Even though I'm only 18 years old, my experiences with the USA are numerous. Though not all of them were positive, I feel very close to the country, and especially its people - culturally, I think the differences in between Germans and Americans are much smaller than the similarities, and that is the reason why I think the differences are what people concentrate on so much itself. But I'll start with my own "American story" first.

As every German, even as a child, I was confronted with many Americanisms - English words that are used in the German language (words like "cool" as well as technology expressions, and, of course "bad words" ;)), American films, TV shows, companies, songs, etc.

The first time I ever went to America was on a vacation with my family in summer 1996. We rented a motorhome - something I had never done, so that was exciting in itself - and went on a cruise around America's South-West. If I remember this correctly, the states we visited were California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Texas (where friends of ours live who lived in Cologne for 9 years previously) and New Mexico. Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington followed in the summer of 1998; New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine followed on our last family visit to America in 2000 - I might have forgotten about one state or another, but you get the idea: I've seen a lot of the states.

However, that was only the beginning. In late 1999, I met a girl online from Arizona about my age - we became friends online through chats and ICQ, and got closer in the spring of 2000. Consequently, I now had an American girlfriend, but I could not visit her in that summer yet, since she lives in Arizona - by now, however, I have visited her three times for two weeks each visit; two other visits are already planned.

In order to get to know her cultural background better, but also because I'd been considering doing this anyway, but especially with the hope of meeting her in that year, I signed up for a school exchange with the USA for my High School junior year (11th grade) - being from summer 01 to summer 02. I ended up in Jacksonville, Florida - not really close to the Arizonian border, unfortunately. However, in that year, I learned a lot - and not just the English language.

I went to a private high school - Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville. A Southern Baptist school - compared to my "normal" school in Germany, that was quite a shock. A relatively strict dress code, strict rules (forging signature: 3 demerits, holding a girl's hands: 10 demerits - well, I already had my American girlfriend anyway, so that didn't matter :)), and praying every day in school. That was definitely new, because I definitely do not come from a religious background!

I must admit that I don't seem to like the South so much - people driving around with pick up trucks to go hunting, having a Confederate flag on their car, still talking about the "Yankees" up north as if the civil war had never ended - that all seemed very strange to me, and still does. I must say that I didn't get out of Jacksonville itself very much; other places - especially in Florida - are said to be different in that respect.

I was very sad sometimes throughout the year - I did not have the best host family (single mother with little child - sometimes I felt like the practical babysitter; I lost contact with them ever since I left Jacksonville, but am not too sad about it...), the school seemed strange to me, and particularly around Christmas time, I got really homesick. I told myself I had to deal with it, though - and looking back, it was good that I did.

I learned a lot of English, I got to meet a lot of nice people (not everyone at that school was a "Jesus Freak"), the school itself was, even though it was strange to me, not that bad, looking back (the teachers were very nice, too, and some weren't as strict as they seemed then, either, reviewing the whole thing), and even small things like American TV or American food in the school's cafeteria (cheesburgers every day and as much coke as you can take! ;)) are things that I miss.

Not to mention that at the end of the 10 months that I spent in America, I finally got to meet Jackie, my girlfriend back in Arizona - I got a plane ticket to go there in June after my school year had ended in the end of May, and visited her again in autumn and December, and, as I hinted at above, am going to visit her again in April; she is coming over here this summer as well. Arizona is a very beautiful state - sunshine, the desert (it's nice!), and a sense of freedom when driving through a town of 500,000 people that has a land area that must be larger than Berlin - so much space, and therefore a huge sense of freedom. Really nice place to be - and I'm planning on living there eventually (probably going to college over there) - especially because of Jackie, of course.

The Land of the Free, with long highways, wonderful TV programs, great malls to shop, and nice food, as well as a culture formed by hundreds of other cultures - a really interesting place; which probably no one would want to argue with.

What is reported often by exchange students and people that are visiting the US is some kind of ignorance that Americans seem to have about Europe. Yes, questions like "Is Hitler still your president?", "Do you still have a war going on?", "Do you have refrigerators in Germany?", "Do you have Indians in Europe, too?" or "Do you still call your president Führer?" are not a myth - they are asked. However, it is wrong to say that Americans are stupid - they are just very focused on their own country and are not educated well enough by their media.

However, I always like to bring up this point when coming to this subject: Of course Europeans know a lot about America, it's the most powerful nation in the world - economically, but also culturally. Therefore, it must be a focus for the allied countries. However, for America, Germany is one country out of many - like, say, Estonia is to Germany, or Thailand. Do many Germans know what life in Estonia and Thailand is like? Do they know about their Prime Ministers? How many people know that Thailand has a king? How many Germans can even tell you what the name of the Belgian leader is, without having to look it up? That does not excuse the ignorance on either side itself, but it does explain it.

With the Iraq crisis, a lot of old resentments came up in Germans as well as Americans. People now concentrate on the past too much - but then, as well as with the present, they concentrate too much on the politicians. Yes, they represent the country, and to be honest, I don't fully agree with most of what George W. Bush says or does, either. But why is that so important? I have a wonderful girlfriend that is from America, I met a lot of interesting people in America, my favourite films and TV shows are American (and even though they don't display the real America, they do display a part of it), I eat American food, I read American websites, I play American video games - and by now, I feel a bit like, maybe, 1/4 American as well.

That doesn't mean that I agree with a war on Iraq, or that I like every American, or have to like the South now - but I like some Americans, I like some parts of it, and I like some things that America produces - just like with Germany, and just like with other countries. I hope that this forum will aid people to get over childish prejudices and make them meet a lot of interesting people - and make them see that America, as well as Germany, are in fact about the people that live there - and, as said above, they are more alike and should get along better than they would initially think.

Like John Travolta said in Pulp Fiction about Europe: "They've got the same shit over there that they have here, it's just a little bit different." - and those LITTLE differences are what just makes it interesting.

Well, it is always good to read some other exchange students view on America.
Sometimes I just wonder why is it us ? why does it have to happen now, this year while I am here.
Right now I'm spending my exchange year in San Antonio, TX and I could maybe say I'm a little confused about how the war will change my every day life. Maybe not at all, maybe a little, who knows.
Since my host family is military (retired as 56% of the population here) war is part of plenty of conversations. It's mayeb hard to say, but you gotta learn how to shut up and how to put up. Shut up about how you feel about the 'Republicans conquer thew world' and put up with attitudes. BUt let's be honest it's just as another aspect of life where you have to figure out how to still be you when everything else is different and you have to adjust.
The first time I read the 'Spiegel'article I was very enraged. Although there might be somebody telling you how weak you German are or so , but hey it's not like an allpresent force that haunts your life...
Life here rocks, the lifestyle we can live for a year is like a nevre ending adventure, although here in the deep south people still believe in the power of conservatism and they belive that very strongly.
This conflict makes me sad, very sad, but it dares me, too. With our reactions we show how we se our priorites. Is it really so important that everybody knows who is charge international, or is it more important to deal with the issue itself?
It seems to me, that basically what it comes down to is that we take every comment personally, that there is no room for approach left. It is very easy to break those good connections we had apart, but it will take considerably longer to build them up again.
When I said it dares me I mean, that everybody who has the chance to shold quadripple all efforts for intercultural understanding.
I don't think that the US' and GErmany's values are so allike when we are talking abou tthe war, just cause the American still feels insecure thining about 9-11 and the German is still so afraid of war looking at their own country.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think war is a goal or so, but sometimes we have consider how it all is going to be withour a war. After WWII the war-making changed, now they didn't wait until the tanks are approaching you but it's preventive. Kickin' dictators butt, before he'll kick ours. I mean think about it: if some psycho would rule Denmark and he had nuclear weapons, wouldn't you try to do something about it?
anwyays, thay's all I'll say for now, I'm looking forward to qualified answers...

It is not sadly it friends permitted is to have other opinions.
Or are we no friends?

Es ist traurig, das es Freunden nicht erlaubt ist, andere Meinungen zu haben.
Oder sind wir gar keine Freunde?

look the movie "bowling for columbine" there is the only truth...

I am here from Germany and my opinion about America changed in a very bad way since the last years.
Of course I understand that the american people are afraid since September 11th! But they are not allowed to fight Irak without 100% sure informations that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.
And that the americans fight Irak, instead of the decission of the UN is very stupid, dumb and wrong of them.

America always tell us about freedom, liberty, democracy and rights, but if anyone, in the UN or in the own land, for example filmstars, are criticising them, they don´t listen. The american politics are lying almost all the time, for example documents about Iraks buying of Uran from Africa had been maken from the americans!

Instead of this all, I only hate the american politics, I don´t hate the american people!
I will wait for an answer,
MFG, RAve!

Bad American politicans? No, it's not so easy! It's already public knowledge that France provided Iraq with a nuclear reactor in the '70s (the Osiraq, a research reactor), and almost 30 pounds of Uranium-235. In 1980, the reactor was bombed by Iran, causing little damage. The French also equipped it with a system that would make sure none of the Uranium would be removed from the reactor.
In 1981, the reactor was fully destroyed by Israeli jets, claiming they were acting in self-defense (although experts agreed that even if Saddam would want to abuse the reactor, it'd still take him at least 5 to 10 years).
Russia has always refused to help Iraq with nuclear power.
Supplying them with biological and chemical weapons we're indeed all guilty of. Stating that the most support came from France, Germany and Russia is something I wouldn't dare to state. Same goes for stating that the US and Britain have come clean about it.
And look at the UN, who said "yes" and imposed sactions and was quite responsible for deaths in Iraq too. Sanctions like the ones against Iraq are unhuman imo.
I think most of us agree with (and so do I): Saddam is a problem, and that problem needs to be taken care off. The only thing we seem to disagree on is the way to get rid of him.
I personnally believe that there are 'more civilized' ways to get rid of Saddam. The problem we're facing right now is that not only we'd have to fight a war against Saddam, but also against his people.
After the Gulf War, Saddam could do anything he wanted. "My people, I executed 5000 people today, but they were spies for the US. The evil US, remember? Those guys who bombed the shit out of us a while ago." Most of the Iraqis are with Saddam today. Not only will that be a problem during the upcoming war (since five American companies already have signed contracts to rebuild Iraq after the war - I find this very sarcastic.), but it'll even be a bigger problem when the war is over.

Well, first of all, i want to say that i'm from Germany. But i have lived in the USA for about half a year. I would not say that my thaughts about american people has changed. I guess they still pretty much the same. What has changed since the last month is my opinion of the government. Due to the charta of the United Nations, it's not allowed to start a war like this. And America also signed that document. I think the problem is, that american people usually support the president in times of war. And what i can say about amercians is, that a lot of them don't really care too much about what's happing outside of their country. Don't get me wrong, not all americans are like this, but at least a high percentage of them. I im still in contact with the people i met in the states and some of them also don't care about what Bush is doing. Well, i guess that's the wrong way. I'm really no big supporter of Gerhard Schröder, but in that question he went the right way. And how can it be, that Germany always has to do what America tells them to do??? Do you call this friendship??? Well, my definition of friendship differs from that. Saddam Hussein is an asshole, no question. But think about what could he do? If he attacked anyone, the wohle UN would have been there to bomb him back into the stone age. So guess, he's not really that dangerous that there is any justification for that war. Many innocent people will die there. Mr. Bush, this was the wrong way, so don't wonder if the arabic world will strike back with some new terrorism. I also don't advocate that, but this will sadly be the consequence out of that. And this affects the whole world, not only the USA. This morning, german police officers prevented us from a possible terrorist attack. So don't forget, we're still on the same side, but we have diffrent opinions about that, so don't blame us!!!

The Germans only have their trousers full of shi...!!!
In their deepest heart, they by themselves wish to dominate the islamistic people and irak´, because of their fear and a third world war.

BUT CAN'T WE LIVE IN PEACE ALL TOGETHER????

I think your generalization is pointless. Look at me I'm German and I'm afraid of war, but in no way I wanna dominate other nations or religions. On the contrary, I try to understand and respect them...

I'm German too and I'm not afraid about the war.Why should someone attack us? I think, the war will be short.
@ Winterhawk
I think, not long.

I want freedom for everybody in this world. Near East is no exception!
Germans are free, because the Americans won the Second World War. Why shouldn't Iraqi people become free too?

I was in America 2 years ago. I really loved that visit and was really surprised how helpful and nice the average American is and how much hospitality he or she shows (NYC is an exception, the people there are pretty unfriendly... must be due to the stress ^^) .
Looking back now, my opinion hasn't changed much (that kinda relates to my brother-in-law being American :D) ,even if some things I heard made me say "Jeez, how ignorant can one be?"
Shortly before 9-11, Jay Leno had several people on the streets of Manhattan asked what language was spoken in Austria. Just like he thought, most of them answered "English" because they mistook Austria for Australia. When finally someone answered "German" he was asked why he thought that (to confuse him) . The answer was "Because they're all Nazis. All who speak German are Nazis." And now comes the best part: This guy wasn't some ignorant and arrogant jerk (well, he was a jerk ^^) ,he was a college proffesor... in history.
That kinda left me speechless for a few moments when I heard it.

Anyways, the topic at hand is war and not ignorance, isn't it? ^^
What Bush is doing is plain wrong. He's killing innocent people to get some oil and to prove he's freakin' almighty. What Schröder did was right. He stood up to Bush and didn't let himself be degraded to a lapdog like Blair... I may not like the policy of him, but for once, he did the right thing.
But what bothers me most is the fact that the US-Administration just ignored the UN and the tens of thousands of people who protested against the war. They don't give a f**k about the opinions of the people... home of the free indeed *let's voice drip with sarcasm* .

Well, that was my opinion. Oh, and if you didn't already guess, I'm German (and 16 years old, if anyone cares ^^)

Hi! I'm very angry about the war!! War is never the right way!

but it looks so..

My girl-friend is going to write a letter to Bush.

i go back to the thread title k?

i think my relationship to america as a whole hasnt changed very much because i always thought there are some ppl over there who arent what i would call peace loving and who have realy too much weapns...did you see bowling for columbine...i was shocked when one guy said he would say that normal persons in the u.s. should be able to BUY an a-bomb but it should be restricted because there are "some crazy persons"

but i dont like bush because he is realy the worst president america could get...

Never give a stupid man the trigger to launch missiles with atomic warheads. Bit I am quite sure that George W. is REALY stupid. Like any other dictator (The Head of a country, that is never elected, like George W.) he wants to rule the world.

The war in Iraq has the reason to get more control about the oil-industry, the Middle-East and, of course, europe. One thing, George W. don´t want to happen is a united Europe.

My parents alwaysw told me: Think before you act!

Somebody please spray this onto the walls of the American congress...

No bad Idea.

I dont think the american ppl are the problem... their administration is. Those are systematically manipulating the media, fight a war thats purpose is obviously also because they need to drag the ppls attentions from the huge social problems away to the war. This is an ancient trick, which pervertedly allways seems to work great. Naturally, not the only reason for that war... Only one many ppl dont see, or dont want to see. Isnt it public knowledge in america that their president and his closer minions are part of a whole knot which is involved in huge business corruption and oil, weapons company`s, which also significantly helped bringing this guy to power ?
The problem with you "simple" american ppl is often, that you take insults, or criticism on your president as if yourselves where insulted or criticized. But that is simply not the purpose here. Just vote against this guy, next election. Please ! I dont want a world, where the ppl are ruled by fear of terrorism and weapons of massdestruction, these fears are perfect manipulating tools for the masses. And what america is doing now will lead to increased efforts to build weapons of massdestruction all over the world. The exact counterpart of what bush is claiming to do.

Fault on Wars are always the administration. The citizens lives in peace but the administration makes war.

USA + GB rulez

The administrations should attack themself, if they want war!

Yeah, we kicked ass!

Freedom and democracy - now it is reality!

What do you think is Irak doing now?

Yes English:
I lived in America for 10 months and i hope everything
is going to be better in a few months!!