So law-abiding, but yet so innovative.

When we first moved here, several things called my attention. Latin-American culture is different from United States culture and this is a well-known premise. Having already lived here for a couple of months some years ago, I am still impressed by a few aspects of North American culture. I will not attempt to make a full analysis on the differences between Americans and Chileans; instead, I will try to describe an Austinite paradox.

So law-abiding, …

Have you ever driven through Austin’s streets? You may find some traffic Austinites complain all the time about, but you would be mostly amazed by how polite drivers are and how traffic signs are almost always respected. I have a legitimate Texas driver’s license, which means that I had to take the same test as Texans and let me tell you that it’s not a difficult test. So the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) does not represent a true filter to keep reckless drivers off the streets. Austin’s drivers have a genuine concern for driving responsibly and making the road a pleasant place. For example, for merging into a highway, you only have to signal left and people will welcome you in. No need to stress about forcing your way in or requesting the right of way by pulling down the window as I was used to. Here, I can count on people waiting patiently with me for a left turn, because I am confident that no one will skip the line using an illegal move.

Austinites are so punctual. They don’t settle with arriving on time to a meeting, but they also leave on time as instructed. I was amazed to find birthday invitations for Juanito with starting and ending time. We usually establish arriving time adding an extra 30 minutes to ensure people will be there when the food is ready. However, we would never dare to indicate the time when people have to leave. It is assumed that they can return home whenever they feel like it, forcing them out would be considered rude. But Americans shouldn’t have the problem of annoying guests that just won't leave (not even when the lights have been turned off and the floors have been swept) because ending time was established from the beginning.

Event organizers know they can rely on the honesty of Austinites. They don’t spend much money on security because history has taught them that if there is a fee to pay, it will surely be paid. As I narrated on a previous blog, we attended Bat Fest on August. In the entrance, there was a table with people collecting the fee, but you could choose not to pay it by just going inside. Nobody was guarding the entrance. The same phenomenon happens with public transportation. Allegedly you have to show your UT ID when stepping into the UT Shuttle, but I have ridden the shuttle for 3 months now and no one has ever asked for it. I would imagine that everyone has one so it would be a waste of time and resources to oversee this compliance. In Chile, many people consider it is almost their right to try and not pay the proper fee into a festival or a bus. They will try several times to get in without being seen by the guards. If they are successful, they tell everybody of their accomplishment proudly; if they are not successful, then they will either surrender and pay or just leave because they didn't have enough money to pay for the ticket to begin with.

… but yet so innovative.

Word on the street is that Austin is going to become the new Silicon Valley. Many blogs are talking about how technology firms are moving to Austin (v.gr. roadshow.slate.com). Big companies like Dell established their headquarters in Austin. Startups that began in California are now moving here because operating expenses are lower. There are several local incubators, like the Austin Technology Incubator or Capital Factory, that help startups grow into companies. Like Silicon Valley, Austin also has a casual culture, freedom to experiment, and a collaborative environment so that startup teams get all the support they need.

I am familiar with the youngest side of Austin. I have witnessed how young people in every store and restaurant find every means available to be successful. Since employees of most stores and restaurants earn money according to how much they sale or serve, the workers put all their effort in maximizing this amount. This may sound obvious, but as I told you in an older post, that is not always the case. I think all these workers are also entrepreneurs. They have to make money based on tips, so they invent different innovative strategies to flourish. They are so kind and diligent, that  we always tip them accordingly. They don’t just wait for fixed payment or settle with minimum tips. They will tell you jokes, worry about the stroller, fetch you a high chair, or even select a sweater that matches your outfit without me having to ask for it.

Trying to understand how people that can pass as very square minded are so innavotive, I have come to a possible explanation. Maybe this well-organized environment, where children are taught from the beginning how to respect other people by showing up on time and paying for the tickets, is the perfect surrounding for new businesses to prosper. When you know exactly what to expect from taxes, payrolls, and regulations, then it is easier to work and start a business. What I admire, though, is that this disciplined atmosphere has not inhibited Austinites’ ability to create new solutions and products to old problems. Fortunately, Austinites have the energy to figure out solutions by themselves, even when they had been told repeatedly that they can’t do certain things.