At a new address / daniel-camilo-oviedo-arevalo
Colombian Energy in Czech Silence
Daniel Oviedo comes from Colombia and has been living in the Czech Republic for five years. He has worked at Škoda Auto for two years now. He started as a Trainee and after rotations in the Production and Logistics area and the STM, BZW and FIP/5 departments, he found his place in VM.
At a new address
Daniel Camilo Oviedo Arevalo
Brand marketing strategy from the VM – Marketing department
Czechs and Colombians
Colombians are very friendly and full of energy, while Czechs can seem a bit cold at first. But once you break the ice, the differences quickly fade away. What I appreciate most about Czechs is their honesty and punctuality. The better I understand your culture, the more I enjoy spending time among you.
In my first few days here, I walked around in the snow in Hawaiian shirts, as I had no winter clothes.
In Bogotá, it's usually 10 to 20 °C for most of the year, but in some cities temperatures drop as low as 5 °C. Give me a hug!
Driving Is Calmer Here
Driving in Colombia is very stressful, and traffic tends to be reckless and dangerous. On the other hand, these conditions have made us skilled drivers. I find driving here much easier.
Choice of Cars
What's interesting is our difference in taste: Czechs like elongated car shapes, which aren't very popular in Colombia. From the Škoda cars, I would choose the Enyaq RS in electric green.
This is my dream job. I love what I do, the people I work with, and the impact my work has.
What Surprised Me Here
Above all, the silence. You can stop on the street and most of the time hear nothing but the wind. That's rare in Colombia. I was also struck by how big a role the post office plays here. And I keep discovering something new – a tradition, an interesting place, an unfamiliar custom or a historical curiosity.
I brought my first guitar from Colombia disassembled into individual parts, and I put it back together here.
Where I Like to Go Most
I love climbing, and the Czech Republic offers plenty of great opportunities to pursue it. That's why I don't have just one favourite place. I like it everywhere you can climb.
Tastes of Home
What I miss most is arepa, a corn flatbread filled with chicken and vegetables. For my Czech colleagues who like pork, I'd recommend lechona, an excellent Colombian speciality made from this meat. As for me, I've come to love goulash and svíčková here.