Posted in Austria forum
Seems like they are not interested at all by foreigners... and even that they don't like them. Austria is a lovely country so I don't get why his inhabitants are acting like that.
I feel a little bit rejected there...
Deleted user
Hiya guys
posted by xxx xxxx in Austria forum
The least i could do is wish you the best too...I'm doing good thank God, i always have. I'm not the only one, let's say pointing out all this stuff about this side of the austrian society, the one giving it in more detail, perhaps... @ Pseudo Nym I just live here mate, it was not a problem for me to find a good in the 13th district which is quite nice... All you need is money and with that you buy even smiles. I dont work in austria or europe for that matter so i have never needed a job here. I just come here because it seems quieter and all i do here is rest. But having lived in England and France, to mention the European countries i've lived (more than 2 years each) and found things socially less complicated, i realise that some people here have a severe trauma, maybe from the war era and have transmitted it thru generations. As i said there are great austrians here i happen to know and enjoy their company and they enjoy mine. Like your English colleagues, i haven't had a major problem finding girlfriends... Plural because i don't work here, i leave the country from time to time to work and sometimes it takes me months and they're not really willing to wait till i come back, if i actually do (due to my background which i can't really go into too specifically) so, in that sense i have to pretty much start from zero everytime i come back... Going back to the trauma thing, it really intrigues me how the majority of the let's say "native" population here tend to have long faces on the streets and are sometimes even coursing when it's too hot, because it's too hot and doing the same in winter because it's too cold, for instance, it's an attitude, simple. And when they spot a foreigner, let's say asian, arab, black, latino or with a different (darker) colour of skin they just change that apparent politeness and "discreetly" reject that person in everyday possible. IN your case, even if you're not austrian, you're white and that is a big deal here and in the whole of Europe, it buys you have way through acceptance. I've lived (worked actually) in africa and for the last 8 years mostly in Arab countries, and in spite of the armed conflicts and poverty in which you find those countries you find politeness, respect and warmth, and that is very very rare here where most people have everything... It might not be my personal experience to get a working visa and "steal" some austrian a work place or get an entry permit but i talk to people from everywhere and there are some who have had to struggle not only to get those that i mentioned but they are also having a hard time trying to get acceptance, tolerance, appreciation and even respect in this country, and that my friend is low, way low for a 1st world society. You're right saying that everyone has a different experience and that is based on two things, how much money do you have and how you look like, simple. I came here and had me flat already, i rented it from france thru a real state office maybe just like you did, but how about people who flee from conflict areas and dont have a choice but to stay here, where they and their families are not gonna get killed if they stay home? Who have little money or no money at all? Are they less worthy of respect and or consideration than me or you for not having money? For not being Europeans??? I have borrowed some experiences and have found out that all this are facts, i havent been in such a position but i do empathise with those who have, cause i have seen with my own eyes what they go through in their home countries and people here may only read in the papers about it or watch it on the news for 15 mins and then switch to Germany's next top model. A short story of mine, is rather an anecdote, the whole thing makes me laugh, is the one with a neighbour who has clearly problems with brown people like me, She's a lady in her mid 50's, austrian, lives alone, and talks normally to other people but when it comes to me, her whole face wrinkles even more than it already is and keeps silent even if i say "hi"," Good morning, afternoon or evening", help her with her groceries!! You wouldnt believe it bruv, the most i've gotten from her is a nodding of the head wioth her face still extra wrinkled, only for me but never a thank you, no greens, nothing, hard to crack the old lady...!! And like her there are two or three in the building... Mate, i dont care really, it does not make me "feel" anything butl pity, really... There are other people who actually feel hurt and offended for such feed back and i would not say thats the worst part but, not allowing you to rent a flat if you're not austrian?? (as wrote in my first post... Feel free to call Pemal real state office and see) or not giving you a job for not being white?? It's like not allowing you to leave and that is aggravating... @ Caro, you're one of those people with a heart pumping blood and feeling for others, i value and respect that and the entire world would be a much better place if most people were doing the thinking you do.
Blessings to both of you and your families!
...
posted by Deleted user in Austria forum
Thanks I am fine, but I do not like to hear stories about foreigners and there bad experiences in a country. I fell bad that I cannot change the minds or opinions from enough persons that everybody can enjoy a country.
Really?
posted by Pseudo Nym in Austria forum
Hi Miguel, I don't recognise the Austria you talk about! I believe what you say though. Maybe everyone has a different experience. Mine has been very positive. Let me explain what happened to me.
I have been here two years. I have had two apartments so far and I got my first-choice apartments both times. I used a good moving agent, and they were expensive apartments, so maybe this was the difference. These apartments were not advertised. You need to find a good moving agent to find them.
Luckily I don't need a work permit, as I am from EU, so I also didn't have this problem. The job was also organised for me before I left England. It is a great job and it pays well. The Austrians/Germans I work with are good fun. We have parties and play football, and go skiing and so on. Perhaps I have been lucky.
About the people you meet. I have found the Austrians to be charming. My wife is from North Germany, and there is no chance you will talk to people in the street or on the train there. In North Germany it is normal to use the 'Sie' form, but here in Salzburg people are relatively open I would say, even in public. For example, it is easy to have a small-talk conversation. Maybe it helps if you speak German! About friends: personally I am married, but I had two English colleagues out here that had no problems finding girlfriends!
I really hope things get better for you. Clearly everyone has a different experience. Good luck!
[About my background: I am British, but I was born in Holland, and so far I have lived in Nigeria, Denmark, Turkey, Malaysia, England, Germany and now Austria. Worst country: Nigeria. Best country: Denmark, without question! Turkey (Ankara) was also great, and Malaysia (Sarawak) because of the Jungle. But I really enjoyed living in Southern Germany (Munich), and Austria also has the bonus of some fantastic countryside. I like it!]
hiya;)
posted by xxx xxxx in Austria forum
no Caro there r no feelings involved... if at all, I would actually feel pity for those people trapped into they're own weird ways... knowing nothing beyond around the corner... I don't really mind... unless a person is important to me, the actions or opinions of that person may affect me, if not I don't really care :D
Things are going great for me, I happen to know great people here so that makes up for the rest :) How about u?
???
posted by Deleted user in Austria forum
Maybe I have the "right" color and the blond hair, so I had never these problems. I just wonder why the humans are so stupid. I try to have no stereotypes, but I know a lot of people have and we cannot change everybody. I hope really the best for you and that your time in Austria is getting better. Stupid people are all over the world, but we can try to make it better. Tell the people how you feel, maybe you can change some of them or open their eyes.
Caroexperiences may differ...
posted by xxx xxxx in Austria forum
Nobody's complaining sunshine, what i wrote are facts... i've been living here for nearly 4 years now, how long were you here?... Your experience may differ from mine and many other people for infinite reasons, as i said at the beginning, there are always exceptions... Starting with the fact that you're a blond lady who may be "accepted for her looks" pretty much anywhere... And of course there's lots of positives things in Austria, no doubt about it... But there's also another side to what's life here that you're not exactly familiar with, good for ya.
life in Austria
posted by Deleted user in Austria forum
Ahh, I think they are a bit cold but I would not complain much. I use to live in Vienna and I would be happy to go back. I live in Holland, only positive things for me is everybody speak English. Thats it. I could say more positive things about Austria(ns), but believe me, they are not so bad. I am Czech. Are czech peole any warmer than austrians??:-)
The real Austria.
posted by xxx xxxx in Austria forum
All i'm gonna write here is based on personal and borrowed experiences that i have gathered after a while of being in Austria. People whom i have shared experiences with who have also share theirs with me. This are facts, no speculation, assumptions or exaggerations. There are of course exceptions to every case, thank God!
Austria is certainly a gorgeous country, to visit!!! If you plan to stay here, you should bear in mind that here reigns what i see as a very strange mentality. Let alone the extreme bureaucratic procedure to get a work permit, residence or whatever you need to stay and make a living here legally is pretty much a "labour of love" from your part, i mean, you must be literally fixated with Austria to arrange all legal entry and residence procedure on your own not being directly hired from an austrian company, i mean.
After doing that, you must look for a place to live. This is where the true colours are shown... Try and find a flat rented privately, directly from the owner, and you've got 15 people, for example, queuing up to have a look at the flat and is not only you taking a look at the flat is the owner taking a look at who wants to rent it, and who he would potentially select, thats the real important part here, dont be deceived! Now, from those 15 you've got let's say 8 austrians and 4 germans that would leave us 3 non-german-speaking, maybe not even white "foreigners" that won't really count as an option for the owner to rent his falt! Oh it is a big deal to be white, particularly here ;-) Let's face it, if odds are good enough and you've got 4 people 3 austrians, you as a foreigner will always be, if at all, option number 4! It moves on to the Real state offices like "Pemal Immobilien" http://www.pemal.at/immo/start.asp Straight national socialists renting or selling properties to, as they publish their adds "Nette und seriöse leute" meaning only austrians... When you call for info on any piece of room, they will ask if you're austrian, because if you're not, there's no chance of getting anything from them! All this, being legal, with a residence, work permit or whatever you need to have normal rights and obligations in any EU country.
Getting a job is pretty much the same thing, it is crucial, at least, an average level of the german language spoken in Austria! Which is a bit different from the german spoken in germany. Knowing some dialect can also help depending on the region you are or wanna be... Continuing with the job thing, you may have this and that tittle or certification but, if you're a foreigner, you're prone to be discarded or be left as a "last option". As i said at the beginning, there are exceptions to everything, there are normal, sincerely open minded people who dont have any prejudices whatsoever, there are also people who have them and they don't even know it... As for interpersonal relations i can say that i do know some austrians who are wonderful people can count them with one hand and still have some spare fingers... There are also people who out of the blue won't reply your sms's, phone calls anymore, they simply brake contact with you, just like that... That's the weirdest of all... But i supposed that is part of the culture, the one that nobody needs... I mean, unless you got offended or felt insulted by something, what reasons can somebody have to just not interact anymore with somebody else? That's weird ideed...
All in all, i would recommend people wanting to come to Austria to consider countries like france, particularly in the south, Spain (with its crisis and all, i know, but imagine the austrians with the crisis they've got in greece or the unemployment rate from Spain Italy or Portugal...!) In France, Spain, Italy Portugal and even England the previously mentioned aspects for the immigrant, the new-comer are not this "complicated" or so to speak. Even if the crisis influences negatively in the job search, having a good Curriculum Vitae should grant you good chances of success in all aspects in these other countries.
I wish you the very best of success!
from austrians point of view :)
posted by Deleted user in Austria forum
Hallo!
Ohhhh noooooooooooo i think you all missunderstand "us" - of course i think you all only know VIENNA and their inhabitants!!!!
Look - vienna and the people there are really different to the people for example in salzburg or the little citys......and i have to say... i dont really like the people in vienna (i live there, but was born in a another part of austria)
of course yes....i have the same feeling in the case of the languaege-- when you dont speak german, too much people dont talk to you - but where you ever in france??? ;) the same like there, and there its okay?however, many austrians are nice people, just need time for getting warm with other cultures....
so when i am allowed to give a advice:
learn some german words (i know, not very easy but try it) and try to practise this words.....and you will get many nice reactions ;)
and when you are a loveley and open person, so i am sure you will find - also in a big and cold city like vienna - some loveley and nice people too.....wish you all a wonderful time in austria - when someone have questions - dont worry and write me a pn - i promise i am not one of those "bad bad cold" austrians ;)
greetings
susan