Europe

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FEBRUARY 16th
Answers from our German Ambassador: Andres

Germans, like any other group of people in the world, love pizza. I am now only talking about my tribe (friends and family) in Berlin as I cannot speak for all the Germans.
 * 1st Period **
 * Do y'all eat pizza in Germany? - Erik **

The Pizza lovers are split into two groups: the first group are the people that like their pizza Italian-style thin crust and more like the basil and cheese top. The other group likes deep dish piled with lots of meet and cheese and some extra meat and cheese on top - reading this answer again I think - it is the same here in the US.

Especially the cool skater dudes are wearing Vans. I am too far out of school and don't know how it is here in the states, but every group of people in school has a certain uniform. In my school, we had the hip hoppers and skaters with the pants on the ground, pants on the ground, and the Vans.
 * Do they wear Vans? - George **

The next group were the neo nazis and skinheads who wore tall, army boots and English Doc Martins with steel toes. Then, there were the Anarchists and left-wing punks and revolutionaries that wore steel toe boots or Chucks (Keds or Converse). Then there were the jocks and hooligans that wore Adidas or Nike or New Balance sneakers that cost in Germany up to $300. Then there was the last group -- a mix of all the previous mentioned ones, but were anti-social. They waited until some kid came home late at night by himself from a club and they offered him a nice beating if he would not to give up his shoes. They wore them, foot smell and all, which I think is probably similar in the US.

Germany will probably not have a black President for a long time. Most of the foreigners in Berlin are Turkish, or Middle Eastern. The actual Germans will be a minority population in 20 years. There is a better chance for a Turkish or Middle Eastern Chancelor in Germany.
 * 2nd Period **
 * When do you think Germany will have a black President? - Edgar Rivera **

Doubtful. I think the previous answer should cover this question too.
 * Do you think Germany will ever have a Mexican President? - Felipe **

Absolutely -- and all the German kids wear them too. The only difference is that we don't have outlet malls, so there are never any special sales on the real cool Jordans, Air max, Nike BW, Adidas ZX or similar. Germans pay, on average probably between $150 - $250 for the shoes that you can buy in the US for $100.
 * Do y'all have Jordan's, Nikes, and all that good stuff'? - Rafael & Pedro **

To give you another example, a pair of regular Levis costs $120 in Germany. if you don't want to spend that, you can pick irregular Levis without the red tag for $80.


 * What is your favorite German food? - Justin ** *! I am getting hungry talking about this. My healthy bran breakfast really stinks when I think about all the good fatty German food.

And last but not least the //Doener kebab// -- a Berlin tradition since the Turks came there in the 1950s. This is a Turkish flat bread with meat that turns for hours in a grill, thinly cut from a big stick into your bread toped up with lots of chopped tomatos, cucumbers and cabbage. I tell you the //kebab// is worth the __24 hour trip from Honolulu to Berlin__ - sigh haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Why did you get a tattoo of Uncle Sam? - Bryan ** To answer this question I have to give you first a little background information on where I come from. I grew up in East Germany and the political system was Communist. After the Second World War, Germany was occupied by the allied forces, the British, Americans and French on one side (West) and the Russians on the other side (East). The Americans brought the Marshall Plan to the West and started rebuilding trying to get the Germans back up and running. On the other side (East), the Russians had a different idea. They decided, amongst many many things, that what made the Germans so evil in the past was national pride. So part of the teachings in school and everywhere else was for no East German to be proud to be German or to be from German, as they feared that we would uprise again and start a new war.

To make it easier to understand let me give you an example. In the US, if the President says that we will have to tighten our belts and have to work more for less money for awhile to further the US economy, most US citizens would say okay. We are proud to be Americans and yes we will sacrifice and do it for the betterment of the country. In Germany, at least in the East, that feeling of national pride comes with the bad taste of the Communist teachings of the past 40 years. If the Chancelor (President) would say the same thing most Germans would have said we dont give a s ***. [We don’t have any] national pride.  When I came to the US on a student exchange program, 4 years after the wall fell (in 1989), I stayed with a host family in Maryland. They took me around and proudly showed me the country. We had apple pie and went to a muscle car show and a baseball game. At that baseball game, when the national anthem was played, all the people got up and sang the national anthem. This was a first for me and it made me feel part of something good and much greater than myself. When I came back from the trip I hated the German reality and thought back on how I felt and I made the decision to move to the US for good as soon as I could.

To accomplish this daunting task, I thought I have to be reminded every day that this is my goal. So 1 day after my 18th birthday, I told my mother I would get a tiny tatoo on my arm. 6 hours later, I had the American flag and Uncle Sam (what is more US than that?) on my arm. From that moment to the day I got my green card, it took only 6 years. Not bad at all! And I still credit Mr. Uncle Sam and his flag, every day in my face, with me never forgetting my goal.

What I am trying to say is, don't get some funny tattoo of Bugs Bunny when you are 18. You will look at this for the rest of your life. Choose something that you can show around when you are 40 without being embarassed.

Surfing in lederhosen can be painful. I wish I had some though. So the answer is **no**. Most lederhosen-wearing people live in Bavaria, (Where Mr. Grayson's Aunt is from), and the only other time the rest of the Germans wear lederhosen is when the Octoberfest time comes up. __It is their beer drinking uniform.__
 * Do you wear lederhosen? - Miriam **

Fussball (futbol) or as it is known in the US as Soccer. I think the Germans feel about fussball as all the South Americans feel about it. It is not the sissy sport it is in the US, it is national culture and reason for whole populations of cities to drive accross the country to see their team play in another city. **I think if you guys know how Mexicans feel about soccer, then that is the same in Germany.** There is swimming and ice hockey and all the other stuff but Soccer is 1st - no question. My father was on the East German Olympic rowing team.
 * 3rd Perio d **
 * What are the sports in Germany? - Karla **

I think that is a difficult question to answer. It is like here -- there are some nice ones, some mean ones, some bitter ones and some depressed ones. My theory, and thats all it is -- a theory: In Germany, the weather is much colder. 6 months out of the year it is really cold and I mean cold. 2 months it is getting warm with lots of rain and 2 months it is too hot. There are no AC's in German homes. Tht means for the most part, there is very little sun in Germany. Remember how you feel when you dont see the sun for awhile you get sad and grumpy and much more negative.
 * Are German people nice? - Diana **

So the German (and again keep in mind there is nothing like THE German) but //the average German is not very open to people they don't know//. They are not coming just over and talk to you. They are more formal and just more negative. To give you another example, if you have a beautiful day in Germany and everyone in the US would say, "My, it is a beautiful day. The sun shines and the skies are blue!" A German would look up and say //“Its sunny today, but tomorrow I am sure it is going to be terrible.”//

So when you meet a German they may seem rude in the first moment because they are not as outgoing. But if they let you in, that will take usually some time, they will invite you and take you anywhere and treat you like their brother. But it will take much longer than here in the US. I think this has to do with the history of your country. Back in the day, you better forge your alliances with whoever comes by your house in the prairie because you never know when you might need their help to get your ox out of the ditch.

My wife just walked by and saw me answering this question. So let me give you the right answer with her around.
 * So are there pretty girls in Germany? - Marcela **

No, there are no pretty German girls. All pretty girls are from Texas. hahaha she is gone now.............

There are pretty girls in Germany (Heidi Klum for example). I know what you think -- //they have probably all have hairy armpits//. No, most of the young people shave their armpits like the girls in the US. German girls, compared to Texas girls, are more hippie-like and will tell you off if you make statements like “Women belong in the kitchen, etc.” Woman in Germany are, I think, more equal to men and the system is set up in a way that when you are having children, childcare is more affordable so the woman can work and have their own life and interests.

Men stay home with kids more than here in the US. It is much less about the girls being [trained], from earliest age, to find a man and to have a wedding and to ride on a white horse into the sunset. It is much more about shared duties and an equal life togther. I am sorry I think I answered a little more than what you asked.

Yes Volleybal is being played - but soccer is still No. 1.
 * Do you and your fellow Germans like volleyball? - Jamison **

Living in Hawaii and not watching very much sports, I cannot say. But I know they will try at whatever cost. 16 for mopeds and 18 for cars and motorcycles. But it is your fault you asked me a question I really have an opinion about, especially after moving to Hawaii. Germans pay an arm and a leg for their drivers license -- not like here -- where it is a right of way. For a nothing fee! I paid $2000 for my car license and $800 for my motorcycle license//. There is no way around paying that fee.// That includes 20 hours of theoretical school learning, 30 hours driving with a teacher and a practical driving test and a theoretical big big test at the end. I think more than 50% are flunking the first try and there are no discounts for the next one. But in turn, you can drive on the //Autobahn// and part of your lessons are how to properly drive your vehicle at high speeds, etc.
 * 4th A **
 * Is Germany going to win the World Cup? - Delvon and Javier **
 * What is the legal driving age in Germany? - Iesha **

Living in Hawaii I can tell you I wish it would be harder in the US to get through the test, with Hawaii being a melting pot of 40 different nationalities, we have every day traffic fatalities, foot traffic being run over, motorcycles being run under a truck and drunken kids racing at night into bridge posts. Many people don't bother right away with the liscense. We have public transportation -- bus, tram, subway (city train), underground, country trains and taxis.

The Germans political system was, after WWII, set up in a way that no 1 party can ever lead by themselves again.
 * What are the politics like in Gemany? - Suri **

That means we have 4 to 5 political parties that always have to form coalitions. My personal opinon when I lived in Germany, I hated it so much talk and nothing moved. And when it did go forward, it was always a watered down compromise. //The Germans like to form commitees and talk about it some more and then form a new committee and talk some more.//

Now after having lived in the US, I realize the US system sometimes seems more frustrating. Too many special interest groups and lobbyists are paying too much money to our representatives to swing them in the way of big business. The losers are all of us, eating crappy chemically-altered food with no nutrients, driving big gas-guzzling SUVs, without realizing that we are killing ourselves.

Our (American) citizens are being raised by the TV to become overweight, unhealthy consumers that are lusting after material goods they don't need, while having major health problems and taking too many pharmaceuticals and dying young. See? The bitter German came through again hahahaha Did you see my photo from 2002 - hahaha - YES they are.
 * Are the guys hot? - Rosa **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

It’s paradise with 365 days a year sunshine and very friendly people. It is the only place in the US where there are so many different kinds of people and as a Caucasian, you are in the minority. This seems more as it should be and makes me happy!!
 * How are you liking Hawaii? - Gabriella C **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

The exact same as you do -- pop, hip hop, classical, alternative and rock, but East Germans like techno -- electronic music and raves. But trust me, you would laugh [when] you see German kids loving Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga as much as you do.
 * 4th B **
 * What kind of music do Germans listen to? - Nessa **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

hahahaha Yes that is one thing you can do at a party. But I think that Coffee and Cake is a German old lady thing that they do every afternoon with their retired lady friends and playing some games too.
 * Is it true that in German parties you eat "kuchen" & drink coffee? - Ana **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

Yes I did and I drank 9 steins of beer and was sick for a week - and had to pee for 3.
 * Do you go to Oktoberfest? - Israel **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

No, I was surfing (on) the north shore.
 * Did you go to the 2006 World Cup? - Dennis **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

Yes we have them too. I haven't spent time with them. There were three or four in my classes in highschool.
 * Are there any Gothic people in Germany? - Shay **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

I'm from Berlin so I think this is the best place. Everyone should see it. But, keep in mind, Germany is half the size of Texas. A Texas friend told me it was as if the whole country was Disneyland. There is the Rhine River and the Alps and Hamberg and the Baltic Sea.
 * What's the best place to visit in Germany? - Edgar Reyes **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

Sure! Chinese people are everywhere.
 * Are there any Chinese people in Germany? - Michael Z **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

Most Germans don't have the quantity of clothing that American do. Clothing is more of a luxury item than it is in America.
 * Is German clothing the same as American clothing? - Forest **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

German Shepards, Daschunds, Schnauzers. Also cats, bunnies and goats. Sheep and cows too. The Berlin Zoo has a famous polar bear.
 * 7th Period **
 * What kind of animals are in Germany? - Randi and Odalis **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

I’m not sure I get this question!
 * How non-fun is Germany? - Victoria **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

Owning a gun is harder than getting a Driver’s License. Germans are generally not armed. There is some hunting, but it is very little and very regulated and only done by a few. Germans do love fishing.
 * Do they have hunting and fishing in Germany? - Michael M **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

I lived in the shadow of the wall. The night it came down, I was out there helping to chip it down. I still have some pieces of the wall.
 * Have you ever visited the Berlin Wall? - Tonia **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

I'm really not paying attention because I live on the other side of the planet. //Plus, when it is noon here, it is midnight in Germany.//
 * Do you root for the German National Soccer Team? - Christian S **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

Has to be food. I also like that the Germans don't mind paying high taxes, because they actually get something for it -- health care and childcare and real pensions when you retire.
 * What is your best memory about Germany? - Robby B **<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Michael (just like America). Maria as a woman. But some funnier common names would be Gunther, Herbert, Hugo (my middle name), Gert for the men. For the women, Sybille, Gertrude, Margot, Brunhilde and Hannelore.
 * What is the most common name in Germany? - LaDarrien **

Mr. Grayson looked it up!! The most common names are:


 * Girls: **
 * 1. Hannah / Hanna **
 * 2. Leonie / Leoni **
 * 3. Lea / Leah **
 * 4. Lena **
 * 5. Mia **
 * 6. Anna **
 * 7. Emilie / Emily **
 * 8. Lara **
 * 9. Laura **
 * 10. Sarah / Sara **


 * Boys: **
 * 1. Leon **
 * 2. Lucas / Lukas **
 * 3. Luca / Luka **
 * 4. Tim / Timm **
 * 5. Finn / Fynn **
 * 6. Luis / Louis **
 * 7. Jonas **
 * 8. Felix **
 * 9. Paul **
 * 10. Maximilian **

[[file:Northern Europe.ppt]]
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