Special Post # 4

Hey everybody!

WARNING: These views do NOT represent all of Germany. They are my views of what and who I have enccountered on my trip here. Please take everything that is said here with a grain of salt.

Welcome to my fourth special post. In this post I will be talking about the discussions I have had in my English class. What I thought was only going to be a one day branch off discussion of cultural differences has turned into a whole unit. Although we don't always discuss, my class is still learning about cultural identities.

I think these discussions are really unique given we have Polish, Ukranian, Afghani, American, German, and Nigerian cultures all present in a small class. With so many many different backgrounds the sun never sets on how we all view culture.

During my training with YFU I learned several ways of diagramming how culture works and how foreigners discover and fit into new societies. One of these diagrams was a three pillar diagram.

History

With YFU we learned, as seen in the diagram above, the base of every cultures is history. I have seen a few examples of this in my history class. In my previous American history class we were told the American Revolution inspired the French Revolution. In my current German history class we are told the French Revolution inspired the German Revolution. If A=B and B=C shouldn't A=C? Why not say the American Revolution inspired the German revolution? Maybe it was because, at the time, The US had a lot closer relationship to France than Germany.

History also affects what we do and how we do it today. For example, how 9/11 affect the way many Americans see Arab people. Not all Arabs are terrorists. Not all terrorists are Arab or Islamists. The same goes for German history. I choose WWII just because it is easily comparable. Not all Germans are Nazis and not all Nazis are German. One could consider Nazis and Terrorists completely different cultures. They each have their own history to base the rest of their culture on.

There is a German songwriter who asks the question, "where have all the German folk songs gone?" Due to WWII some are afraid of showing national pride because of this stereotype of many Germans being Nazis. Which again (as I cannot stress enough) is untrue. I think my friend Maja put it well. How can the current generation of Germans be held accountable that happened before they were even alive? Their parents weren't even alive yet. Yet their generations are still affected.

In the same way we, as Americans, are proud of our history of winning wars, defeating, for example, communism and saving other countries from despair. Even though none of us may have done anything personally to help. This doesn't stop some of us from thinking we are the best culture in the world. This could be the affects of the time when North America was settled. Many European cultures came over and pushed their cultures upon the Native Americans, and settled America. Due to this some argue Americans still have this mindset.

There are three pillars that lay on top of history which support the overall idea of culture. Family, Religion, and Language. Aspects of these can be seen by foreigners and natives.

Religion

Many other countries outside of The United States have an official government religion. This includes Germany with Christianity. Even though the official religion is Christianity, from what I have seen in my area, it is less present here than in America. Granted the churches are bigger and grander here, but the people who attend, seem to be fewer and older. Granted I come from a family who goes to church every Sunday, so my view is skewed to how often people actually go to church. Due to an official religion means not all holidays are free. I have noticed very few Jewish or Muslim holidays are given free at my school. (Which made the beginning to my school year different.) There is also a mandatory tax in my area when people are part of the church. This is also a reason for people to turn away from the church. Of course this is probably opposite in German states like Bavaria.

Family
Different types of families can be found all over the world regardless of culture. Due to this I can only speak for my family. My family specifically is very open. As my host mom put it, "We probably wouldn't have hosted an exchange student if we weren't open." I believe this is a common trait that can be found in almost all host families and exchange students. If both parties aren't open to new adventures and ideas the exchange year would be much more difficult. I have been lucky enough to be apart of a big family who is supportive of each other. So many members of the family show up and celebrate birthdays and holidays all together. For example, there were a couple weeks around Chiristmas with several birthdays. Many aunts, uncles, and cousins showed up for each one, and still Christmas.

How are my two families different from each other? My family in America is always so busy everything has to be planned several weeks ahead to make sure we have time for it. My dad also likes knowing what events are coming up. He likes it more when we plan a couple days in advance when friends are coming over. I guess this is a trait I have picked up a bit on because I always seem to ask why we are going to visit friends and it is almost never planned a few days in advance. This is a point that my host mom brought to me.

Children, I have noticed, also have much more freedom. As a four year old I believe I was always either in the cart or at my mom's side in the grocery store. In Germany it seems much more normal for children to scuttle over to the candy isle and grab a bag of their favorite candy. Justus always runs over to the toy section in Rossmanns (Walgreens), stares at the toys for a few minutes, and then runs through the store looking for either my host mom or me. I think the reason for Americans holding onto their children so tight is that we are so afriad of one another. Again this can relate back to our history.

Once children are older they have much more freedom. I am suprised how the kids at my school know exactly how to navigate the bus system without a parent, and they are around 8. My school also has open campus. For field trips older kids are expected to find our way to the event on our own.

When we start dating I think the mindset in my area is, "They are going to have sex if they want to. It is our job as their parents to make sure they have safe sex." This is why my school hasn't had a pregnant girl for many years, where as there is one almost every year in my American school. Many people in America immediately assume the worst when the boyfriend/girlfriend sleeps over. This is considered completely normal where I live, although I am not quite sure why. I would assume it relates back to trusting children to do what it right.

Thanks for reading!

Sandra

Special Post #3

Hey everybody!

As you may have heard there are some 'adjustments' being made the CBYX program (the scholarship I am currently on), which are endangering its future. For all of my readers who I may not be friends with on facebook or may not have a facebook here is my post:

The Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange is by far the most inspiring program I have ever participated in in my life. This program has been serving students every year like me since 1983. This program has helped to teach us all what is important in life and what we want from it. A lucky trait which some people search their whole lives for. I know it has helped me with these life questions. If you need more convincing that exchange students can give you; there have been research done on exchange student behavior in college. The reports have said students are harder workers, recieve better grades, they bring a new confidence in who they are, and overall they are refreshed and eager to learn in the next years of life. If you say, "How does this affect me?" Think about how exchange students are able and willing to change your future and ours in many wonderful ways. This will end up affecting you, your beloved neighbor, your children, and even your great grandchildren in the years to come. Please sign this petition, it only takes a moment of your time to affect the future.

Please sign Here to help us save the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship.

Thank you for reading!

Sandra