School Day

In Germany they have what is known in the US as blocked scheduling, which means that students do not have the same classes everyday. For example I only have math on wenesdays and thursdays, but on thursdays I have two periods instead of one. Most days end shorter then school in America, ending around 1:15 and starting at 8:15, wenesdays being the exception that usually goes til 4. Lunch is only served in school on wenesdays, all other days students eat at home or during the 15 minute break every 2 periods.  Students don't have as much freedom or as many choices as we do when choosing classes. There are no classes offered like cooking, sewing, photography, or computers, and once you pick a class like biology or spanish you have to take it for a certain number of years.  Students are put on tracks with their classes and have to decide which pre-planned track they want to be on, and can't change it.

German Education Structure

In the Image above is the German Education Structure, Unlike in the U.S.A where most of us attend Pre-school, 
Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School, and then University or College. In Germany a child's 
future is decided in 4th grade. All German children start out in the Grundshule, which is like our Elementary
School, and in 4th grade the teacher decides which school the child goes to next, based on how smart the teacher 
thinks the child is. The Secondary 1 part of the diagram shows the the highest to lowest schools a child can 
be placed into. The Gymnasium is the most elite school, it is where the smartest children go and they are on the 
track to University. The Abitur is a test that a German needs to take and do well at in order to get into University.
it is like our ACT/SAT and AP tests combined, but more important and harder. The Hauptchule is the lowest 
school and children that attend this school have almost no chance in going to university and most end up working 
at factories. The Arrows in the diagram show different possibilities of where a child can go after finishing one 
school type. 

Pride in Your Country

Americans show lots of pride in their country, from the 4th of July to just saying we are proud to be American. We hang our flags high, say our national anthem before important events, and even say "The Pledge of Allegiance" in school.

In Germany it is different, after WW11 it has been hard to show pride in Germany with the fear of it being taken to far. For the German national anthem only one verse is said, the third, out of the original four, and German flags being hung is not very common. If a German show to much pride for Germany then they are at risk of being called a Nazi. Before 2006 almost no one had a flag in their backyard, but after Germany won the soccer cup, people found that they had something to be proud of in their country.

Germans show their pride though soccer now, they wear their favorite team's shirts and cheer for their team. 

below is the German National Anthem, after WW11 only the third verse is said and considered official.

Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,	Germany, Germany above all,
Über alles in der Welt,	Above everything in the world,
Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze	When always, for protection,
Brüderlich zusammenhält,	We stand together as brothers.
Von der Maas bis an die Memel,	From the Maas to the Memel
Von der Etsch bis an den Belt -	From the Etsch to the Belt -
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,	Germany, Germany above all
Über alles in der Welt.	Above all in the world.
Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,	German women, German loyalty,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang	German wine and German song,
Sollen in der Welt behalten	Shall retain in the world,
Ihren alten schönen Klang,	Their old lovely ring
Uns zu edler Tat begeistern	To inspire us to noble deeds
Unser ganzes Leben lang.	Our whole life long.
Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,	German women, German loyalty,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang	German wine and German song.
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit	Unity and law and freedom
für das deutsche Vaterland!	For the German Fatherland
Danach lasst uns alle streben	Let us all strive for that
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!	In brotherhood with heart and hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit	Unity and law and freedom
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand;	Are the foundation for happiness
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,	Bloom in the glow of happiness
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland.	Bloom, German Fatherland.
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,	Germany, Germany above all
Und im Unglück nun erst recht.	And in misfortune all the more.
Nur im Unglück kann die Liebe	Only in misfortune can love
Zeigen, ob sie stark und echt.	Show if it's strong and true.
Und so soll es weiterklingen	And so it should ring out
Von Geschlechte zu Geschlecht:	From generation to generation:
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,	Germany, Germany above all,
Und im Unglück nun erst recht.	And in misfortune all the more.

Transportation

As stated earlier cars are smaller in Germany then in America, and the streets are narrower. Many people use public transportation to get around, such as the bus or subway, while others take bikes. Public transportation is easier to use, cleaner, and safer then in America. Children learn when they are younger how to take the public bus, because school buses are used only for the special children and in expensive private schools. I have seen 6 year olds riding the bus alone on their way to school with their packpacks and no parents. Instead of getting rides from your parents to and from places, which is commen in the U.S., in Germany you take the bus wherever you need to go or ride your bike. Exchange students that have come from Germany to America told me that on of the hardest thing to get used to was asking their host parents for a ride to their friends or other places.