For my final I decided to do a fourth interview.
Interview Preparations
I already had my digital recorder and set of questions. My interviewee was Kim, a classmate who was kind of forced but kind of not forced to be my interviewee. We planned to do it on the last day of class in the library. I considered reserving a room for the interview, but I decided against it because I wasn't sure when we would be done with class. We just ended up sitting on some chairs on the second floor and doing it there.
Transcript
M: Why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of studying or working in your own country?
K: Because I met a boy in the US when I was here for high school. And then he broke up with me, but I'm stubborn so I decided to still do it because I wanted to prove to myself that I can. And the classroom sizes over in Germany are big lectures, there's like 300-400 people, so you don't really get any support from your teachers. You just basically listen and have to write your own huge papers every semester. So it's nicer here.
M: What were your preconceptions about the US and how have they changed?
K: People always said that Americans are superficial, and that they're fat, and that they're not really athletic. Actually though, people here are pretty athletic. But I do still think that Americans are pretty superficial, to be honest with you. Like meeting friends was really hard because it's all about getting drunk, and that's not really me.
M: What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the US?
K: The food. I like my food.
M: What was different about it?
K: I actually get cramps here. Like when I go home, and I have my food and I come back here, for like two or three weeks I'll just have cramps. I think it's because of all the grease in the food here. And all those preservatives. I know that here your milk is good for like two or three weeks after you buy it, if not longer. At home, it'll be good for three days and then I'll have to toss it. And even stuff like cheese. It doesn't even mold!
M: What experiences have you had with racism since coming here?
K: Not really any, to be completely honest.
M: Probably because you're German.
K: Yeah, I kind of blend in. I mean yeah you get those stupid comments once in a while like "oh a nazi" but I mean it's not like anyone means it either. It's just people being stupid.
M: Have you lost proficiency in speaking, reading, or writing in your native language since coming here?
K: Yeah, I feel like I've lost my formal language. So like when it comes to interviews I would have to really prepare for them because my speaking skills are just kind of... down the drain. I mean, I don't think it would be hard to get it back, but like right now I wouldn't be able to just do it right away.
M: Did you talk a lot with other students from Germany?
K: No. This class was the most I spoke in the past one and a half years here. There aren't really a lot of Germans here either, I don't think. Maybe there is, but I only met like two or three.
M: How hard was it to learn English?
K: I came here for high school, so before that it was kind of hard to just learn it at home, because you never were around people who actually spoke it well. So when I came here first, that's how I learned. And I mean after that it was easy because it was around and I had to learn it. But just like learning out of the book was pretty tough. Especially with like, the tenses, and all that.
M: Did you have English classes in Germany?
K: Yeah. We start in fifth grade, and then we go all the way through. However long we go to school. But right now they're starting in kindergarten already. Like just words. And then in first grade you start having actual English classes. Which is kind of cool I guess. It makes it easier maybe. Do you even have to take foreign language classes here?
M: I think some people are required to take like Spanish or something in high school, but there are a lot of ways to bypass that. Because I've never taken any foreign language class before college. America just hates being useful.
K: Yeah. I would think Spanish would be a good language to know for Americans. I mean you've got Mexico down there and their economy is going up, so why wouldn't you?
M: Yeah. So how does the climate in your country differ from here?
K: It doesn't that much. I mean it rains a lot, but before I came here we didn't have winters really. It was always around 30-35 and it just rained all winter. We'd get like one or two days of snow but it would all just melt right away. But now the past two winters, I was so excited to go home because it was like finally escaping the snow. Didn't happen. They had snow for like two or three months. It does warm up faster. Like in the middle of February it starts warming up over there. But that's about the only difference there is.
M: What are some cultural differences between Germany and here?
K: People are more open over in Germany. Like... When you raise your child, it's just... more building of trust. But over here it's about control. Kids here don't really trust to tell their parents anything. It's always... like they're judging. Say with getting birth control, some people here could never say that to their parents because they'd be like "No." And when I turned 16 my mom was like "By the way you're getting birth control." And I'm ike "Why? I don't need it." And she just says like "Well I say so, so you're going in and you're getting some." So like they're just more responsible. I feel like here people try to hide everything. Just like, shove it under the cover. Where over in Germany people just deal with it, and that's the way it is. It's just normal and okay. Same with alcohol. People can't tell their parents, so what happens if you had too many and you don't know how to get home? Well people here just start driving, because they can't tell anyone. And over there I'll just call my parents and be like "sorry" and they'll be pissed that they have to come pick me up but they're not gonna hold it against me or anything. They'll just come and get me and make sure I get home safely. Rather than get raped on the way home. I mean there's so many different things that could happen on the way home. I guess that's the biggest thing that always gets me.
M: What religions are commonly practiced in your country?
K: Catholic and Protestant.
M: So mostly the same as here.
K: Yeah. In the north it's more Protestant and then down south it's more Catholic. And then the further south you go you'll probably find more people who are more comparable to the Americans. Up in the north it's mainly more of a label, and that's all it is. They don't really practice it. I mean we go to church for confirmation and stuff, but...
M: It's not really a big part of their life.
K: Yeah, it's more superficial I guess. Kind of like the culture. Like in our family we always go for Christmas. It's just kind of like a tradition to go for Christmas.
M: Do you keep up with the news in Germany?
K: Not that much. I didn't really care about it before. I mean I keep up with world news, so if something happens in Germany I'll know, but it's not like I specifically try to read the newspaper or anything. And when I talk to my grandmother she'll tell me things.
M: How often do you get to talk to your family?
K: My mom and dad and I talk probably once a week. Unless they're gone or something, then it'll be like every other week. And my grandparents want me to call every week, but I usually call like every other month. It doesn't cost that much to call them, I just... I always say I will, and then I'll just forget about it. I honestly just forget.
M: Is life here more stressful? Like with school and stuff?
K: No. Because here I feel like they coordinate it for you better than they do over there. Here you have a set schedule where you know, this is due on one day and this is due on some other day. But over there everything's due at the end of the semester. You have all semester to do it, but everything is due at the end, so it's...
M: Easy to put it off.
K: Exactly. It's like "Oh, I'm going to enjoy life" and then two weeks before everything is due you're screwed. And then like over there we're not talking about three or four page papers anymore, we're talking about like 20-25 page papers. Yeah, that's kind of why I came here too. I don't really need that.
M: What system of government does Germany use?
K: Democratic. It's all elections and voting.
M: Do you think you'll be able to find a job after college?
K: Yes. I don't know where, but I think it'll be pretty easy to find something. I'm pretty driven, I think. It might not necessarily be the US because nobody wants to hire international students right now. Because they have to pay to sponsor your visa. Like a work visa. Unless you get married. So yeah a lot of companies don't want to, especially with the unemployment rate just because there's so many other people looking for jobs. But we'll see what happens.
M: What are some of the differences in laws between Germany and here?
K: That's actually kind of interesting. I know over there, when you get caught drinking and driving, you get one warning, and your license will get taken away for a few months. Depending on how much you had I guess and depending on what happened. And if you get caught again after that, then your license is gone forever. There's no way to get your license back.
M: That probably saves more people.
K: Yeah it does. We just had, um... who was it... it was my boyfriend's sister's friend. He had two DWIs, and then on his third one he paralyzed his best friend. He was in prison for a year and now he's out. It's just like... he basically killed a person. I don't understand that. I mean three? Even two... if you don't learn after the first time then come on.
M: Two is probably the perfect number.
K: Yeah and then be done, that's it. You had your chance. And if you need to drink, then take a cab. Just don't be stupid. I mean you can have a couple of beers and drive home. Clearly you're allowed to do that, but...
M: Yeah, it's all about how you actually drive. Nobody's going to pull you over if you're driving fine.
K: Exactly. I mean just know your limits. I feel like a lot of the time here people don't know their limits. They think they're above everything.
M: Are there any other different laws you can think of?
K: I think the laws are pretty similar. Well, I guess we do have gay and lesbian marriage. That is allowed.
M: Is that more culturally accepted over there too?
K: Yeah. Well, I feel like here it's more that people do it to be different though, instead of actually being that. Because over there you don't see it that much. And then here the media just talks it up so much... Over there it's not, because it's accepted that people don't really need to stand out with that. Oh, and prostitution is legal. They actually pay taxes.
Personal Review
I think this interview went really well. It seemed like we went through the questions a lot faster than most of my interviews, but I ended up with a similar amount of information, and with all the small talk we did in between some questions the time ended up being about the same, too.
Country Report
Germany is a country in Europe that is west of Poland. Germany's largest city is its capital, Berlin. Germany has a very strong economy and it has a seasonal climate. The main religion in Germany is Christianity, which is practiced by approximately 62% of the population. German is the official language of Germany, and it is spoken natively by 95% of the country. English, French, and Latin are commonly taught in schools.
Information in country report taken from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany. Accessed 5/01/2011.)
