German Culture

Prior to taking German 101, I visited Germany for 2 weeks and witnessed firsthand many of the cultural differences that would be discussed in the course. I found the Germans to be incredibly cold and weird, only to later learn that I was merely be culturally insensitive. The course has certainly been an eye-opener in terms of understanding the subtle cultural differences of other countries. Also, the course has sparked the question of what identity truly is, with regard to what your nationality represents and the stereotypes surrounding it. The German perspective on Americans and American life was particularly interesting, as you realize that there are always different opinions regarding what is considered status quo in America. Overall, studying German speaking countries has been incredibly enlightening experience, and it has been especially interesting contrasting the cultural aspects with those of America.