The United States of America – land of fast food, pick-up trucks and super-patriotism. Thinking of these clichés it was clear that I had to spend some time in this nation that broke away from its British roots over 300 years ago and which is now probably less European than ever. So in order to get to know the culture, learn about the names, stereotypes and at some point even improve my English skills, I decided to take my time and spend one school year at an American high school, trying to live like an ordinary teenager.
This decision has brought me to Sterling, Virginia, situated in the northern suburbs of Washington D.C. Being somewhat politically interested I couldn’t have been happier to land here, being able to take the Metro towards Capitol Hill and the White House. Of course, sightseeing isn’t the only thing I get to do here, since being a high school student at Park View, my school here, is a lot different than attending the Ulricianum. The start of the day here is definitely more pleasant than in Germany, due to the late opening at 8:45, whereas getting out is much later, 3:30 p.m., something I appreciate less.
To get to school I either take one of those yellow school busses everyone knows from American teenage-movies or I drive with a friend to school. Taking the bike would be a bad idea, because the whole school would be buzzing about some “crazy German dude” who was actually driving a little more than a mile on a bicycle.
Of course, school is different, too. The first class of the day is opened with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States, that actually only half of the student body vows aloud. This is followed by 5 minutes of morning announcements – a must in a school of over 1,600 students.
My classes aren’t really all that interesting. The most “exciting” ones are probably Photography and Newspaper Journalism, in which we produce the school’s newspaper. Coming back to the stereotypes from which I know many readers will be interested in. In many cases, as much as I hate to say it, they prove to be true. Although especially my friends and the host family I live with, which by the way consists of three younger children, a teacher, and a computer-scientist, don’t have guns and are not overly patriotic, and most Americans at least don’t appear to be the latter. It seems that every second car out on the road is either a pick-up truck or an SUV. Fast food undeniably is the meal of choice and in the local Wal-Mart most of the packages would count as “super family size” in Germany, resulting in the fact that my host family has three refrigerators of which each one is at least twice the size of a German one.
On the other hand, the way Americans interact with each other is a lot more comfortable than the “German way”. The people are simply less complicated in making contact with others standing in line with them, and their American way of life provides more flexibility. Driving to the grocery store at 10 o’clock in the evening is nothing notable here. I am really enjoying my time, having spent many hours in downtown D.C. and taken a trip to New York City during the Christmas break, which was an experience all by itself. When I’ll be back on German ground on July 6th I am going to miss the friend I made here and to say good-bye to Bagels, Taco Bell & Starbucks will also be a great loss.
More: www.lasseloose.com/usa

by Lasse Loose

last change: 10.03.2004 15:35