Hallooooooooooooooooooooooo!
So I am finally borrowing a computer to say hi! I've taken lots and lots of pictures and unfortunately won't be able to put them on until I get to my family in September. But so far I've done lots of cool stuff!
I HAVE:
Taught germans how to make a smore
Taught Thai kids how to make a smore
Made bread on a stick
Seen a TON of stars in the sky
Got caught in a huge rainstorm
Eaten a doener
Gone on a tour of the fire brigade
learned tons of german
failed badly at german
actually succeeded at german a few times!
made really nice friends
played with a fire hose
gone running
played soccer
talked to German kids
gone shopping!
Spent way to much money on sweets
gotten in trouble for never wearing shoes
taken lots of pictures
and way more things that I unfortunately can't think of right now!
Language camp is so freaking helpful. It's really amazing how much I'm learning and how much I was absolutely making a fool of myself before this. And with my host family, there was a small problem so I'll be staying with a friend's of my host family family and then going to the first family for the second semester! I'm not sad about it at all. I actually think i might be fore the best because i don't have to move now! :D YAAAAAY!
Ok my friend wants his computer back. :P Hear from you soon!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
TOMORROW.
So.
I leave tomorrow.
I'm actually publicly putting this blog on Facebook today.
This means that people- maybe even LOTS of people might read this.
This makes me quite nervous, but not as nervous as the thought that I'M LEAVING FOR GERMANY TOMORROW. :D :D :D I'm leaving the airport at ~8 am and then I get into Germany (American time) 7am the next day! That's 23 hours! I really really want to just go to my host town, meet my host family, look around and that sort of thing, but we have to do this 3 week language camp. I know this camp will be extreeeemely useful, but I'm just so curious!!!
A lot of my friends aren't that happy with me going. ^^' They will miss me, and I'll miss them! The internet is so useful with staying in touch though, and I've done sooooooooooooo much social-ness this summer. It's much different when you know you don't have the school year to see everyone!
I don't know if I'll be able to post much or anything while I'm at the language camp, but I'll try! OOH I'M SO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT! :D :D
I leave tomorrow.
I'm actually publicly putting this blog on Facebook today.
This means that people- maybe even LOTS of people might read this.
This makes me quite nervous, but not as nervous as the thought that I'M LEAVING FOR GERMANY TOMORROW. :D :D :D I'm leaving the airport at ~8 am and then I get into Germany (American time) 7am the next day! That's 23 hours! I really really want to just go to my host town, meet my host family, look around and that sort of thing, but we have to do this 3 week language camp. I know this camp will be extreeeemely useful, but I'm just so curious!!!
A lot of my friends aren't that happy with me going. ^^' They will miss me, and I'll miss them! The internet is so useful with staying in touch though, and I've done sooooooooooooo much social-ness this summer. It's much different when you know you don't have the school year to see everyone!
I don't know if I'll be able to post much or anything while I'm at the language camp, but I'll try! OOH I'M SO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT! :D :D
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Global Student- Stereotypes
When talking about wealth, I would have to tell everyone that thinks that I am extremely wealthy just because I am from the U.S. that there is a diverse economy in America, and also my parents are the ones that make the money, not me. I have to work for all the "geld" that I have, and if the German's realize that then maybe the stereotype that all Americans are super wealthy will go away.
Global Student- In depth Questions
1. Children/Family Issues
Like America, German children are expected to be respectful. However, they are not as respectful as kids in my area. They can use explicit language around adults more, and also (at least during school) talk during the teacher's lecture. There are child labor laws.
2. Educational Achievement
School is harder than America's, depending on which type of school you go to. If you go to a Gymnasium, it will be harder than most American public schools. Some problems that German's have are too many kids wanting to go to into a Gymnasium, wanting a career switch in the middle of childhood, or simple academic problems.
3. Racial/Class/Ethnicity Issues
There are a lot of Turkish and Persians that have immigrated to Germany, and so there are many people in Germany who have a prejudice- you might even call it racist- against Turks/Arabs. This causes strife in the community.
4. The Environment
A major environmental issue right now is the e. coli breakout in Germany. This has caused an incredible economic and environmental problem in Germany, because countries have stopped buying vegetables from Germany and also hospitals are getting overrun with sick people.
5. Health Issues
A huge health problem is the rise of obesity (like the rest of the world) and also the e. coli breakout. Heart problems are common in Germany because of their diet. The e. coli has caused major strife and worry in hospitals and in people's hearts.
Like America, German children are expected to be respectful. However, they are not as respectful as kids in my area. They can use explicit language around adults more, and also (at least during school) talk during the teacher's lecture. There are child labor laws.
2. Educational Achievement
School is harder than America's, depending on which type of school you go to. If you go to a Gymnasium, it will be harder than most American public schools. Some problems that German's have are too many kids wanting to go to into a Gymnasium, wanting a career switch in the middle of childhood, or simple academic problems.
3. Racial/Class/Ethnicity Issues
There are a lot of Turkish and Persians that have immigrated to Germany, and so there are many people in Germany who have a prejudice- you might even call it racist- against Turks/Arabs. This causes strife in the community.
4. The Environment
A major environmental issue right now is the e. coli breakout in Germany. This has caused an incredible economic and environmental problem in Germany, because countries have stopped buying vegetables from Germany and also hospitals are getting overrun with sick people.
5. Health Issues
A huge health problem is the rise of obesity (like the rest of the world) and also the e. coli breakout. Heart problems are common in Germany because of their diet. The e. coli has caused major strife and worry in hospitals and in people's hearts.
Woah guess what. It's Global Student stuff! :D
Geography
- Continent: Europe
- Capital: Berlin
- Size in sq. km/sq. 357, 021 km sq/ 137,847 mil sq
- Neighboring countries: Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and The Netherlands
- Climate: Like Colorado's, Temperate
- Natural disasters: Earthquakes and Floods
- Natural resources: coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, and arable land.
- Population: 81,802,000
- Life expectancy: 77 years (Men - 73 years; Women - 80 years)
- Fertility Rate: 1.4 per Woman
- Mortality Rate: 10.92
- Ethnic Groups and percentage of each:
- Religious Groups and percentages: Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%
- Languages spoken in order of prevalence: German
- Literacy Rate (% over age of 15 who can read and write): 99%
- Percentage that goes to university: 35%
- Average income: $36,440
- Independence/National Day: October 3rd
- Constitution Day: October 3rd
- Country from which they gained independence; Holy Roman Empire
- Year of independence: 1871
- Key events in political history and years they occurred: Unified 1871, World War I 1914-18, Hitler comes to power with Nazi power 1933-45, Soviet/Capitalist Control 1945-90, Reunified German Government 1990-
- Leader/president: Christian Wulff
- Political parties: Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (Christian Democratic Union of Germany)(, Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern (Christian Social Union in Bavaria), Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands( Social Democratic German Party), Freie Demokratische Partei (Free Democratic Party) , Die Links (The Lefts), Die Grünen (The Greens)
- Current political situation:
- Political system: Federal Parliamentary Republic
- GDP (gross domestic product): $3.315 Trillion
- Unemployment rate: 6.1%
- Poverty line: $1,600 single person, $2,240 couple with child
- Percentage living below poverty line:
- Average family income: $36,444
- Percentage of workforce in:
- Agriculture: 2.4%
- Manufacturing: 29.7%
- Service/tourist: 71.3%
- Main industries: Machinery, and Vehicles
- Main imports:machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals
- Main exports:machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals and manufactures
- Currency: Euro
- Exchange rate: $1.44= 1€
- Prevalence of modern communication devices:
- Television: 36.5 mil Households
- Cell phones: 64.9 Mil
- Internet users: 39 Mil
Sports, Music and Entertainment facts
- Country's favorite sport: Soccer
- Other sports played: Rugby, Ice Hockey, Handball, Cycling, and Motorsports
- Favorite musicians: Juli, Heino, Silbermond, and Die Atzen
- Traditional forms of music: Volkmusik, Opera
- Popular games: drinking games. ;D
- Favorite foods: Italian, sometimes Turkish (depending on if they are prejudiced or not) NOT mexican/spicy
- Other forms of entertainment: Nature, basically things Americans like
Monday, June 13, 2011
Even More Global Student!
1) I'm supposed to make a list of negative stereotypes of Americans. THIS will be fun :D
We're dumb.
We're loud.
We have no manners.
We think everything should be just the way we want it.
We're fat.
We're stubborn.
We all LOVE Bush.
We think we need to "butt into" everything.
We love grease.
We love fat.
We love Fast Food!
We hate anyone who says anything bad about America.
2) Why do you think people have these stereotypes for America? I think it is mainly because of media and how it has shown the very ... interesting individuals of America to more people. Not only that, but the way American government in the past has dealt with foreign diplomats has been more accessible to the public. The open, free knowledge of everything that goes on everywhere the main reason I think that these bad stereotypes are so popular and well known.
We're dumb.
We're loud.
We have no manners.
We think everything should be just the way we want it.
We're fat.
We're stubborn.
We all LOVE Bush.
We think we need to "butt into" everything.
We love grease.
We love fat.
We love Fast Food!
We hate anyone who says anything bad about America.
2) Why do you think people have these stereotypes for America? I think it is mainly because of media and how it has shown the very ... interesting individuals of America to more people. Not only that, but the way American government in the past has dealt with foreign diplomats has been more accessible to the public. The open, free knowledge of everything that goes on everywhere the main reason I think that these bad stereotypes are so popular and well known.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
More Global Student
A. What are the five things that you are most looking forward to about studying abroad?
1. The food.
2. The people I will meet.
3. CULTURE!
4. The trains and getting around places.
5. Shopping for the things trivialities I will forget/ not be able to bring over (school supplies, etc.)
B. What are the five things that currently worry you most about going overseas?
1. Being able to do schoolwork and talk to professors in school. So school in general really.
2. Eating the food without feeling bad.
3. Making connections.
4. Not giving up.
5. My host-families. (I have 2 since one can only keep me for 6 months.)
C. What are the five things (people, places, activities, etc.) you believe you will miss most from home when abroad?
1. My bed.
2. My immediate family.
3. Authentic Mexican food.
4. My close friends.
5. The trivialities that I cannot bring/have no use for in Germany but will randomly need while there.
D. What are the five things (people, places, activities, etc.) you believe you will miss least from home when abroad?
1. Idiots.
2. The wide streets
3. Trucks.
4. Close-minded american-ness.
5. Tornados.
E. My greatest single challenge overseas will be: being able to just LET GO and not worry over everything I do/eat/say, while still representing the USA responsibly and appropriately.
1. The food.
2. The people I will meet.
3. CULTURE!
4. The trains and getting around places.
5. Shopping for the things trivialities I will forget/ not be able to bring over (school supplies, etc.)
B. What are the five things that currently worry you most about going overseas?
1. Being able to do schoolwork and talk to professors in school. So school in general really.
2. Eating the food without feeling bad.
3. Making connections.
4. Not giving up.
5. My host-families. (I have 2 since one can only keep me for 6 months.)
C. What are the five things (people, places, activities, etc.) you believe you will miss most from home when abroad?
1. My bed.
2. My immediate family.
3. Authentic Mexican food.
4. My close friends.
5. The trivialities that I cannot bring/have no use for in Germany but will randomly need while there.
D. What are the five things (people, places, activities, etc.) you believe you will miss least from home when abroad?
1. Idiots.
2. The wide streets
3. Trucks.
4. Close-minded american-ness.
5. Tornados.
E. My greatest single challenge overseas will be: being able to just LET GO and not worry over everything I do/eat/say, while still representing the USA responsibly and appropriately.
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