Austrian Folk 49
class or meeting, they will usually be friendly but introverted.
Friendships develop over a long period of time.
If you work among Austrians, you will get to know them
eventually, although you may find that many Austrians who
work together don’t necessarily go out together. Studying
in Austria makes it much easier to get to know Austrians,
as students are more carefree and uninhibited. If you are
neither working nor studying in Austria, being open and
chatting with your neighbours and local shopkeepers will
help you feel more relaxed and at home. Other ways of
meeting people include joining art, dance or exercise classes
or groups such as the American Women’s Association (AWA),
which is open to all nationalities, going to church, and just
being outgoing yourself.
The Esoteric Side of the Austrians
Although reserved, many Austrians are drawn to the esoteric during
their leisure time. Many love to take dance lessons not only to enjoy
the ball season but also to add another dimension to their lives.
Samba, mambo, cha-cha, tango, rumba, fox trot, waltz, jive and
jitterbug are but a smattering of the dances taught at the many dance
schools. Indian dance and belly dancing are popular among women,
and country-and-western is popular among couples, with quite a few
locations featuring live bands playing music for the two-step. Susan
once went to a birthday party for an Austrian friend and one of the
gifts was an Indian dance complete with full costume, performed by
a guest—also Austrian—who had been taking lessons.
Motherhood
The Austrian woman is a very strong-minded individual.
She takes care of her household, the budget and raises her
children. Yet, many more women are going to work today
than previously. About half the workforce is made up of
women, as more and more are going back to work after
childbirth to improve the family’s standard of living. Children
are well taken care of by the state. Women cannot work within
eight weeks of giving birth; this gives them a compulsory
4-month break from work. After this period, either the
mother or father (or both, in alternation) get between one and
three years’ paid leave from their work depending on chosen
