Friday, 25. May 2012
:: Home > Blog > Tova and the Stadt - Austrian Ettiquette for a Visitor - The Basics
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Today
Polls
RSS Feed Blog22. 02. 12. - 16:30
Tova and the Stadt - Austrian Ettiquette for a Visitor - The Basics
After living in Vienna for many years one doesn’t realise that one becomes so used to the daily Austrianisms until one actually ventures outside of the country. When my husband and I visited Las Vegas two years ago, we were shocked at the difference of behaviour and the over friendly or rather über friendly customer service.
When we went to Old Navy at an outlet mall, the cashier asked us "How did you find everything?" and my husband, being Austrian, answered proudly, "All by myself!" That right there, is a prime example of Austrian customer service versus the rest of the world.
I’ve written about the staring before, so if you have lived in Vienna you will have encountered it and if it no longer annoys you, then congratulations, apply for your citizenship. But if you are visiting this grand city for just a short while, you might be unnerved by the open staring but don’t be. To help you with your visit, here is a concise list of what you need to do to "survive":
Location: Bar, Biergarten, Club, Restaurant, Someone’s Balcony
Situation: Holding beer, wine, anything alcoholic.
What you would normally do: Perhaps a quick raise of the glass and then a sip of your drink.
What you should do: Make sure everyone has their drink. Raise glass, clink glasses, make sure you make eye contact with everyone and after everyone has gazed meaningfully into each others’ eyes take a sip. If you do not make eye contact, someone will let you know that you will have bad sex for 7 years and nobody wants that.
Location: Shop, Tabak, Cafe, Small Restaurant
Situation: Entering a shop, Tabak, cafe, small restaurant.
What you would normally do: Walk into store, look at stuff.
What you should do: Always greet the employee closest to you with a "Gruess Gott!" when you enter. They most likely will greet you back. I once was in a cafe and two teenagers walked in and did not yell out "Gruess Gott!" and the waitress/owner refused to serve them. This is extreme but it does happen.
Location: Bakery or any Place with a Counter
Situation: Waiting to order food.
What you would normally do: Wait your turn and expect the person behind the counter to pay attention to who is next.
What you should do: Lines are not common here in Austria. I’ve mentioned before that fire drills must be a nightmare here. If you ever want to get served you have to get your game face on and be aggressive. There is no room for delay or pity for others. You must be ready to pounce when they ask "Who is next?" Forget everything that you have ever learned about being polite. You’re number one! Yell out "ME!!" and place your order. If someone gives you a nasty look, pay in one Cent coins.
Location: Escalator
Situation: Standing on escalator.
What you would normally do: Stand on escalator on any which side you would like.
What you should do: Stand on the right hand side if you are not walking up. For the love of God stand on the right hand side!!!
These are just a few tips to get by and when I get a chance or encounter more situations, I will be sure to add them to the list. Enjoy your stay in Vienna and make sure to say Gruess Gott and look into people’s eyes whilst drinking. You’ll be just fine.
Austrian Times
Tag cloud:
Ettiquette Gruess Visitor normally walked Gott husband glass Restaurant encountered cafe teenagers Tabak staring Austrian Vienna Counter rsquo customer Escalator
Woman bites toddler
A woman who bit a two-year-old tot during a road rage row with her mother is being quizzed by police in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
Cows zapped to death by lightning
Four cows were zapped to death after a lightning strike hit the barbed wire fence they were leaning on in Reith im Alpbachtal, Austria.
Wolf babies born in Schönbrunn
These cuddly Artic wolf cubs have got every right to look a bit frosty - after they emerged into the world for the first time in the middle of a 27 degree heatwave.
Cleaned Out
A Hungarian cleaning woman who stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of antique jewellery from an Austrian Countess and then sold it for "pocket money" unaware of its real value has been jailed by a court in Austria.
Great expectations for summer tourism season in Vorarlberg
The Vorarlberg tourism industry is currently riding high after a record breaking winter season, and the summer season is expected to follow that same trend.
Medics First Aid Lesson saves Boy
Austrian medics giving a first aid talk at a school managed to save an eight-year-old boy's life after he was shot in the head by his dad.
Salzburg Welcomes Home The Sound Of Music
Salzburg has finally been won over after a 45-year battle to ignore the musical that everywhere else in the world has an almost cult following.
Elsner saga back in court
A crooked fat-cat banker spotted partying after being released from jail because of heart problems is now back in the news after he was snapped sunning himself at a four-star wellness hotel and telling court officials he was too ill to continue with the trial.
Clem Chambers - Euro future in the balance
The future of the euro hangs in the balance and the G8 watched a football match. Incredible.
Shaina Sepulvado appeal for parole
Austrian Times reader Partick Capps has posted this appeal for pressure over the case of a girl sentenced to life without parole for a murder committed when she was 16.
The most popular stories –
last 7 days
|
Dune And Busted |
|
Swastika Shaped Austrian School Rebuilt |
|
Nazi still honoured in Austria |
|
20th Vienna Life Ball a fiery success! |
|
Thieves caught trying to nick F**king Sign |
Anonymous wrote on 05. 03. 2012 from Wien about "Tova and the Stadt - Aust..."
I find it amazing to hear expats who seem to find it strange that Austrians behave in a way that is consistent with Austrian culture. Are they supposed to behave like Americans - or the French or Russians or Nigerians or... If you want people here to behave like everyone where you come from - why are you here?
Reply
Ernie G. wrote on 03. 03. 2012 from Colorado about "Tova and the Stadt - Aust..."
I've been in Vienna half a dozen times in the last 10 years, and I've learned that if at anytime you need help finding your way, just open your mouth and swing your head around. An Austrian will invariably step up and ask you if they might help. It's happened to me several time, and once it occurred three times in one day. That's never happened in any other city in Europe. In London and Paris, I am frequently asked for directions instead.
Reply
Dave Walker wrote on 24. 02. 2012 from Vienna about "Tova and the Stadt - Aust..."
Hey A for anonymous -I don't know what part of Austria you are talking about but it ain't Vienna - where the motto is elbow your way to the front - ignore everyone else till you get there and then be insulted if somebody else does the same. Oh and the older they are the worse they are!
Reply
A for Anonymous wrote on 23. 02. 2012 from Vienna about "Tova and the Stadt - Aust..."
The situation you describe when buying food is just wrong. Yes, a queue does not form. But you've been getting nasty looks and probably been scolded because it's expected that everyone in the crowd keeps track of everyone's time of arrival, and yelling out incorrectly is dealt with by the mob.
Reply
Steve Naidamast wrote on 23. 02. 2012 from USA about "Tova and the Stadt - Aust..."
Tova: My wife and I have been traveling to Vienna nearly every year for close to 20 years. Everything else you suggest we have also been doing for as long. However, I have slacked off is studying my German in the past year. Probably too tired from too many assignment changes in my job... I have never found Austrians staring at us for any reason.
Reply