This biggest difference we have noticed is with dining expectations. Here it seems that the dining experience is relaxed, not rushed and savored over a longer period of time. In contrast, Canadians have very rigid dining expectations. Most people expect to be seated in a restaurant, and be greeted by a server right away. Drinks are served in a matter of minutes, then food orders taken. When the table is finished eating, we expect the bill to come right away, and be able to pay (usually on separate tabs) quickly, and be out the door onto whatever is next.
In Austria, this is not the case. Time and schedules are not as rigid when it comes to dining. Things such as public transportation is another story. Metro and train schedules are precise and always on time (from our experience thus far). We can compare this to the Edmonton bus system, where buses are often late by 2-15 minutes.
On the other hand, dining is a lot more relaxed in Austria. We have experienced, first hand, the time it can take for something like dinner. Service is a lot slower and relaxed. Billing doesn't happen right away. The servers aren't dropping a bill off right away and rushing you out the door.It can be frustrating for someone who is not used to this method of dining. Being so used to being rushed, it seems to be hard for some to get used to the relaxed style. Also, bills are usually together here, which we assume plays into the social aspect of meals.
What have your dining and time related experiences been? Have you noticed any issues or struggled getting used to this differences?
Xoxo
- EJ
We found your blog very interesting as we have also noticed these same differences in the dining establishments as you have. The servers are not as quick as those at restaurants in Edmonton and often take their time with regards to finishing up your meal. Through our experience we’ve noticed that the servers sometimes get annoyed when asked if the bills can be brought sooner then they would have expected. This difference can make it difficult to adjust and plan out our free time. When going for meals we usually allow for an hour to an hour and a half at most. However, in Vienna meals often take up to two hours to complete making it difficult to schedule other events as we are used to those “rigid dining expectations” you spoke of.
ReplyDeleteWe too found it interesting how the importance of time varies so much between the dinning and transit experiences. We have not yet seen a late train or bus while traveling around the city either. We believe this difference is due to the importance placed on social interactions. Vienna people seem to value spending time with each other as seen through their long meal times, therefore having quick and precise transit allows them to spend more time where they want/need to be. This also can be difficult to adjust to as in Edmonton we’re used to the busses being a little late so being exactly on time isn’t usually something to stress about. However, if you are even a minute late for a bus or train in Vienna you will more than likely have to wait for the next one.
Although these differences may seem minor, they are important to note when it comes to planning out your day. The long dining times and short transit times are large factors that can affect how your day goes if they are not accounted for.
- Erika & Chris