64 CultureShock! Austria
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
Austria is built on ‘the right way’ of doing things. In the
cities, customs haven’t changed much since the time of
the Habsburgs. The formalities are overwhelming at first.
After a while, some become second nature and can be
quite charming.Greeting One Another
The greeting is essential in almost all social situations. When
walking into a public area, whether a boutique, coffeehouse
or doctor’s office, an obligatory Grüss Gott (hello) is said. In
some of the nicer boutiques, a woman may be greeted as
Gnädige Frau, an old-fashioned term meaning ‘most gracious
woman’. When leaving, one would say auf Wiedersehen or
Wiederschaun (goodbye). This greeting does not apply when
out of confined spaces, unless you pass someone in your
apartment building.Grüss Gott!
Once Susan entered a small drugstore and saw no one at the cash
register or in the aisles, so she remained quiet and started off to find
her items. Immediately, she heard someone yell out “Grüss Gott” in a
manner implying Susan’s rudeness. She apologetically replied “Grüss
Gott” and found the clerk hidden in an aisle stocking a bottom shelf.
From that moment on, she made it a point to always yell out “Grüss
Gott”, even to a seemingly empty store.