Voice from Abroad: der unterschiede, the differences

There are a few differences between Austrians and Americans. Of course the first difference one would think of is that of language. Austrians speak German and Americans speak English. However, there are less known differences that are worth discovering.

Austrians tend to enjoy discussing politics of any nation. However, unlike Americans, Austrians do not take political views personally. Instead they agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. It is fairly common to meet an Austrian and, within minutes, be talking about why the United States re-elected George W. Bush.

Trains are much more important in Austria than in the United States. The logic behind this is that a train will take you into a city, whereas a plane will normally take one outside a city. Thus one will need to find another mode of transportation to get into the city.

Austrians have a different view on going out to a restaurant. They believe that once one orders something, one can stay. One can order a coffee and simply sit and read without being disturbed by a waiter for hours on end. This allows for a more relaxed atmosphere that can be rather hard to find in America.

The Austrian sense of humor tends to be more sarcastic than what one would find in America. Many Austrians are sarcastic, even to those they consider friends. Much like Austrian political discussions, one must not take jokes personally.

Business hours are very different here in Austria. During the work week, one finds the longest opening hours. Most stores close by 6:30 p.m., even on a Friday. During the weekends, Saturday is the only day for shopping since every store is closed on Sunday. Normally the one business open every day and that have longer hours are food and beverage stores.

Green space is another difference between Austria and America. While America does have an enormous amount of green space, it lacks green space in large city areas. For instance, in Vienna all of the apartment buildings have an inner courtyard that has at least a tree and some garden space. These inner courtyards allow one to feel as though one is far away from the busy city avenues. Due in part to city laws requiring green space in apartment complexes, Vienna places great pride and emphasis on city green space.

Vienna is rife with large parks, many of which were once royal hunting grounds. Parks, such as the Volksgarten and Stadtpark, were founded in the 1800s. Many of these parks are located near the city center. It can be argued that Vienna’s lengthy history also helps to add to the differences between Austria and America.

Perhaps the most striking difference is how the Austrian people and their government deal with public housing. Vienna has a large number of public housing complexes. Unlike America, where public housing means living in sub par conditions, the public housing complexes in Vienna are good places to raise a family. The complexes are well funded and thus well maintained.

One of the first and finest examples of public housing in Vienna is the Karl Marx Hof. Built in 1930 during the nations socialist era, the Karl Marx Hof was designed to help provide poorer families with adequate shelter. It laid the groundwork for a well-structured system by giving those with less money a good place to reside. In fact, the complex is still in use and in perfect shape.

Most of the complexes, including the Karl Marx Hof, have good facilities for residents. Such facilities include beautiful courtyards, recreation areas and a kindergarten. The Austrian stance on public housing is one that the United States needs to incorporate.

As always be sure to check out my blog at http://atvienna.blogspot.com for another look into my stay in Vienna, Austria.