A Cultural Affair: My Fulbright Year in Hamburgby Locke McKenzie, 2007-2008, Germany
Shortly after introducing myself to my newest
group of pupils, the flood of questions began.
The first girl took a moment to compose her
thought, “What is the biggest difference
between the United States and Germany?”
Before beginning my work in Hamburg as a Fulbright
English Teaching Assistant, I would have never
imagined this question to be so difficult to
answer.  | | Locke
McKenzie, 2007-2008, Germany ETA
| |
For the
purpose of this classroom exercise, I could pick
from any number of acceptable responses: the
language, the inordinate number of bakeries
populating the streets, the fact that teachers
here do not have their own classrooms. But would
any one of these responses stand alone as the
truth? Would the combination of all three be any
more accurate for that matter? A culture is a
living, breathing, multi-faceted thing at least as
complicated as the many people that make up its
whole. And just as one could not accurately
describe a person by simply referencing his/her
hair color, a culture should be seen as more than
just a language or a school system. Since I
arrived in Germany, I have slowly begun to truly
understand these complexities. During my
Fulbright grant, Germany and I have started our
affair. Looking back on my Fulbright
application process, I can now see that I was
calling on Germany as a suitor in many ways.
Before Germany and I were able to come together, I
had to prove my worth. I had to show that I was
both engaging and stimulating; that I had a set of
values and interests that would benefit Germany.
More importantly, I also needed to prove that I
was committed, and that getting to know Germany
intimately was my top priority.
Fortunately, I must have made a good first
impression. For now, I am in Germany doing my
best to hold up my end of the bargain. If I am to
make good on my side of things, however, I need to
look at each day as an opportunity to deepen our
bonds. Just as in any relationship, this is a
slow and collective process. I learn very little
through one single experience or conversation, but
gain knowledge through the accumulation of these
individual activities. Slowly, Germany is
exposing its little idiosyncrasies - such as the
guilty importance of having four bakeries in one
city block – and these tiny slivers of
information make this country and its people seem
more human every day. Just as in any other
relationship, the important stuff lies in the
little things. So as I stand in front of
my class, and the next pupil asks, “Do you
have a girlfriend?” I hesitate for a moment.
What do I say? “Yes, her name is
Germany?” It looks like I am going
to have quite a bit of explaining to do.
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