Life Lessons with Gert and Beate

For anybody who is thinking about traveling or studying abroad, just know that everywhere you go…you may stick out like a sore thumb. Just this past week, I traveled to London for the weekend and found that apparently, you walk up the stairs on the left side, but ride the escalator on the right. One simple mistake, and everyone else assumed I was an American.

So what is it about Americans that make us really stand out? I asked my host parents, Beate and Gert, what they think about the similarities and differences between America and Germany.

Beate traveled through the East Coast of America when she was young, much like I’m doing in Europe now. She loved America because the people were so warm and inviting. She felt like she could make friends with people quickly and learned how to water ski and rode in helicopters. To her, America really is a land of freedom. 

For Gert, he loves to focus on industry and politics. He admires the drive that most Americans tend to have when it comes to earning what you have. Germany, he said, is currently facing political challenges related to immigration and the financial responsibility of this is being placed on citizens to support incoming families. He’s not too fond of it. He believes that an honest day’s work is the best way to have good food on the table and a family to go home to.

We also talked openly about stereotypes. I asked them if people really think of Americans as rich and loud. They laughed and admitted, yes. How we act in public, how openly we share opinions, and even the volume of our conversations make us stand out. But they also told me that people genuinely enjoy meeting Americans in social settings like pubs or dinners, where that energy becomes an asset.

Then we discussed German stereotypes. Germans are often seen as harsh or unfriendly, and my hosts couldn’t understand why. As someone who has graciously had three months of living here, I can tell you that they seem mean, but it’s not their intention. What I have found is that if you are doing something ‘wrong,’ a German will have no problem telling you that you are doing it wrong. Very bluntly. They are not being rude, it’s just their communication style. Once you understand this, it feels less intimidating and more commonplace.

Gert loves the movies and shows that come out of America. He thinks that Americans, like the Germans, have a lot of good companies and ideas. It is something to be proud of. America may excel at commercializing products, he says, but Germans have contributed more to the modern world than many people realize. He would like you to know that Germany has brought to you the first phone, first forms of human flight, the pacemaker, some good cars, and more.

Overall, I’ve learned that people are people and all people are different from one another. The culture that our neighbors have compared to us varies greatly. Yes, Germans drink a good amount of beer, their meals are hearty, and their accent is not inviting, but if you step into their world of peaceful S-bahn rides and waiting for the Ampelmann to turn green before you cross the street, you’ll realize all the beauty that they have in their way of life here. It is so structured. Everything is built for a reason and is designed for efficiency. They use less electricity because they are trying to make the world a better place. They care about their neighbors and have barbecues and life is merry when you look for the small moments.

What makes this experience especially meaningful is the history my host parents carry. Gert lived in East Berlin before the wall came down, and Beate lived in the West. What is history to me was their teenage and young adult years. They’ve seen governments transform and ideas shift in real time.

As we look toward our own uncertain future, I’m reminded first to look toward Christ. While worshiping with a small congregation in London last weekend, the sermon focus was that Jesus’ promises are stronger than our problems. I’ll also leave you with what Gert shard with me last week. “Every day, the sun rises and the sun sets. A new day begins. You don’t know what the government will decide or what life will become, but the sun will set. Whether the day was good or bad, a new one will come.”

Every day is a blessing. We just have to wait and see what God has in store.