Saturday night. My last weekend here in Portsmouth and the packed suitcase standing beside me. Now it is time finally to renew once again my blog to bring you up to date and to draw a small summary.
For to believe, but I have lived here for four months at Portsmouth. An unbelievable number of things happened since, I have met many nice people, celebrated, learned and experienced a lot of American culture. And now you also noticed some of my impressions.
Eating
Let's start with the same time the "worst". The meal.
This has in fact emerged as something like this, as I had imagined in Germany. Mainly fast food.
Here in America there are countless different fast-food restaurants. For example, it is in Portsmouth, as well as any business or company, but certainly 30 different fast food restaurants! And these are the people well attended. I have the impression that is eaten at least once a day in a fast food restaurant. Whether burgers for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the Americans are there make no difference.
However, some differences can determine the fast-food restaurants in Germany.
First, the size of the portions. These of course are in principle much better. The pack of 10 Chicken McNuggets is normal, the small drink is at least a Medium in Germany and only the prices here a lot smaller. Moreover, very few Americans share in the restaurant for dinner. Usually stops with the car only briefly at drive-thru and ordered something through the window to the either the car or at home to eat. If you drive or the like so as to McDonalds over, very few seats are occupied, but there is a line of cars is up to the road at the drive-through. If you
for once "really" want to eat out, it is usually only a little more expensive fast-food restaurants and in most cases, the food is served even on plastic plates.
principle, one can get in America, but everything to eat, in Columbus there are even as a German restaurant, but definitely dominated by pizza, burgers and sandwiches, the American food landscape!
Drinking
general here in America is mostly water and so-called "Pop" drunk. Where it is to pop all sorts of sugary drinks like Coke, 7up, Orangette, is .... And there are many incredible Pops! In all tastes and mostly sold in cans. should be "If you want to have carbon dioxide, you drink a pop!"
The water from the taps to drink rather not: there are only non-carbonated water, because as I said a Ami. Especially here in Ohio it is relatively dirty and unfit for human consumption without a filter.
What I will however definitely miss is the fact that one's beverage is in the restaurants for free and refilled the water even completely for free.
Another thing which I had to get used to is that many ice in drinks. The glass is always completely filled with ice first and only then will a have a drink poured. So in contrast to Germany you must not ice, but no ice ask in the operation.
And of course, applies to the heading "drinking" and alcohol. As some of you have already read in some of my other post, this is really strict. As I said, alcohol is not allowed under 21, drinking in public is strictly prohibited and these laws are enforced strictly.
Study On Tuesday I had
my studies ended here at the Shawnee Sate University and I must say I am very satisfied with my performance. Actually I only get A's (ie 1's) and if I do not have my last exam is set totally in the sand, I can be a very good testimony to drive home:)
Overall, the student life here but also a bit easier than in Germany. Although I had to write essays during the semester, speak to many, but in content they were sometimes a lot easier than in Germany. Incidentally, I have just counted how many pages I've written a whole, and you will not believe it, but I have posted a total 117Seiten !!!!!!!!!!! Plus 30 comments in the Internet discussion forum! Wow, can hardly believe it even now! And most of the essays I have not written at night, when we came back home from some party or friends. So are 117 pages but once a proof that I was busy here ;-)
The level of the courses varies from course to course, course, and also depends on the professor, but often it is more comparable to the upper secondary school in Germany.
And then of course there's the financial part to study in America because pork is really expensive! A semester costs on average $ 7,000, while here the many books I buy are still has not been charged with. In return, However, this can be found before a top-equipped university. There are countless computer courses, a great gym (where I was about 3 times a week jogging) to get properly "free stuff" on every corner and can feel safe thanks to security in Portsmouth.
For first semester is to have the support that they need to adopt an eating plan in the cafeteria! This includes three meals per day and costs about $ 2,500. I thank God and Verena have decided at the beginning of the semester against the Mealplan. There are in fact really the same: burgers, fries, pizza and cookies. And the 7-day week! While there is also a salad bar, but to eat only salad give I am certainly not as much money. And so I have this semester and Verena swinging hard the wooden spoon and tries to feed us at least somewhat healthy.
American friendliness
friendliness is definitely written in America. Especially as a foreigner you have it easier here than in Germany. People come to one, talk to one and are really very helpful. In addition, they usually show a strong interest in, and especially as an exchange student will be perforated with interested questions (later).
It would probably happen in Germany tend to be less that the one with a foreign supermarket cashier suddenly starts a conversation, and only in very rare cases, one in Germany after being asked. This question, "How are you" (How are you) is really the standard set in America and is almost the "Hello" to do so. It took some time with me until I had got used to it, simply reply with a quick "Fine thanks" or "good" and not get started with a longer description.
That is the other side of the American experience. While all are at first glance, super nice, but unfortunately often but only superficially. It is indeed asked how one goes, but before they are properly can answer the Other is already run on ...
conflict here is basically gone out of their way in America. Everything is always good, great and great. openly criticize someone is usually taken very ill and I think the Americans are far from being able to take criticism! If you want to criticize someone, you have to address the quite skillfully. It is best in his criticism as many compliments as possible and always pack something to put on a nice smile;)
is not saved, and compliments here in America anyway. Sometimes I almost feel that the opposite krampfhaf looking for something that could be praised with a compliment. Thus, a very happy compliments for any given clothing or hairstyle. And I've been caught, as I begin, suddenly spread to constantly compliments. I would have never done so often in Germany? I know just do not know if I should now find good or bad ...
friendships in America
I'm really in America, met many nice people and some of the heart closed, but despite everything, I must say that the friendships (at least as I experienced it) is less closely are considered to be Germany. They meet twice with the one and sometimes with the others, but only in very rare cases, there are lifelong friendships as in Germany. Actually I only Adam and Brian, and Matt and Kelly got to know whose friendship I would call with a real friendship. All others I would classify in Germany more linked to very good acquaintance. They meet again and talk, go away together and celebrating, but not anymore. The discussions here are often superficial, and I have learned that it really takes a long time, until an American, about feelings, family, or like talking about. If he does then, one can already feel almost honored.
Even with the use of cute pet names, the Americans are a little faster than the Germans. Since I am naturally Sweetheart of the caretaker, called Darling or baby. The cashier calls me Honey and after the second meeting with Suzy, I got an "I love you" from her. This "I love you" means, of course, but not so much as an "I Love You" in Germany, but more something like "You're nice / nice / sweet / funny. I like you. "But one must also know just about that!
America's Germany
I can really say without hesitation that I have felt myself as a German here in America always welcome. The people showed great interest in Germany and were always trying to make my stay as easy and more beautiful as possible.
Once I told about my heritage from Germany, there were basically three different reactions: first
The question: "From Which part of Germany?" - What part of Germany? To which I of course always been proud: "From the South" answer.
second The man said proudly that they themselves were already in Germany or at least there will definitely try, since it is a great country like this: D
third It is declared to brag, that even some German speaking. Although the vast majority of the cases amounted to no more than 5 words.
4th Or the people declare one, what percentage of them are quite self-German, since the cousin of the brother of the great-great-great-great-great-great-aunt from Germany came ...
But no matter how people reacted, it was always nice and interested and I always felt comfortable and welcome.
The only negative thing I noticed was in movies. I have seen some movies where the Germans and was especially Hitler, made fun of. Often, only stereotypes like leather pants, beer and sauerkraut used and if we then look for the hundredth time, you find that somehow no longer so funny?
American self-confidence
At least as I have met Americans, they are relatively confident. Not to say, too much confidence! (At least in some cases)
While it is not very well received in Germany when his own work excessively praised, it is quite normal to praise even in the highest terms. To some degree this is really good, but often exaggerate the Americans after all.
And also I often had the feeling that the Americans consider their country the best. As was explained to me as a Yank, America has finally picked out the best from each culture and is therefore now also the other countries in certain As superior !!??!! would I then have time rather not say anything, because without evil and sarcastic words, I would not have done it and as I American superficial "Everything-is-good-mood" does not spoil, have I, and Verena are then followed in our Rooms times been really sick of the Yanks: D
In fact, I've never seen such a patriotic country! Everywhere is the national flag, every other house has a hang on the porch and I have a feeling that every American is proud to be an Ami. Our own country is considered superior than the other and also to the army and the veterans here is one more proud than in Germany.
American punctuality, promises and deadlines
Actually, I should call this headline differently because of punctuality can really be no question in America. In fact we should even believe that I got used to it after 4 months, but no! I find it frankly still corrosive, that the Americans in principle at least 10 minutes late. And even if it's a whole hour is nothing special or something for which one would have to apologize
-.- And also with the promise that the Americans have not. Since we were at the beginning of the semester, a dining table promised, today we have not. And our Towel is still broken -.-
And otherwise pretty much talk but little done. It's all a bit more uncertain and you can plan the Americans really just veeeery bad. I would just like to know has always been a week earlier, when exactly that is pending, but the Yanks do it but actually write without exaggeration until it almost starts already. Since I am being called as on Tuesday evening at half past nine in women's Meriwether and it is making a school date for the next day? In Germany, I would have at least some days previously been identified.
Or because you get an sms in the evening at 22.00, and will be invited to the Toro Loco. Can that be because your not already planning lunch ???!!!
So as you see, here you have to be really spontaneous. What maybe even a little good for me ...
Conclusion Finally, I can proudly say that I am indeed come with a lot of prejudice in America, but many of them could yet be revised.
Certainly does some of what they say about the Yanks, but in the end I definitely have a much better picture of the Americans, as before. I've learned a lot to appreciate and love and will probably remember many a time in a cold bureaucrat-Germany with a melancholy heart of the open, warm and friendly on-Amis:)
It was really a very nice Time here and eventually I'm sure once again back to the land of opportunity:)
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