Grüß Gott

At the six month mark in Austria, I am still a bit shy about something...saying "Grüß Gott" to people in the neighborhood.


Now, some of you might be thinking, "Huh? Why's that? Aren't you supposed to say hello to people when you see them?" or, "LOLZ! Austrians really say 'Greet God' to one another? We-eird!" or maybe even, "Mom always said, 'Don't talk to strangers!'"


My shyness basically stems from all the times I say hello to someone who a) snorts with indignation, or b) has to calm their dog down so it doesn't maul me while I am walking my favorite path around Amstetten. I often find the situation goes in one of these directions:


Me: Look! Another person. OK, this is easy. Just say "Grüß Gott" when they get close enough.
(walking)
(walking...person is 3-4 meters away...)
Me: Grüß Gott!
Person: Grüß Gott.


Or:


Me: Look! Another person. OK, this is easy. Just say "Grüß Gott" when they get close enough.
(walking)
(walking...person is 3-4 meters away...)
Me: Grüß Gott!
Person: (eyebrow lift and/or sneer)


Or:


Me: Look! Another person. OK, this is easy. Just say "Grüß Gott" when they get close enough.
(walking)
(walking...notice dog not attached to leash. Their dog?)
(walking...person and dog are 3-4 meters away...)
Me: (staring into dog's eyes thinking, You are sooooooo cute! Forget to say "Grüß Gott.")
Person: What a rude girl. She did not even say hello!


Or, what happened yesterday:


Me: Look! Another person. OK, this is easy. Just say "Grüß Gott" when they get close enough.

(walking)

(walking...notice dog not attached to leash. Their dog?)

(walking...person and dog are 3-4 meters away...)

Dog: Strange person! Probably foreign. I will jump at her and freak her out! Arf arf! Growl! GRRRRRRRR!

Me: EEP! (look at person)

Person: Hör auf, du Freche! 

(translation: Stop it, sassy! I assumed referring to the dog...)

And yet, I persist...Grüß Gott or die!