Spanish expat Paco has been living in Vienna, Austria, for more than two years, and in his own words, he's doing so very happily. That isn't to say his expat experience is perfect, but it has been mostly positive. Paco shares his thoughts about living in Vienna, the Austrian people, how his life in Austria differs from his life in Spain, and the importance of learning to speak German.	Paco Bernal

-Where were you born?
I was born in Madrid, Spain.

-In which country and city are you living now?
I am living in Vienna (Austria).

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I am living alone at the moment.

-How long have you been living in Austria?
I've been living here since October 2005, and very happily, I must say. :-)

-What is your age?
I am 32.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Austria ?
Well, In fact I wanted to learn German...and I had friends here. I found as well that I needed some change in my life and I wondered...Why not? I thought about it a little bit....and the rest is history.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Not at all. I was an EU citizen.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Not really. It was quite difficult to get a job, at the beginning, because my German was not fantastic. But I had my Spanish insurance.

-How do you make your living in Austria? Do you have any type of income generated?
Nowadays, I work for an international company that produces industrial equipment. Their European bureau is in Vienna. I work for the French market. So, I work mostly in French. I got the job through the newspapers. In Vienna they are very useful. For me, the best is the Kurier. But you can also look for a good job in pages like www.jobmedia.com. I worked also in a hotel (breakfast service) and also in a customer service department for a company that worked with Spain.

-Do you speak German and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
My German is improving every day (or I hope so). From the very beginning I saw how important it was to speak German. I think that learning the local language of a country is, really, the best way to be integrated.

The Austrian customs are not so different from the Spanish ones. Maybe people here are quite formal at the beginning, but the good thing is that when they say something, they mean it. No one in Austria will tell you to come up for a coffee only beacuse it is nice or polite. If they invite you, it is because they really have interest in seing you and know you better.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Of course I miss my family, I am Spanish!!! jajajajaja. We, the Spaniards, are very family people. In fact, my family is the only thing that I miss. But Spain is near, and I fly quite often.

Austria offers a lot of things. It is a privilege to live so near to gifts of nature. Deep forests, rivers, mountains. Also cultural activities are a must here. Vienna is the city of the music and the theaters. In summer you can also swim, and rest, and walk in the woods. And everything, it's hardly half an hour away from home!

Wonderful!

-Do you have other plans for the future?
Well, I would like to profit from the fact that I live in Austria in visiting some other places. I am looking forward to going to Berlin, and I would also like to go to the ancient communist countries. I think that is an area that is quickly developing and changing. And for a Mediterranean person like me, it is a part of the world that is unknown.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
Housing in Vienna is quite cheap (comparing it to Spain, especially). An apartment here can cost around 600-700 Eur a month, depending on the place where it is.

-What is the cost of living in Austria?
When I came, I found that Vienna was cheaper than Spain in many ways. I only noticed the difference in the sport facilities (swimming pools and fitness centers). In Spain they are cheaper in general because they are public.

-What do you think about the Austrians?
Austrians are very sincere people, as I said before. Very polite (nicely) and very formal (although they say that they are not so formal as the Germans, but do not believe them jajaja). Somehow they are a mix of the past - an old concept of society - and the present. They like to preserve ancient traditions, but also they are very curious about what is new. They can be very funny, although I think that their sense of humour can be quite "black" from time to time. They try always to communicate with you. But, I also must say that you can see the difference between the Austrians in the country and in Vienna. People in the country are specially friendly. In the city...well, not as much.

I would like to say that I have not had any problem with the Austrian people because I am a foreigner. I have always been treated very well. The Austrians appreciate that you try to be integrated. They are conscious about the fact that their language is difficult and do not ask you to speak it perfectly.

As a not so good point, I would say that Austrians can be too much worried about appearances. They say, for example, "Kleidung macht leute" (the dress makes the people) which is a way to tell you that it is not that important what you do, but how you sell it.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Austria?
I can say that living in Austria has been very positive for me. Particularly living in Vienna, which has a standard of living that is one of the best in the world. Vienna is a very comfortable place to live. I like it very much.

The negative aspects...Well, I miss my family and the language (German can be a very tough enemy sometimes).

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Austria?
Learn German, learn German, learn German and, if you have any spare time, learn German. Try to adapt yourself to the local concept of punctuality and, from the first day on, and without forgetting your essence, try to be an Austrian as much as you can. And, at the beginning, try to take it with good sense of humour. I think that this is the magical trick.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Austria?
I run my own blog, www.vienadirecto.blogspot.com, in Spanish, and I also collaborate in a collective website, www.austria.pordescubrir.com.

Another Spaniard, Toni, runs a blog in English, http://murmeltierjahre.blogspot.com, with great pictures.