Study Abroad
Travel + Language
What I Like About YOU: Germany vs. the USA
9:00 AM
One of the first things you will hear/learn about as an exchange student is that you should never compare your home country and your host country. This can create homesickness and eventually, later on during your exchange semester or year, a hint of bitterness as a symptom of culture shock. Good comparison is, well, good. This type of comparison is when you see and experience the differences between your homeland and your host land and accept the differences (or at least respect them). While the differences may not be what you are accustomed to, you understand that you are in a new place and are not criticizing what you see or experience. However, you must be careful to not let your good comparison turn bad. You should never get to the point that you are outright criticizing or judging a new culture because it is not what you are accustomed to. National pride is cool, but do not impose on your host culture. It is rude and very disrespectful.
Luckily, I never really experienced the bad comparison while away in Germany. While I did notice a few differences between the United States and Germany, I quickly learned to adapt and appreciate my host culture. I enjoy learning about and experiencing different cultures; it allows me to open my eyes and become more of a global citizen.
Today, I am going to share with y'all a few comparisons that I made between the two aforementioned countries. What do I like better about one than the other? What do I miss from Germany that the US does not do/have? What did I miss from the US while in Germany?
Food
- I love the Döner and Wurst so much in Germany.
- I missed the fast-food in the U.S. when I was in Germany. Some days I was lazy, so when I was hungry, I either starved or got in the kitchen to cook (quick meal or not).
Transportation
- I love and miss the ease-of-access of transportation in Germany: trains, bikes, and cheap flights are the best.
- I missed the ease-of-access of cars in the United States when I was in Germany. I was never able to just hop in a car and go; even when some of my host-family and I did things together, we took the train or biked. Sometimes, I just don't feel like doing that stuff.
People
- Germans are really nice, especially those who live in Bavaria. I suppose southern hospitality is a worldwide thing.
- I missed the greetings of Americans, though. Apparently, if you do not know someone in Germany, you do not speak to them??? That's what I was told by my host-sister at least. I find it really rude to not speak to people - stranger or acquaintance - may it only be "morning" or "have a nice day!" {Although sometimes I don't speak because, meh, I'm human.} That's simply a cultural difference that I am pointing out; I am not shaming the German culture.
Nature
- I am not going to separate this because both the U.S. and Germany have the gorgeous nature. You simply have to look for it in some places more than the other; it's there, though.
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