FINAAAL REFLECCTIOON

As a whole, i'm pretty amazed by how different the German culture is then American culture. They live off of humor, but i'm not say that's a bad thing. Being American myself, I tend to group other countries as odd, which of course they are odd to what I a personally used to. How they make fun of their political viewers (karneval) is actually very genious in my eyes. They do it in a way most people wouldn't know, and they arn't afraid to put theirselves out there. Over in these german speaking countries, I view them all as class. Most of them dress very nice, eat healthy and their families company is so important to them. Germans LOVE company, from anyone! Jokes are even made that the United States is known as the "big mac" country as what we discussed in class.

As to the differences between America and German, it doesnt really come to a suprise to me. Everyone is different, along with every country. We are all unique. Of course the americans are welcoming to any race, culture and country; but so are the Germans. Germans love to sit down and have dinner at home, but even if they go out and eat with family or friends they still want to sit and enjoy company. The positions they eat, the items they eat just show their class. Even how they have to have their wrists on the tables at all time, which i find humerous. Americans however just go through drive thru's or even order pizza and just watch television from home. I'd love to see the Germans expressions on their face when they actually see how different we are, I wonder if they would consider us rude!?

From doing these blogs, I feel many of them shocked me. The karneval was shocking and interesting. I love the fact that they are humerous and make fun of political people using floats. Who thinks of that? They are so creative! The odd one, but also interesting was the one about Liechtenstein. You have to be a pretty bad group of power to have your people so ticked off at you that they try to make a referendum (law) toward you. You also never hear about royal families anymore, everyone deserves a say in the way they can live. That's also a great thing about America, we can decide who we want in office.

In the past 10 weeks i've learned a bunch. Not only with these blogs but also in class. I'm so interested in learning about this language that I feel like i've absorbed everything I possibly could have so far. AS i went through my first blog, I feel I knew most things we learned, just more in depth. In my second blog I write about Beethoven, a GENIUS in the eyes of Germany (where he came from), and until this day, he is still a great impact to that country. In my 3rd article, it suprised me. But it's also more refreshing to know that America isnt the only one struggling with money problems. Minimum wage is a major contraversy we have over here, but at least ours is reasonable for living expenses, and moves higher every year. As for gas prices, its good to know as well that other countries are suffering with the same thing.

VETO!

In this article, the people of Lichtenstein have begun trying to pass a referendum that states that the royal family can't veto any any referendum. A referendum over there is the same thing as a law or bill over here in the states. But to noone's suprise the royal family is going to veto this referendum. As I keep reading the prince is said to be shocked, which i really don't see how. Back in 2003 the people of Lichtenstein tried to pass a similar referendum, that was vetoed by the royal family.

If i was in the royal family I would be embarrassed. The ruler of a country is supposed to be a role model, and well liked by the people in their country. It makes me wonder what is going on over in Lichtenstein that will don't know. This isn't fair to the people under the rule of royals because they have no say in any of the laws or anything. I couldn't imagine not being able to have a voice of my own.

I am thankful to live in the country I do, under the government I do. I love having a say. Which is why I vote. Luckly for us, noone can ever get complete power in our country. Yes the president does have a lot of say, but not nearly as much as the royal family over in Lichtenstein. Democracy is a great system. Hearing about other countries who don't have it, it just shows why people should truly adopt the Democracy lifestyle!

http://www.incyprus.com.cy/en-gb/Showbiz/4118/25741/prince-vetoes-the-veto

Petrol prices in Austria

Right now over in Austria the prices of Petrol are higher than ever. This has been a record breaking high week says experts. Diesel is desperate over there. They are currently paying 1.398 Euros per litre, but lucky for them no record is shown to break anytime soon. Fuel export Thomas Woitsch says that if the conflict keeps rising over in Iraq, then so will the oil making records higher than ever before. BP according to ÖAMTC was the most expensive fuel stop in the whole country. This weekend experts have stated that a record breaking cost of 1.460 for Super fuel.

As I was reading this article I was shocked. I thought the prices were so high only over in the United States because of our location in the world. And because of how far the have to actually ship it. It's also amazing how a war can conflict with everything, including the fuel which has NOTHING to do with the fight. Gas prices are way to high for anyones liking, but it makes me feel better knowing that the Americans arn't the only ones suffering. Action needs to be taken for the prices of fuel. There should be no reason that they are so high, and if nothing is done there may be action taken by people around the world who take it into their own hands the wrong way.

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2012-02-24/39743/Austrian_petrol_prices_continue_to_rise

Karneval

                                            

1. http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-65422-16.html
2. http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-65422-26.html
3. http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-65422-24.html

Karneval is an important celebration. It brings people together all across Germany, and these people celebrate for quite some time. (Nov. 11th - Ash wednesday). On the different days there are different celebrations the citizens can experience. Almost every German city celebrates carnival and organizes a street parade in its city center. America has many celebrations, but none really like this one. We have a celebration that has floats but that is for Thanksgiving. What suprised me about this festival is that their floats make fun of their floats mocked their politicians and that their floats had nudity. Like i've said this is important and relates to their culture because it brings people together to celebrate and also to drink lots and lots! I've known with learning in my German class that getting together with your families and others is very important to Germans. I feel the floats will represent the conflicts that are happening over in Europe and Asia.
The pictures I chose were one's that stood out to me. The first picture is of a float with a naked man. It shocked me to see that nudity was on one of their floats in front of millions. The second picture is a woman dressed up. It seems to me that their Karneval is kind of like America's Halloween. As for the third picture, I chose that because it's a man enjoying hisself while drinking, and i've learned that's how many Germans like to have fun!
                                                   

One of the richest countries in the world even have poor technique with earnings of others

In the past managers used to earn up to 30 times more than the least well paid employees and now  some managers make more than 1,000 times that of their staff. The jury isnt sure why this is happening but they are trying their best to change this situation. Some want to set limits on the managers salary. Around 10% of the workers full-time don't earn enough to cover their expenses, which means they need welfare. Employers say that in each town the living expenses are different, some towns it is more than enough and some it isnt. There are a few countries over in Europe that don't have a national minimal wage. Europe is very favourable to minimal wage because many countries have acted to protect their domestic workers against wage dumping. As for minimal wage in the rest of the world it has all seemed to be positive.

I was really suprised with reading that one of the richest countries in the world isnt fair with giving money to their workers. Even with America being short on money, we constantly are raising the minimal wage up to reach better standards for those who need the money to support their families. Over in Switzerland the least paying jobs are restaurants, hotels, cleaning services and retail. Which is the same over here, but even over here if these people move up to full-time they get paid way more than the part-time. They haven't set a limit on the minimal wage, but i'm sure they will be fair (hopefully). But they do need to be careful because if they set this to high they will have to increase the price in their Francs which means the prices of goods and such will increase as well. And in the end that won't really help the situation.

What suprised me was the difference in what the managers over there receive compared to their actual workers. I mean yes if your a manager and able to get that job then thats GREAT, but at one point they had to be at the bottom of the chain (the minimal wage folks). Do they not feel greedy? bad? scared for their employees? I know where i work, my managers do anything to let me focus more on school just so i can get my degree and move up in the world with pay. It doesn't seem that way over there and i feel like its kind of like every man for theirself. Which isn't fair at all.

This article gave me a few I never had for the people over there. Caring is something everyone should do and to watch your own employees suffering with not getting paid the correct wage they deserve. I'm in shock and I will keep updating myself to see if these lawyers help out these poor people!

This article (Armando Mombelli, swissinfo.ch)

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Calls_for_a_minimum_wage_mount.html?cid=31977734

Beethoven Letter Discovered in Germany

Ludwig Van Beethoven started being interested in music at such a young age. He then continued with it and studied with a famous composer Motzart. Beethoven lived in Vienna after the death of his mother to study more music. This is where he wrote his most famous symphonies 4,5 & 9. A lot of people tend to reconize Beethoven as the deaf composer which in biography's i've read it states that he wasnt always deaf. It progressed over time. The story that most keeps him famous is when he was conducting the 9th symphony when he stoof as it was finished and couldn't hear the applauding from the audience until someone turned him around and he physically saw what great work he truley brought to the table.

This article talks about a letter discovered in Germany written in 1823 by the famous native composer of Germany, Ludwig Van Beethoven. The content of this three paged document was believed to be worth up to 150,000 Euros, and all Beethoven asks is for a fellow composer to help him drum up money. The composer he wrote to was named Franz Anton Stockhausen. The letter was brought to the attention when Stockhausen's great grand-daughter, Renate Wirth, died last year and the letter was part of her estate she bequeathed to the Brahms Institute. The letter will be presented to the public Jan. 18th 2012.

I chose this article because music has always interested me. Being in the Orchestra for 2 years and band for 6, i have played most of Beethoven's symphonies that he has produced. His music interests me not only because of how well written and how famous he truley was but because his most famous symphony of all time was written when he was completely deaf. As well as knowing that after so many years there is still a piece of him going around in Germany that isn't only his music. Beethoven has inspired so many people to not let a disability effect you in doing what you love to do. Keep striving to reach your goal. He is not only inspirational for his music but also just as a person.

After reading this article I came to see that even back then for a famous composer life was hard even though his most success came after his death. Money was hard to get and when you were sick it was hard to get the medication/treatment you needed. It makes me wonder how hard times were for other people who werent very well known back then over in Germany survived.

I feel that culture can relate to this article by just German being one of the most cultural languages. It was written and spoken by plenty of German artists and scientists, as well as Ludwig Beethoven himself through his classical music. America to me is boring. We all like the same things because we find it "cool" to be into the same things that the most popular people are into. We add new things to our country everyday and follow that and forget about the old, but as for Germany they like more things that are older. Like old symphonies, especially by one of the world known composers who is a native German himself. Europe is known for their old things. As for America, we could learn a few lessons.







This article can be easily contacted by just clicking on the link below:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,808302,00.html

German vs. American

German culture is different in many ways from America. In America it is most likely that a typical American family will go out to eat up to 3 times a week, but over in Germany family time is important to them so they are more likely to cook everynight. In Germany the housing is completely different than American's housing. Americans count every room, but over in Germany the kitchen and bathroom are not counted as rooms. For the students over in Germany they most likely will move out of their parents house into an apartment or into a school housing set up which is what we call in America dorm rooms. As for Americans most of them commute and stay home while in school. Germans keep their houses tidy and clean all the time.


Greetings in Germany are always formal as in America we usually use slang. German language is usually formal no matter what, unless you are talking to a friend or family member. Make sure when talking to an elder you call them Herr or Frau, never call them just by their name. After you attend a persons house, you are to send them a thank you later the next day in regards to them having you for company. Stores over in Germany usually have about 4 floors, the bottom being a grocery and as you go up you are able to shop for beauty products, clothes, shoes, furniture, etc.


Clothing in America is totally different from Germany also. In America you see different types of clothing males and females are either in dress clothes, jeans/skirts and a nice shirt or if your a younger male you can find most wearing baggy clothing as well as for females they wear revealing clothing with short shorts or skirts. Scarfs are needed as well because the Germans feel if they are not wearing one they can get sick.


Puntuality is important in German culture. Never be late especially if you are invited to someones house, but if you are to be late make sure you call to let the host know. Gifts are expected such as chocolates or flowers and if you bring wine it should be imported not just the German wine.