Comparative Cultures

Comparative Cultures

Concrete Experience

Between August 1984 and February 1987, a total of 2 years and 6 months, I lived with my family in Hanau, Germany. My stepfather, who I affectionately refer to as Dad, was enlisted in the United States Army. Dad was transferred to Germany in February 1983, just a few months shy of my high school graduation. My mother and siblings soon joined Dad in May 1983. I choose to stay behind after graduation to spend time with family and friends. By the time I arrive in Germany, my family had been in the country for a little over a year and had gotten acclimated to the new culture.

On the first day after arriving in Germany, my brothers took me to one of the local pubs to introduce me to German beer. I was not a huge fan of beer but I acquired a taste for the Heineken brand. I learned that Germany is the third largest producer of beer. There are over 5,000 brands of beers to choose from.

For the first two weeks in Germany, I spent a lot of time shopping. The style of clothing was different from what I had brought with me from the United States. The young adults wore neon colored tops and bottoms. Oversized tops were worn over baggy pants rolled up at the hem. Boots or colorful flat heeled pumps were the popular shoes.

During my stay in Germany, I enjoyed eating at the local restaurants. Traditional German food is hearty and heavy with meat and potatoes. Germany is renowned for its wurst, or sausages. Bratwursts, frankfurters, and braunschweigers are some of the different regional types of sausages. The Jager-Schnitzel, which is a breaded meat cutlet smothered in mushroom gravy, became my favorite meal to order from the menu. The Jager-Schnitzel is frequently served with Pomme Frittes, better known as French-Fries to Americans. I learned to eat Pomme Frittes like the locals, with mayonnaise instead of ketchup. Ketchup is an imported product and is very expensive in Germany.

Each year, during the fall,...