In the grand scheme of things, Austria and the United States are not that far apart. They’re similar on many major levels when it comes to how their cultures are structured, how people act, and what the communities believe.
However, that does not, by any means, mean that there has not been culture shock. I go to a school of only Americans and I don’t live in a homestay, so my interactions with Austrians on a personal level has been fairly limited. That means that one of the major ways I’ve interacted with Austrians is through businesses and restaurants, and that took a lot of adjustment.
The Austrian service industry isn’t as…flowery as the American? I don’t know if that’s the right word, but it’s hard to find the right way to say this, because I don’t mean it as a criticism of either country; just a comparison. In Austria, there isn’t the same focus on accommodation and pleasantries in the service industry. Your server isn’t going to check on you fifteen times; in fact, it might be a bit of an adventure, tracking them down when you need the check. My most uncomfortable experience was at a McDonald’s in Vienna. My friend walked up to the counter and said, can I have a Big Mac with extra sauce?, to which the woman simply replied no. No smiling, no explanation. Just a lot of awkward silence.
I think there’s a positive to this. In the US, workers are taught that the customer always comes first, even when the customer is swearing at you and trying to get you fired over cold French fries. Maybe we could stand to cut back on customer service a bit. Still, that different style of service and interaction went against everything I, as a former server, am used to, and it was a little jarring and uncomfortable in the beginning. I’m used to it now.
There’s a stereotype about the German-speaking world being very organized and punctual. This, it turns out, is not just a stereotype. At our very first school meeting, our group got lectured because a few people were two minutes late. I wasn’t sure how to deal with it at the time because no one has been mad at me over two minutes since high school. But I’m very used to it now. It’s different than what I grew up with in the US, but I actually think it’s nice that when people pick a time here, they actually stick with it. I spoke with an Austrian student about the subject early into my trip, and she explained that if an Austrian invites you over at 8 pm, then they’re going to be waiting for you at 8 pm. In fact, the director of Salzburg College told us that in Austria, on time is a few minutes early. In the US, I feel like it’s almost rude to show up on time in some situations! I would never go to a party the minute it starts, and I’d be mildly horrified if my guests came early. They’d probably find me still in my pajamas with my hair half done!
I think I’ve done a great job adjusting to the more timely culture here, and I haven’t minded doing so. In the US, I tend to be always pushing it time-wise, because I can usually get away with that. If class starts at 3, I’ll roll in at 3:01. It’s not on purpose, but it’s always what happens. However, since it’s more important here, I’ve prioritized it, and I’m always on time for everything.
I’ve gotten used to it, like I’ve gotten used to many things. I think my adjustment has been a bit of a parabola. In the beginning, it was hard to do certain things because they felt so strange to me, and I missed the world I know. I kept an open mind and I adjusted, and I’ve spent most of my trip appreciating Austria for its unique cultural differences. The last week or two, as the end has grown closer and closer, I’ve found myself more and more anxious for the familiarity of home, and I once again find myself really missing things about the US. But, despite all the differences and changes, culture shock has not been a negative part of my journey. It’s something you need to be aware of, but not something you need to be afraid of.
I therefore like to think that reverse culture shock also won’t be too bad, but I’ll let you know more when I get home. Someone mentioned the other day how weird it will be to have a 25 cent coin again, and I was struck by how right they were. I haven’t though in 25’s in a long time because the Euro comes in 20’s. It’s odd that something as simple as a quarter can throw a wrench in your reality.
I know, therefore, that I won’t be immune to some culture shock when I get back to the US, like I wasn’t when I arrived in Europe. But that’s just a part of studying abroad, and I’ve spent the last three months developing the skills I’ll need to deal with it!
