CultureShock! Austria

Julie Roraff Susan & Krejci

Description

CultureShock! Austria provides a thorough crash course on under-standing and adjusting to life in this beautiful country. While giving justice to Austria's rich cultural heritage and its romantic splendour, the book also explains the day-to-day realities of living and working in the country. It's full of information to help you settle in seamlessly: how to find a suitable home, how to do your banking, what schools and facilities are available for your family, what to expect from the work environment and much more. It also provides insights into the social customs and values of the Austrians and how you can build meaningful relationships with them. The book also delves into the many cultural delights of Austria, such as the delicious cuisine, its world-famous music, opera, architecture and art, and other leisure activities that are uniquely Austrian. CultureShock! Austria is the ideal companion to help you find your way in Austria and to make the country your own.

Sujets

• Austria
• Autriche

Informations

• Publié par: Marshall Cavendish International
• Date de parution: 01 février 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789814398688
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 9 Mo

Extrait

This 3rd edition published in 2011 by: Marshall Cavendish Corporation 99 White Plains Road Tarrytown, NY 10591-9001 www.marshallcavendish.us
First published in 2001 by Times Editions Pte Ltd; 2nd edition published in 2007 by Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited. Copyright 2007, 2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited All rights reserved
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eISBN: 978 981 4398 68 8
Please contact the publisher for the Library of Congress catalogue number
Printed in Singapore by Times Printers Pte Ltd
Photo Credits: All black and white photos from the authors except page 11 (Carol Roraff), pages 47 and 93 (Gary Krejci), page 43 (J. Jurkin), page 201 (Gerhard Krejci) and pages 134-135 , 184-185 , 196-197 and 216-217 (Photolibrary). All colour photos from Photolibrary. Cover photo: Getty Images
All illustrations by TRIGG
ABOUT THE SERIES
Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from one s comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country.
Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and covers a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again.
Each book is structured in the same manner. It begins with the first impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must first understand the people-where they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the first half of the book.
Then on with the practical aspects-how to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through topics such as how to find accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the pink of health. But that s not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things.
To round off, snippets of basic information are offered before readers are tested on customs and etiquette of the country. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference.
CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Map of Austria

Chapter 1
First Impressions
Regional Impressions
Chapter 2
The History of Austria
Early History
The Babenberg Dynasty
The Habsburgs Dynasty
The 16th and 17th Centuries
The 18th Century
The 19th Century
The 20th Century
Recent Developments
Chapter 3
Austrian Folk
The Family
Getting Away
Saving for the future
Friends
Motherhood
The Neighbours
The Cell Phone
Farming Community
Safety
Austria s Unconventional Side
Love those Dogs!
Death
Religion
The Jews
Muslims
Immigrants
Chapter 4
Socialising with the Austrians
Social Customs
Manners
The Dress Code
An Invitation to Lunch or Dinner
Special Occasions
University Student Customs
Gay Life
Tipping
Chapter 5
Settling In
Housing
Visa
Banking
Post Office
Telephone Service
Internet
Radio and Television
Driving
Public Transportation
Intra-city and International Travel
Medical Services
Education
Shopping
Recycling
Free Time
Chapter 6
Austrian Cuisine: Mahlzeit!
Regional Cuisine
Entr es
Soups
Beilagen
Salads
Breads
Desserts
Health and Diet
Meal Schedule
Where Should You Eat?
Dining Out
Schanig rten
Kaffeeh user
Konditorei
Beverages
Supermarkets
Naschmarkt
Holiday Meals
Chapter 7
Enjoying the Culture
History of Literature and Drama
Baroque Era (1685-1780)
Biedermeier Era (1780-1848)
Historicism (1848-1897)
Jugendstil and the Secession (1897-1918)
Contemporary ArtS
Museums
Palaces and Castles
Monasteries and Churches
Festivals and Customs
Outdoor Activities and Sports
Chapter 8
The German Language
The Informal and Formal You
Sentence Construction
The Many Different Cases
Capitalising Nouns
Gender
Compound Words
German is Phonetic
Animal Names and Their Call
Numbers
A Comment from Mark Twain
Chapter 9
Doing Business in Austria
The Economy
Economic Sectors
Business Customs
Attitude towards Business
Chapter 10
Fast Facts
Famous People
Abbreviations
Places of Interest
Culture Quiz
Do s and Don ts
Glossary
Resource Guide
Further Reading
About the Authors
Index
PREFACE
Austria! You ve just found out that you are moving to Austria. Beautiful images pass through your mind of Baroque churches, castles and classical music, or maybe you think of heading directly to the Alps for a bit of skiing. Everyone you know is envious and you are excited at the prospect. Then it suddenly hits you that this is not a two-week vacation, but the next few years of your life! Thoughts turn to what it will be like to actually live in Austria and whether you will like it.
Relax. It will not be that difficult, and if you keep an open mind and welcome new experiences, you will find yourself crying when the time comes for you to leave. Austria is a lovely country that is full of possibilities. After you learn what is expected of you and become well versed in the local etiquette and customs, you will do just fine. The main problem with being an expatriate is that you don t always know why people do what they do, and in turn, you are uncertain as to what you should do. You don t want to appear rude or do something embarrassing, but it happens to just about every new arrival. This book will help you understand the little things as well as the major points about Austrian society so that you can start off on the right foot.
There are a few things you can do before you leave home. Probably the most important is to become familiar with basic German. Most Austrians in the major cities and quite a few in smaller towns speak very good English (besides other European languages), so knowing German isn t vital, but it will help lessen the culture shock. Being able to read some of the signs and advertisements, or understanding the weather report on the radio, will help you feel at home in Austria. If your departure is somewhat sudden, there are plenty of excellent and not too expensive places to learn German in Austria. Studying there will also provide you with an excuse to get out and about in your new home and allow you to meet people who are in similar situations.
Meeting new people is the second major weapon in the fight against culture shock. If you are heading to Austria with a job or are already enrolled in a school or university, you will have several opportunities to socialise. However, if you are giving up your job or studies and your social life back home to accompany your spouse or partner, it is essential that you make new friends and build your own life in Austria. Obviously, meeting people from your home country through clubs and organisations is the easiest path to follow, but why stop there? Although opportunities to meet and socialise with Austrians do not jump out at you every day, it is not impossible to make good friends. It can be very easy to isolate yourself from your host country and its people, but if you do, you ll find that something is missing. Seek out Austrian friends and your efforts will be well rewarded.
Finally, staying busy will help keep homesickness at bay. Austria is an outdoor lover s paradise. You don t have to be an excellent skier to enjoy the fresh air. In fact, the most popular pastime is wandern (hiking). If that s too much exercise for you, the cities are bursting with museums, shops, concerts, opera and theatres. Every little town is a jewel to be discovered. Learn about the rich history of this land and take advantage of all that it offers. Do as much as you can and your time in Austria will fly by. If you follow this simple advice, we believe that your stay in this wonderful country will be as pleasant as ours has been.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors recognise that this book cou