Dawn Norris is a sociologist. She 
received her PhD and Master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, and previously served as a professor at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. In Spring 2023, Dawn traveled to Prague as a Fulbright Scholar—and she "caught the bug." While teaching at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, she explored how national history, social structures, and culture shape work trends and experiences. Beyond the classroom, her research delved into how people living in and around Prague understand the meaning of work and unemployment. Then came an unexpected twist: during her final week on Fulbright, Dawn met someone who instantly offered her a research position at the University of Ostrava. The project? Conducting in-depth interviews with Czech coal miners about their identities and what work means to them. It was a perfect fit. Today, 15 months into this life-changing move, Dawn reflects: "Every day I wake up, look out the window, and remember that I am privileged to live and work in the Czech Republic."
I CAUGHT THE BUG
“I remember you told me you ‘caught the bug,’” said Deb, my friend from the US. She was visiting me in my new home, Ostrava, Czech Republic. I don’t remember saying it, but apparently I had suggested that the Czech Republic was a place from which I could not just walk away. After my 2023 Czech Fulbright scholar visit, I was hooked. Deb told me I came back from the Czech Republic eager to return, travel widely, and learn more. Perhaps she knew I would return before I knew it myself.
Photo: Deb and friends visiting the Czech Republic, 2025.
Fulbright scholar visit, 2023. My Fulbright visit was the most amazing experience of my life. During my six months as a Fulbright scholar, I conducted research about the meaning of work and unemployment and taught a course at Charles University in Prague. As I experienced the resilient and beautiful Czech culture, I grew personally and professionally, made lifelong connections, and learned to be more adaptable and resourceful.
One day, toward the end of my visit, I saw an airplane rising up into the sky. I suddenly found myself a bit panicked: someone was leaving the Czech Republic (and soon it would be me!). I realized that although I was looking forward to being home with my husband, family, cats, and friends, I was already grieving at the thought of losing my “Prague/Czech life.” When I returned to the US, I learned how real reverse culture shock can be. To be honest, it was difficult conveying to friends the life-changing six months I had just experienced. I felt like they could never fully understand. I realized I wanted to return to the Czech Republic, to work and live in the country I had increasingly come to love. I also realized I had really enjoyed devoting myself to the research questions I explored there. Now, if only there was an available research position in the Czech Republic…
THE SWITCH
One week before leaving the Czech Republic, 2023. Getting ready to leave the Czech Republic was hectic and stressful. I would have to say goodbye to my new Czech friends, colleagues, and students; my flat; and my entire way of life. I knew I had changed from my experiences, and I wasn’t sure how my US friends, family, and colleagues would react.
Remember when I thought “If only there was an available research position in the Czech Republic?” Well, fortunately, there was! During the last week of my stay, I received an email from someone in the former coal mining city of Ostrava asking to meet about a research topic we had in common. I almost declined the invitation. I was so very busy with “end-of-stay” tasks like cleaning my flat, cancelling my Czech phone/data plan, and completing various reports. But I wanted to keep making the wonderful connections I had been making during my stay. This person – who would ultimately be my new colleague – said she would come to Prague to meet me, and this project sounded interesting! I mean, what could be more exciting (for me, anyway) than doing in-depth interviews with Czech coal miners about their identities and the meaning of work? And all of this could be done in a transforming city – Ostrava!!!
This new person I met was Nicole (who would eventually be my close colleague), and we clicked right away. Over a very long Indian food lunch in Prague we discussed research, our cats, and our Czech experiences. She had immigrated to the Czech Republic from Germany over 20 years ago. The funniest part was that I didn’t realize that she was discussing an open researcher position until about three hours into the discussion. I simply thought we were having a cool conversation about an occasional long-distance collaboration that might happen once I returned to the States. But a position existed, and to me it seemed like a perfect fit. I began to explore the possibility of relocation. So “If only…” became “Can this work?”
Fast-forward, April 2024. Nine months after I left the Czech Republic, I arrived there again with two suitcases and a purse. I was very scared at first. I had taken a big gamble. I had quit my tenured full professorship. I had left my US colleagues, friends, and family. My husband and cats would still not arrive in Ostrava for another seven months. (As an important side note, flying overseas with cats is an experience no one ever cares to repeat. There is no substitute for holding your scared cat in the Chicago airport security line while a security agent runs her gloved fingers through a portable cat litterbox.)
I sold my car, my house, and all my possessions except what would fit in the next six or seven suitcases we would bring on the airplane, knowing we would downsize. Had I done the right thing? I thought so. I knew if I had not taken this opportunity I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. But who could be sure? There were times I cried.
I didn’t even have a flat yet, and although I speak Czech, I was not yet prepared for a new dialect and the much faster speech. I even needed help understanding the realtors! The first few days were fraught with fear. Thankfully, my colleague helped me navigate this daunting task.
I had so much to learn. I had to get set up for my new position at Ostravská Univerzita under the EU-funded REFRESH grant. The work culture was slightly different. I had to learn about how the Czech healthcare system worked (VERY differently from the US healthcare system, but it offers care as good or better than in the US). What was this Pluxee card that allowed me money for workday lunches? So cool! How did Ostrava’s public transportation work differently from Prague’s? How would we begin recruiting our coal miner research participants and establish a workflow? So exciting, so hectic, so confusing, so rewarding.
MY NEW HOME, MY NEW WORK
It is July 9, 2025. I have lived in Ostrava, Czech Republic for 15 months. In the past 2 ½ years, I have spent more time living in the Czech Republic than my home country. I am not Czech, but I almost feel like I have a new home country now. It fits. My husband and three cats are here, and all of us love our new home.
My colleague (Nicole) and I continue to interview coal miners, and we have begun analyzing the interview data we have collected. Six days ago, we presented some of our preliminary results at my first major European conference in Innsbruck, Austria. We will join the Meltingpot stage at Colours of Ostrava to talk about the resilience of coal miners. We have a lot to do. I am happily, but healthfully, busy. I applied for my first GAČR grant, and I have had the pleasure of training young Bachelor’s student researchers in the art of the qualitative interview method.
I am still working on making friends in Ostrava. I only have a few so far, but I have some additional Czech and expat friends from my previous stay in Prague. I have begun doing strength and core training and am searching for the right team sport. I have a solid daily routine. I hope to stay in my new home where I can continue to do work that can help the community and where I feel so fulfilled. Every day I wake up, look out the window, and remember that I am privileged to live and work in the Czech Republic.
