was your day?" And often a normal conversation begins.
The support for femininity and generally positive interaction is definitely higher there than here.
At the same time, it's necessary not to go crazy over it, because you see lots of beautiful and successful people there, and the pace of life in New York is incredible. For people not used to it, it can be challenging.
What do you think is the biggest difference between European and American fashion approaches?
New York is "European" compared to the rest of America, but even so, the fashion style is totally different from ours. American women generally don't dress elegantly, they prefer comfort. In high school, girls commonly wear tracksuits and UGGs, no shirts or polished outfits like in Europe. Leggings, sports sets, and brands like Lululemon or Alo Yoga are popular.
Moms on the Upper East Side walk their dogs in leggings and hoodies, sometimes with a fur coat over their shoulders. That's just America.
There are various tricks to save money. Apps like Too Good To Go work, where you can get lots of food for a few dollars that would otherwise go to waste. So, gradually, you find a way to live like a New Yorker without spending a fortune.
Were New York's prices shocking to you?
New York is probably one of the most expensive places in the world. Prices are completely different than ours, and the worst is the initial investment. When you move there, you need everything. Basic things you have in the Czech Republic, from bedding to cooking ingredients to a SIM card. Just for a SIM card with unlimited data and calls within America and to Europe, you pay around $58 (almost 1,200 CZK) a month.
But if you know how, you can live reasonably. There are various tricks to save money. Apps like Too Good To Go work, where you can get lots of food for a few dollars that would otherwise go to waste. So, gradually, you find a way to live like a New Yorker without spending a fortune.
You learn to budget, avoid tourist traps, and discover how the local system works. Same with bars. A New Yorker knows where to go for a happy hour, so they're not paying $20–22 for a drink. Food is really the biggest challenge for me. In America, everything is pricier, and often the quality of groceries is worse.
So, is access to quality groceries just for the wealthy?
If you want really quality stuff, it costs a fortune. You have to decide whether you're willing to spend a large sum on groceries that truly satisfy you, or settle for what's available, even if it doesn't taste as great.
Do you miss groceries the most?
I'm really used to the ingredients we have here in Europe. Fresh, tasty, natural. We don't realize the treasures we have in regular stores, even in Lidl. Products are often on a completely different level than in the US.
Even if you buy something "premium" at a chain like Whole Foods, the taste still isn't comparable to what we have at home. It doesn't taste like our good Czech tomato; the vegetables are less flavorful.
Prices in New York are generally higher, but compared to Prague, for example in cafes, it's not that dramatic.
What have you started to appreciate at home now that you live away?
Education, the healthcare system, access to nature, that's something often not available in America. For example, in winter, here you just take a bus and go skiing; there you have to fly, and everything is extremely expensive.
Many people there can't even swim, rollerblade, or do other basic things because they grew up in the city. I appreciate what we have in the Czech Republic and Europe because such opportunities just don't exist there.
Finally, I'd say it's amazing to travel at twenty. You find yourself, learn to live alone, and discover what it means to be independent. Moving to another city in the Czech Republic is one thing, but abroad is a completely different level. You have to learn to solve a lot of things that come into your life, on your own.
