Kultur Kapitel 11 - Alex Gamso

While I learned of the previous rarity of having national pride in German, it came to no surprise that a separation exists between Germans. I mean America even has clear divisions between northerners and southerners (excluding Florida of course). While it seems odd that such Ostalgie fads exist as people usually try to forget dark times in history, it does also make sense. For example, the confederate flag, once a symbol of the Confederate States in the Civil War now represents the south and those that call themselves "country." Similarly symbols from the DDR have lost their meaning and have vintage feel. These artifacts are comparable to anything that has "Keep calm and carry on" as this was a phrase used in World War II as encouragement of possible air attacks. While the DDR symbols have lost their meaning, they represent a different state of mind with people creating division of where they are from rather than their beliefs.

AMD 5 - Alex Gamso

Ich habe Spongebob Schwammkopf gesehen. Der Episode war Verkaufsgenies, der mit Schokolade. Es ist mein Lieblingsepisode. Ich kann sehr gut verstehen.
Diese Episode beginnt mit Spongebob in Briefkasten und, wenn der Postbote öffnet, Spongebob schreckt ihn. Alle die Post ist für Gary. Spongebob bekommt Squidwards Zeitschrift mit Bilder von Schwimmbädern in Schwimmbädern. Patrick und Spongebob verkaufen Schokolade, weil sie reich sein wollen. Der erste Kunde sagt sehr laut und immer wieder "Schokolade!" Der zweite Kunde war ein Verkäufer auch. Er hat Schokladetaschen. Sie wurden mit den Taschen fasziniert. Der dritte Kunde war ein Verkäufer mit Schokoladetaschentaschen. Die vierte Kunde war nicht ein Verkaüferin und wollte ein Schokoladenriegel. Patrick und Spongebob konnten nicht Schokoladenriegel finden, weil da waren zu vielen Taschen. Spongebob denkst sie brauchen eine neue Taktik. Der fünfte Kunde war ein Gesundheits-Freak. Patrick konzentrierte sich auf die sechste Kunde zu viel. Spongebob ruft eine alte Frau eine junge Frau und er fragte sie fü ihre Mutter. Ihre Mutter konnte nicht hören, was sie verkauften. Sie liegen über der Schokolade zu viele Leute. Sie hilfe ein Mann mit Glasknochen. Der Mann ist nicht gut und verkaufte sie die Taschen und jetzt mehr Schokolade. Der erste Komme liebt Schokolade und kaufte alle die Schokolade. Sie sind reich jetzt und kaufen ein Restaurant fü eine Nacht.
Es war einfach zu verstehen, weil ich habe es oft gesehen, als ich jung war.

Kapitel 9 Kultur - Alex Gamso

The Germans are quite a fickle bunch with rather odd quirks. Enjoying paper work? Hating national pride? Fear upsetting your neighbor? What's the deal with all that?

Documenting everything since starting school would be a huge undertaking here in the US, but in Germany, it is a necessity. Applying for any job at any level requires all your qualifying certificates, address card, and more. Simply renting a movie also requires such documentation. It all seems a bit ridiculous to me, but alas they seem to be doing a lot better than we are here. Certainly by maintain a good file of what and how well you've done things in school can make your one of three paths through school and land an apprenticeship or entrance into a technical school.

Now that the Olympics are over it is almost impossible to believe that any country fears having national pride, Germans, on the other hand, take full advantage of toting the flag in sport competitions but not in day to day life. Their logic makes sense, being a rather newly restructured country with a troubled past, being too full of themselves could cause them to revert to their darker days. Taking a trip to DC, one would likely lose count of the number of American flags they would see on all the monuments celebrating victories, our freedoms, and our past leaders. A trip to Berlin would be nearly the opposite. Hardly any flags and monuments remembering how horrible the past has been.

It sounds as though all the neighbors in Germany are angry senior citizens that hate any amount of noise or laziness and are not afraid to make their neighbors lives a living hell. Quiet hours and a limited number of social gatherings and cookouts seems almost like living in the dorms here. Clearing sidewalks is an all too common task here in small cities as well. Where water is a short commodity, washing your car and even watering your lawn are limited, if not outright restricted, too.

AMD 3 - Alex Gamso

Ich habe Die Simpson auf Deutsch gesehen. Bart sprichst sehr schnell und ist schwer zu verstehen. Er hat alle seine Hausaufgaben gemacht und isst Cereal mit eine Polizeimarke. Unglücklicherweise für Bart hat Homer ersten es gefunden. Homer sagt sein Name ist Inspektor Homer. Bart hat keine Hausaufgaben weil sein Hund hat es gegessen. Er kommt aus Schule spät auch. Er hat eine Notiz, die von seiner Mutter, vergessen für eine Reise zu der Schokoladenfabrik. Lisa hat nicht vergessen und hat ein Film über Schokoladen gesehen. Alle die kinder haben ihren Brille verloren. Bart hatte einen beschissene Tag. Bart hat die Mafiamann ein sehr gut Getrinkt gemacht. Bart hatte jetzt ein Job mit viele Gelb. Seine Mutter hat dreihundert Dollar gefunden. Inspektor Wigman hat Bart's Getrinkt ist gut auch gedacht. Bart hatte viele gestohlen Cigarette. Der Mafia hat einen Anzug für Bart gekauft. Marge mag nicht seinen Job und eine Pizza Service Truck war zwei Wochen auf die Straße. Bart ist spät für sein Job und hat Milch getrunken. Principal Skinner disappeared. Bart glaubt Principal Skinner ist ein Zombie und Bart wird ins Jail gehen. Die Court Scene ist sehr schwer zu verstehen. Principal Skinner war in seinem Haus die ganze Zeit. Ein Vacuum hilft Herr Skinner.
Ich denke Die Simpsons ist gut für das Hören.

Kultur 8 - Alex Gamso

German's have some weird quirks when it comes to being sick, getting sick, and just relaxing.

Drafts mean death, at least according to Germans. This concept really surprised me when I initially read it, then I began seeing some of their logic, but have now denounced it all. The belief that drafts bring causes of the cold, flu, and other illnesses just doesn't make sense. These everyday threats are caused not by moving air, but surfaces contaminated with germs and viruses. If anything, having a draft would prevent stagnant air that could contain this little devils. The concept of sweating is our natural way of cooling by allowing heat to evaporate off. This process can be sped up by having more air moving around us. Our natural instinct is to surround ourselves with moving air to cool us down. I wholeheartedly look forward to testing these beliefs, and finding a more insightful reasoning behind them, this summer.

Medicines probably equate to death. I do completely agree with Germans' lacking desire to take medicines and pills, however. I too do not like how dependent we as Americans have become on them. Methods of sick Germans just make sense. Time, enough tea and honey, and other natural remedies take less of chance of wrecking your liver than that of Aspirin and other drugs. Rarely do I take any medicines, at max cough syrup during peak times with a cold. Statistics in the article even point to the effectiveness of such methods.

Saunas in America are usually male or female only. This stems from our rather conservative views on the body. Such trends are also visible in cities where most sculptures and other art pieces are fully clothed. However, in Germany, and most of Europe for that matter, has no fear of bearing all. While here a unisex sauna would be awkward, uncomfortable, and the complete opposite of relaxing in my opinion, it is completely acceptable there. Most of these unisex saunas are also completely nude beyond a small towel. Germans became interested in them after Berlin hosted the Olympics in 1936. They were requested to help relax muscles after performing in competition.

The German university system has similar aspects to that of here. For example, there are big lectures accompanied by smaller break out session along with specialized classes in each discipline. To get into each university and discipline, an entry exam must be taken and a certain time at the university are taken into consideration. There a maximum numbers set for each discipline. Paying for school is similar as well, although most schools are tuition free. People studying still have to pay for their living expenses and supplies. But those expenses can also be paid for by the German government in the form of half loan and half grant. This, in my opinion, is a good method of increasing the number of families in the middle class while reducing those close or below the poverty line.

Before even making it to the university level, German students complete a similar grade school, middle school, and high school to those here. The main variation is high school where students take three main paths. While here in America everyone is given the same basic education when in public schools giving everyone an equal opportunity to attend higher education at a college or university. Only those above average Germans who attend Gymnasium can level up to the university. Germans who are average attend Hauptschüler and usually end up as tradesmen. Those that attend Realschüler learn skills for practical uses in the work environment. The timing for starting and ending school is about the same as it is here in America as well.

AMD 2 - Alex Gamso

Meine Lieblingsding aus dem letzten Semester war Disney Lied in Deutsch. Für mein AMD habe ich Lieder aus Die Eiskönigin (Frozen) gehört. Ich liebe Die Eiskönigin und finde es schön in Deutsch.

Das erste Lied war "Ich Lass Los" (Let it Go).

 Es waren viele Worte ich schon kannte aus Desutsch 101. Zum Beispiel: Schnee, Nacht, weißen, dürfen, jetzt, Zeit, Sturm, Kalt, machen, und zurück. Die Lied hat viele Worte combinations in die Sätze. "Was ich wohl alles machen kann?" Es hat wohl als verb und hat ein modal verb. "Hier bin ich in dem hellen Licht!" Es hat der Dativ.  Aus Kapitel 7 war "hinter mir." Jetzt ich werde nicht vergessen diese Worte: frei, endlich, jetzt, Teil, Königin, versucht, lass los, bleibe, und Kraft.

Das zweite Lied war "Willst du Einen Schneemann Bauen" (Do You Want to Build a Snowman).

Ein kinder singt und es ist schwer zu verstehen. "Willst du..." ein gut Bespiel auf ein modal verb. "Schneemann" ist komisch weil es ist literally "snow" + "man" wie Englisch. "Los komm und spiel mit mir" ist sehr einfach. "Und Fahrrad fahren hier im Saal?" ist einfach auch. "Ich starre nur auf die Uhr" starre ist ein conjugate in Englisch. "Alle fragen wo du bist." ist gut fur Alle vs. Alles. Some alte Vokabular: beide, sollen, und fragen. "Ich bin doch für dich da" ist Akkusative.

Das letzte Lied war "Zum Ersten Mal" (For The Frist Time in Forever)

Es starts mit einem einfachen Satz über öffnen die Fenster und die Tür. Immer wieder singen sie: "Zum ersten Mal seit Ewigkeiten" welche ist die Englisch Title. Gut Vokabular: Manchen, Bild, liebe, und Traum. Es ist ein schnell Lied mit viele neues Worte. Es ist sehr gut.

Ich mag Disney Lieder in Deutsch hören. Ich weiß das Englisch sehr gut und kann die Thema infer. Es ist gut zulernen Deutsch oder jeder Sprachen.

Kultur Kapitel 7

Having traveled in Europe before,  I understand quite well the lack of organization when it comes to mass transit. The tours we have taken have resulted in us being referred to as the blockers as we've often formed a wall for our tour group and locals so we could fill a subway car first. The tactics in "What Discipline?" will come in handy this summer; although, it caught me off guard because Germany is such an efficient country. It really is an eye opening experience seeing the difference in what occurs in most European and here in America, I'd go as far as comparing it to trying to get a Bursley-Baits bus in between classes.

Just as we Americans are fascinated by foreign foods, Germans love our takes on desserts and fast food it seems, even the basic chocolate chip cookie is a delight. Most of the top recipes are things I find in the dining halls on an almost daily basis and involve a lot of chocolate. I believe Germans and Americans share a similar sweet tooth. Amongst other German loves from America include sandwiches, fast food, bagels, and donuts, all things I usually have on a weekly basis.
Many similar discounts that German college students have, are also here in America. Most of Europe has discounts for students as well. For example, the Louvre in Paris is completely free for those who are under 21.

The German culture is also very green which explains the concept of charging for grocery bags as well as bringing your own reusable bags. I think this is something that should be integrated more into American culture as well as shopping locally rather than at super centers.

Stuttgart being a modern city close to the French and Swiss borders makes it an interesting cultural area famous for several of the biggest names in the imported auto industry: Porsche and Daimler AG. Some of the other main focal points for culture in the city are the performing arts.

It is not surprising at all that Germany's favorite sport is soccer, with the World Cup drawings and all I've heard several times how good their team is. The popularity of soccer worldwide is because of how little is needed to play and how cheap the stuff you do need is. Similar to America, volleyball, martial arts, basketball, and tennis are also quite popular. With the Winter Olympics around the corner, it's also good to note that Germany is quite good with winter sports, something I look forward to watching.

Munich is another very cultured area of Germany. Similar to Stuttgart, Munich is famous for it's local automobile company, BMW. It also host the famous Oktoberfest and many local breweries which has been making their rounds here in America.

AMD 1

Ich habe Livemocha gegangen und viel point gewinnen. Es ist ein gutes review auf Deutsch, aber nicht zu lernen. Der pace ist sehr langsam und langweilig. Ich habe das Wetter, die Jahreszeiten, und meine Familie gelernt. Ich empfehle nicht es weil wir sind besser auf Deutsch. Es ist gut ob Sie sind neu in Deutsch. Die Website ist neu und noch being developed. Ich werde use es zu review Deutsch 101 aber ich könnte schlafen. Es gibt nicht viel zu sagen über Livemocha.