This week was a very interesting to say the least! I did my first lesson.... on THE AMERICAN DREAM. Its so crazy to me how much these students know about America (definitely more than me). We reviewed the past ideals of what the American Dream was considered and how it was formed, then we moved on to the present American Dream. To start off, I summarized how the American Dream has evolved and it has become a more individualized concept, than a country as a whole concept. After this, the students asked me questions about any and everything there is to know about America. The first question: "Do you all really like weapons and war?" This was crazy to me... I immediately said NO! The questions proceeded to surprise me. They asked about NSA spies, gun laws, terrorism, our views of Hitler and Nazis (they think americans still believe he is alive hiding somewhere), racism, Russia, and education. They were all very sophisticated questions with details I didn't really know about. I was soooo taken back! Then the stereotyping began!
Americans: Lazy, fat, fake, two-faced, big ego, very patriotic, everyone plays and loves american football, we think we are better than everyone else, and Texans are real cowboys.
Americans: Lazy, fat, fake, two-faced, big ego, very patriotic, everyone plays and loves american football, we think we are better than everyone else, and Texans are real cowboys.
Germans: mean, don't smile, always sound angry, hate americans, walk very fast, drink a TON of beer, do EVERYTHING the right way, everyone is blonde hair and blue-eyed, and everyone rides a bicycle.
It was cool for the students to realize that every country has lazy people, mean people, prompt people, caring and funny people, patriotism, blondes, different races, grammatically errors, and fake people. They finally understood we are just like them! just larger and with a few more idiots (haha).
Besides working in the schools... I have had some free time to explore, make friends, and of course... drink beer.
I've been to the city and its so cool how much there is there... I've found some neat and cheap places to get drinks and eat amazing food.
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| Sandra! Dortmunder friend :) |
I've made more friends and a range of friends!! When I need them... I have my exchange and american friends, and then I have local Dortmunder friends from my interning and connections made!
So far so good!
One cool thing is that every night a different dorm has its own pub/bar/club open! This is so awesome not only because of the convenience but EVERYONE goes and you can meet so many cool people! Also the beer is only 1 euro! Come on America....... hahah
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| Sample Size |
The exchange group has also gone to the local brewery that produces amazing beer. I love you America, but you're slacking on the brews. It was a good time where a lot of foreigners got very tipsy. Instead of a tiny shot-glass size sample of beer, we got WHOLE glasses... and we got up to 5,6,7 of these.
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| Inside the brewery |
These trips are good with the exchange group cause I still get to feel connected to them, but I'm not always with them and not making new friends!
Anyway, I head to Cologne tomorrow to see amazing sites and eat chocolate and the Chocolate Museum!