Kultur 9

My friend who is in an advanced-level professional German class right now was telling me about the resumes they have to make, and how detailed they have to be. He said that on their resumes they have to put things like their martial status and religion. I would initially be offended if someone asked me that in a job interview, but now I know that that is customary and no offense should be taken.
I did think it was odd that certificates of completion for classes were given in a physical format. I guess this explains it a bit better, if that is how everything is run and that everyone has a binder full of the necessary tickets. I would be so bad at that, I lose everything, especially things like bills and letters and homework.

Eleven 11-year-olds? I think my blood pressure just rose. I know it is sweet, but I can imagine that that could be VERY loud. I still don't think it's right to complain about though. Those other cases sound funny. It seems like a waste to put so much time, effort and money into something so silly. But if it's what it takes to keep the peace--!? I think in America people generally put up with it, and it is hard if they want to try to take action against a neighbor. Wait, you can't use "house or garden appliances" from 8 pm to 7 am???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
I just absolutely cannot believe that. No one would live in Germany if that were true. That would be seriously so inconvenient and it seems like such an invasion of privacy. And an infringement upon freedom. Is that rule only for specific areas? Like maybe one cul-de-sac??? You're not usually allowed to wash your car because of the chemicals? Do they drink from puddles? Who hates the smell of barbeque? Woah how can I make noise outside until 10 pm if "quiet time" starts at 8? I think this guy/girl is making this up. We don't have the same sidewalk rules, they are owned by the state, not us. That would suck if someone could sue you for not doing your lawn chores and shoveling snow quickly enough. In summary: I think this article is a load of baloney, more so than usual.

The one about flags was very interesting. I think that part of it is that in general Americans fly more flags than some parts of Europe. France for example, doesn't use flags as often as America does. (At least according to my own experience and the people I've talked to). It's so odd to think of shying away from your own flag, because here it is incorporated so much into our lives. I even have a little metal flag hanging outside the house I'm renting here in AA. It wasn't to make a statement, it's just...that's what you do. And there are flag lights and flag plates and flag-colored jello and flag dresses. It's something that you learn to identify with from a young age.
It's sad that loving your country in Germany has such negative connotations. Which makes me wonder about something I have thought of before: how is the Holocaust taught in Germany? Do they learn in kindergarten, in 7th grade like me, or do their parents tell them? How would you even go about telling kids about the terrible things that happened where they live? Do they use harsh, accurate words or do they say it in a paraphrased way? The article mentions how hardly anyone alive now was responsible for the Holocaust, so it makes me wonder how the story is told among themselves. Is it a story children grow up learning, the shame passed on to them from a young age? I guess that I actually grew up learning some pretty gruesome stories from the Bible, and I wasn't scarred. Do most Germans carry guilt about the Holocaust?

Questions to ponder.