Op-Expat » expatriate in Vienna http://op-expat.com An Expat's Hilarious Observations About Life Abroad Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:45:56 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Castle and Underground Lake Near Vienna http://op-expat.com/2011/05/castle-and-underground-lake-near-vienna/ http://op-expat.com/2011/05/castle-and-underground-lake-near-vienna/#comments Mon, 30 May 2011 09:07:59 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=634 Continue reading →]]> Bored as usual on a Sunday, my husband and I were flipping through the Austrian guidebook that I purchased to find some entertainment. We were successful. I recommend both places for a Sunday afternoon romp.

Burg Lichtenstein

http://www.burgliechtenstein.eu/de/anfahrt.html

Seegrotte Hinterbrühl

http://www.seegrotte.at/002_englisch/frameset.htm

]]> http://op-expat.com/2011/05/castle-and-underground-lake-near-vienna/feed/ 0 Vienna vs. Budapest http://op-expat.com/2011/04/vienna-vs-budapest/ http://op-expat.com/2011/04/vienna-vs-budapest/#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:46:01 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=624 Continue reading →]]> Whenever I go to other cities in the world, I like to compare them to Vienna. This Easter weekend I spent in Budapest. They say that Budapest is Vienna’s “sister city.” What they don’t say however, is that Budapest is the rundown, poor sister to Vienna.

From the moment my husband and I arrived in Budapest, the city rubbed us the wrong way. We became sullen, cranky and disinterested. We walked around listlessly and looked at this and that without having the slightest excitement woken within us.

Budapest has the same shops and restaurants as Vienna. For example, Vienna has the famous Cafe Central and so does Budapest. Both cities have the Danube flowing through it. Both cities have similar architecture.

Despite the strong similarities between the cities, Budapest is a sorry, rundown version of Vienna. Everywhere we looked something was crumbling, chipping or sagging. When we did see a pretty building it was either a hotel, an embassy, or had a decrepit looking building next to it.

We were also never left alone by the Hungarians trying to hawk something to the tourists. More than once I gave a tight smile and said, “I’ll let you know if I decide” or “Please just give me a moment.” In Vienna, they could care less if you come in or buy something. On one side it’s rude, but at least the Viennese leave you in peace.

Though the food was good in Budapest, somehow it was sold in the most unappetizing way. We went to a really nice restaurant and hemmed and hawwed over the menu. We were trying to decide between tongue salad and head cheese. Finally out of despair we ordered just anything. Lucky for us it turned out and we enjoyed our meal, but somehow the hard decision-making process took the fun out of it.

To be honest, I couldn’t get out of Budapest fast enough. If I never see that city again in my life, I won’t feel bad about it.

]]> http://op-expat.com/2011/04/vienna-vs-budapest/feed/ 5 Coffee is Good for You http://op-expat.com/2011/04/coffee-is-good-for-you/ http://op-expat.com/2011/04/coffee-is-good-for-you/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:56:45 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=622 Continue reading →]]> Dear Austrians,

Your precious brew is safe! So go to your favorite coffeehouse and throw back a cuppa

http://health.msn.com/healthy-living/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100271111&imageindex=1

]]> http://op-expat.com/2011/04/coffee-is-good-for-you/feed/ 0 Good Article – Making Friends http://op-expat.com/2011/03/good-article-making-friends/ http://op-expat.com/2011/03/good-article-making-friends/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 08:47:33 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=617 Continue reading →]]> This is a good article on how to make friends when moving to a new city

http://www.prettyyoungprofessional.com/featured/be-my-friend-socializing-in-a-new-city.html

]]> http://op-expat.com/2011/03/good-article-making-friends/feed/ 0 Authentic in Vienna http://op-expat.com/2011/03/authentic-in-vienna/ http://op-expat.com/2011/03/authentic-in-vienna/#comments Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:15:10 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=614 Continue reading →]]> The Austrians are really into “being authentic.” I have to admit, I am struggling to figure this out culturally.

In Los Angeles, it is understandable that at work you present one side of yourself. That is the professional side. The side of you that comes in on time, eats a healthy lunch, works hard and then leaves to go home.

In Los Angeles, we understand that when our co-workers go home, they aren’t the professional selves that they present at work. We appreciate that our co-workers put on a show at work and are professional. We simply do not care how a co-worker is at home as long as it does not affect our work lives. If it does affect our work lives we are cranky about it and wish our co-workers would keep their private lives private.

Austrians seem to want to know everything about their co-workers; who they are on a deeper level. I find this exasperating. I don’t care who you are on a deeper level. Just please be nice. Please work hard. Please leave me alone to do my job the best I can. Then let’s all go home and be who we really are in our private worlds.

]]> http://op-expat.com/2011/03/authentic-in-vienna/feed/ 0 Thermal Baths Austria http://op-expat.com/2011/02/thermal-baths-austria/ http://op-expat.com/2011/02/thermal-baths-austria/#comments Sun, 27 Feb 2011 20:09:58 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=612 Continue reading →]]> Today Paul and I went to a thermal bath near Vienna call St. Martin’s.

These are giant swimming pools using naturally heated water for people to swim around in them. It’s a really relaxing experience. You swim, you lounge, you eat and you go home.

Austria is full of these thermal baths. Vienna even has its own. However, Therme Wien as it is called is really awful. Overcrowded and not clean enough.

I highly suggest St. Martins even though it is an hour drive away from Vienna.

]]> http://op-expat.com/2011/02/thermal-baths-austria/feed/ 0 Restaurant Week Vienna http://op-expat.com/2011/02/restaurant-week-vienna/ http://op-expat.com/2011/02/restaurant-week-vienna/#comments Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:13:03 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=608 Continue reading →]]> Restaurant week in Vienna is coming up fast. Click on the link below to find out what it is and make a reservation while you still can.

http://www.restaurantwoche.at/lang/en/cities/wien/restaurants

]]> http://op-expat.com/2011/02/restaurant-week-vienna/feed/ 0 Give the Viennese a Break http://op-expat.com/2011/01/give-the-viennese-a-break/ http://op-expat.com/2011/01/give-the-viennese-a-break/#comments Sun, 30 Jan 2011 10:16:21 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=606 Continue reading →]]> I was watching TV the other day and laughing at some cranky Viennese. They were protesting that a commuter train did not stop when it was supposed to. Apparently the train company was thinking about closing the stop down, because not enough people were using it. To make a long story short, the Viennese formed a group (with assigned head of the group) and protested strongly enough to prevent their station from being closed.

The fact that this group won their protest made me stop laughing at them. I thought about it for awhile and have decided this. I need to give the cranky Viennese a break and actually thank them instead of making fun of them. They protest about anything that doesn’t suit them. They put up a fuss until they get what they want. They form a group and in an organized manner, nip and nip and nip at the government until, in exhaustion/exasperation, the government just gives the people what they want.

So thank you dear Viennese for being so damn cranky. Thank you for standing up to what you perceive as unjust or unfair. Because if you did what a lot of other cultures/people do, and look away as the city deteriorates around them, Vienna wouldn’t be the #1 city to live in.

]]> http://op-expat.com/2011/01/give-the-viennese-a-break/feed/ 0 Because Vienna is Cooler Than LA http://op-expat.com/2011/01/because-vienna-is-cooler-than-la/ http://op-expat.com/2011/01/because-vienna-is-cooler-than-la/#comments Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:39:55 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=599 Continue reading →]]> Stop asking me why I would rather live in Vienna than LA. Though the beach and weather in Los Angeles are awesome and nothing can compare, there are severe downsides that I am happy to have left behind.

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_17150716

]]> http://op-expat.com/2011/01/because-vienna-is-cooler-than-la/feed/ 0 Vienna Expat on TV round 2 http://op-expat.com/2011/01/vienna-expat-on-tv-round-2/ http://op-expat.com/2011/01/vienna-expat-on-tv-round-2/#comments Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:47:26 +0000 Britta http://op-expat.com/?p=595 Continue reading →]]> Hey sorry about the crummy link to our episode of House Hunters International. It blocked anyone who wasn’t a US viewer. So um, here we are on HHI:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOiump3__Mo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBEwpSzXVAg

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