American manners and etiquette

America is huge, especially when I compare it with European dimension. I guess, not in every part of the country are exactly the same manners and etiquettes important. I think it varied a bit. However, I found out that the Midwest is known for friendly, polite and diligent hardworking people and I agree with it, according to my own experience. When foreign people think about America they usually associate things like freedom, independence and self-individualism with it. Everything is possible and with effort you can reach it. It reflects the whole life and lifestyle. The manners are also adapted to these attitudes. Punctuality, eye contact and team playing are important. It is also necessary to respect the personal “bubble”. These personal space is a bit larger here as in Austria. I noticed also differences when you meet someone. Usually is a handshake common – it is the same in Austria, but when you meet a friend in Austria is “kissing cheeks” a normal ritual. I guess it is typical European because I never saw it here, not even between close friends.
Another manner is, when you are invited to a party or dinner, you should bring something for your hosts; it is the same here as in Austria but the dress style and dress etiquettes are really different here especial from students. In Austria nobody goes to classes with sportswear or pajamas. It is an unwritten rule that you have to dress up a bit and don’t go with your leisure time clothes. That could be jeans; skirts, shirts, and something like that, so casual clothes. When you are an economic, business or law major and then get “trained” to represent your future job from the first day on campus. It means that all students of those directions are standing out auf the majority. They usually wear really formal clothes, every day, not only on days with presentations. Unfortunately, titles in Austria are also very important. That means that you have to know and always name titles from persons.
I think the main manners are the same, like the behavior between man and women or everyday things except of a few points.

Costumes...

Beside the Austrian “Carneval” (is known as fifth season in the year, were we always get masked) we often masked us for events and parties. I think it is very popular now. Halloween is normally not part of our culture, but in the last years it also became more and more common. We have also costume- or theme-parties during the year, without a specific meaning or background. That can be: birthday parties, season parties, arpartment parties or something like that. Also some bars and clubs offer theme parties like pajama party, 70ties and 80ties party or other decade parties, also very en vogue are Chrsitmas parties.

"Austrian-Careval" (Fasching)
Indian - party

Christmas -party

...my sister as "Silvester" by our "looney tunes" - Winter party,...

What have you observed about our Easter Holiday? What have you learned through conversations/experience about Easter? What have you observed about its themes? What significance does Easter have for most Americans? Why do you think this?

Last weekend, I was in Washington D.C. and I had observed that Easter is not really a big deal here in America when I compare it to Europe. In Europe is Easter one of the biggest events during a year. Students have usually their spring break over Easter and normally at least ten days off. In America I not really noticed some special celebrations. The only thing what it reminds me, that it was Easter-Sunday, was a man in a bunny costume who gave everyone plastic eggs with a small plastic soldier in it, but is was more a kind of protest against the Afghanistan conflict as something else. Perhaps it is more special for families with children. On Easter Sunday they get their Easter basket and that’s it in most of the cases. I also couldn't see any special celebrations. The only things that I saw were some decorated cakes with some Easter motives and some Easter articles in the stores but that’s all. I was a bit disappointed because I really like Eastern but here was nothing special, no special food or traditions not rally any decoration or ceremonies. Maybe it is different when you have a family here and spend the weekend together. I definitely prefer Easter in the way how we celebrate it but I think it depends on the cultural background.

...on the backside of the Wihte House

Americans are religious?

They are religious more than 75 % would agree with this statement. I think nearly every American beliefs on something, it doesn’t matter which religion they have chosen. I also belief that trust in a religion is not going every Sunday on e place (synagogue, church,…) praying it’s more gestures who transfers that. It reflected in holidays and traditions. The majority is Christian but America has no official “state religion” it was one of the basics in the federal law that everyone have the freedom to believe in whatever you want.

What observation did you make on the movie "Separate but not Equal" that depict the unequal treatment of African Americans?

The movie played in the early 50ties and shows the injustices between African American and white people. In this time there was segregation between these two races. They had separate schools, churches, bars and communities. It shows a “black” school in South Carolina which is very simple and they haven’t the standard from this time it rather looks really dirty, old and decrepit. They have no school bus or other means of transport to come to school. All the children walk long distance to their classes in contrast the white privileged” children drove with many buses to their “high standard” school. One day, the referent form the African American school went to the supervisor from the White school and bagged for only one old bus but he said “NO”. After the law they were equal but in the reality there was a big abyss between the people. The African American were sacred from the power of the white, because many of them worked and the plantation and in the houses of the white people and they would lose their job if the sign up and support the stream for fairness and equality, so it was a real quandary for the people.

Self-realization

My philosophy too that topic is a bit different. I agree with the most parts. It is important to realize your own goals and be independent and autonomous but I also think that the family is one fundamental institution in our life. But when the parents cling too much on their children it is really bad for their development. Everyone should learn from your own mistakes and the parents can’t protect the children for every thing and all the time. It is a challenge for all human to grow up and find the right way.

In Austria it is very unequal, some children “leave the nest” when they are 14 and some when they get married but I think it is harder for our parents to let us go. It depends on their education and on every family (how much they are connected). It is also common that two generations life in one house.

I was 14 when I left my home, because my High School was in another city and lived in a dorm there. But I was - and I’m also connected with my home.

Do you think wealth and possessions make a person important? If not, what does?

I think that money takes up too large space in today's life. Those who can afford everything, is no longer satisfied. There is no delight, even with little satisfaction. Nothing you can buy for money, at least nothing major.

Of cause it depends on every person and how the person handles it. Wealth and possessions makes the life easier and open sure some door, but it never makes you really happy. It is easy to buy something but some things nobody can buy. I mean things like loyalty, friendship or real feelings for someone without second thoughts are priceless.

I know it is for everyone appeasing to know I have enough money to live my live that I want to live. However nobody should overrate the power of money, but on the other side is nothing for free.

If Americans had to pick one aspect of their country that they are most proud of, over 90 percent would choose freedom. What aspect of your country are people most proud of? How does that quality affect life there?

According to a study of the “Statistic Austria” from the year 2005, was the result that we Austrians are primarily proud of our multifarious landscape. Then come our neutrality, our athletes, our artists/musicians (Austria has been the birthplace of W. A. Mozart, J. Haydn, F. Schubert, A. Bruckner, J. Strauss and many more). We are also proud of our cuisine, which grew up under the influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And we are also peacock about the renunciation of the nuclear power.
But this consciousness change from time to time. The view of the Austrians on their land is uneven and uncertain. It depends on our ambivalent past. Sometimes the glass is half empty and sometimes it is half full again

I’m proud of my country in the time after World War II, nobody believed that Austria could exist and my grandparents and parents changed it to a very good place for my generation. I’m also proud of our beautiful landscape. We have everything, from the high mountains, awesome rivers about marvellous lakes and also cultural hot spots in the cities.
It shows me every time when I see it, that this is a wonderful place, not without mistakes, but I’m very glad to born and raised in Austria. - There is no better place to live - (for me)