Week 29: 200th day in Austria!
Another 100 days came and went and we have a lot to celebrate in this post!
First and foremost, today is Mother’s Day! Happy Mother’s Day to all of our favorite Mamas. I learned “Mom” in German is “Mama”, so while I may not have a human child, I love being The Pack Mama to our fur kids!
Yesterday was our 200th day in Austria and it was spent learning how to use the via ferrata.
A via ferrata is a protected climbing route found in the Alps. It is like rock climbing, but instead of using a rope and the rocks to pull yourself up, you use a thick wired cable to navigate up the mountain. In German-speaking regions it is called "Klettersteig” meaning "climbing path”. Along the route there are boxes with notebooks you can sign as proof you completed the climb!
Signing the book after the first climb.
We drove 90 minutes northwest to Weissbach National Park and met up with our guide to show us the ropes. Our guide is in the Austrian Army and serves as a mountain guide who helps train American soldiers. We were in very good hands and are grateful to have learned from the best. After 4 hours of climbing, we were on the final ascent and Eric’s rope got tangled, making him hit our GoPro on a rock. It proceeded to fall off the backpack and roll down mountain. So if you are wondering why this week’s video is so short, it is because the the rest of the footage is at the base of a mountain nowhere to be found. Time to upgrade!
Selfie with our guide, Matt.
This week, we found out our blog was selected as a top expat blog on two different websites. To be chosen in these lists, a blog is judged on relevancy, post frequency, accuracy, and must be aesthetically pleasing. We are ranked #2 on the Top 25 U.S. Expat Blogs and we are among the 100 Expat blogs of 2021! Expat blogs are the best way to learn about a new travel destination. Blogs are a way to get up close and personal and learn the best tips and insights to planning your trip. I am so glad we are able to contribute to the expat blogging community.
We have seen and done so much in our 200 days and have learned even more. So, in honor of our 200th day, here is a list of 20 things we learned that you may find interesting.
20 things we have learned since living in Austria:
The Autobahn has speed limits. I thought the Autobahn was the infamous European road where speed limits did not exist. Autobahn even sounds fancy, but translated, it just means highway and the roads in Austria all have speed limits. Only certain parts of the road, for a brief distance, allow drivers to go without a limit. Germany has longer sections where the speed limit does not exist.
There are several German dialects. In our German class we are taught “hochdeutsch” meaning “high german” or “formal German.” Austrians however speak an almost entirely different version of German that can sometimes confuse a native German speaker.
Austrians Are Not Germans. It is like comparing cats with dogs, or Canadians with Americans. They might have some similarities, but they are not the same. Austrians are a proud bunch and put a lot of value in their own heritage. Check out this link for a funny explanation.
Austrians have not seen The Sound of Music. Austria is the land of Music, but most Austrians have never even heard of The Sound of Music. Americans think of Julie Andrews twirling and singing through the beautiful Austrian Alps and, while the scenery and the Von Trapps were real, everything else was a made up story.
Austria is made up of 9 states. Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna. We live in Upper Austria and it is where we have spent the majority of our time exploring. We have briefly crossed into lower Austria and Salzburg.
Austria is land locked and surrounded by 9 other countries. Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Croatia. We love how Austria is in a central location, because it will make traveling to other countries much easier. Rumor is Austria is opening the border May 19, so get your passports ready! Since we arrived, we have only been to two real restaurants to actually sit down and enjoy. All of our other meals have been made at home or from to-go orders.
Red Bull, Swarovski, and Julius Meinl began in Austria. One of the offices I freelance for is located right next to Red Bull’s global headquarters.
Maternity leave can be up to two years. No woman is allowed to work eight weeks before or after an expected due date. So women take off for at least 16 weeks and, in many cases, women go on maternity leave for two years. The week Eric started his job there was a woman who had her last day in the office before maternity leave. Eric asked when she would be back and her response was in two years!
No Hidden Tax Fees. Unlike in America, taxes are included in the displayed price. That includes restaurant menus, stores, supermarkets, and so forth. What you see is what you pay.
Titles are very important to Austrians. We attended an intercultural training last week provided by Eric’s work where you learn more about the Austrian culture and how to better adapt to the lifestyle. Formal titles is one of the topics covered in the training. It is a mindset left over from the monarchy where your title dictated your rank in society. It is recommended to address people by their academic title and surname. Additionally, Austrian citizens are not allowed to have nobility titles anymore. Even if we wanted to add a “Von” in front of our last name, it is illegal.
Coffeehouse culture started in Austria. There are roughly 1000 coffee houses in Vienna. Coffee houses are made for spending whole afternoons in. You will never be bothered by a waiter, even if you only drink one coffee. Vienna has stuck to tradition and continues to accompany all coffees served with a glass of water and a piece of chocolate.
Austria is responsible for a few inventions. In 1900, an Austrian inventor set out to improve the electric lightbulb and ended up inventing the snowglobe instead. In 1927, the PEZ dispenser was invented. The name PEZ comes from the German word for peppermint, "Pffefferminz".
Austria is known for music, castles, palaces, and cathedrals. One of the 9 states making up Austria, Burgenland, translates to “Land of Castles”.
Austria has over 700 castles, 300 lakes, and 6 national parks. A lot of our co-workers and friends here say we have been to more places in our short time here than they have in their whole lives.
Austrians work to live, rather than live to work. 38.5 hours is the standard number of working hours per week and, by law, workers have a minimum of 5 weeks vacation.
There are 13 public holidays in Austria. America only has 10.
“Grüß Gott” and “Griaß Di” are common phrases you hear on a hike. It took us a few months to actually understand what was being said. Now we know it means “good day” and just a friendly and informal “hello.”
Say “Mahlzeit” before every meal. It is customary to say this word in Upper Austria before eating as it means “enjoy the meal.”
The world’s first postcard was sent in Austria. In 1869, the first postcard was sent. It was a way for soldiers to write to back home. In 1873 America began to implement the idea of postcards. I recently discovered an app called My Postcard. You can send postcards worldwide to friends and family with a few simple clicks. Click the “My Postcard” link to earn credit towards your first postcard!
The house we live in used to be called “Villa Maria Louise”. We were looking through the books in our library a few weeks ago and found a book with signatures from guests who slept and ate here in the early 1900s.
Hopefully you found this list interesting!
