Kultur 9- Eric Fix

These Kultur articles are always my favorite assignments in this class. I enjoy reading about the oddities and normal customs that are a part of German culture. I found the first article about the German’s obsession with certificates funny, as it is a much different custom than we are used to here in America. We do not like filling out paperwork when we have to, and we certainly don’t need extensive documentation to prove our past experience and ordinary skills. You barely even have to prove anything here in America, as many times people will just take your word for it. This is especially true with skills in things like Excel, which is apparently not the way in Germany. I find this interesting, albeit unnecessary, but I guess if it works for them, why change it now.

The article about the neighbors was difficult for me to imagine. I know that where I live, you can basically make all the noise you so desire at whatever time without it being a problem. I think that either my family, or my neighbor’s would be breaking every single unwritten rule of this neighbor guide. For one, there is definitely no quiet time established, and noise is not a problem. In the summer time, we wash the cars in the driveway, as do many people around us. Barbeques happen about once a month, and we even have a firepit that we use probably about every other day in the summer. The smoke definitely protrudes into our neighbors’ yards, but again it is not a problem. We usually don’t have parties that often at our house, but my neighbors do have people over often, and it is usually loud. However, this is not a problem; in fact we have even learned to block out any noise that may result. The customs about the snow and the sidewalk are definitely understandable, and I think that those are just common courtesy. Other than that, though, I cannot imagine living in Germany where all of these strict neighborly customs are commonplace.

Perhaps the most astonishing thing from these articles for me is the fact that flying the flag in Germany is almost nonexistent. Living in America, I cannot fathom a place where people don’t fly their national flag. The American flag can be seen almost anywhere here in America. Schools, businesses, homes; the American flag is everywhere. At my house, we have a 20-foot flagpole on which we fly the American flag along with a Michigan flag. Around my town, many houses and businesses---even the police department and town park--- also fly the Italian flag considering a good portion of my town is of Italian descent. Hell, I even have a Germany flag hanging in the window in my room. Here in America, flying flags of a country to which you have any connection to is almost second nature, and it is for this reason I cannot think of this being any other way, as it is in Germany. I do understand the history, but I think that at some point you have to move on and not be afraid to support the country you live in.