I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike.

  The articles regarding crossing the street and staying off the bike path may have saved my life. The types of actions talked about in the articles are exactly the types of things I would be caught doing like an ignorant fool. I've lived in Chicago for a while and have grown quite accustomed to disregarding the crosswalk lights. Those lights are generally safe suggestions but I've got places to go and naps to take. I actually pride myself on my real-life frogger technique and expedient motorway crossing. The train ticket thing seems like it could be a little obnoxious. Is the act of buying the correct ticket and getting on the appropriate train really all that complicated? Personally, I wouldn't be the person that doesn't buy a ticket and tries to ride black. I'm too paranoid about getting fined for things that are easy to not get fined for. Incidentally, I've received one driving ticket and I think I learned my lesson there because I haven't gotten any since then. I prefer not to spend my money on needless moving violations.

Kultur 4

Compulsive organization is stressed in all of these articles. The authors talk about how locals are always playing by the rules, which are rather elaborate. This complex set of rules, some being unspoken, apparently makes it a little difficult for foreigners to keep up with whats going on. Whether you're walking across the street or just walking down the sidewalk, there are dangers that someone from the states may not even think about, like cars and bikes that probably won't brake if you're in the way. These articles describe how the Germans kind of stand their ground when they have the right of way, which is what we do too in a lot of cases. We have laws that protect pedestrians by giving them the right of way, which makes driving around campus very frustrating, while walking is much less stressful. I also thought it was interesting how people may take the liberty to scold you if you break any of these German rules. I don't know if Americans are more passive in this sense (I personally don't think we are), or maybe we just don't care about things like that. Perhaps we just think of those rules or laws as guidelines that can be manipulated depending on certain circumstances. Like the German punks who are waiting to cross the street when the red man goes away at 3 in the morning, while any American wouldn't think twice before casually walking to the other side. I guess you could say that we tend to bend the rules while Germans generally try to maintain the order provided by these systems. As a true 'Merrcan, I believe that this indicates our obsession with freedom, which is definitely liberating although it leaves the risk of relying on the good judgement of everyone. Based on these articles, it sounds like the Germans want to take judgement out of the equation, again, reflecting their pursuit of perfect order. I think breaking the rules is kind of fun :) but I am an American, not a German.

Nudity in Germany

Reading through the assigned articles for Kultur 4 were interesting, but what caught my attention the most was the article on nudism in Germany. I knew that Europeans were more open to public nudity, but I had no idea how open Germany is to it. This definitely makes sense based on other German stereotypes, mainly that Germans are highly logical. Their, sometimes notorious, adhesion to the logical would likely make them realize that clothes are really not all that necessary. Reading this in the articles made me love German culture that much more. Further research into the movement of nudism and naturalism, I found that the naturalist movement actually began in Germany in the early 1900s. The movement sprung from the health and fitness philosophies of the Lebensreform movement and the idea that some major diseases could be treated by exposure to sunlight. Now many German public parks and beaches have nudist sections. Also, many swimming pools and saunas allow their tenants to enjoy their times in the nude. I now know what I am going to do when I visit Germany!

The Little Red Man

It's true that Germans can be sticklers about the many everyday tasks and that's fine, it wasn't a judgement. This characteristic can help them in many ways and it keeps Deutschland looking a little more put together. On the contrary, the American way completely differs from those Germans. For instance, you're never going to see a German guy jaywalking. On the other hand, Americans are constantly partaking in this act. I mean, let's face it, we all know what jaywalking is and what it entails. I'm probably not too far off when I say that most of us have participated in this illegal and reckless act, too (Yes, I'm talking to you). However, if I were to say the same thing, only concerning Germans, not only would I be quite mistaken, but I would most certainly get a lecture from a local. No matter how cool you are or how much of a daredevil you may claim to be, jaywalking in Germany is just not okay. Simply speaking of the looks that you would get far exceeds most types of public humiliation these days. What are you going to say to Mom when her little boy now has a permanent image of you jaywalking burned inside of his brain? Think of the children. Plus, you really don't want to mess with the BMW coming at you with Mario Andretti behind the wheel (or some impersonation of him). Germans drive for a challenge and you, being the illegal, reckless and totally American jaywalker, are just asking to be that. That's why you gotta listen to that little red man. If the punkest punk of the punks can do it, you can, too.

So about that picture I posted above... Yep, true story in Deutschland.

Kultur 4 - Fahrrad fahren!

I think the spring bug has bit me, but as I was walking home and dodging cyclists I realized that I really missed having a bike, and when I saw that there was an article about cycling in the Kulturtexte, I was sold!

Bike paths sound way more inviting than the bike lanes we get in the states. They firstly, terrify me to be riding my bike that close to oncoming traffic and secondly they are often impossible to stay within, disappearing when you make turns or other difficulties. These lanes are often obstructed by street traffic, manhole covers, repairs and the like. There is even a youtube video on the impracticality of the bike lanes in NYC.

As a walking student bikers on the sidewalk can be frustrating at times, I have actually been hit by other people. Although, I can't say I blame them for wanting to join the safety of sidewalk land.

I feel that the introduction of these "mini-autobahns for two wheeled traffic" in the United States would effectively cut down on auto congestion and perhaps on oil consumption (although that is kind of a lofty goal). Mostly, because its safer, because the community rallies behind a good idea, and that in areas where it seems just a little too far to walk, you have options.

Perhaps it's too easy to get a drivers license here? Reading the licensing process in Germany sounds quite a bit more difficult. Though I do realize it is on a state by state basis here (Florida being one of the easiest states to get a license in - go figure). If all students had to go through such a rigorous process I think perhaps it would cut down on improper driving now.

I think that the efficiency of travel in Germany, can be broken down into two parts. That it is harder to gain the ability to drive, and that biking is safer and more appealing since the city design caters to it.

I wonder just how hard it would be, to enforce a safe area on already paved areas for cyclists?

Too bad my degree isn't in urban planning.

Willkommen!!

Welcome to our class blog!

We will be using this blog throughout the semester for two kinds of assignments:

1. Once per chapter, the homework plan will direct you to post a response to the culture readings for the chapter on the blog.

2. Roughly every other week, the homework plan will direct you to post here for your Abenteuer mit Deutsch (AMD) assignment. First you do a fun activity that involves German, then you post about it. You should spend an hour total on this (maybe 45-55 minutes doing something, 5-15 minutes posting about it). See Was ist ein AMD, AMD Ideen and Beispiele for ideas. This should get you excited about the kinds of things you can do!

Whenever you post something, please include your name and the name of the assignment (e.g. AMD2, Kultur5) as labels. See "Blog: How To" for more details!