Jour 8 - View from Germany, Part 1

Words du jour: frere (brother), soeur (sister), amie (friend)

I’m in Germany for the next three days, right in the middle of a trip focusing on France. Let’s continue to focus on France (when possible) but change our point of view. How can we better understand France by looking at Germany? That’s the challenge.

Sabine's 12th Grade English Class

Sabine is a high school English teacher, and I tagged along for half a day of her work. I was happy to provide a presentation on Alaska for one of her classes too. I’m pretty sure the students (12th graders) were interested in the topic, but that they didn’t really know what to make of it all. When I travel, I find concepts of Alaska are too abstract for most people to know how to approach the subject. I found the students to be respectful, engaging, and content. Here’s a twist: The students own the classrooms and the teachers move between them. Also, I saw teachers “escaping” on break to go behind a building and smoke (hopefully just cigarettes).

Later, I observed a “Teacher in Training” provide a lesson on the European Union, of which both Germany and France (and 25 other countries) belong. From my point of view, it means they share the same currency and may move freely across borders (even to work and live). I’m using the same Euro’s here in Germany that I brought with me from France, and they didn’t even check my passport, require a visa, or check me through customs when I crossed the border. It was seamless – like travelling between states of the USA.

There is a high degree of order here. Everything seems to have a place. Everything is clean and tidy.

I’ve seen a few women wearing head scarves (signifying they are Muslim), but otherwise all appear to be ethnic German. I’m getting the impression that France might be much more ethnically diverse.

There are castles and vineyards all over this landscape. I’m getting the impression France and Germany have this in common. Sabine took me to a vineyard/winery where we sampled a few wines. The store front for the business had beautiful displays of product.

Euro Currency

Castle in Besigheim

We took a stroll through the grounds surrounding a local castle. It was a nice evening, and we came across two groups enjoying a picnic. One group sat on a cloth on the ground. Sabine said, ‘that looks very French’, to which I agreed. The other group had a complete set of table and chairs. Sabine said, ‘I’d rather sit like that’. Germans in general seem to be more formal; the French less so.

I was curious how Germans greet and say goodbye. They are like Americans/Australians in this regards (e.g. a handshake, maybe a hug if you're close, maybe a kiss on the cheek if you're mom). Again, the French greet and say goodbye with a kiss on each cheek (friends only though).

In Germany, they dub Hollywood movies in German. In France, they dub Hollywood movies in French. Both Amaury (back in Lille) and Sabine wish they would play movies in their original language because they say dubbing masks subtle meanings.

Sabine in Besigheim

Sabine took me to the quaint German town of Besigheim where we had a traditional German dish called Maulteschen – sort of minced meat between layers of very thin bread. It was incredible!

Vineyard

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Première Expérience de la France

Jour 8 – View from Germany, Part 1

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