Kultur 6 - Henry Warrington

One of my guilty pleasures when checking out at grocery stores is to look at the covers of all of the tabloids. I find their headlines hilarious and also ridiculously out of touch with reality. There is a level of absurdity that almost makes me believe they are satire. While this absurdity is fun for the few minutes I spend in the checkout line, I don't think I could deal with it in my everyday newspaper. The over-the-top aspect of it all would make me less likely to care when a truly large or absurd story broke. Whereas if the New York Times or Washington Post breaks a story with a seemingly absurd headline then it is most likely true and I'll pay more attention to it. It is like the boy who cried wolf; if the shock value in Bild Zeitung is always so high then in order to truly shock us you have to go way over the top and then the story is just absurd.

I'm a pretty timid person when I have to talk to anyone in a position of authority. It would be even harder if every time I had to knock on their door. Being able to look through the open doorway and make eye contact before entering makes it easier for the conversation to start but also makes it seem less like you are barging in. Also seeing a closed door as a sign of being busy also enables a certain level of privacy without the necessity of locking your door so that people don't just walk in on you and distract you or interrupt you with a client.

Finally I think that Germany's many wastebaskets is just needlessly complicated. I doubt it saves much energy recycling wise and I bet all it does it frustrate recycling workers because of all the additional sorting they have to do for people who mess up. Maybe in the US the workers do all the sorting for us and by doing it the way Germany does it we would actually be saving them work. Maybe they just do it give more people jobs and artificially lower their unemployment rate. Now that would be sneaky.

Kultur 6 Heather Bigelow

Sex, Smut, and Shock: Bild Zeitung Rules Germany 
I found it interesting to see the remnants of the feelings between East and West Germans mentioned in an article like this. The West Germans looked down on the East Germans and the East Germans loathed them at times for it. I also thought it was interesting that the Bild Zeitung has such a large fan base in Germany. I thought it was amusing to read about what the Bild Zeitung posts. 

German Privacy: Come on in, My Door is Always Closed
I thought it was interesting to learn about another facet of German culture. To me, this seems to make sense why Marie would always look at me weird when I politely knocked on a door. I also thought it was interesting that the article was basically saying to me, "Don't be a wimpy American, be a confident German!" 

Division Hell: Worshiping the Garbage Gods 
The fact that Germans have so many trash cans is not something new to me. I went to Germany in the spring, but I never quite understood the recycling system. It is very confusing. I also sympathized with the Lina about her feeling at loss with the recycling system. It also wasn't surprising to me that the Germans are so dedicated to recycling because I got to know first hand just how environmentally friendly they are. In the countryside of Germany, one may find solar panels, or wind turbines. It truly is a beautiful sight to behold.

Kultur 6

I'm kind of disappointed that a newspaper like Bild is read throughout Germany. There's nothing I hate more than twisted propaganda that goes as far to claim "we form your opinion so you don't have to." I can't stand seeing prints like The Enquirer here in the States and I figured Germany was above that. I suppose not.

I also don't really understand the closed door policy prominent in German culture. Why do they feel the need to be so off-putting and aggressive? I think that a closed door policy limits the production and spread of new ideas because it is so difficult to express your idea with those in power.

The article about the complexity of the garbage cans restored my faith in the Germans. I really respect that they expect more out of their people than we do. I think that we simplify everything to the point that intelligence is a luxury in American culture, not a necessity. They force their citizens to understand and it seems that it works out for them. I wish we would mimic this.

Kultur 6

Sex, Smut and Shock was interesting article. No magazine here in America would ever be allowed to do that without a lot of controversy. Europe is just so laid back and chill, especially Germany. I like how the magazine also draws a line. That's good. The article "German Privacy" was also interesting. I'm someone who would be quite tentative and be afraid to disturb them. These articles are all really great advice for if I visit Germany. "Division Hell" was amusing to me. Like the idea of someone trying to install there own telephone software is hilarious. I'm pretty sure no one could do it. Four different receptacles for waste seems slightly like overkill but I guess it's not. But like the example of the wrapper smeared in ketchup? What bin does it go in? German universities don't assume responsibility for housing? That really sucks. You have to share an apartment with people you don't know and they probably will kill you. I wish Bursley had a communal kitchen. The pictures of Tübingen are really pretty in the book. It would be cool to study with at Tübingen. It seems like a very historical city.

Kultur 6 Blog

The article that I thought was the most interesting was the one about the magazine/tabloid. What made me interested in it was the crime of libel and how strictly it is enforced in Germany. It says they got reprimanded many times in one year but is there some type of punishment that goes with it. I know they are very strict in England about it and if you say something that is true to intentionally harm someone or someone's career it is libel. Are the laws in Germany that loose, because if they are than it seems ridiculous and that tabloids must thrive there. Imagine if magazines were able to publish absurd things like "Barack Obama has affair with Miley Cyrus."

Kultur 6

Sex, Smut, and Shock: Bild Zeitung Rules Germany: 

It was very intriguing to me that the Germans combine gossip and true events. I was not surprised that their 'tabloid' consists of "celebrity-bashing, populism, and scandal" as well as half-naked attractive women. You can't take away the Germans' sexuality, that's for sure. I thought it was fascinating how the Bild reacted when the British Sun published nude photos of Chancellor Angela Merkel. It's as if only the Bild is able to criticize itself.

German Privacy: Come On In, My Door is Always Closed:

In Germany, doors are always closed. The proper etiquette is to knock loudly once and then proceed to enter the room. This is a large reprieve from the guessing game here in America. It's always awkward because I never know if it's okay just to walk in if the door is open. At least if the door is closed and I can knock I'm able to announce myself before being present in the room. Also, being able to keep your door closed and not being considered antisocial would be cool. It would save from many distractions.

Division Hell: Worshipping the Garbage Gods:

This article made me feel embarrassed that we, here in America, don't try harder to keep it clean and orderly. In Germany, they have separate bins for any type of trash that you may have. I assume it's done for proper recycling, since Germany is all about environmentalism. Which I hold in a very high respect. There's nothing wrong with trying to keep it green. Thumbs up to Deutschland.

Wo Studenten wohnen

I thought it was really strange that universities don't have enough dormitories for all of their freshman students. I feel like that would be very stressful to be a freshman and to live on your own, paying rent and what not. Although, being lucky and getting into a dorm with a kitchen and private bathroom would be prime.  

Tübingen

First off, I had no idea that the city of Tübingen and Ann Arbor have a partnership. That is super awesome. Also, Tübingen seems like a beautiful place and I'd really like to visit there. I didn't know Johannes Kepler studied at the university; so cool.

Kultur6

The articles for were interesting. I liked the article about the newspaper the Bild Zeitung. What I like is how the newspaper doesn't promote its own opinion and bashes everyone else. It bashes everyone's opinion. It turns the littlest thing into and international incident. The article on German privacy was short but did have good advice. When in doubt, knock loudly and barge into the room with your head held high. From the text book I discovered that most students in German live in off campus housing since doesn't prove many room. Most students rent apartments near campus. Many university work together to help students study abroad. Because of cooperation such as this, cities have also created partnerships. For example the city of Tübingen has a partnership with the city of Ann Arbor.

Kultur 6- Amanda Knop

I can't believe that Bild Zeitung is the primary source of news for millions of Germans. In America, I  we have tabloids (which most people understand to be fake), and real news magazines. It seems really weird to me that a magazine would try and combine both. A lot of the topics that they cover are really inappropriate for a source that so many people look to for news.

I think it would be really awkward trying to visit an official in their office in Germany. In America, doors tend to be left open when you are allowed in the room. In Germany, the door is always closed.

In Germany, it is difficult to just throw away trash. They have many different trash receptacles. Although this would be really confusing, I think its a good idea. This way, Germans get rid of their trash in an environmentally friendly way.

I think its interesting that German universities do not provide a lot of dorm rooms for students. I feel like that is a part of the college experience here in America. However, I think its really cool that the dorm rooms they do have have a kitchen for students to use. I would love to be able to cook my own meals in the dorms. It's also cool that they offer a free-housing service for students.

Tübingen seems like a city I would like to visit. I would love to see the Schloss Hohentübingen. I've never seen a castle before. I think its so cool that the city of Tübingen has a partnership with Ann Arbor.

Kultur 6

When it comes to reading leaked secrets of the celebrities or 'hot topics' of things that I really shouldn't care much for, there's no surprise if I hardly believe a word in that particular article or even the entire journal/magazine. To me, Germany's Bild Zeitung seems to be a gossiping joint with, of course, news coverage that is blown out of proportions. However, that last part with Angela Merkel made it look like only Bild can bash on its own stories and news. 

Normally when I see a closed door, there is probably something going on behind it. And by following societal etiquette, I'll politely knock. But I was surprised to find that it's fine to loudly knock and afterwards intrude upon what's behind closed doors in Germany. Yet at the same time, I feel that the confident assertiveness is a part of German culture, so maybe it isn't that shocking. 

In America, I really think we need to take care of our waste disposal more seriously. I try to read the labels on product or material carefully before throwing it into waste or recycling since sometimes you may find in something that seems recyclable actually is not. Looking at the system in Germany makes me a little ashamed at the way I and many other Americans organize our trash. Hopefully in the future, we can use colors to code for specific trash. 

Student housing in Germany sounds quite similar to the standards here in Michigan. But, the fact that there is free housing for international students in Germany seems like a dream come true. It makes me want to go study abroad there even more. Perhaps I can visit Tübingen, since it has a lot of educational history as well as its position being a university town like Ann Arbor. 

Kultur 6: Callie Chappell

Sex, Smut and Shock: Bild Zeitung Rules Germany: I thought it was interesting how the Bild hyperbolizes actual events, rather than just inventing sensational stories. Personally, this seems better than publishing outright fiction. I also thought it was hilarious that the motto is "we form your opinion so you don't have to."
German Privacy: Come On In, My Door Is Always Closed: This aspect of German culture encapsulates many aspects of the culture in general. In line with what we've learned about German privacy. Here  in the US, people seem to rarely keep their doors closed. It's good to understand the cultural norms in a world where door-knocking is actually a valuable skill.
Division Hell: Worshipping the Garbage Gods: I definitely noticed this when I was in Germany. Even my host families had up to 4 different waste bins under their sinks for different kinds of waste. It was rather overwhelming. Everything had its exact place, and way to dispose of it.

Willkommen!!

Welcome to our class blog!

We will be using this blog throughout the semester for two kinds of assignments:

1. Once per chapter, the homework plan will direct you to post a response to the culture readings for the chapter on the blog.

2. Roughly every other week, the homework plan will direct you to post here for your Abenteuer mit Deutsch (AMD) assignment. First you do a fun activity that involves German, then you post about it. You should spend an hour total on this (maybe 45-55 minutes doing something, 5-15 minutes posting about it). See Was ist ein AMD, AMD Ideen and Beispiele for ideas. This should get you excited about the kinds of things you can do!

Whenever you post something, please include your name and the name of the assignment (e.g. AMD2, Kultur5) as labels. See "Blog: How To" for more details!