Culture shock in Linz, Austria
The evening I’ve spent in Linz was the first time I’ve experienced a culture shock. I’ve never seen so many pierced people, so many badly-dressed people and so many torn jeans in my entire life. I’ve never been so analyzed from head to toes by EVERY person passing by and I’ve never been so stared at, like it happened in here in Linz.
After living in the bubble of Belgium for a few years already, I got used to a certain way of behaving and being treated. For example, in Belgium, no one looks at anyone, no one makes eye contact on the street or in subway and if I went out with pink hair nobody would notice (and even if they did, they would try not to stare). And I like it this way.
I’ve traveled a lot and I could say I am opened to new ways of living, respecting people and their culture, but this city took me by surprise. I almost fell like a narrow minded westerner who thinks their way is the right way, but I urgently shook this feeling off and I embraced this new experience with a positive attitude. And I enjoyed the city!
There is no right way or weird way, it’s just people living in different cultures. A life lesson learned in Linz, the third largest city in Austria.
In seara petrecuta in Linz a fost prima oara cand am trait un soc cultural. Nu am vazut niciodata atat de multi tineri cu pierceing-uri negre in buze, limba, nas, sprancene, atatia oameni imbracati atat de urat si asa de multi jeansi taiati si tociti de parca eram la Obor in miezul zilei printre cocalari si pitipoance.
Am fost privita si analizata din cap pana in picioare de catre Fiecare trecator in parte.
Traind de cativa ani in Belgia, m-am obisnuit cu un anumit mod de comportament. De exemplu, in Belgia nimeni nu se holbeaza la nimeni, contactul vizual pe strada sau in metrou e inexistent, iar daca as iesi pe strada cu parul curcubeu, nimenui nu i-ar pasa (sau cel putin ar incerca sa evite sa se uite la mine). Si imi place astfel.
Am calatorit destul de mult si pot spune ca sunt deschisa la alte moduri de a fi si a gandi, tolerand si respectand alte culturi, dar orasul asta m-a luat prin surprindere. Aproape ca m-am simtit ca un vestic incuiat la minte, dar am scuturat repede acest sentiment si am imbratisat aceasta noua experienta cu o atitudine pozitiva. Orasul mi-a lasat intr-un final un sentiment placut!
Nu exista mod corect sau incorect cand vine vorba de diferentele intre tari si culturi. O lectie de viata invatata in Linz, al treilea oras ca marime in Austria.
Main square in the center of Linz / piata centrala in orasul Linz
The Danube crosses Linz / Dunarea traverseaza orasul Linz
The city center and the Old Dome Towers seen in the back / Piata centrala si turnurile bisericii vechi din Linz
Inside the Old Dome
The shopping street in the center of Linz / strada cu magazine din centrul orasului
So many cables! / Multe cabluri
The old center has a long a street with pubs, restaurant and shops / Centrul Vechi cu magazine
Central Square in Linz / Piata din Centrul orasului Linz
Over confident cellulite girl and woman with Mickey Mouse pants. No Comment. / femeie cu celulita la vedere, si alta cu colanti cu Mickey Mouse. Asa ceva…
Young women…they looked like men. / Femei tinere. FEMEI am spus.
The New Dome / Catedrala noua din Linz, cu un labirint in fata ei
Nuns in the labyrinth of the New Cathedral / Maicute in labirintul catedralei din Linz
“The labyrinth of life” / Labirintul vietii – iesi din el pe unde ai intrat
Cheers from Austria! / Noroc!
The city looks so beautiful with neat streets, and incredible architecture all around…
Would love to take a walk through those wide streets.. π
Amazing! I need to move.
Why? π
Linz is a nice city to live in, not very crowded, not very agitated (that’s why surely boring for many), but there’s actually nothing ”amazing” about it. In 2-3 hours you see really all there is to see. And by the way, the most beautiful places here (for me) are not exactly in the city π
I see what you mean… π To live in a smaller city or even a village can be peaceful and quiet, incomparable to capitals or other big cities…
It’s fantastic the contrast between old architecture with hi-tech machines (cars, public transport and contemporary architecture design), what I feel curious is that although there is a lot of people the city seems a bit empty, the buildings have to be really big or the streets so wide to have that sense of scale.
Actually the city was not too crowded, is not very touristic. The buildings are not so big, maybe 4-5 floors high. The perspective might be distorted because of the wide angle lens I used for taking these photos… π
May I ask on which day of the week you took the pictures from Landstrasse? π
I think it was on Saturday afternoon
Stunning pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, wait till you visit India!
Looks beautiful!
Thanks for sharing the pictures of Linz. It has not changed much in the last 20 years. π
I found your comment about narrow minded westerners interesting. I come from a conservative area in the U.S., and pretty much dont care how anyone dresses or looks,even though I would not dress crazy myself. I think everyone has pre conceived notions about the people in different countries, and americans seem to have a bad image,but to be honest,even I am starting to wonder about the way things are going in our country. There is way to much apathy and half the population wants to be spoon fed instead of working for what they have. believe me,not all americans are lazy slobs with no respect.
Oh, I was actually referring to the fact that many people from Western Europe have prejudices about the Eastern Europe. Usually (and I don’t intend to generalize, but only speaking from my own personal experience and interactions with others) people from more “developed” countries tend to be judgmental about “less developed” ones.
Hopefully people will learn that generalizing and having prejudices (mostly coming from misinformation and ignorance) is a bad habit and doesn’t lead to anything good, π
Have you ever been to Europe? π
No,but its my dream.Prague,Austria,France,England. Hopefully I will hit the lottery someday and can take a year or two. Sorry,whenever I hear western,I assume its us.
Well, I wish you win the biggest prize and fulfill you traveling dream π