Moving to Austria

[embee]

I worked in Graz on and off for a while. My German isn't good but I can get by, however depending on where you are in Austria the dialect and accent can be rater confusing, I never really got on with "Steierisch" at all.

It's going back 10yrs or so and things change, but generally the psyche is one of being law abiding, following the rules, respect the state, never mind anyone else. A very nice place, I always felt pretty safe even walking across the city centre in the early hours of the morning. My car was the only one I ever saw with a steering lock, crime levels were extremely low. However immigration from the east was gradually posing a few more problems, organised crime from Bulgaria/Romania/Albania etc (sorry for any prejudiced slant).

The character is more Bohemian than Teutonic, not quite as straight laced as high Germany for example. They do like a festival or 2.

A fabulous place in the summer. I found winters too extreme, towns are in the valleys and there is permanent cloud, no sun, below zero for 6weeks, filthy black snow along the roads and buildings (no salt allowed, only grit).

[Sid Squid]

Don't speed, no really don't speed - they start nicking when you're over the limit less than the needle's width.