11 August 2014
Auf Wiedersehen Deutchland!
Erfurt, DE -- As the trip finally comes to a close I cannot help but reflect on all of the great experiences I have had abroad in Europe. Erfurt acted as the perfect “Home-base” to begin my absorption into German and European culture. I feel that study abroad programs are a must for anyone hoping to gain a global perspective as to how other cultures operate. I was amazed to find how different Americans and Germanys are; yet we also have many similarities. The first few weeks in Erfurt were very difficult considering the language barrier and lack of understanding of the area. The first few weeks I managed to stay within my comfort zone by staying in between our apartment and the dome platz. It was amazing how much more confident I became as I explored more of Erfurt. The most culturally changing experience of the summer was a 3 day trip to Prague. After finally understanding the basics of the German language and culture, all of the study abroad students were feeling confident about traveling to other countries. Prague proved to be completely different from Germany all together as there was a different language, culture, and it was the largest city in Europe we had visited so far. It was massive, it was beautiful, and it was an entirely different from Erfurt. What began as another culture shock was immediately pushed into the honey-moon phase because we all of the SPICE group was happy to finally have that backpacking experience through Europe. It was easy to see the various communication theories and concepts that we practiced to try to blend in as we visited these countries. Communication accommodation theory was one of the main theories that I noticed because we were constantly getting lost and seeking directions from people who did not speak our language. Its as if we strive for cultural approval, yet have no intention of being fully integrated into the German culture. Constantly I found myself resisting the culture by ordering some of the most Americanized dishes on the menus just so I would not be let down. We negotiate face and put on sort of a façade whenever we travel to new countries so that we do not fit the mold of the proposed American stereotype. It seems Europeans have mixed ideas about American culture, with many of them being true but others being out right wrong. One of the most stereotypical things we did on German soil was having a barbeque on the 4th of July. We had every Americanized dish you could think of, from cheeseburgers to bacon, which to German students most likely only reinforced their stereotypes. It was my first time spending the 4th of July in another country but I feel that we made the best of it under the circumstances. The following week we visited Amsterdam, Netherlands, which was a melting pot of cultures and far different from what I originally expected. The culture in Amsterdam is highly liberal and environmentally conscious. Almost everyone rides bikes throughout the city with a complex biking traffic system in place. Very view motorists are present in the city because of the narrow roads and canals. Amsterdam is a tourist town because a majority of its inhabitants are able to speak English. It takes away from the magic of traveling to other countries when you can be easily accommodated. Berlin was similar in this sense because it was a big city with many English-speaking travelers visiting it weekly. I feel that study abroad trips in general are a must for anyone who wants to learn how to live outside their comfort zone. I feel that now more then ever I could travel to another country and survive just from the information seeking tactics that I have been practicing for the past 9 weeks. In addition to my experiences from traveling, the classes themselves were very informative and have yield new light onto potential careers. I never thought that I could learn so much in such a short amount of time. Although the coursework was intense at times, I feel that I got much more out of these classes then typical university classes. The short schedule forced me to be on top of my readings, which sometimes can be hard to do. I am happy to have had this experience abroad and have already begun planning my next European tour in the upcoming years.
10 August 2014
The Communication Museum in Berlin
Berlin -- While in Berlin I was lucky enough to visit a museum based on my entire course of study, Communications. Once we entered the building we were immediately greeted by two robots; One robot was fixated on finding his large red ball, while the other communicated facts and history about the museum. Our first exhibit was one of the earliest tools of communication that hunters would use to notify each other of when they have caught something. Seeing the first tools of communication was eye opening as we sometimes forget that as a human species we have not always had language to express our thoughts. The next exhibit showed various tools used to encrypt messages so that when mail was sent it was unable to be read by anyone but its anticipated receiver. It was interesting to see that ancient Greeks had such a technology because encryption is still a common practice used with computers today. I feel that of the most important accomplishments that the communication museum displayed was the history and invention of the telephone exhibit. The exhibit was impressive as it had nearly every telephone from the 1st model to even some from the current date. It’s hard to imagine a world without phones and the ability to communicate with each other of long distances. Communicating with family members while on a study abroad trip would have to be done through post cards or mail, which could take weeks to reached their receiver. It was eye opening to see that some of the walls inside the museum still had bullet holes from WW2. You could only imagine the experiences the soldiers had while they were setting up their base within the walls of this great building. I truly enjoyed the communication museum in Berlin and hope that I will have the opportunity to visit a similar museum in the United States so that I can compare the differences.
05 August 2014
Intercultural Adaptation Theory
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| The honeymoon phase in Erfurt. |
Erfurt -- As my time in Erfurt suddenly has come to an end I feel that I have finally reached a level of cultural adjustment. No longer am I stuck in a phase of culture shock because during my time here I have used information seeking techniques to observe the norms. In the beginning of our study abroad program I feel that I portrayed the typical loud American stereotype; meaning I would be much louder then the norm allowed in restaurants and outdoor places. One thing I have noticed while communicating with English speaking Germans is that I constantly try to speak in a German accent while speaking English to naturally try to give some level of comfort to the person I am speaking to. In hindsight I imagine I only come off as a dumb American, but it only seems natural to try to seem competent in a situation even when you are not. It is my way of cultural adaptation to give myself the confidence to approach situations outside my comfort zone. Cross-Cultural communication leaves much room for error if interactions are interpreted incorrectly, yet I feel that I have been proficient by keeping my distance from too serious of interactions. I feel that I have a strong cultural competence in Erfurt but I would not be able to survive without the comfort of my SPICE group and faculty to lead the way. I compare the culture much like that of an organization, as it takes time to become fully assimilated. However, being culturally competent can only get you so far in a foreign country when language plays such a huge role. I have ventured passed the honey-moon stage and culture shock stage, and unfortunately I do not believe I will become fully adapted into the culture in the few short days I have left in this great country.
04 August 2014
Neuschwanstein Castle, Southern Bavaria
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| A panorama of Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany. |
Fussen, DE -- Tucked away in the German Alps beyond the quiet village of Fussen stands the great Neuschwanstein Castle. Although it is quite the hike to get to, the view and culture surrounding it is well worth the trip. The Castle itself looks like something out of a fairy tale as it towers over the town below it. Although it has a medieval look to it, the castle is relatively new as construction began in the mid 1800s. The castle itself pays homage to the great king of Bavaria, Ludwig II, who was never able to see its completion due to his untimely death. Within the castle lies elegant and ornate art works on all of the walls as well as various sculptures. One of the most common themes of the artwork is the inclusion of swans on many of the pieces. It was said that Ludwig II has an infatuation with swans. The throne room was my personal favorite part of the entire castle. Inside the throne room there were many murals of knights slaying dragons and even a depiction of all the former kings of Bavaria. The works looked like something out of a renaissance museum. People from all over the world travel to see this great piece of architecture and indulge in the surrounding culture that itself seems to be trapped in the past. Everyone in the town wears the iconic lederhosen attire, which at first seems very strange but upon further investigation you find out that it is a very strong part of their culture as Bavarians. The trip itself was a great cultural experience of Bavaria’s past, which without this day trip I would be completely unaware of the great king Ludwig II. I recommend anyone traveling to the southern Bavarian region to see Neuschwanstein in all of its glory.
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| Neuschwanstein Castle, from a distance. |
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| The town of Fussen |
03 August 2014
Berlin: The Last Hoorah
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| Brandenburg Gate. |
Berlin -- With our final days of Germany approaching, the SPICE group set out to tour the historical city of Berlin for 4 days. Of all the cities in Europe, none have the artsy charm of Berlin; which made it my favorite city in Europe. While heading out to Berlin I had very little expectations or motivation to go sightseeing. As any student who goes abroad will tell you, it gets quite exhausting towards the end of the semester when you spend much of your weeks traveling on buses and trains. Immediately when I arrived I noticed landmarks that were familiar even in American culture. As you pull into the city limits the Brandenburg gate is promptly there to greet you. It’s almost hard to imagine the streets around you parading the national socialist party a mere 72 years ago. Around me all I could see was tourists from all over the world aiming to gain knowledge of the vast history and constantly changing society. From the national socialist party, the communist party, and eventually the constitutional republic that it is today Berlin has seen its fair share of political systems and various ways of life. The city itself is much larger and diverse than Erfurt. Even the architecture seems to lack that medieval flare that Erfurt has throughout all of its streets. I found the culture of Berlin to be much more youthful than that of Erfurt because of the amount of artwork and statues located throughout the cities. A place like Berlin is much more accessible for an American abroad because many of the people speak English due to the high amount of tourists that venture there each year. Even the hostel we stayed at was made up of a diverse group of travelers from all over the world. All around the city there would be street vendors selling various hats and memorabilia from the communist party, yet they lack anything World War 2 related. It seems to be an unspoken rule throughout all the cities I have stayed in that any discussion or exhibition of that part of their history is considered taboo.
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| Holocaust Memorial. |
One of the most emotionally moving experiences I have ever had occurred in this city during our tour of the holocaust memorial. The memorial boasts over 2000 stone slabs that stretch across the square, each individual in its own way. It is a beautiful yet eerie sight of remembrance designed to be abstract and make onlookers think and reflect about what the memorial means to them. Our tour guide let us know that there was no wrong interpretation of the design and that it was chosen amongst many others to be the representation of the horrifying murders of the Jewish people during World War 2. The next stop on our tour of Berlin was the famous DDR museum that showcased all of the history during the time where Berlin was split between a democratic and communist state. The DDR, which translates to the German Democratic Republic, was the eastern state of Berlin run by a communist regime. The DDR museum displayed the various propaganda techniques used by the DDR to control the citizens and keep them from going against their regime. One of the most fascinating facts I found out was that those who lived in East Berlin and had hopes of traveling to the west were often shut down as the process could take up to 10 years. By going against the regime they were immediately considered outcasts in which no one was allowed to associate with them or they too would be assumed to be against the communist regime. Communication in East Berlin was very limited as you were monitored on what you could and could not say. Even television shows were tailored to the communist museum, yet that didn’t stop many of the East Berlin residents from turning their cable antennas towards the west to pick up the unbiased signals and news from around the world. Berlin truly is a melting pot of culture due to its history and development. Its history alone makes it incomparable to any place in the United States because as a country there aren’t any places that have recently undergone such drastic changes in culture and political power. The only place comparable to Berlin would be New York City as many people from all different walks of life gather their to pursue their dreams. The city has that edgy hipster feel that you would expect from an area in Brooklyn. Throughout all the cities and towns in Europe that I have visited I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that Berlin is my favorite. Its culture and history make it hard to leave.
01 August 2014
Mallorca: Ibiza’s little brother
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| Mallorca's beautiful beaches. |
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| The scenic view of Mallorca. |
Mallorca -- The Mediterranean is known for some of the greatest beaches in the world, which breeds the question: What better way to spend a week abroad then the Island of Mallorca. Mallorca is the largest island in the Mediterranean and has been donned by travelers as the Cancun of Europe. Upon our stay we met people from all over Europe with a majority of tourists being from the United Kingdom. Mallorca is a part of Baleric Islands and is a territory of Spain. It only makes sense that Mallorca would be such a diverse attraction for many tourists as it has a history of various Europeon settlements throughout time. Its geographical location easily allows it to have influences from all of the neighboring countries within the Mediterranean Sea. Although the Island is a part of Spain, it is an autonomous and self-governing area with its own leadership and rules. The island itself is home to around 800,000 people, with many of them working outside of the tourism industry. It is obvious that tourism plays a large role in their economy as the areas surrounding our hotel was filled with tourist attractions and shops. One of the most inviting aspects of Mallorca was the fact that almost everyone spoke English. It was as if Mallorca was a vacation away from Europe, yet still within the continent itself.
Between the nude beaches and German influences, the island was still far from being comparable to the United States. Like many tourism areas, the locals must cater to travelers by understanding their culture and their market. The nightlife culture of Mallorca is synonymous with the rumored party atmosphere of Spain. Almost all of the bars are open till 6am with lines still stretching out the door. If New York is the city that never sleeps, Mallorca is clearly the island that does not sleep.
30 July 2014
Teufelsberg: NSA’s former listening tower
Berlin -- At the city limits of Berlin stands the infamous Teufselsberg, which translates to the Devil’s Mountain in German. We had heard brief stories about how it is an interesting piece of Berlin’s history that is slightly off the beaten path. Our group traveled roughly a mile into the woods through various hills and foliage before reaching its gates. Atop the hill lies the Listening station that was once home to the United States National Security Agency. The Station consists of various buildings and towers that were used to spy on East Berlin communications. The area has since been abandoned by the NSA and is now occupied by a small collective group of Hippies who hope to preserve the area and all of its art. Our tour guide led us throughout the various structures before reaching the main building that housed the tallest of all the listening towers. All of the walls in these buildings acted as canvases for the local street artists in the area. Our guide then told us that there is always a rivalry amongst the artists and they are constantly competing for the best pieces of art real estate to show case their work. It is very common for artists to cover up and work over each others work when they want to work on a project, so the atmosphere and art is constantly changing. As we climbed to the top of the tower the view was incomparable. Through a small window you could see all of the surrounding area including Berlin in its entirety. Much of the station itself has been stripped due to asbestos and structural problems, but the framework and basic concepts of the base still remain. It was a great experience to visit the base because of all the recent controversy with the NSA in recent media. As it turns out, the NSA has been spying on people for many years prior to the whistleblowing actions of Edward Snowden. One could don Teufelsberg Berlin’s hidden gem tucked away in the hills.
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| SPICE 2014, leaving it's mark. |
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| A casual selfie with the street-art. |
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| An example of some of the art. |
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| A random listening tower. |
Amsterdam: An area of great cultural convergence
Amsterdam -- In comparison to Erfurt, Amsterdam is an area of great cultural diversity. People from all over Europe come to Amsterdam to set up shops to feed off the growing tourist economy. During my stay in Amsterdam it was very easy to communicate with the locals since almost all of them spoke at least some English. Unfortunately that is not the case in Erfurt as a majority of the people besides college students do not speak English at all.In my travels i have found that Erfurt seems to be more closed culturally than Amsterdam since there is less opportunity and tourism.It seems that people from all over the world meet in Amsterdam regardless of race or ethnicity. It is an international hub of diversity. I feel that most Germans have a strong cultural identity and pride themselves on their differences. Even within German states individuals have a different perspective on other states. I feel that Erfurt in particular is a closed system because of the lack of diversity and languages to effectively be an open system. Amsterdam however, is a more open system. With people from every culture and orientation it is far more liberal and open than most German areas.
04 July 2014
A 4th of July in Erfurt
Erfurt, DE -- Although I was unable to be in the United States, with the spice program we were able to have a forth of July in Erfurt. It was strange to see how different we are when it comes to nationalism and our thoughts on our flag. In the United States we pride ourselves on our flag and the symbolism it portrays. When I think of the flag I immediately think of all of the people that had fought for our freedom, yet in Germany it's not something they speak about openly. It's as if they are avoiding anything that could be related to their dark past. I spoke to a classmate from Germany about their beliefs about their flag. They said it was very uncommon to hang them because they relate German flags to nazism. Although it is not the case, they still remain reserved in showing many signs of nationalism. I feel that Germany prides itself on it's current state and it's continuing progression as a country. Although flags are tabu in the country, the current World Cup streak the team is on is driving more pride in the flag. Many people now hang flags from the balcony or have Germany flag side window covers on cars. It's plain to see that the country takes it's futbol seriously. I am looking forward to watching their nationalism grow as they continue to advance.
30 June 2014
One Month in Reflection
Erfurt, DE -- Throughout the first half of the SPICE program I have had the privilege of meeting and interacting with German classmates as well as well as the good people of Erfurt. My interactions with my classmates were quite warm and inviting during our first encounter at the Double B restaurant. Many of the students were excited to meet their new American classmates while others were more hesitant and shy, which I can understand why (we are loud Americans in the eyes of many Germans). Although there is a clear language barrier, much of our interests are similar. Culturally speaking, I have found that my German classmates are more privileged to go to college versus the American education system that allows almost anyone to attend. To my understanding, German students must pass various tests and if their grades are proficient enough they are granted admission into Universities for free. Many of the students even receive money to attend school. Many of them attend bars or clubs for fun in a similar sense like Americans. In addition to similar interests, I have found that many of my German classmates listen to the same music as I do. I feel that this is because the United States is a huge player in the music industry and due to this many American artists are internationally known. One thing I had noticed with my classmates is that they are very straightforward and direct about speaking. They often avoid small talk and stick to the task at hand. I am unsure whether they are hesitant to small talk because of their understanding of the English language or it is just a cultural difference. Originally my German classmates were very school- oriented but as I met them further I began to realize we are not all that different.
My experience with the towns people of Erfurt varied from place to place. I found that many places were very open to English speakers, yet others felt that they could do without us. Many of them are willing to try to speak English while others seem to feel that German is the language of the country and they should not have to speak any other language. This usually occurs in local bars or restaurants that do not often receive visits from tourists. Culturally speaking, one of the biggest differences is the lack of Sunday shopping. I have found that in German culture Sunday is meant to be a day of rest where many people will not use lawn mowers or any tools that would disrupt their neighbors.
Another major difference is the tone of voice used inside and outside. Constantly it seems that my group mates and I are getting the evil stare for speaking too loudly in public areas. It’s a very different way of life as we are able to speak as loudly as we want in the United States. I feel that Germans are much more quieter than us because they their culture tends to be more reserved in expression. I have found that with the people of Erfurt it is hit or miss if you are asking for assistance, but this is also common practice in the United States. Some of the townspeople are happy to help you and direct you to your destination, while others are very cold with a more ‘find it yourself’ attitude. All in all I would consider the people of Erfurt to be very accommodating given the obvious stress and confusion we might cause them while they are trying to go about their day. Erfurt is not a city that receives many tourists so I can understand why they would not know how to help English speaking tourists. I have enjoyed my stay in the city and classroom so far and I am anticipating an even better second half of the summer given my growing assimilation into German culture.
23 June 2014
Face Negotiation Theory in Prague
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Beautiful Town Square in Prague.
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Prague -- While visiting the beautiful city of Prague, I was faced with much adversity among the many cultures that were there. The cities beauty was slightly intimidating as the structures seemed medieval. I decided early on that it was important to maintain a positive face and not one of a loud American college student (Which I undoubtedly am). It was a concern for my own self-face and the protection of my well-being in territories I was unfamiliar with. One of my most anticipated plans throughout the journey was to watch the World Cup. During our venture, we stopped at a local "Biergarten" that was offering the game. Biergartens are a popular choice for locals when watching sporting events. They give a more community atmosphere to the events because everyone in the neighborhood sits outside to cheer for their beloved team. When we first arrived immediately everyone’s eyes were drawn to us. From that point on I felt that it was extremely important to try to act as a local would and not worry. In hopes to fit in I immediately ordered the largest beer I could find and begin cheering when great plays were made. While cheering I was not using any specific language just a variety of strange sounds that I had observed from others in the vicinity. I find that it is face management that allows us to adapt in times of great uncertainty because we are given the ability to mimic behaviors that we feel are culturally accepted. Once the game evolved further, we began cheering in unison with our newfound German friends. It seems that sports can bring groups together regardless of a language barrier. We use uncertainty reduction techniques and adapt by means of indirect questioning and observing others. Through this means we can create a façade that is more suitable for situations and help manage our uncertainty through the cultural contexts.
16 June 2104
Communication Accommodation Theory
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| An Irish bar in a German city. |
Erfurt, DE -- During my stay in Erfurt, Germany I have encountered many different cultural differences. Many everyday tasks that were simple in the United States became quite difficult due to the language barrier and cultural differences. Imagine trying to order food in a non English speaking country; it is just as hard as it sounds. In addition the language, restaurant culture is very different in Germany because the service does not force you out to increase customer volume. They expect their patrons to want to stay and enjoy their meal and conversations. One instance that is very different is the process of eating at a restaurant and ordering food. I have found that both ends try to be accommodating by speaking as much of the other person’s language as possible.Since Erfurt is not a major tourist city many of the older citizens do not speak English. . Although I do not speak German very well, I found myself adopting somewhat of an accent when trying to communicate with my waiter in hopes that he would better understand my order. On the converse side, my waiter would often use a mixture of German and English to try to get his point across. It is during this process of convergence that we are both signaling for cultural approval and understanding while sharing the same goal. By simply observing I have become more aware of the German cultural differences, such as the tip being included in a meal or choosing where you want to sit instead of being seated. German culture greatly influences these changes due to their direct and efficient nature. If you think about it, it does make sense have the tip included and seat yourself. I slowly but surely I am becoming more competent in German cultural in many of its basic facets.
9 May 2014
Introduction
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Stephen Thompson (right) standing with WVU Interim
President G. Gordon Gee.
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My name is Stephen Thompson and I am a Communication Studies Major from West Virginia University. I am studying abroad in Erfurt, Germany in an effort to learn more about German culture and history. As a soon to be graduating senior, this adventure through Europe is my last hoorah before heading out into the real world. As a communication studies major, I am very interested in cross cultural and intercultural communication. I hope to be able to apply my communication knowledge to a job in the field of public relations or politics. I am particularly interested in the history of Germany and how it has influenced the culture in various ways. In my free time I enjoy skiing, reading, and going to the beach. I am a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity on campus, which takes up a lot of my time. I also work part time at the Monongalia County Clerk’s office and a Public Information Officer. This study abroad marks my third trip to Europe, but is still my first trip to Germany and the surrounding areas. I am looking forward to all of the sights and attractions that Europe is known for because I feel that I was not fully submerged in the culture the first time I visited. During my journey I plan to keep track of all the sights and excursions I pursue throughout northern Europe. I hope that in reading this blog you will have almost as much fun as I am having.
Amsterdam -- In comparison to Erfurt, Amsterdam is an area of great cultural diversity. People from all over Europe come to Amsterdam to set up shops to feed off the growing tourist economy. During my stay in Amsterdam it was very easy to communicate with the locals since almost all of them spoke at least some English. Unfortunately that is not the case in Erfurt as a majority of the people besides college students do not speak English at all.In my travels i have found that Erfurt seems to be more closed culturally than Amsterdam since there is less opportunity and tourism.It seems that people from all over the world meet in Amsterdam regardless of race or ethnicity. It is an international hub of diversity. I feel that most Germans have a strong cultural identity and pride themselves on their differences. Even within German states individuals have a different perspective on other states. I feel that Erfurt in particular is a closed system because of the lack of diversity and languages to effectively be an open system. Amsterdam however, is a more open system. With people from every culture and orientation it is far more liberal and open than most German areas.
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