Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland :(

Das Ende ist hier... NEIN!!! The end of the six week course has come, und jetzt fliege ich nach mein Hause in Perth. Ich hätte Angst vor mein Gepäckung packen, aber after much rearranging and charity-giving, it all fit in the end.  Deutschland has been good to me in many forms, one namely being einkaufen. The deutsche Leute have been surprisingly helpful and friendly, despite their stereotype. I am going to miss Stuttgart and the people who shared the experience mit mir. Ich freue mich auf hanging out with those students from Perth who I have formed a good relationship with. The ENTIRE experience gefällt mir, and am pleased to say I feel I have achieved most, if not all, of my goals which I set for myself in the first week.

Ich weiβ, dass mein Deutsch besser ist, and I will be using all that I have learnt in my future studies. I plan to continue my Deutsch lernen, and I hope that when I return to Deutschland oder Wien, oder any other Deutsch speaking country, I will have learned and can comprehend much more. Ich glaube, dass living in a country is still the best way to grasp the language, because you learn not only the general rules of that language, but you learn which certain words or sayings native speakers use. Jeden Tag habe ich gelernt. Each time I went shopping or sightseeing I came across something new which helped with either my Deutsch lernen oder my Geschichte lernen. This experience certainly has reinforced my love for Geschichte and I cannot wait to study further detail of the few places and sights which I have seen in the past six weeks.

I am certain that I have grown as a person. My independence has increased and I am able and willing to do more for myself. This independence has also been a confidence boost, where now ich habe kein Angst vor being myself. I have made many close friends from all parts of Australia and America from the course who I know I will see again and surely travel with again. Those I met in Deutschland, I know I will visit and keep in contact with for a long time, if not forever.

It was terribly sad to say ‘Auf Wiedersehen’, but I know all good things must come to an end... and now I can start planning for my next European adventure!

Soziales Problem...

I don't want to have to think about going back to Perth yet, but I know that later this week I will have to start preparing some of my things for the long haul home. Ich hätte eines ausgezeichnetes Wochenede im Wien! Ich liebe Wien! Es ist die schönste stadt! It also highlighted the intensity of some of the social problems of Germany, based on my observations of Stuttgart and München.

Ein soziales Problem that I have come across is the amount of the Obdachlose. There are quite a few that I have noticed who hang around the REWE recycling there bottles. This is a good thing, ich glaube, that this machine is available for recycling and receiving enough money to buy another bottle, however it is questionable what the Obdachlose spend this recycled money on. I see Obdachlose often and also beggars often, and wonder what the housing systems or where or if they receive any shelter. The fact that many Obdachlose die due to the kaltes Wetter ist verrückt!

Another social problem is evident through the Graffiti. Graffiti is unfortunately evident throughout Stuttgart. In year twelve when I learnt about urban planning through geography, I learnt about social problems evident through graffiti, that it is a problem among young people, generally because of boredom and lack of services for youth. Whether or not this is the real reasoning for the Graffiti in Stuttgart, it is something to consider and wonder if the government or whomever concerned realises the social problem amongst young people.

Ein anderer soziales Problem relating to anti-social, negative behaviour is the junge Menschen who hang around the Hauptbahnhof and stir up mischief. Luckily there is heavy security who are around during these periods of time, which is generally after dark. However, in pointing at the young being those who hang about the Hauptbahnhof, ignores the fact that there are plenty of middle-aged people who stand about, drinking and chatting. This is an interesting sight, which I must admit, I am not used to seeing back in Perth. This is an interesting element to consider when questioning the ritual of young people in groups just doing nothing and staying at the Hauptbahnhof.

Well, only eins more entry after this one. But until then, haben Sie eine schöne Woche und eines schönes Wochenende!

Hmmm... die australische Identität!

Ich liebe Deutschland! Certainly, I miss home. However, I am loving this country and seeing a little more of Deutschland over the weekend (specifically the Schwarzwald und München) I love it even more! Getting back to class on Monday was difficult after a really late return from München, although class was really involved and fun. It was funny though, as Anne (unsere deutsche Lehrerin), was explaining something Germanic, and compared it to the Australian way of doing it, she had entered another conversation of the stereotypical Australian. The typisch Australian is seen to be blonde haired with tanned skin and a good body (‘sexy’ being her word). I guess what I may call a stereotypical surfer. As the conversation progressed, I came to think more about the Australian Identity and how it compared to the identity portrayed through European eyes.

We are categorised in a way which I guess I can see how this stereotype has come about, through having excellent beaches (although not everywhere in Australia), really warm summers and ridiculous amounts of dry, red-dirt deserts. However, the blonde part of the stereotype ist sehr ungewöhnlich, aber it seems just like the German stereotype of blonde-hair, blue eyes. Obviously the German majority is not just blonde-haired and blue eyed, however it is the stereotype which many Ausländer hold, and this hold true about this Australian stereotype. Even so, I am not too certain this should be the Australian identity. Thinking about all the Australians who are attending this course, only very few are blonde haired and really tanned, majority are brunette and pale-skinned. Another thing, Australia has apparently reached the top of the list for being the country with the largest obesity rate in the world, so much for the ‘’sexy’’ physic stereotype!

The funny thing is, my assumption of the Australian identity previous to this conversation was the same, despite the fact that I knew it did not fit. But after really thinking it through this stereotype does not fit, just as I have been realising how the deutsch stereotypes are proving very wrong (except for der deutschen Effizienz!)

Umdenken deutschen Kultur

Wow, week three has arrived. I feel like these weeks are flying by, leider! Ich bin nach Hause auf der S-Bahn gegangen, and I was thinking about how kind der Verkäufer was in the Converse Shop in Schwarbstraβe. I began thinking about the misconception of Germans, that they are rude and abrupt. This stereotype has been conjured up through the harsh sounding language they possess. I began thinking that Germans are culturally stereotyped in many ways which I have come to learn that they are the opposite. Although some of these stereotypes may be completely ridiculous, some stereotypes have proven true to me.

This first stereotype that I have mentioned is a relatively popular one. The fact that the Germanic language is harsh in tone makes ein Auslander think they are being rude or are just abrupt. However, this is untrue. I have found that most Germans are very friendly and willing to help. When speaking to a German here in Stuttgart I have found when they do not understand what you are asking they remain very friendly, despite their tone, which is surprisingly not always a reflection of their emotion, it is just how they speak.

The (visually) stereotypical German man is one in eine Lederhose mit einem Bart, is a lächerlich Stereotype. I have not seen EINS person with a funny, overly weird beard, nor have I seen the sale, purchase or wearing of a Lederhose in my three weeks of being here in Stuttgart.

The cultural stereotype of all Germans, or majority, being blonde-haired, blue-eyed too is a lächerlich stereotype. Die meinsten Deutschen in Stuttgart sind brünett und braune Augen. The stereotype of terrifying Germanic efficiency is partially true. The public transport is terrifyingly efficient, however, in the first week of university here in Stuttgart die Lehrer were disorganised and late to class. However, the city itself is efficient and works really well.

The stereotype of the German’s love for die Wurst, Sauerkraut und Bretzels ist das Stimmt. There are backeries everywhere are there are always people in them, the butchers are frequent and due Wurst can be found in many backeries. Sauerkraut I actually haven’t come across frequently, nor have I seen any hotdogs being sold mit Sauerkraut. Schade! I wouldn’t mind trying a hotdog mit Sauerkraut here in Stuttgart. Despite the density of the German food, obesity does not seem as common here, particularly in Germany. Which seems unusual to me, however, it has not got as many McDonalds as a few suburbs in Perth would have.

Rethinking about German stereotypes whilst being here in Germany, has really shed the light on how ridiculous and far-off some stereotypes can be whilst some others can be quite spot-on. Interessant!

A New Culture

The first week being here in Stuttgart has been an interesting experience of finding my feet and coming to terms with a new culture. Throughout my first week and a half here in Stuttgart, I have noted that there are a few similarities yet more differences of the culture and everyday life of my host country and Australia, more specifically Perth.

 My first impressions of both university campus’ were that: die Universität (Vaihingen campus) is mein Haus, aber die sonstige Universität ist mein Arbeitsplatz. I associate Vaihingen with my home suburb back in Perth, and associate the Stuttgart University with Crawley where I study. My first impressions of these two places have forced them into categories of a workplace and of a home.

It is really interesting to note the similarities of Stuttgart and Perth. One major similarity that I have come across is the grouping of people you see in different areas of the city, for example you see young, relatively rough looking teenagers hanging about the train stations. Other similarities include the same shops that we have at home are situated throughout Stuttgart, such as the Body Shop. I was shocked to see so much graffiti, but when comparing to home, it does not seem too extreme. I guess the graffiti raises questions about certain social issues amongst young people.

One major difference which still shocks me is that dogs are allowed to go pretty much anywhere, here in Stuttgart. On the train, in the shops or at a restaurant dogs are with their owners! Having a dog at some parks in Perth is either frowned upon or actually disallowed! I love the fact that dogs are allowed in the city and to be out with their owners, and the interesting thing is, is that I have not seen one dog misbehaving, you know what, I haven’t even heard a dog bark!

Public transportation here in Stuttgart is amazing. All types of people use public transport, and it never seems unsafe, because there are always a substantial amount of people on at a time. I think the public transport back home is not as good, due to the fact that more and more people are using private transport because of the distances they have to travel, the condition of a bus or train, and also because it is relatively expensive.

An interesting difference is the homeless population. I have come across quite a few homeless people. However, there is a system well developed, a machine which allows one to recycle their bottles and receive money. I have noticed many Obdachlose who have used this machine. I think this is an interesting system, my first impression of this system has been really positive.

The differences and similarities that I have come across have certainly received an interesting response, however, over the next few weeks I would like to see whether these first impressions remain as my opinion or if as time passes I come to another opinion.

Das ist alles von mir für dich!

Meine Erwartungen

The German exchange has begun and with full force. Arriving into Stuttgart and moving into my new home for the next six weeks, has been an exciting, yet emotional experience. This is the first time I have travelled and lived alone and my initial feeling has been nervousness. I assume this feeling is due to ‘the unknown’, the uncertainty of what is coming my way and how to approach this new journey. I chose to stay at the dorm primarily because this is all new to me and I hope that this will help me grow as a person. I also hope this personal growth will guide me and allow me to learn and understand other cultures. Through small-scale travel of Europe, I hope to learn and understand a greater amount of these cultures and their ways of living.

Germany has ‘a history of extremes’ and as a lover of history, I have become greatly focused on the German past. I came to love learning about German history and I decided to learn the language. Through my love of German history I hope to fully engage and learn much more of the German history through sight-seeing and visiting relative museums.

When learning a language, what better way to fully grasp emphasis and pronunciation than to go to that country and engage with the locals?  I cannot wait to use Deutsch in each aspect of my everyday life here in Stuttgart over the next six weeks. I hope to learn a lot more Deutsch and to consolidate what I already know. To further my speaking skills and to be able to comprehend much more is my highest learning expectation. When spoken to in German, I hope to be able to recount every word and to be able to reiterate or respond much faster than I do now. In the next six weeks it will be interesting to see what I can achieve and how it is done.