Here in Germany, I am finally officially in all of my classes. When I started the semester, I was put into the wrong German class and it was a hassle. I worked everything out, but instead of having language class twice a week for three hours a session, I have class everyday for five hours. I think it'll be worth it in the long run as I'll be able to do a semester's worth of credits in four weeks, but it's a heavy course load! My other courses are European Art History, in which we have been studying a lot about European Cathedrals (this will come up later), a Nazi History course with possibly the coolest old German professor ever, and "Experiential Learning" class which is a historical/cultural perspective class in which we go on excursions and have special projects to go along with them, and an International Marketing class, which is very interesting and intriguing.
Since I posted last, I have gone on a couple excursions; the Kurpfälzisches Museum in Heidelberg, Stuttgart, and Worms V.1. Here's what I pulled from those experiences.
The Kurpfälzisches Museum
The Kurpfälzisches Museum is the official historical and cultural museum of Heidelberg. Inside you'll find artifacts from the Roman era in the area, artwork from 14th century artists to modern day expressionists, and a complete history of the city itself. Do you remember Christian from the last post? Yeah, I've been spelling his name wrong, it's Kristian. My bad. Anyways, he was our tour guide for this excursion as well. Though the museum had a lot of cool artifacts from the Roman era including the original supports for the main bridge over the Neckar and burial site headstones of generals, and vast amounts of beautiful artworks from a range of nearly 800 years, I think the major takeaway I have from this excursion is the lessons I learned from Kristian about the old St. Michael's Abbey of Heidelberg. In the museum, you'll find relics of the Abbey before time and desperate need for building material eroded it to a pile of foundation stones. You can still go there today, which I plan to do, but it is but a shadow of its former self.
Kristian told us about the importance of the Abbey in the old Heidelberg. This was the place people came for everything from business transactions, markets, meeting lawyers, education, service, everything. It is up on the mountain over looking the valley, but people would make the trek as the church controlled everything, and it was the only way to live in those days. The Abbey was not run by evil people though. The monks recorded many years of history in the Rhein valley, which is invaluable for us in understanding the lives and daily happenings of the times back then. The monks also helped shelter their people when enemies can. Villagers would hide behind the fortress walls from attackers until saviors arrived.
The museum was a lot of our's first experience with Heidelberg's history and it was quite the experience.
We weren't allowed to take pictures but this is what the outside looked like.
Stuttgart
Last week, we took a trip to Stuttgart, Germany, about an hour and forty minutes away from Heidelberg Main Station. We passed through beautiful country side on our way to the industrially fortified and state capital city. Here, we got off at the famous Stuttgart Station which was erected during the Nazi era of Germany. After a quick walk, we met up with our local tour guide (not Kristian). She showed us around the main points of Stuttgart such as the old palace gardens and the ballet, the palace pond, and the statue of a guy who created the special pretzel that the region is named after. She then led us to the center of Stuttgart and the new palace center (there are two palaces because of politics stuff that she didn't go into detail about but it has to do with a Kaiser Wilhelm, and not the one you're thinking of). If you are a Top Gear fan who has been keeping up with Jeremy and the boys on The Grand Tour, you'll recognize the courtyard and castle as it is where they set up the tent for their show in Germany's automobile capital. Even if you aren't a fan of the show, it's cool to see it on their.
After the courtyard, we went to the Stuttgart international indoor market. Guys...this place was AMAZING! The tour guide said you can get any fruit or veggie there any time of year 2 days maximum fresh from it's home country. Besides from the produce, there were delis from France, Italy, Germany (obviously), and others. I was most excited about the Turkish area where they sold fresh baklava! It was amazing! My friend bought a piece of pie from a Greece couple who didn't speak German (we tried ordering it in German but they said they only spoke a little bit). It was language barrier times two, but we got it done with lots of hand motions and gestures.
Later after some free time, we took a bus from the station to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the main stop of our Stuttgart excursion. The facility was absolutely breathtaking. It's a must do if ever in Germany, even if you aren't a car enthusiast, but if you are like me, it's literally tear-worthy. Before your tour, they give you a head-set that you place over your ear so you can hear your tour guide without them raising their voice. It keeps the place classy and quiet, while it allows you to wander without missing a beat! You take an elevator up the top floor where you'll see a horse who represents the first "horse power" in travel. You then see the world's first gasoline-powered vehicles created by Aimler and Benz (separately). You continue down the spiraling levels going through the development of the Merc.-Benz brand until you reach modern day. I took an enormous amount of pictures which don't do it justice. I've put some below.
After the museum we made our way back to Heidelberg via train.
Worms V.1
Why Worms V.1? Well, on a whim, our Art History teacher who is one of the coolest people I have ever met, decided to take us to Worms during our class time and then some, because he wanted us to experience on of the most beautiful Cathedrals in Germany (Wormser Dom), with him at our sides, giving us historical and architectural input along the way. We go with the entire school in a couple weeks, so our class gets two different tours of the historical city. There are only six of us in his class so it was very personal and fun. We rode a train to Mannheim, East of Heidelberg, and then one to Worms. He led through the streets to the Martin Luther monument (pictures below). Here he told us about the significance of Worms; here is where Martin Luther was first tried by the German church. We continued onto the Cathedral. From a distance it is menacing and beautiful with it's baroque, Romanesque, and Gothic influences (see, I paid attention), looking over the city. As we got closer, it became more beautiful. We walked around and our professor pointed out special things about the church like the demon gargoyles and the multiple additions throughout the ages, which unlike many other cathedrals, shows different architectural styles from the day. We went inside the solemn place of worship to see an utmost breath-taking view. It was so grandiose and open. The ceilings were so high, I believe I could see clouds forming. There was little light inside so my pictures definitely don't do it justice. On one end of the cathedral stood the Romanesque alter with the gold-plated relics and Christian figures. On the other end was the Gothic alter; more subtle and less exuberant because at this point in time, they believed all focus was to be on God, not the alter in front of you. It was so fascinating to be in two different Christian eras in one moment. The Gothic alter had a Christmas scene on display which had a stream of water flowing through it. The place was so quiet and echo-y, it made the most beautiful and calming reverberation throughout. In front of the display lay two tombs of Bishops from the 14th and 15th century. The keeper of the church scolded me in German because he thought I stepped on it. I didn't but that's what drew my attention to them.
After that amazing experience, we went to the Worms Art Museum. It was closed due to a new private collection opening up but our cool-as-ice professor made some calls and someone showed up and unlocked the doors. We were the only ones in there and there weren't many lights on so it was really cool and, once again, personal. He gave us a private tour, pointing out important paintings and artists while answering our questions. It was a great experience.
Our professor had an appointment (probably with someone really famous because our professor is the boss) in Mannheim, so he rode with us to the first stop before saying "Ciao" and left us to find our way back. Myself and another students who traveled with us knew how to navigate the train network by now so we got back just fine. On the first leg, however, before our professor got off, we met a baby pitbull on the bus and we played with it the entire way. The owner only spoke German so as I asked her questions about the dog in German, she would answer and our professor would translate for the others in the group. It was one of my favorite parts of the day. The owner was so nice and it was said when they had to exit the train.
By the way, that guy across from me is my professor!
Thanks for catching up with me! I look forward to speaking to all of you about your pressing lead questions 😀
#blest👏
Gabe,
ReplyDeleteyour trip so far looks amazing and I am glad you are enjoying yourself. The sites you are getting to see are truly once in a lifetime and from my leadership experience, I have an utmost understanding of that. Places such as the international market would be breath-taking, not only because of the sites and fact that the fruit is actually that fresh (jealous), but because of the history that is behind that possibility. Today we spoke of the historical forces that played a major role in globalization and the fact that the market can be international. Of course we are all now very familiar with the Peace of Westphalia and its effects of nationalism, rising nation-states and democracy. The Industrial Revolution, on the other hand, led to the rise of technology and international communication. Soon, this all altered the focus globally, and people were able to be more concerned about themselves and leave government powers in the background. If individuals have control over the industry and the borders of that territory, they inevitably have the power.
It is amazing to think that all these efforts are what brought fruits from around the globe, to one place at one time. It is because of these efforts that fruit now has the ability to travel transnationally in a number of 2 short days and be an aspect of revenue. Whether is is political or economic efforts, we have learned that it eventually comes down to the individual. Even though this is the case, however, it can be said that there is now increasing cooperation across the global, with the formation of global teams. We were asked if we believe we are headed in the direction of a Post-Westphalian World, where state lines and division are increasingly becoming less important and more of an issue. Because you have seen this international market first hand and may have learned some things about how it works, do you think we are headed toward a Post-Westphalian World? Do you think that globalization would be stronger with state lines being obsolete or would it cause more issue ?
Sarah Little
Hey Sarah!
DeleteI completely agree with the assumption that Post-Westphalia is in action in the Stuttgart market. It is truly amazing to all of these cultures coming together to create a common marketplace traded in a single currency.
After visiting the market and experiencing other aspects of international economics, I believe we are not just moving towards, but we are in a genuine Post-Westphalian economy on an international scale. Countries, whether they are enemies, allies, or neutral, trade with each other on massive scales. The new "state borders" are no longer the ones drawn on the map, but the economic policies placed to protect domestic food production. We see that in these markets as fruit from other countries that are also grown in Germany, will be sold at a premium as they have to pay an import tax of some kind to get their produce on German soil.
In my personal opinion, I would say a free market is the best way to strengthen globalization. Dropping "state lines" (aka import/export taxes) would allow smaller economies to compete in larger ones at similar prices, strengthening the economies who do a certain task best. For example, in a free market, with no restraint on trades, Germany would become (most likely) the main car producer in the world, while the US, China, and Japan would become the countries most crucial to technology (US ideas, Japanese innovation, Chinese production). If you want to strengthen globalization, this would be the best way to do it, bringing us together in innovation and production. There are many more factors that go into it, but that's for Dr. Khorassani to teach. If you want to slow globalization, it's the opposite; more economic boundaries.
I hope that answers everything.
Gabe
Hey there Gabe! I'm glad everything worked out and you get to spend a semester in such an amazing place! Your posts are really inspiring me to travel abroad, and now I'm even more excited to travel to Peru this summer. I hope you enjoy your time there Fridge. Now to get into these questions.
ReplyDeleteRecently in class we discussed barriers to globalization; one of those being the language barrier. Honestly speaking, that has been the obstacle I'm most worried about for my future travels. I know you worked hard trying to learn German last semester to prepare for your trip, but how has it been since you've arrived? How has the language barrier affected your experience so far? Could you see yourself living in another country even if you didn't speak the language?
Thanks Gabe. Have a good time.
Tristan "Freezer" Bailey
Suh Freezer?
DeleteI'm glad my opportunities are inspiring you like those before me!
You are very correct when you say I tried hard to learn German before I left for my trip. I wanted to not come in completely clueless. I have found, however, that doing Rosetta Stone practices, DuoLingo, and watching Netflix with German Netflix does not help you when it comes to actually speaking to people!
I have found that although I knew alot of the core language, my conversation skills were subpar. I had to test into my German courses and I did quite well on the written piece, but the conversation aspect was torturous. I am happy to say, however, that my German courses have helped me ten-fold in regards to all aspects of the language.
Before I really got going in my courses (my first week), I had trouble reading and understanding a lot of things. The only time I really had to communicate in German was at the store or a restaurant. I have found that between basic phrases and hand motions/finger numbers, you can accomplish alot. People all over the world can understand basic hand movements and finger numbers.
My favorite time of the week is Friday or Saturday nights. Not because I get to breathe and have a break from classes while grabbing a few beers with my friends, it's because I get to use what I've learned in class to order food or drinks, hold basic conversations, and talk to my friend who is also in German class, in German of course. It is exhilarating when right after you try to say something in German, the waiter or waitress doesn't start talking to you in English because you're attempt was spot on!
If I were to move to any country that speaks a different language than my own, I would get basic phrases down before you move there such as "how much", "can I have", and "please, thank you". People will like you much more if you at least try speaking their language. Once you're their, even if you're not fluent, you can get around and survive, but I would NEVER stop learning phrases, words, or sayings which help you fit in. If you understand a culture's language, you access a whole new level of what that culture has to offer.
Thanks Freezer,
Fridge
Hi Gabe, I hope you are enjoying your time in Germany. Seeing your photographs and posts makes me want to take a trip through Europe someday. I was looking at the generational opinions you were talking about with globalization and I was wondering what the millennials (our generation) thought of globalization? It appears to me that in the United States, that the millennials tend to think opposite of the older generation by seeking a more global approach to situations versus a nationalistic approach. What similarities and differences have you seen with millennials in Germany in regards to that subject?
ReplyDelete-Jay Chapin
Hey Jay,
DeleteGerman millennials are very similar to those in the US. We accept globalization a bit more than the older generation, and we see ourselves as not just part of our country, but as part of the world as a whole. We are more attached to other cultures and more influenced as well. We want the things that are popular in other cultures, and we can get those things with a click of a mouse.
The older generation here seems more nationalistic, like those in the US. They want to hold onto the past while living in the future, which can be tough in today's world.
I don't know about you, but I find this very odd that the older generations in our countries are opposed to globalization, while the younger ones accept it, as the older generations are the ones that established the globalized economy; we just live and work in it.
Gabe
Hi Gabe it looks like you're having a fantastic Time in Germany! In your first post you discussed your class schedule and the courses you were taking. I am curious if you have had a chance to work with any of your class mates yet? In class we discussed the Lewis Model of Cross Cultural Communication. In this model Germany is at the most extreme of the Linear-Active side. Linear-Active cultures are defined as very detail focused and job oriented. I am interested if this culture projects the feel of hard work and productivity that these traits contribute to. I believe that the easiest way to recognize this would be through your experiences with your classmates. Do you feel as though the average German student is any more or less productive than an American counterpart and if so do you believe this phenomena is directly related to their culture or a product of other factors?
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing from you,
Tom Kimmins
Hello Tom, I don't believe we have ever met. Nice to meet you via the interwebs.
DeleteUnfortunately, the way my classes are set up, I only have classes with American students (who unfortunately are mostly extremely lazy and don't try too hard as this is more of a vacation to them than it is a learning opportunity as it is for me). I have hung out with a German student, however, who is our RA, Jonas. Jonas is EXTREMELY hard working during the day. He is studying for an exam that will determine his future in law. He studies about eight or more hours a day when he isn't in classes. Oh, I forget to mention the test is in NOVEMBER and he is studying like it's tomorrow. If he is any barometer to the hard working lifestyle of the average German, I would say that yes, they are very determined and linear active. Way more so than the American students here. A few others and myself study alot (I'm currently studying for the LSAT), but nowhere to the amount that he does.
Thanks Mr. Kimmins,
Gabe
Hi Gabe, your trip looks great and a lot of fun, I hope everything is going well! Through the first two weeks we have been studying the different eras of globalization. As the United States is considered a premier global power, many countries have been placing a priority on learning to speak the English language. Through my recent travels abroad it seems as though citizens from other countries are familiar with the English language and are able to speak it relatively well. do the students and citizens you have met in Germany speak the language very well? If so, how well do they speak the language regarding the basic context that exists? I am interested to learn to what extent they are familiar with the English language in comparison to yourself and how well you can communicate with them with language barriers being relevant.
ReplyDeleteI hope you continue to have a fantastic time I Germany!
Thank you,
Daniel Fox
Hey Dan,
DeleteEveryone here speaks English extremely well. There has not been one person who I have come across who can't hold a conversation; especially about politics. From what I understand, it is a requirement for them to learn English is school, as to not only communicate more effectively in our global economy, but to read and understand American media, as we are the top country in terms of media output in the world.
It is very common for German students to walk up to us on the street and begin speaking English, opening up with "excuse my poor English skills; I haven't practiced speaking in a long time", and then they proceed to speak like someone who's primary language is English. It's truly amazing.
To be honest, it kind of stinks that everyone speaks such good English here. I am learning German and I try to start conversations with German to practice, but they usually turn to English quickly to better evolve the conversation. Bars are a good place to speak German though as the bar tenders will speak to you in spurts, allowing you to hold brief, easy conversations that aren't too intensive.
Thanks for the comment,
Gabe
Hi Gabe!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you are making the most of your time in Germany! I enjoyed reading about your experiences so far. I particularly enjoyed reading about the Indoor Market. The collaboration of individuals in the community making fresh produce available to others is admirable! The language barrier issue you ran into was interesting. We actually discussed in class the other day if we felt English should be the language of the world. It seems that it is happening, whether we want it to or not. I have a question that I think you will be able to answer just based on your general experiences in Germany so far. We learned about the Best Fit Model of Leadership in class last week, which emphasizes the relational and task orientations. Do you think that Germans are more relational or task focused? A quick Google search revealed they are pretty individualistic (like Americans) so I would guess task focused, but would love to hear your thoughts from your personal experience!
Best,
McKenzie Fleeman
Hey Mackenzie!
DeleteThe market was in fact a great find! I hope I can return to do some serious shopping. It's worth the train ticket.
I have pondered the question about whether or not English should be universal, and just to throw my two cents in there, I vote no. I have learned French, Chinese, and now Deutsch and I can say that every language provides a key insight into the culture they represent. It does seem however, at least in my experiences, that English is becoming pretty universal as everyone here seems to be able to speak it, besides a select few, such as those at the market.
In response to your BFM question, your google search yielded a solid answer. Germany is very individualistic. I have mentioned this before but it's worth restating; Germans don't care about your problems unless they know you. You won't see anyone talking on the tram about their rough day at work or about their sick dog. People just want to work and get home to their families, who they want to talk to. Everyone seems pretty reserved here, and that's okay. It's more efficient :)
Hope that helps!
Gabe
Hi Gabe!
DeleteThank you for providing your insight! I think it is interesting to hear your view since you know more than one language (a lot of people arguing this topic do not). That is so interesting that people aren't concerned about the details unless they have a relationship with one another. I can see how that would be awesome for efficiency! Thank you for responding and enjoy the rest of your stay!
Best,
McKenzie
Gabe,
ReplyDeleteI think that its awesome that you are able to experience German culture while studying abroad. I think that its neat that you seem to be taking the time to take a deeper look into what German culture is really like, instead of just checking out the highlights of an area and moving on. I think that it is especially interesting that you had the chance to take a tour from a local tour guide.
In class we have been talking about some of the pros and cons of globalization, and I am wondering how much your thoughts on the values of globalization have changed since you have been living in a different country for awhile now. Since you are an outsider in this different culture, have your thoughts on the overall value of globalization changed? I myself have lived in Ohio for my entire life, and don't really know what its like to be in a different culture that includes a different language.
I am also curious about how the local tour guide did with representing her own cultural values-- since she is a local tour guide I would expect her to be a good representation of what her culture stands for. Did she explain or demonstrate in her behavior German cultural norms that would be different than American norms? Also, was she interested in learning about American culture from you?
I hope that you continue to enjoy your time in Germany.
Thanks,
Ryan Greenwood
Ryan,
DeleteI hope my posts continue to purvey my strategy of experiencing Europe through cultural experiences that aren't tourist traps. Make sure to stay tuned as I just booked a trip to Prague, which I plan on taking full advantage of. No tourist traps for me!
Like you, before my trip, I have always lived in Ohio and I have never experienced a different culture apart from my trips to the south. I have never been out of the States unless you count me sticking my head over Niagara Falls as an illegal entry into Canada.
Since being here, I think my experiences have cemented my views on globalization. I love the fact that Germany's culture is so rich and it is easy to experience here. In terms of globalization, I like the common, free marketplace that we pretty much have now. I like being able to connect with people anywhere in the world over sports or media, but I also want traveling to be an experience into a different culture, which is exactly how I feel Germany has been so far. Globalization has definitely this country, but they are holding onto cultural norms that make them, them.
In regards to my Stuttgart tour guide, her tour was very historical and she tried to be as American as possible to connect with us I guess. She was swell, but I don't think she represented all that Stuttgart is. She was more of a "look to the right to see water. It's special water". She wasn't as culturally in depth as Kristian was. Sorry I couldn't help you with that :/.
Thanks,
Gabe
Hey Gabe! Looks like you're having a great time in Germany, soo jealous! Being able to study abroad this semester is a great opportunity and it looks like you're taking full advantage of it! As you know, we're all in global leadership this semester and we're studying global connections and complexities of various leadership styles as well as how they relate to other cultures. While in Germany, have you had any experiences where these connections of culture has affected your time there? I noticed that you are taking a lot of German classes. Do you think that learning German is helping you as much as you thought it would? I know being submerged in a culture can have negatives and positives, but I'm just interested to know if this immersion is going positively, in regards to language and culture? Has anyone treated you negatively because you are American? I know those are a lot of questions but I look forward to hearing back from you!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Kenzi McAfee
Hey Kenzi!
DeleteDon't worry about asking too many questions, I'm happy I can answer them in as much extent as I can or have time for!
In regards to your first question, I haven't really found a situation in which my background in our American Culture has truly affected my experiences here. I came in with an open mind and I felt like I have been pretty flexible when it comes to cultural differences. I enjoy the leadership style of our German teachers who teach as if we were a German group of students, and not adapting their teaching style to us. I enjoy when a teacher is approachable, but doesn't allow people to just talk to talk. They need substance or they'll cut you off. It's so nice and it allows us to learn more in a shorter amount of time. I'd say I've learned more in three, three-hour sessions of my Nazi Germany history class, than I did in a year of high school history class.
In terms of learning German and its affects on my experiences, I would say that it has definitely paid off and having five hours of German class in the morning is definitely worth it as you learn so much and you can use what you've learned right away by taking a tram downtown and heading to a bar or restaurant and speaking to locals (to a point, then they just want to get back to what they were doing). Understanding a language, even basic phrases, can help you experience so much more and it'll increase the respect locals have for you when you at least try to speak their native tongue. The more you know, the more opportunities open up.
My immersion so far has gone very smoothly. As I mentioned above, I came in with an open mind, willing to do anything, and it has paid off. Learning German here also opens up a another world of opportunity which makes it even easier to submerge yourself in the culture. Everything has gone surprisingly smooth so far. We'll see how it goes when I go to Prague where they speak Czech and Russian...
Being an American in Europe, it is hard not to be a walking cliche. I try very hard not to act American. I don't talk loudly, I don't act entitled, and I try to speak only in German. German's respect you much more if you try to fit in. Walking around yelling and laughing loudly and being rude sounds like an obvious nono, but students here still do it, which is extremely annoying. I think I get around just fine besides from my wardrobe, but I really can't do anything about it. I haven't been mistreated for being an American, but I wouldn't doubt it if other American students have gotten chewed out in German at some point. I have heard a story about an American girl in my school who laid out on the tram and put her dirty feet on the seat. A German lady hit here with her purse and told her to stop being a rude American and to respect Germany's property. I don't think that story is false at all, as I have almost found myself yelling at some of these Americans haha. Long story sort, try to fit in and try to learn as much as you can about a culture and you'll be fine, negating the cliche American tourist attitude.
Ciao,
Gabe
Hi Gabe,
ReplyDeleteI don't have any questions. I just wanted to let you know that I love reading about your experiences and I wish you the best for the rest of the semester. Oh, and the Green Machine continues to move forward!
Enjoy!
Professor Harding
Hey Professor Harding!
DeleteGreat to hear from you! I hope my posts can help everyone a new side of Germany! I'm pumped to hear about the Green Machine! Tell them I said good luck!
Ciao,
Gabe
Hi Gabe!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you're having a great time in Germany, I'm super jealous of your opportunity to be completely submerged in another culture like that. Do you feel like it has helped you to become a leader with a more global context? Or do you feel it has emphasized your traits as a national leader?
We have learned in leadership recently about the effects of large chain businesses (i.e. Walmart) coming into areas that initially had a rich local culture and beating out the competition (i.e. local shops) and therefor taking away from the culture there. We actually mentioned that this could be seen in little Marietta, so I was wondering if you could see this in Germany, occurring on a much larger scale.
Hope all is well!
Mandi Medykowski
Allo Mandi!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry, I haven't checked the blog in a while. I've been very busy. I am hoping to upload another post by next week following my trip this weekend to Prague.
To answer your question about improving my leadership from a more global context, I would say it has in certain ways. In terms of leading people from other cultures (like those outside the US), I have not had many experiences with this, if at all. What I do feel is helping me develop as a leader is leading others (from my own culture) in uncomfortable circumstances. There have been multiple times when I had to lead others in times of uncertainty and confusion. When we go on excursions alone, not with our program guides, things don't always go as planned. I would like to think my leadership education has allowed me to capitalize on these events and turn them into leadership-developing opportunities Whether it be calming everyone down when we miss our train and finding an alternative route back to Heidelberg, or if there is a language barrier that hinders us from continuing on with our plans, I try to work with everyone and sort out the situation while adapting to the world around us. With this aspect of adapting however, I feel like it improves not only my overall leadership abilities but those leadership abilities on global leader. When you're one of the only ones in the group that understands the local language, your ability to perform under pressure is valued.
Answering your follow-up question, I have found that although Germany is developing as fast as any other country, I don't see commercialism on as grand a scale as we do in the US. Sure, every major city has a shopping mall, even Heidelberg, and some, like nearby Mannheim, are nearly stuffed with shops of all kinds, but it seems as though many of those shops are small businesses and they are holding strong. Places like McDonalds or Subway are an after thought here. Many would prefer to walk an extra mile to grab a Kabab or some traditional German cuisine.
I haven't been to anywhere yet that completely supported by Ma and Pa shops, but I'm sure they exist here. That's part of the attraction to Germany, the small shops and restaurants. So to summarize, chains aren't as big of a deal here as they are in the US. Germans don't mind paying more for quality and service. Ma and Pa shops are here to stay as they attribute in large amounts to the appeal of the country.
I appreciate the question! Look out for more blogs soon!
Gabe