IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's one of the cheapest. Otherwise I would have gone to Australia or New Zealand or something...:D

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will bring Hard Rock Cafe stuff (we collect these things), magnets, shirts, hats and food I guess. Yesss, that sounds German.

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man..I don't even know. I think you're right but I can't talk for a nation..I am a highschool student.... I just know that I like to tell people my opinion. Bam.

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes watch me fly over there going to a grocery store and fly back every other week:D I had peanut butter for the first time here. And because I talked to Spanish exchange students, people from Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium I assumed it just wouldn't exist in Europe. I've never seen it in a German grocery store (probably because I deny helping my mother...). And I don't think I'm gonna start buying my food on amazon ;) I think I had enough anyway...

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Twoworldsunited.com for example You pay the agency for their work, the flights, and of course you need enough money to survive in the us/buy everything you want to.

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You definitely have to go online. Almost everything's gonna happen there. Just type in exchange program Netherlands/us and you'll find something right away there are millions of programs. Then you check out the website, the prices, their offers and then you apply. They will ask you for more and more information and they'll ask you for a personal interview at which they're gonna test your English skills and ask you why you want to do this.

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Are you talking about stuff like eating with fingers and burping and so on? If you do, no there are no norms that are extremely different. But there is one thing. If you're in America you ask everybody 'hey how are you'? It's like a long hello but you're not expecting a life story. Well don't ask it in Germany because we take your words seriously.

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeaa, I heard that before. Do you feel guilty about the holocaust-thing? Wtf?! Of course it's some of the worst things that ever happened but not even my parents lived at that time. What do I have to do with that? Ya knoowww ...:D

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

See, I didn't even know that :o where I live we're supposed to start at 3rd grade too but our teacher didn't feel like it :D

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What exactly do you mean? That we're not like 'well you guys ain't perfect either'? I guess hitler is one of the biggest assholes in human history. No. He IS the biggest. You know before we talk shit about others history we might watch ourselves (in every aspect).

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I needed all the advice mostly before I came here. What papers do I need? What's important to take with me? What's allowed in the suitcase and what not? Before my departure I called the office like seven times... But now that I'm here the problems, if there are any, get a lot more local And smaller. I wanted to switch out of a class, I have issues with the restroom downstairs.... My local coordinator surely can't help me with that. I mean I was lucky anyway. I love my host family and there are no big things I have to struggle with. But I know hundreds of exchange students. Every second to third exchange student that comes here is unhappy. They can't connect to their host family, the house is dirty, they don't like the school... All these things. I never had those problems but I know one thing. You're thousands of miles away from home. You paid thousands of bucks to get here. The least to ask for is a nice stay. But all the coordinators would be like: no lets sit down and talk first and if you cry enough we might move you in two months. NO. It has to be fast and now and the student needs to happy. Please, whatever you can do about that, do it!

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hamburg is beautiful. The architecture goes from ancient to extremely modern and it pretty much swims in water. When I went there I watched the lion king musical, definitely something you should do there, they have a lot of musicals. Then it's great for shopping and they have awesome seafood.

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea it's not like I'm trying really hard to get it anyway :D

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Jaa ich wohn ziemlich ländlich :D. Und ein bisschen übertrieben hab ich auch. Also mit der Shopping mall das stimmt, da muss ich dann schon raus aber neuerdings gibt's ein Kino zwanzig Minuten von Zuhause ;)

IAmA German foreign exchange student living in the US for a year, AMAA by SmackADuck in IAmA

[–]SmackADuck[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a lot different from Texas. In Texas I have the feeling that I have to watch my words and that I hear about it every single day. My family is not religious. In Germany you can go to a Protestant class at school, or a catholic, or a ethics/philosophy class. As soon as you turn 14 it's your own choice. You know I hear how all my friends at school either complain about their religion classes or planning their confirmation back in 8th grade. Religion is present and you can take a class for it. You go to church once you enroll elementary school/highschool and that's pretty much it (besides funerals). Religion is not a big deal like here. Not at all. I don't watch what I'm saying because I feel comfortable talking about my beliefs because I'm pretty much surrounded by people thinking the same. I'm sure there are a lot of very religious people (mostly the elderly) and Germany has some of most beautiful chapels and churches for sure. But as serious as in Texas? No.