25 Differences between Austria and Colombia

The following might as well be differences between Latin America and Europe, but I could not tell for sure.

Also, I've only lived 1.5 years in Austria, so still getting to know many things.

1. In Austria, the grading system is from 5 to 1. Five is the lowest possible mark, and one the highest

2. Also, when somebody finishes a lecture in an academic setting they knock on the table several times (as opposed to clapping). Might not always be like this though.

3. For Colombians, the ground floor of a building is regarded with the number 1, in Austria, the ground floor is the number 0.

Thus when you tell an Austrian: "meet me at the first floor", they will be on the second floor

4. Riding a bike is very common in Austria. For kids to be able to ride alone they need to pass the Cycling Proficiency Test (pretty much a driving test).

I've been told this is a big deal for kids here.

5. In Colombia, when you go to a cafe and order a croissant, they would not touch the croissant with the same hand they receive the cash. There's either somebody else handling the money, or they use gloves (because money is dirty).

This is sometimes not the case in Austria.

6. In Colombian restaurants, the tip is usually 10%.
In Austria, you just round it. So if the bill is 14.3€, then you say: "make it 15".

7. In Austria, cash is mainstream. Waitresses always keep a bulky purse with coins and bills. Paying with card is not always accepted.

8. When it comes to saunas, Colombians do not fully remove their clothes. Austrians, on the other hand, couldn't care less.

It was very tough for me to remove my towel completely in a public sauna, but since most (if not all) do it, then you get used to it quickly.

But...

...there are some interesting dynamics:

Some are ok being naked around family, but not around friends.
Some are ok being naked around same-sex friends only, even if they are not very acquainted
Some women are ok removing their top, but not their bikini, and so on...

9. Colombia has a long way to go to feel as safe as Europe. In fact, we think of Europe as a paradise where nothing bad ever happens.

But it struck me that I had to buy a 25€ lock for my bike, and always attach it to something or else there was a high risk of it being stolen..

..so the perfect picture I had in my mind was clearly wrong.
Regardless, Austria is still the safest place I've ever been to.

I'm grateful to be able to walk at night with my phone out without constantly checking who might be walking behind me (which I still do out of habit).

10. Elevators in Colombia almost always have a security camera. This is hardly ever the case in Austria

11. In Colombia, hygiene is socially relevant (very relevant). Come to a party with bad breath or smelly armpits, and you are fucked.

Not that Austrians enjoy it either..

.. but it's certainly way more acceptable than it would be in Colombia.

My Austrian friends are usually awestruck when I tell them that back in Colombia (at my workplace) there used to be a line in the bathroom for people brushing their teeth after lunch.

12. The healthcare system in Colombia sucks, and Colombians know it.

The healthcare system in Austria is (to me) not the best either, but Austrians do not agree with me, they are usually very proud of it .

Regardless, expats and I, have not had a good experience.

13. Colombians are more driven to consumerism and capitalism. On the weekends they go to a shopping center to make a 2-hour tour to buy something, then watch a movie, eat some junk food, and finally take an Uber back home.

(They often workout on Sunday mornings though)

Austrians often plan out of their weekend. They pick a mountain/lake and hike all the way there. In their bags, they bring water, veggies, and sunscreen.

They also play lots of board games and enjoy drinking beer at pubs quite a lot. Not to mention the strong coffeeshop culture.

14. During lunchtime, Austrians greet each other differently than they would any other time of the day, they say "Mahlzeit"

Which literally means mealtime, but also hi, and also bye, and also good appetite

15. In Colombia when it is your birthday, your family treats you like a royal member, your friends make a party for you, you get presents all over, and you don't spend a dime.

In Austria, it is your responsibility to organize the whole thing, and you often pay for the drinks

16. In Colombia, it's common to talk and befriend people on the streets, greet others on the elevator, or make casual conversation with strangers.

In Austria, not so much. People can feel uncomfortable if you suddenly make eye contact or address them. It is common that they..

.. would rather stick to their known group of friends, as opposed to constantly seeking to diversify it.

This is a hard burden for immigrants who know no one. So you have to be really patient to build up your friendships.

17. In the same way, Colombians can be more forward when it comes to flirting and dating. Austrians usually require help from alcohol to loosen up.

18. Besides St. Nicholas (or Papa Noél), Austrians have a Christmas character called Krampus a monster that punishes bad kids

19. English proficiency is substantially higher in Austria. But still, there's plenty of people who are not able to communicate.

Some doctors, secretaries, store workers, postal workers, delivery people, company agents, bank representatives, real state agents, and so on...

Once again, Austrians find this hard to believe, but my expat friends and I have gone through enough experiences where language was a real barrier.

PS: This might be substantially different in Vienna, according to some friends.

20. One contrasting mindset between Colombians and Austrians is the disposition for uncertainty. Austrian definitely enjoy predictability more. In Colombian many systems are unreliable, so we have no choice anyway

21. Perhaps driven by our capitalistic structure, Colombians seem to be more entrepreneurial. You see people constantly coming up with ideas to make money. Medellín is top-notch in this regard.

Austria doesn't seem to have such a strong entrepreneurial spirit yet.

22. Austria is a more environmentally aware country. Also, recycling is socially relevant, your friends will ask you where are your recycle bins, and when you tell them you discard everything in the same bag, they will give you an awkward look

23. When it comes to bread, Austrians have a wider spectrum, they often feel proud of their diverse bread (and cheese) culture. Colombians, on the other hand, have mostly sweet bread (which is still awesomely good).

24. For me, a bathroom is a combination of a shower and a toilet. Some Austrian buildings make a different room for each

25. In Austria, I came across some Belleville toilets for the first time. They have the hole in the front area, rather than in the back. Just imagine doing , and instead of sinking and barely seeing it, you get a 4K picture of it before you flush. It's interesting...

Overall, the perception of time (chronemics), the environmental awareness, and the wealth of this country are by far the strongest and most relevant differences with Colombia. And I'm grateful I'm learning about them.

Thanks, Austria!