Kapitel 9 Kultur-Ogbenna

The “Bureaucracy Gone Awry: The German Certificate Fetish” article was pretty interesting in regards to how Germans need certificates to prove validity. This is pretty reasonable because if you completed certain activities crucial to certain jobs, proof will be needed to validate that experience. However, I thought that the amount of certificates that are accumulated, from as early as elementary was very tedious. The amount of paperwork that is piled can be very difficult to keep up with; this amount of paperwork is also not helpful towards that environment because of the amount of trees being used for them. Usually, people try to reduce the amount of paperwork they keep (maybe by using technology instead); however, in this case, reduction of paperwork is not the case. When I read the “Welcome to America. Take a Number.” article, the point that America also has tedious paperwork especially concerning medical forms as well as other forms proved that it is not only Germany with exhausting paperwork. Keeping track of the certificates accumulated may come in handy at one point or another.

The “Love Thy Neighbor: German Law Tells You How” article gave insight to neighbor laws in Germany. I thought that some of the laws were too strict such as only being able to throw a barbeque once a month. However, I thought that some of the rules were essential in keeping a peaceful neighborhood. These rules enforce the value of being mindful of others and those around you. I also thought that keeping the surroundings of the house tidy would be beneficial to the neighborhood, so that the neighbors would be more comfortable in their environment. I also thought that helping a neighbor out such as shoveling an elderly neighbor’s driveway/sidewalk enforced the value of extending a helping hand. Overall these rules enforce respect towards your neighbors, which is important if you have to live near them.