Germany

1. Germany

2. Germany – country in the heart of Europe • Did you know that... • Germany has 9 neighboring countries? • Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, • France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg • German is spoken by over 100 million people worldwide • (mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland)? • - Germany is connected to two seas: the North Sea and the Baltic Sea? • - Almost one third of Germany is covered with forest and another third with farm • land – even though Germany is one of the most densely populated and highly • developed countries in Europe? • 7 million of Germany‘s 82 million inhabitants are not native Germans? They are • from countries such as Turkey, Italy or former Yugoslavia, but also from Africa • or Asia.

3. German schools • Many students go to school until 12th or 13th grade (18y./19y.) – Abitur • Some also finish earlier (10th grade - 16y./17y.) to go right into job training • There are no uniforms and no dress codes at German schools - as long as the way you dress doesn‘t seriously offend anyone, you are fine. • Schools are mixed • Regular Subjects: German, History, Math, English, Biology, Geography, Chemistry, Politics, Physics, P.E. and Art. • Few schools provide clubs/extra curricular activities, usually those activities are organized in clubs after school.

4. Free time • Young Germans like to do what other young people all over the world • like to do as well such as: • meet with friends • all kinds of sport • play an instrument • read • do shopping tours • and other hobbies… The weekend usually is family time, • but also for shopping tours or • meeting friends.

5. Sports • Most popular: soccer • Cycling is very popular too (especially as a way to get around) • running and working out, • basketball, • handball, • tennis, and of course in winter (especially in the south) all kinds of winter • sport (skiing, ice-skating, etc.). • So basically, Germans are into • almost everything....

6. German culture & food • Standard of living as well as technical standard is relatively high • Two major religious affiliations in Germany: Catholic and Protestant • Few other smaller places of worship, (e.g. mosques, synagogues) • German cooking is generally very good, often quite rich • Regular features: meat, poultry, fish, all kinds of vegetables and salads and especially potatoes • Many vegetarians • Germany is famous for its hundreds of sorts of bread – white, dark, black, with sunflower or pumpkin seeds, nuts or whatever

7. Country & Climate • Many different and charming landscapes: • Flat farming country in the north between the Beaches of the North and Baltic Sea • Rolling hills in the middle with some heavily industrialized areas and • Real Mountain ranges, the Alps, in the south. • A lot of weather diversity depending on season and location • It can be quite cold, windy and rainy especially during fall and winter • However, summer highs (July/August) could pass 85° Fahrenheit

8. CBYX – GER Sending to the USA

9. CB Program – Recruitment & Selection process CB students are mostly recruited through newspaper ads, schools, Bundestag PR-campaigns and the word of mouth. May - September: Students download application card and send it to the exchange organization in charge (German districts are divided among five exchange organizations. Deadline: First Friday of September. Pre-selection based on citizenship, age and grades (esp. English, Politics, History) Possible candidates receive German application papers Deadline: Beginning of October. Papers are checked and sent to the local chapters. Applicants are invited to participate in a weekend-selection-camp.

10. CB Program – Selection camps • Special tasks of CB applicants at selection camp: • Civic Knowledge of Germany: 30 multiple choice questions about German plus one essay question • “History book 3000”: Exercise deals with student’s interests on politics and history as well as their abilities to debate • “Ambassador question”: Students have to write about how they define their role as an “ambassador” to the US. • Additional general criteria: social abilities, motivation, age, ability to take over • responsibility

11. CB Program – Selection camps • Results of selection camp: • AFS-Volunteers pass their decision and ranking together with a short explanation to the office. • All students receive an appropriate letter with the result of the selection process • (rejected or still in the run towards the CB scholarship). • Successful applicants will be proposed to Congressmen and have to wait for the final decision (approx. Mid-February).

12. CB Program – Preparation and Reorientation April/May: 1-week pre-departure orientation Seminar divided into 2 parts: 1) Facts on Germany: Germany as a Democracy, Witness Stories about BRD/GDR, Germany and World War II under Nazi Regime, Intercultural Learning, Culture Shock 2) Facts on the United States: Political System of the US, Facts on American History, Culture and Law, German-American Stereotypes, Everyday Life, Topics of Interest (Death Penalty, Elections…) September: 1-weekend re-entry orientation: Reintegration into daily life in Germany, Reverse Culture Shock,…

13. CB Program – Statistics approx. 1,100 pre-applications approx. 700 applicants send their CB papers approx. 600 applicants invited to selection camp approx. 250 applicants pre-selected for final run towards CB scholarship = Bundestag representatives nominate a total of 57 scholarship students

14. CBYX – GER Hosting from the USA

15. CB Program – Arrival After the arrival at the Frankfurt Airport CB kids will either: …go directly to their Hostfamilies. …a language course will be arranged in the local community. OR …participate in a language course in Celle for 4 weeks. …be placed in welcome families there.

16. CB Program – Orientation October: 1-weekend Late Orientation Camp together with the core stus Sessions on family life, school, friends, culture and history will be offered. Some intercultural learning aspect will be discussed as well. Group sessions, plenary sessions will take place as well as some outdoor activities. Feb/March: 5-days Midstay Orientation: Only for CB stus May: 5-days End Of Stay Orientation: Only for CB stus. Part of the EOS will be the so called Berlin Day (Meetings with the Bundestag and the other CB kids)

17. Cultural Values

18. Cultural Standards Cultural standards are the building blocks (norms) of a culture Cultural standards enable freedom and limitation of actions -> they define what is normal, typical and mandatory They control the percipience, the thinking, the feeling and the actions of the members Cultural standards often impact people unconsciously Abnormal behavior will be declined and sanctioned

19. German style of communication… China:„Not diplomatic“ Cultural Standards Mexico:„Direct communication“ Netherlands:„Rather indirect criticism.“ Cultural standards are perceived differently by different cultures – in contrast to their own standards Hungary:„ They take everything literally“ Finnland:„They love discussions“ Spain: „Direct with criticism““

20. German Cultural Standards • Task Orientation • Appreciation of Structure and Rules (Ordnung) • Rule Oriented, Initialized Control • Time Planning • Separation of Business and Private Life • Direct Communication/Low Context

21. Conflicts Situation Situation Culture Person

22. Interculturell Learning Comfort Zone no learning justify stereotypes boring No challenges Learning Zone Intercultural learning escalation, mental problems, Early Return a lot of challenges Panic Zone

23. The concept of friendship

24. Try a new perspective

25. Vielen Dankfür eure Aufmerksamkeit!-Thanks for your attention!