To celebrate our wonderful, unique and diverse membership, IWAP is profiling one member each month. We’re asking members the same questions that will hopefully let us – and you – get to know them better. Each month we will profile a different member, selected at random, with the answers they provided along with their photo. Bohumila Johnson is September’s selection.
Where are you from?
I am originally from the Czech Republic but I moved to the UK when I was 18 to escape the Communist regime and I spent over 15 years in London. Then my international adventures really started. My husband, an international development specialist, brought me to Cameroon, Chad, Haiti, Kenya, Jordan, Tanzania, Mozambique, and finally to Indonesia over a 30 year period. In all these places I managed to keep myself busy with other women’s organizations. But more than that, I was honored to have worked with orphanages, refugees and even being a guide at the national heritage museum in Jakarta. My best memories are working in the slums of Nairobi with underprivileged children. Now I live back in my home country where a lot of things have changed, and let me add, positive changes indeed. Maybe not in politics, but we can avoid that topic.
What brought you to Prague?
Returning back to my home country, my husband and I decided that the Czech Republic, in the center of Europe, would be a great place to establish as our base. We also are planning to settle here eventually. There are a lot of worse places in the world. And of course these days it is possible to get just about everything one needs in Prague.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Cycling, walking, reading, swimming, diving, skiing and going out to cinema and theater. And of course, traveling. To date, I have either lived or visited over 50 countries. My next destination is Costa Rica (for vacation not to live!).
What are your favorite things to do in Prague? What surprised you the most about Prague?
Being Czech, I am somewhat biased. I feel that Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Fair enough, it does not compare to places like Cape Town. But one cannot make that same comparison. What I really love about Prague is the architecture and the cobblestone streets. One can sometimes feel that you are walking about in a fairytale or in a Kafka novel. Like most people, I enjoy going to the cinema and theater, but just walking the streets admiring the buildings, absorbing the history is fantastic. During the summer I enjoy the festivals in Naplavka although it can get crowded. Having a coffee in some of the old coffee spots is great as well.
What is your favorite aspect of being an IWAP member?
My singular favorite aspect of IWAP is the diversity of people. The members are from everywhere and have a wealth of experience from living all over the world. With my local Czech friends, they do not have a real understanding of life outside the Czech Republic. IWAP members can easily relate and do not assume you are bragging when relating to a story about buying food in African markets and they will then recount stories of their own tribulations living in other countries.
What is your biggest goal for 2018?
Now that is a huge question. I will probably say, that with the children scattered around the world, to have a long family vacation in some exotic place. I also want to continue improving my French and Spanish skills. And needless to say to continue being an active member of IWAP.
