Expert: Claire Symons - 8/8/2007

Question
Hi, I have a question about the culture in Austria.  I plan to visit there and some parts of Africa.  My mother is Somalian and my father is Austrian and Slovakian.  I was wondering if there are any people of color in Austria and/or how they take to black people.  My brother and I would like to visit, but we also dont want to feel completely out of place.  If you have any info it would be appreciated.

Answer
Not many black people live in Austria, but that does not mean you would be out of place. Austria has a ton of tourists coming through all the time from all over the world. In the cities anyway, people would be used to tourists of all shapes and sizes. I would be surprised if you experienced a negative reaction. Keep in mind though, the culture of Austria is not as overly social or happy as the United States. But this I mean that people don't smile when you pass them on the street. This is not a statement of dislike. Waitresses don't depend on tips for their pay, so they are often very unpleasant to customers. Again, this is not personal.
Austria is like any other European nation - mostly populated by white european type people. But dont let that stop you. It's worth a visit.