culture shock

Culture is something fascinating. When I moved to the States I honestly didn't think that there would be such a big difference...after all both Germany and the US are modern, western countries...should be basically like moving to a different state right?!?!!...I was wrong. I am sure that the difference between Kiel (my hometown, population:~250,000), Germany compared to South Dakota is much more evident than let's say, between Kiel and any of the "more populated" areas in the States. Either way there is a definate difference, In South Dakota however, it is much more noticeable.
I have come up with a list fo things that are different in our cultures, some more evident than others...I know that to most people these are just every day things that are simply there and that they take for granted. I have no choice but to realize the impact, which the place where you grow up and live can have on who you become.
I will talk about these things in my blogs throughout the semster.
These are just some of the main things that people think and feel very differently about. there is the obvious ones like Politics, religion, sex, but there are also many others like:
- the media ( one topic that I am especially interested in!!!)
- medicin and health care
- patriotism (something I have never known)
- travel and vaccation time
- diversity and acceptanceor general opinion of hot-button issues ( like abortion and gay-marriage)
- education (high school and college)
- family values (children per family)
- work ethics (which I know is pry different in SD than it is in most other places in the US)
- history and culture (obviously :)
- relationships and marriage
- work and unemployment situation
- small business ownership
- personal independence [...]
- athletics (we have no High school or College sports, they are all private clubs)
...................
The list could go on and on and on, but these are just some of the things that make me miss certain things and enjoy certain things...it lets me look at things from an outsiders point of view. I think, sometimes, we all need to step back in order to really see what is going on. In my opinion, the only way we can escape our "tunnel-thinking" (I'm not sure if this term exists in english :) is to travel and everytime we encounter something that is different and that might surprise or even scare us, just try to accept and enjoy it for its differences, rather than judging everything for its differences....
Allright! Lots of rambling and lots of thoughts.
Cheers!!!