Kultur

Well, today I played catch up on all the cultural assignments that I missed. While I always read the culture texts in the book to prepare for the exam, I did not read the online articles or read through 365 Dinge. Finally, today I bought the 365 Dinge book and read through all the web articles! Here is a summary of all that I read.

Kapitel 7 

USA Kulinarisch

Milchprodukte 
I enjoyed reading an article about the differences between milk products in the US and milk products in Germany. I definitely noticed a lot of these differences when I was in Germany, so it was very entertaining. Apparently Germans are very confused by American "sour cream," which I enjoy on my mexican food, potatoes, and in my cheesecakes. In this article they related the different milk products found in America to the ones found in Germany, but they could not find an equivalent for sour cream, so they provided a recipe for making your own sour cream at the bottom of the article.

I used to buy frischkäse to put on my bagels and lochs when I was in Germany. According to the article this is the same as cream cheese in America. I definitely agree, but I wouldn't say it's equivalent to buying Philadelphia cream cheese, which I think was a bit thicker than the German frischkäse I bought at the Markt.

One German Milchprodukte I did not try while in Germany because I had not even known about it until returning to America was Quatch. I certainly want to try it once I return to Germany.

Finally, I noticed in Germany that they do not have any half and half. At the office, they just had packets of cream. In the article, they poked a little fun at "halb und halb," which I can understand because it is a pretty weird American concoction. It almost reminds me a bit of the Arnold Palmer which is half lemonade half iced tea. I think Americans just like mixing things. I know when I buy a soda, I just go through all the different drinks and mix them all into one to make my own soda.

Kulinarischer Roadtrip USA: Bacon, Egg & Toast Cups
This article was a bit odd. They talked about going on a typical USA road trip, which would involve driving through America and stopping at diners to eat and sleeping in motels to try out different regional food. All of which I agree with, but for some reason they highlighted this Bacon, Egg & Toast Cups. I have never heard of such a things, but they definitely incorporate my three breakfast essentials into one item. If I had any baking talents, I might try to make some of these but I don't. I was made fun in Germany for my scrambled egg breakfast with random vegetables and bacon mixed together. I think this goes back to my affinity to mix everything I eat of drink...

XXL - Truthahn Broten: Tips & Tricks für die Zubereitung
In this article they discuss how to bake a large Turkey for Christmas dinner, which is certainly a tradition in my household. All I can say is I found it funny they mention the classic American stereotype of "bigger is always better." I get it, Americans are fat...

What Discipline: Of German Lines and Pythons
So I definitely found this article entertaining, but oddly enough I did not find lines to be overwhelmingly crazy when I was in Germany. I was trying to think of experiences when I had to battle my way to the front when I was in Germany but I just can't. I think I have been so accustomed to battling my way on to Michigan buses the past four years that I did not notice myself battling on to the U-bahn. I definitely do remember vying for position on trains arriving to the station when there were a lot of people waiting at the station, but I thought this was more or less normal. I already learned the trick of lining up on the side to get onto buses faster so I did the same thing in Germany. I guess I just lack discipline myself! The only time I noticed the line thing as being odd was getting onto a flight. I was one of the first people to get to the gate and then when it was time to board, they announced something than all of a sudden everybody rushed to the gate and made a crazy mass that was no where near a line. I ended up being the last person to board the flight. I'm used to people calling out boarding sections on American flights and people being slightly orderly.

365 Dinge

Der Döner: In Berlin Erfunden
So for some reason, this article talks about just the zehn besten Dönerläden in Charlottenburg, aber nicht der besten Döner in Berlin! This is clearly Moustafa's Döner off the Marienplatz U-bahn station. The schlange for this Döner was always at least 40 minutes lange, and it was always worth the wait! It was also dirt cheap at 2.80 Euro for a Döner. But I definitely tried a lot of the Döner places mentioned in this article since I lived close to Charlottenburg.

Party im H20, Dante, oder Matrix
One night in Berlin, I did go to H20, which is just in a really cool location since once you arrive at the Alexanderplatz station, all you have to do is hop off and go beneath the station. I definitely recommend this club. We had such a good time there, that we stayed until the U-bahn started running in the morning.

Zur Stille im Brandenburger Tor
I went to Brandenburger Tor multiple times, but I did not know about den Raum der Stille. Next time I'm in Berlin, I will stop in!

Zum Hertha-Spiel in die Ostkurve
Definitely one of my biggest regrets was not going to a soccer game while in Berlin! I did watch the Champtions League final between Bayern München und Dortmund, which was intense! We saw it outdoor right in front of the Brandenburger Tor, but unfortunately it was raining which definitely reduced the amount of people who showed up.


Kapitel 8

Draftophobia: Blown Away by the Fear of Air
This article was very interesting. I don't even know what to think of it! The concept of drafts somehow causing colds, flus, and other health issues seems a bit ridiculous. As far as drafts go, I love them. I really enjoy driving with the window down and when it's hot on the buses in Ann Arbor, I usually will crack a window. I just hate stuffy hot air! I did notice in Germany that the windows were never cracked on the S-bahn. A few times, we got on the S-bahn in Berlin and it was so hot that we cracked a window and sat by it to let the breeze cool us off. I don't know whether we were getting any dirty looks or maybe people were yelling at us to close it but we just didn't notice. Who knows!

You Have What? Mysterious Illness in Germany
I can agree with is their opinion about taking herbal or homeopathic solutions rather than stocking up on drugs. I am definitely on the side of trying to take as many non drug cold solutions before going to the doctor to get an antibiotic or something else. Some of my family members are really anti-drug to the point where they don't get any vaccines. My dad is the kind of guy that will take a billion vitamins and attributes his good health to his vitamin intake. Whenever my dad hears anyone sneeze, he will yell from wherever he is in the house, "Zicam!" He swears by it.

I definitely think that Americans take too many drugs, but one thing Americans are better than are German counterparts is staying away from cigarettes. Certainly Europeans are more into smoking than Americans. A lot of my friends out in Germany smoked, which I found odd because they usually ate very healthily and had many good habits and rules. It just seems like of all things to avoid, smoking should certainly be on the top of the list!

Germany's Sauna Obsession: Expose Yourself to the Culture
I think I have been to one Sauna in my life, and I don't think I particularly enjoyed it. I certainly remember leaving very quickly after entering. However, I can see why people could enjoy going to them, since you it really opens up your pores. I for one already sweat very easily, so I feel like I would be pouring out sweat in the matter of seconds. When I go into a hot room, I already experience what feels like a Sauna to me. I'd be willing to give it another try though.

I certainly did experience the German obsession with getting naked at beaches or in saunas. I went to a few beaches and lakes in Berlin, and I saw a lot more than I would have wanted. Old men not wearing any clothes and old women not wearing any clothes. It certainly was a bit odd, but I think I could man up and get used to it. We went on a trip to a lake with our instructors which were grad students near the end of our study abroad in Berlin. One of our instructors stripped of his clothes and ran into the lake like it wasn't a big deal. Everyone was surprised and never looked a Toby the same way after. I for one thought it was hilarious.

365 Dinge

Dinge ich hab tat
In this section, I really did not do too much listed in the book! I did go on top of the Bundestag and walked up the Dome as well. It really was a great view! I took a bunch of pictures up there. We got a tour of the Bundestag, and it was an interesting building. I definitely took a ton of U-bahn trips, so that is a checked box of the list. Believe it or not I saw the Sunset auf der Modersohnbrücke, and I also saw the sunrise more than a few times in Kreuzberg! I also saw a ton of Street-art throughout Berlin. Frankly, it is hard to miss! It was something I really enjoyed actually. It gave a lot of character to the city. There was definitely a lot more graffiti on the East side on a abandoned factories turned into clubs. I thought it was very cool though. One of the highlights of my time in Berlin was actually a tour we got on a boat going through the channels of Berlin. We got such a great tour of the city and it was an amazing way to kickoff the study abroad adventure (especially because the tour came with an open bar!)

Dinge ich werde tun
When I return, there were some things on this list that I definitely need to go and do. I can't believe I didn't go to Weekend when I was in Berlin. I remember hearing about the club, but for whatever reason I never made it the club any of the weekends. I looked at some photos of the club online and it looks great! I definitely wish I had returned to Berlin from Hannover at the beginning of August for the Internationales Bierfestival. I also wish I want out to Potsdam for Pfingstberg. I remember that some students went on a trip out there and said it was a pretty cool schloss! While I am there I will go to Belvedere for the great view. I did see a smaller schloss near Charlottenburg however. A grill party on the party just seems like an awesome idea that I should definitely try! Lastly, I definitely will visit Bar 25 when I go back to Berlin. It seems like a really interesting, rugged bar!


Kapitel 9

Bureaucracy Gone  Awry: The German Certificate Fetish
Oh man, I certainly have some bad memories about German beaurocracy. I had to get a working visa while in Germany, and man was it a pain in the ass. I had to get so many official documents sent to me by my university. The office would not accept it unless it had an official University of Michigan stamp, which meant it had to be a hard copy; otherwise, I could not start working. This whole certificate fetish is definitely true. If I ever work in Germany again, I will be sure to bring with me as many official documents that prove everything about my schooling and past.

Love Thy Neighbor: German Law Tells You How
This article is a bit comedic. Especially when they said there was a ruling that said a dog could only bark for 30 minutes a day at 10 minute intervals. I don't know how you could train your dog to stick to those rules! But overall, I would say that most of what was said in this article is pretty universal. Whenever I move into a new place, I find it best to familiarize myself with neighbors so that if I ever do throw parties, they know me and will be less likely to call the cops and have it broken up. I certainly don't intend to piss of my neighbors. When I lived in a German house, they actually did have a rule for quiet time! Which I thought was very interesting. However, the rule just constrained you to being loud at the bar, which frankly could be heard throughout the house anyways. The rule really was not enforced, and we certainly had a lot of routy nights at the downstairs bar.

Germany's Patriotism Problem: Just Don't Fly the Flag
I definitely agree with this article! My german friends spoke to me specifically about their patriotism and how it's a bit taboo to fly the flag or be patriotic, but they did say things are starting to change. Especially with Germany's success in the Champions League that summer, you could see a lot more patriotism. I think it is certainly an interesting opinion though. From what I heard, they though American's are a bit overly patriotic. They think that having a certain amount of skepticism with your government is a good thing, which I can certainly agree with. I think people can be a bit naive in trusting everything their government does. You gotta have some varying opinions!

365 Dinge

Dinge ich hab tat
I did go to a couple different beach bars in Berlin! They were very nice places to hangout. I don't know if I went the specific one mentioned, but when I go back, I'd love to check this one out! I highly recommend the beach bars. I went to Checkpoint Charlies on one of my first days in Berlin. I a paid to go in the museum as well, which I actually thought was a bit boring. Of all the museums I saw in Europe, this one was my least favorite. A lot of reading and not many relics to look at! It was more like a history class. Although I didn't go to the Frelichtkino im Friedrichshain, I did go to one in Hannover. It was a lot of fun! I don't know if America still does outdoor theaters, but I am certainly a fan and I'm glad they exist in Germany. I certainly saw a lot of grafitti in Berlin as I mentioned earlier, so when I return I should contribute some myself. I see that ein Graiffiti sprühen ist sogar legal, so I should defnitely do it. I just need to check to make sure where exactly it is legal! I did ride the U-bahn that takes you to the Bundestag already! AHHH I am so glad that they mentioned Mustafas Döner! I criticized them earlier for mentioning all the Döner places in Charlottenburg, but I'm glad Mustafas has it's own Dinge at 208. Just seeing the picture of the Döner is making my mouth water! Oh man, I want it!

Dinge ich werde tun
I will definitely spend a little extra money to go to the Poneyclub to get a haircut. Next time I'm in Germany, I'll leave my comfort zone and get a German style haircut! If it's not too expensive, I would like to get dinner at Rodeo. I did not endulge too much on expensive food while on my trip, since I wanted to save it on beer. Besides the Döner was so good and so cheap. But when I return, I'll need to try some more expensive restaurants. I definitely saw a lot of these Rickshas around Berlin, but I never spent the money to get a rid on one. I think it could be a great way to see the city however, for a pretty reasonable price. Especially if I split it with a friend! One of my biggest regrets was not going to Museum Island while I was in Berlin. I've heard that the museums there are great, so I will certainly take their suggestion and have a long night (and day) touring the museums when I return. I will also check out "Best of Germany" because one of the biggest mistakes I made was not buying any souvenirs or gifts for my family. I realized it just as I got on a plane to go back to the states. I'll have to make up for it next time I go. If I am ever feeling homesick, I'll definitely check out Berlins Best American Diner. That is just too funny! They import meat from America? That's just silly. Since I read about the German obsession with saunas, I will go to the Stadtbad Neukölln, it is pretty cheap and it looks like a really nice place! I saw a lot of Shisha bars in Berlin but never went to one, so next time I'l check out the one on Blissestraße. I used to smoke Hookah in Houston when I had a bunch of Arab friends!

Kultur 7

Die articles sind sehr interresant. Ich habe always considered myself Deutschen, just born in the wrong country. Ich sage dass denn ich act the same way in line. Ich habe ein menacing face mein whole life, und ich bin nie nice in line. Von die Dinge listed, ich möchte Paintball machen. That looks like a lot of fun. Mir gefällt auch das grösste Schnitzel, Tandemsprung und der grössten Sauna. Der Studentenausweis sounds a lot like M-cards. We may not get as many discounts, but there are some places that do give student discounts. Also unlike Germany is that UM students can ride Ann Arbor buses for free, not just a discount. Mir gefällt nicht specialty shops, aber ich mag Meijer. Ich bin so used to interscholastic sport competition dann ich finde wierd that there is none in Deutschland. Ich spiele Basketball gern, aber nicht Volleyball oder Fussball. Ich möchte München besuchen. Mir gefällt nicht grosse Städte, aber ich don't mind besuchen. Ich will das Deutsches Museum und die Neue Pinakothek sehen. That would be fun.

Kultur 7

Ich finde die Artikel über die Schlange interessant, weil die Deutsch Ordnung mag. Die alte Frauen sind so bösartig! Ich denke dass, alle Länder außer England Schlange stehen nicht können.

            Die Deutsche Studenten get gut Studentenermäßigungen. Ich mag Museen und Theater. Am Universität von Michigan UMMA ist kostenlos und Theater ist billig.

            Ich prefer die Supermarkt hier to klein specialty Geshäfte, will ich to run errands nicht mag.

            Stuttgart und München sound Spaß! Ich would like das Schloss, das Ballett, und die Oper von Stuttgart. Ich would like zu gehen to Oktoberfest in München zu wissen was es ist like in Deutschland, as opposed to die USA.

            Ich mag nicht Sport, aber es gefällt mir dass Deutschland does well at Wintersport, weil ich mag die Winter Olympics.

            Ich will alles in das 365 Dinge Büch zu tun. Ich will Döner und Schnitzel essen. Ich habe Hunger jetzt! Ich will in die Clubs tanzen mit Freunden. Ich will alles von die Sehenwürdigkeiten zu sehen. Ich will Deutschland besuchen!

Kapitel 7 Kultur

Something about hearing American culture described from the outside is wunderbar reizend [= quaint, endearing]. In the article "Essen gehen in USA," the author began by asking "Was ist ein Diner?" and explained the phenomenon by reference to 50s culture, mobil homes, caravans, and comfort food.

And why is it that "the famed German Ordnung -- that is "order" -- breaks down when it comes to waiting in line"? Last semester, we learned how Germans will actually for the "Walk" sign to cross the street zu Fuß -- even in the middle of nowhere, with keine Autos in the area. This seems like one of those arbitrary cultural quirks, or perhaps a consequence of postwar austerity.