Now that I am in Berlin, the city I have always called my home, I found out that there’s something different. When I was in America I was missing Berlin and my friends over there, as well as my parents and my home. And, even though I am in Berlin again, I keep missing things. But now it is my friends in America, my guest parents, as well as the good Californian weather and the language. In the end I could say, I gained a second home.

But it is not only those things that I miss about America; what I miss more than anything else is about how you people face challenges. Never would anyone in America tell you that what you want to do is not possible.  They wouldn’t tell you that something is too weird, or too crazy for you. Always do people urge you to keep going; they keep up your spirit, they support you in almost everything you are trying to reach for. And while doing that, they always keep being friendly and nice.

In the end it is the American spirit I miss the most. Coming to school in jogging pants, talking to a teacher as you would talk to a friend, trying to support everything that’s new and revolutionary; to me all this is what makes up the American spirit. That indeed is the reason why it was never hard for me to be here, why I never had to argue with anybody, and why everyone I talked to was really friendly and nothing but supportive of me. I think in the end I have to thank M-A and all the people who go to M-A, for being so open-minded and accepting of a completely foreign person who couldn’t even talk English very well. What I experienced here, I will never experience anywhere else, and I think there’s nothing in life that could be even more important than experiencing such a thing as I did at M-A. Not only because of learning a new language and getting to know other cultures, but also because of gaining self-confidence, responsibility, and learning independence. Even though I repeat myself, I can only thank all the people I was in contact with, and tell everybody that there is no such good, important, awesome, crazy, difficult, and intense thing in life, as experiencing a semester like I did at M-A.

Menlo-Atherton High School

I came to M-A totally open-minded, without any thought about segregation and separation, or anything about black, Mexican, Pacific islander, and white people. Then, when I had my first lunch I realized that where I sat were only Mexican, black,and Pacific islanders people-I was the only white person. I didn’t really think about it, I just sat down and had my lunch. Now that I think about it I may have received some strange looks, but overall they were really nice to me, and my first contacts at M-A.  Then after US History, some people came to me and introduced me to their friends on the green, and all of a sudden I was surrounded by only white people.  I didn’t really know what was going on; I just assumed that there were different places for different people.  There was some controversy regarding a word choice we made in one of our Editorials. We called M-A a segregated school.

People were saying that M-A is not a truly segregated school, as black and white kids get treated equally and have the same chances.  That indeed is true.

I think, however, the word segregation here is intended differently. It means who you hang out with, who your friends are, what people you have in your class. And I have to say it really annoyed me when people try to overlook the truth. It is possible for everyone to take AP Literature, but once you get into that class you will mostly see white people. The reason for this is not because you don’t give anyone else the chance, it is much more complicated.  People with a difficult family background, with less money, whose parents couldn’t care less, don’t go in an AP class, as they just don’t get the support from home.

It is a political problem.

In Germany we are actually facing the same issues, especially in Berlin. Similar to many of the Mexicans in California are the Turkish people in Germany, who we basically invited after the Second World War, as we needed workers. We didn’t care about integration or anything, so today they basically speak their own language, keep their own culture, and meet their own people.  Berlin is the city with the third highest amount of Turkish people, after Istanbul and Ankara. With this comparison, I have to say I think that M-A did a great job in integrating foreign kids. Teachers care about them, they get special programs and classes, and especially in P.E. it comes to a wonderful mix of Philippinos, Mexicans, Americans, and other nationalities. Instead of living their own lives with their own culture, different people at M-A share their culture and accept American influence. They listen to rap, wear American brands, drive American cars, and drink coke. In order to get minorities into AP classes there is, in my opinion, no other solution than to increase the programs offered for those kids. Let’s give them the support they don’t get from their family, and then hopefully the word “segregation” will in no way apply to M-A.

Christmas is a wonderful time; it doesn’t matter how you celebrate it. But this year, my Christmas was really different. In Germany on Christmas eve, my family used to have a huge feast every year. All my uncles, cousins, grandmas and granddads would come and we would have a huge Christmas tree, and open our presents that evening. It is, however, in general in Europe quite unusual to open your presents on Christmas eve. Most people in Germany do it though. The only thing I actually missed were probably the candles on the Christmas tree. The only lights on American Christmas trees are usually electric, which I think is just not as beautiful. What I kind of missed, too, was the singing of Christmas songs at the tree on Christmas eve, which may sound strange to Americans, but it is a big tradition in Europe. Furthermore this year I didn’t go to church, which I usually do in Europe, as Christmas is the most celebrated religious event of the year.

Here I felt Christmas was not as religious but more like a party. Friends come over to your house, everybody brings some food, they play music, eat, drink, talk, and the children play together. Everybody goes to bed early though as the presents are going to be opened in the morning, so that everybody will get up really early. In Europe it is more like a religious fest in the beginning. After 10 or maybe 11 the little kids would go to bed, and the parents usually stay awake longer, talk, drink and enjoy the rest of the food, until late at night.

But there is still one huge difference left. In Germany kids get their Christmas presents from the “Christkid”, that would come with little angels the evening before christmas and decorate the tree. We know Santa claus in Germany, but he doesn’t really deliver presents. In Germany we believe Santa was Coca Cola’s invention and could never fit through the chimney.

After all I have to say even though I missed my family, I really enjoyed experiencing a different Christmas with different people and different traditions.

But still I think next year I would like to open my presents on Christmas eve again.

You are fat, ugly, your IQ is lower than the average European, you don’t go to the Opera, or the orchestra. You don’t eat food other than burgers and French fries. You don’t have ANY sense of fashion, ANY sense for culture, or ANY sense for ANYTHING.

Some Europeans may think this, but is that really the truth?

What are you Americans? Do you fit in the European stereotype?

Are you smart? Do you have traditions?

I have to say when I think of Americans, I think of iPods. That may sound stupid, but the reasons are pretty obvious. Europe and every other country in the world is influenced by American culture today. We look at it as a modern thing. It is an important part of our daily life, and influences our thoughts and actions. Ipods, Hollywood, Miley Cyrus, Ed Hardy, McDonald’s, all these things are big parts of our daily life today, and because of that, part of our culture. Americans might not practice traditional European culture. Instead they are creating the new, modern tradition of the 21^st century. Europeans may go to the opera, like they used to do 300 years ago. However in 300 years we might go to Mc Donald’s, and look at it as a sacred tradition.

I think old traditional culture is nice and a good thing if you like it. However if you don’t, it is nothing you should have to do, because it is essentially important or makes you really intelligent.

Based on all this I only have one last question:

If the European IQ is so high why weren’t we the first ones who landed on the moon?

What???

In my opinion homework, tests, and grades are highly overvalued in the American school system. Instead of letting students think and ask for oral participation during class, teachers give tons of homework and have developed a system that make you do your homework and learning for the test. I am talking about partial credit.

You can’t miss school too often, because of the homework, and the points you would miss. I saw students go to school sick and coughing, and when I asked them why were here, they answered it was because they didn’t want to lose points that they needed for passing the class and getting a good grade.

I myself got 6 hours of sleep on average last week, just because of tests, lab reports, and pre calculus homework.

However, I won’t speak about changing the system because I don’t like it. I will talk about the differences between the American school system and the German one.

It begins in high school, the first time you have to choose all of your six subjects by yourself. You decide early, what you want to specialize on. Do you want to do art, science, or language? Then what science? Physics? Biology?

All this is a lot of responsibility. Of course you can change your subjects during your time in high school, but nevertheless, there only is a limited amount of subjects you can take. That is not the case in Germany. We have 13 classes that you have to take. 7 of them we have each day, 45 minutes each, and so we get out at about 2:30.

This is a lot, but it helps you to decide what fits you so you can see what you like. I for example: had to take 3 hard years of art, and I really hated this subject. However I learned that I shouldn’t do anything with art in my later life, as I am really not talented. When I am 18, I can choose what I actually want to study, as I now know, what I can do, and what is fun. I think this leads to better decisions for your career, and in the end to a better-qualified worker, who actually like his job. Furthermore we don’t have the point system at school, so you can easily miss some homework assignment, of course not too much, but three or four won’t harm your grades. They won’t harm you as your grade consists of your oral participation (60 %) your test scores (35%) and then just a small percentage would be your behavior, your homework, and your quizzes. I think this is the better way. It leads to inquisitive students, who actually know what they are talking about, and don’t just memorize and recite it again for the test. But what I like better here is that everybody is really engaged. Parents, students, and teachers, all want to do their best. That’s why they donate Apple computers, and M-A has a pool, two gyms, two weight rooms, and a huge performing arts center, which by the way you would never have in Germany. I also like that sports have such a high status, and I think the whole understanding of school is not as formal as in Germany. Teachers can become friends, and help you on your way through college. Furthermore here the classrooms are much nicer, and not as plain as the German ones. You are also not stuck with the same people your entire time in high school. In Germany you are in a class of 30 people, in the same classroom the entire time in High school, and teachers come to your room, students never move.

However, I am thinking about going to college in America. I enjoy going to school here, even if it is sometimes stressful and annoying. Everybody thinks positive, and you meet new people really fast.  I get the opportunity to see both systems, and get to know the benefit and disadvantages. I don’t want to choose, between the two, but what I can say is that American school is definitely more fun.

Homecoming- isn’t it awesome?

For me it definitely was. The rally  is definitely one of the most American things I have ever seen especially with all the school spirited people screaming “MA, YOU KNOW!!!” It was just hilarious. The football team’s performance, and the rapper, made a great atmosphere, that I really liked. Rallies do not exist in Germany and so it was a totally new experience. But this wasn’t even the best thing.

After the rally, of course I HAD to go to the dance. I really liked it, even though it was stifling, and they played a lot of hip hop. In Germany we play house and techno for dancing, so I wasn’t really used to dancing to this kind of music. Of course what I wasn’t used to at all, was the girl’s dance style: freaking.  I think everybody knows why I wasn’t used to it. But however I liked it and it was fun.

So my dance consisted of freaking, dancing normal, freaking, dancing normal, going out to calm down, sweating, and drinking a lot of water. I enjoyed driving all around the night with some friends (a very American thing as well). After a stop at In-n-Out, I got dropped off at home and slept.

My first homecoming package contained a rally, lots of school spirit, dancing and a ton of American culture. The next day I went to my first party so I had to get some rest to be fit.

I will keep you updated.

Going to school in basketball shorts and tennis shoes?

This wouldn’t be acceptable in Europe. There is actually no definite way you have to dress, but in Germany teachers would tell you if they think your clothes are inappropriate, and students would probably laugh at you. This is probably because school is more formal in Germany.

In Europe teachers and University professors, have more authority, and you would be unwise to question them. Going to school is a more formal occasion and therefore you dress more formal. You don’t have to wear khaki-pants and leather shoes, but at least jeans and Converse All-Stars. However I like the American way. In Europe you constantly have to watch out. For example, if you bought a new pair of pants and your classmates didn’t like them, you would be screwed.

Here I could stay in my pajamas and nobody would say a thing. I think it is great that Americans connect their Fashion with comfort. In Europe we have skinny jeans and tight shirts. Some people might say it’s too much of a flamboyant style, in comparison to the XXL shirts and baggy pants in America.

For the most part I don’t mind American Fashion but there’s one thing I still don’t understand.

I am talking about uggs. I didn’t know that you can wear winter boots in 70 degree weather. I didn’t even know that uggs existed before, so I was wondering why all the girls wear the same pair of shoes. Not that I don’t like them, but I am just not used to them.

But that’s it now, I found a great dress shirt for the dance, we don’t have dances in Germany at all.

I will keep you updated.

So you can imagine that I was pretty excited to hear that I was going to California, since this is one of the best places you can be in the United States.

The next step was deciding whether to attend public or private school. Of course a private school has many advantages; they probably have better equipment, a “nice” environment and very qualified teachers. However, I decided I wanted to get to know the real American people and culture, and didn’t want an environment that is so artificial and protected.

I am really glad I made the choice to go to M-A. Moving to a new country on your own, you learn to watch out for yourself. You become more confident, and get a first impression of life as an adult. Suddenly I have to wash the dishes and make my own lunch, while in Germany my mom would wash my clothes and I would go home for lunch.

The food in America is also very different. The only fast food in Germany is McDonalds, Burger King and Pizza Hut. We don’t have things like In-n-Out, Taco Bell, or Chevy’s. Mexican food is quite rare and there are a variety of different kinds of pizza in America, most of them I had never heard of. In Germany I would eat potato dumplings, potato pancakes, or I would go to Italian, Vietnamese, and French restaurants. Overall American food is more fattening than German food. However, a lot of it tastes much better, except for root beer, which in my opinion tastes like plastic.

Going to school in America is different in many ways. In Germany, we don’t have school pride, and activities such as sports, clubs, leadership, or dances. Furthermore, the classrooms have much better equipment here. One could only dream in Germany of having a SmartBoard in the classroom. Even a laptop is a really special thing in the school. In Germany you have to rent them for a PowerPoint presentation.

For me, the biggest surprise was learning that the people are quite the same; they actually have the same slang as in Europe. Perhaps it is because we are all influenced by musicians and movies. On the whole my first impressions of M-A are really good, and I hope it continues going on this well, for the rest of my stay. I’ll keep you updated.