Get real and Man up.

Everything in Germany makes Americans seem like children. Personal space isn't needed, Germans follow social rules, and trash disposal is complicated. You are expected to be professional, have respect, and know what you want.

I wouldn't expect Germany to have a crude magazine, similar to "The Mirror." From what we have read this year, the angry/sarcastic humor wouldn't be my first guess at the German populations likes.

The door policy is something that would take me awhile accept. I don't want people knocking once and barging into my office. It is my office, and I would prefer to give people permission to come in. However, it would set the mood for a business meeting. Both parties knowing what they want, the visitor walks in strongly and confidently. It is something that I respect about German culture. The concept that people know what they want and are strong willed.

I think that it is a good thing that Germany has a strict garbage disposal system. It is something that American's lack. The majority of Americans don't seem to want to recycle, which is just ridiculous. Although their system seems complicated, it is still something that American's should employ. The UoM does a good job at having plenty of recycling bins around campus, but there should be something to remind us students to do our part in recycling.

All in all, German seems like a really cool place,

PB

Sex in Germany

"Excuse me" is something that I have rarely heard in my trips to Europe. Italy was the only place that I remember every hearing it once. Germany seems to be much more of a streamlined country to every allow someone to utter "excuse me." Big city, big money, little time. That is what I imagine a German businessman has on his mind, not the wellbeing of a young adult wandering the streets. It is something that Americans do, and then get the social "eye of death." If you do not act polite, your social scene is over.

The poor poor toilet ladies. I feel horrible for them. There is too much room for abuse. Not tipping the toilet lady is the most horrible social crime imaginable. There should be laws that require people to tip theses ladies of the latrine.

The way to explain women in Germany would be, stay away. The way that these people flirt scares me. I do not want to offend, or bother someone because my flirting would be different and almost offensive.

German English

When it comes to languages, Americans do not care about the stability and longevity of English. Almost everyone allows for common gramatical errors on a daily basis, as well as words that are not actual words to be used in writing. This is something that the Germans do not appreciate. Not that Germany has a direct attack on Americans and our use of English, but rather the way English is changing German.

American English has a incredible amount of words in its lexicon that are from and incredible amount of different languages. French, Latin, and German are just three languages that have changed the way Americans speek English. Also, as the world grows and the ease of transportation is enhanced, it allows for an even larger flow of new/improper words to be added to not just German, but any language.

In this article on Wikipedia, I was struck most by how there is not differentiation between coloquial and written German. There is a difference in the language regionally, but the Germans take offense to any addition to the language. Speaking is different than formal writing, but a country that holds on to their culture would most definitely be offended. At least a portion of the Germans would be offended.

Adding English to German is not as bad as the Germans believe it to be, in my opinion. It allows for an expansion of understanding between the two different cultures. Americans do not care if they drop a German phrases into speech here of there. So I think that the Germans could play along, maybe just a little bit, and allow for a mixture in their spoken language.

Germany, Once again the place for me

There are too many reasons as to why I should call Germany home. The extreme necessity for organization is very appealing to me. My bedroom is a a piece or organizational work, just the same as the German road system. There is a strict established law that must be adhered to, which is just the same for me and my room. Also, the common sense to not violate the "red dictator." Cars need to move, bikes need to move, and people need to be safe. Walking across a street that is full of fast moving cars is a uniquely American thing.

The system of riding bikes is also something that is very appealing to me. My family is a big biking family, so the want to ride bikes would come easily to me. Needed to go short distances is best done with a bike. No one can debate that fact. The strict rules for the bike paths is also something that I respect. There is nothing like that, especially here in AA. Pedestrians are the at the top, while it is not a safe way for things to be done.

Hopefully sometime soon I will get to Germany to experience this culture.

German Children's Stories

I thought that I would continue the trend of reading children's stories considering the fact that we are reading one in class as we speak. I decided to read "Max und Moritz" which is almost like the "Mother Goose" stories that many American children heard when they were very little. Each story has an ethical lesson that is highlighted throughout the story. "Max und Moritz" does rhyme, and tells a tale of two boys who did not pay attention in school. There two boys were always ready for mischief. A person would never have a moment without worry when those two boys were around. At the end of the end, the boys climbed a tree and fell off to their end. This is only the introduction to the stories of "Max und Moritz." The end of the Vorwort says in English, "All they did this book rehearses, Both in pictures and in verses."

I found it very interesting that German Children's Stories function in the same way that American ones function. I understand that our culture is not the most original, but we do have our own way of spinning things. I imagine that if I kept reading through multiple stories, I would hear some of the same moral lessons I would if I read my own Children's Books.

I am glad that I attempted to read some more German literature, regardless of its difficulty level. I need to read more to learn more, and that is what I plan on doing.

Until next time,

PB

Poetry in Song

Hallo!

For this AMD3, I decided that I would choose a piece of German Lieder and read the words without music. The piece I chose was "Verborgenheit," which can translate to "Seclusion." The text was written by Edward Morike, with music by Hugo Wolf. The translation of this piece is an incredibly moving poem about how his heart hurts, but there should be happiness. The piece came with a IPA version, which I understand, so I could correctly pronounce the words that I wan't familiar with. I thought that actually understanding the piece would be difficult, but I managed to understand the basic ideas with the little German that we are armed with in 101. Even words that I didn't know before I could understand, such as 'Sonne,' and 'Licht.' Taking the time to read the German and then compare it to the English really made the words sing.

I feel that taking the time to fight through the German is the best way to learn. There are just much stronger connections when you learn the language the hard way. The Lieder had so much emotion that it was good to see two unique takes from two different languages.

Deutsch Drei

To be honest, I never expected to read about Germany being diverse. There is an image that German's have one goal in life, to drink, which resounds throughout the world. But it seems that this is not the case.

The procedure of drinking a beer makes the act of drinking much more symbolic. I would want to share a drink with a pal every night. The bonding that drinking instills is gute. However, I find it strange that there is a portion of the society that doesn't accept drinking as a bonding gesture. Being drunk in public should be controlled by the stickler society that Germany is. All the peeping people would surly control the public drunk problem just because it is socially unacceptable.

I am excited to go to Germany because of how wondering these articles make the country sound. The people can be rude with their retorts, but there is a strong sense of humor. Without laughing, life is not worth living. A cold winter, with a lot of Bier can only mean one thing, these people know how to have a good time; much like the University of Michigan.

Kapitel 2

The German culture seems to be a very streamlined culture. However, I was surprised to hear that German's always complain. Germany is perceived as a country that is full of content people, which is not the reality. Complaining about quiet, on time trains are small issues to be upset about. German people have plenty of thinks to be happy about, such as road systems, health care, and even their soccer team.

With all the documentaries, Germany is the place for me. One of my favorite things to do is watch the History Channel. Having trivial information in your back pocket is one of my favorite ways to hold conversations. German people must be much more interesting that Americans. Us Americans seem to have a lot to do and too little to say.

"The German Stare-Down" just seems like one of the more awkward moments in my visit to Germany. The constant eye contact would weird me out. The stare added to the constant honesty that people hold would be hard to adjust to. It seems that the German society has a definite "right and wrong."