Getting A Drivers License

On your 16th birthday in the United States, every teenager can not wait to get their driver's permit. It is awesome to be able to drive and the freedom that comes with it; once you pass the drivers test.

The problem is to many young lives are cut short because of not taking driving seriously. To try an avoid that in Germany, they make the license way more difficult then in the United States. 

In Germany, you must be 18 to apply for a driver's license. You then do 45 hours approximately with trained professional and 12 hours of theory in a classroom. You must then take a driving test with a professional and prove you meet driving standards. 

If you pass, you must pay around $2000 to get your license. However, the license is good for life. The strict driving standards in Germany cut down on the number of accidents, even though they are known to be faster drivers.

I believe we in America should make driving test harder because some people should just not be allowed to drive. 

Booklet in german for driving test. (Non-orginal photo)

Autobahn vs Interstate

When we think of Germany, a lot of people think of the beer and the Autobahn. It is famous for not having any speed limit. The thing that we often fail to see, however, is the Autobahn is smooth as silk. The road is for the most part straight as well.

The roads in Germany are so much better maintained then here in the U.S. Granted, the United States has a lot more roadways to maintain due to the shire size of the United States vs Germany.

Driving on the Autobahn

A misunderstanding I want to point out: the Autobahn is not all no speed-limit. Near towns and cities, there is restrictions on how fast you can go.

Despite the high speeds on the Autobahn, there is less wrecks then on the Interstates in America.

Church (Kirche oft Deutsch)

Today in America, it seems that people are going to church less and less; for whatever reason. Compared to Europe, however, many more Americans go to church then in Europe.

America is the exception, in fact, of democratic countries that have a majority of which regularly attend church.

Just to back up my point, take a look at the chart below. It is clear that Europeans are moving away from the church, compared to previous generations. I am not saying either is good or bad, I am only stating the facts and what I observed while in Europe.

Another point I want to make, is the churches in Europe are very fascinating. Most of them are ancient buildings and they are just marvels to walk through. I went to the Notre Damn in Paris to attend mass and it was just amazing how enormous the church was.

Front of Notre Damn Cathedral in Paris, France.

Me standing in front of the church Martin Luther nailed the 95 thesis to, in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany.

A 2000 study by the Swedish-based World Values Survey shows nearly half — or more — don't regularly attend church in several Western European countries. percentage of people who "never" or "practically never" attend church in 14 democracies: Country 1981 2000 France 59% 60% Britain 48% 55% Netherlands 41% 48% Belgium 35% 46% Sweden 38% 46% Denmark 45% 43% Norway 38% 42% Spain 26% 33% West Germany 23% 30% Finland 15% 28% Canada 22% 26% Italy 22% 17% United States 18% 16% Ireland 4% 8% Mean 31% 36% Source: World Values Survey

Christmas (Weihnachtsmarkt)

Easter is just around the corner, but there is not much of a difference between Easter in Germany and the rest of Europe, then is here in the United States.

However, Christmas in Germany is much different. Saint Nikolaus, or as we call him Santa, comes on the 6th of December. I found this out when on December the 6th of last year, I open my door to get ready for school and a ton of presents fall at my feet as I open the door.

I was thinking, what in the world is all this for. I soon found out that Saint Nikolaus brought me presents, which I had to be careful to say he did and not my host parents because I didn't want to spoil Christmas for my host-families grandson.

Christmas is celebrated on the 24th of Christmas and if they exchange presents like we do, it is one or two gifts. This is to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to remove the idea of gifts on that day. Not to say the kids don't get gifts, they just get them more on the 6th.

Some families wait till the 24th to open the gifts Saint Nikolaus brought, however my host family lets their kids open the gifts right away and they get something small for the 24th.

Another tradition in Germany is the Christmas market or Weihnactsmarkt. In Berlin there are 60 of these and I went to about 10 of the biggest ones. Germans really do know how to celebrate Christmas, contrary to popular belief because of the way the culture is perceived.

Me and my sister at a Weihnactsmarkt in East Berlin.

My favorite Weihnactsmarkt in Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt.

My family and a friend from school at another Weihnactsmarkt- Schloß Charlottenburg.

Pride

We Americans are very patriotic and proud of how are country was founded on the principles of democracy.

Germans as well are proud to be german, but they also know of their past. The days of the Nazi's and the communist day will haunt the germans forever and they are aware of that. 

My host-family said when I asked them about this issue, that Germany today is not the Germany of the Nazi's or when they were divided. There is nothing germans can do, but live with the fact that these happened. 

In all of Germany, especially in Berlin there are reminders of the horrible events everywhere you go. It is important for the germans mourn what happened and to remind themselves of the past, so they never let it happen again.

Germans are more proud of their heritage and how they overcame these horrible government's, to having a democratic government like the United States.

Picture of the Television Tower in Berlin. The Television Tower is a reminder of the communist regime that once ruled East Germany.

Schools

The school system in Germany is much different then in the United States. We go to grade school almost during the weekday almost five days a week. In Germany they go to school five days a week, but only stay past noon one or two days per week.

They go there to learn and not to socialize, so they don't have gym and other social activities like we have here in grade school. They get quite a lot of homework and are expected to learn outside of the classroom.

Picture of a Schultüte filled with candy.

The only day of school where it is a social event is the first day. The kids carry this big paper cone, in german it is called a Schultüte, filled with candy and at school they share it with all their friends. This is a tradition on the first day of school in Germany.

Crime

Coming from a small town of about 300, it is very rare to see crime. However, when you go to big cities there is always parts of the city, where you are told to never go because it is violent. If you go there you might not come back because of the shootings that happen.

Living in Berlin, the biggest city in Germany, I never once felt like I was in danger. My advisor told us, you should not worry about walking alone in Berlin. He did not advise woman to do that because they are usually targeted more, but if it was unavoidable he assured they would be fine.

Germany has pretty harsh penalties if you commit crimes and you don't get the same rights you would here in the states.

Murders seem like an everyday occurrence in big cities here in the U.S. I heard of one murder happening in Berlin in my four months there. As I recall, it was between drunk men and they beat the one guy until they killed him.

German Police (Polizei) van in the middle of Berlin. It is illegal to take a picture of a police officer in uniform, but not their vehicles.

Even in what outsiders to Berlin call, "rough neighborhoods," I believe that these areas are just poorer and not "rough" as a non-native would think. In fact, several nights I came back at 5-6 in the morning in the area with the highest crime rate in Berlin, called Kreuzburg and I felt just like I did in every other part of the city, safe.

In other European cities, I can not say the same as I do in Berlin. In fact in Paris we were approached by a Police officer and he told us we should leave the area we were in because it is quite a violent place to be. We took his advice and left. Even so, Paris doesn't have a lot of murders, but more thefts and acts of that nature.