June 2nd

Today as I realize that our “class” comes to the near end I thought I would share what I have learned along this amazing adventure. Just from these short three weeks, I not only have learned about the German culture but the American culture and myself as well. The first German interactions that I had on the streets were a mixture of friendly and not so friendly. On the first day of class, we did an afternoon activity that involved navigating our way around through the city of Berlin. During this activity, we rode both the subway system and the bus system. In one of the subway stations, my friends and I must have looked like confused tourists because a German lady came up to us and asked us if we needed help with understanding how to get to the place we needed to go. In this particular situation, we told her that we were okay, but this interaction got me to think about how this interaction would have been different in the United States with a foreign traveler and an American citizen. Would the culture we live in stop and help? Would we get mad at the traveler inconveniencing our day? Or would we simply just ignore the situation as a whole?

Group photo from Trier

I personally think that it depends where in America the foreign traveler is at. If they were to be in a city like New York City I think we as Americans would ignore the traveler and maybe view them as an obstacle that is just taking up space in the city. This is because of my personal experience of visiting New York City last year. I felt that I was in the New Yorkers way everywhere I stepped. They would look at me weird as if I would know perfectly how to get around the city. But in other parts of America, I think that we would help a foreign traveler. The first place that comes to mind is Burlington Vermont. From all my experiences of walking around in that area everyone is super nice is willing to talk with anyone who strikes up a conversation on the street and that is awesome. I kind of wish all the different cities in the United States would have citizens who were willing to help not only American travelers but foreign ones as well.

Group photo with the best tour guide in front of Porta Nigra.

Another cultural difference I have seen during this adventure that also kind of involves human interactions is how Germans treat meals and hanging out in general. While walking down the tight sidewalks crammed with little restaurants that have outdoor seating and even in my friends and my frequent trips to beer gardens I notice that Germans sit and have a productive conversation with one another. They do not sit on their phones in awkward silence like Americans do. When the Germans go out with one another they put their phones away and involve themselves in active conversation with one another, unlike most Americans. We tent to go out with one another but instead of absorbing each other’s presence we preoccupy ourselves with taking pictures of our food and drinks or even just go on Snapchat and talk with someone who is not in person. This is crazy I think if more Americans would just put their phones down and enjoy one another’s company we would be much happier people and probably have more fun when going out. From my short experiences whit talking to people, it appears that the German citizens are very friendly people and fun to hang out with.

Written By: Keegan Brock