Apr
16
2009
Yesterday, I shared some advice on using your travel experiences to advance your career. One of those tips was to learn a foreign language: “Samir Prakash Sahoo [a graduate student] believes languages are the ultimate key to international success.”
Learning languages is tough for many people, though. There are a lot of words, new grammar structures, idioms, and in some cases different alphabets to learn and adults often don’t have the time or the patience it takes to truly apply themselves and learn a new language. It’s tough work!
German is the language that I’ve been learning on and off my whole life. I haven’t been as successful (or as dedicated) as I should have been, but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one that’s struggled with the German language.
Mark Twain, a master of words, also struggled with German—in fact, he called devoted a whole section to “The Awful German Language” in his book A Tramp Abroad.
Can anyone else identify with this feeling about German (or any other foreign language)?
“Surely there is not another language that is so slipshod and systemless, and so slippery and elusive to the grasp. One is washed about in it, hither and thither, in the most helpless way; and when at last he thinks he has captured a rule which offers firm ground to take a rest on amid the general rage and turmoil of the ten parts of speech, he turns over the page and reads, “Let the pupil make careful note of the following EXCEPTIONS.”
Know that you’re not the only one struggling! There are plenty of tips out there for learning a foreign language quickly, but some that I’ve heard and agree with include:
- Learn with someone else. Language is about talking, after all.
- Start with childrens’ books.
- Watch familiar movies and TV shows in the foreign language.
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Living as an American in Germany: World Blog Surf Day
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Apr
13
2009
A few weeks ago I participated in World Blog Surf Day—an event hosted by Golden Prague that linked expatriate bloggers around the world. I shared my experiences about living as an American in Germany.
Another World Blog Surf Day is planned for June 13th and we’re all going to be writing about food! I’m guessing that Life in Australia might blog about veggiemite, an Australian staple, and I hope that Sher from Czech Off The Beaten Path helps me understand what Czech cuisine really is.
If you’re an expat blogger and want to participate, find out more information on The Second World Blog Surf Day. If you’re someone who likes expat stories, bookmark this site and come back on June 13th (or sign up for my feed)—you’ll see my post about food and you’ll be directed to another expat blogger writing about food.
Don’t forget—June 13th!
Photo is public domain from NASA.
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Mar
28
2009
I’m taking a small detour from my Unique Accommodations series to participate in World Blog Surf Day, a fun adventure organized by Golden Prague (which is a great blog with information on Prague and the Czech Republic). Click through the link at the end of this post to travel around the world and explore the lives of expats everywhere.
I need to preface my post about living as an American in Germany by saying that I actually live in a unique juxtaposition of the two countries—I work for the US federal government in an idyllic resort town in Germany that has hosted the American military since 1945. So, I have access to a small American grocery store complete with favorite products from home like Jif peanut butter, Tide laundry detergent, and Crunch candy bars—and pay in dollars. I also have access to American TV channels (well, modified versions that the military provides) and work with Americans the standard 40 hours a week.
But, I also live on the economy in a foreign country which means I carry my own bag to the German market to get my produce, cook in an oven with Celsius temperatures, follow the many many rules about garbage and recycling, and reconcile my utility bills and payments at the end of the year (which I pay in Euro). I also watch the first season of Prison Break on German TV with bad dubbing (yeah, it’s a little behind) and work with Germans who only work 38.5 hours a week and have 15 holidays a year (but are very focused when they’re at work).
I’ve dealt with the adjustments of life in Germany—the seemingly cold reaction from the locals until you get to know them, the inability to purchase anything after 6 p.m. during the week and 2 p.m. on Saturdays (don’t even think about finding anything open on a Sunday), and the many many rules of garbage and recycling. It’s normal to walk down a street (or ride a bike, but rarely drive) and pass people in dirndls and lederhosen, to drive obnoxiously fast on the Autobahn, and actually enjoy oompah music while lifting heavy very full glasses of beers.
I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned…
- Fresh air is one of the greatest things—windows should be open, people should go for walks, and outdoor recreational activities should be a part of every country.
- Organic food is extremely important—and it should be enjoyed with friends and family.
- Football (or soccer) is an exciting sport with impressive athletes (but the Italians are all drama queens).
- Health care and education should be priorities for the government and accessible to everyone.
- Just because someone doesn’t smile very much doesn’t mean they’re not friendly.
- Sometimes many many rules of garbage and recycling are necessary.
- And, of course, much more. (How to drink a liter of beer was also an important one, now that I think about it…)
So that’s a little bit about my life as an American in Germany. Want to know what life is like for a German in a foreign country? Continue on your journey around the world with this German woman explaining her life as an expat in the Czech Republic (she knows a lot about the Czech Republic!).
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