A Remarkable Story from a German Traveler
http://www.freeenglishlessons.com/articlelive/articles/464/1/A-Remarkable-Story-from-a-German-Traveler/Page1.html
Steve McCrea
I've traveled to over 45 countries and I've almost three years in other countries. What can we learn from each other?I've developed a pronunciation system called "It Sounds Like" and I hope people will avoid using IPA (backwards C, a+e, upside-down V). Let's talk! Write to freeEnglishLessons@gmail.com. My Orkut and Facebook accounts are both linked to FreeEnglishLessons@gmail.com.
I am a teacher in a school in Fort Lauderdale.
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By Steve McCrea
Published on 01/6/2009
Here is the perspective of a student from Germany.... Write to him with your comments.
First Impressions of the USA (by a visitor from Germany)
On Oct 20, 2008, at 1:55 PM, Wolfgang Ebert wrote:
This is my first trip to the United States of America and I want to write down my first impressions about this country.
First of all it was quite hard to get a so-called „Student Visa“. To get one I had to travel to Berlin in the US Embassy and I had to give very personal data about myself.
Sure, I heard that the Americans are very sensitive about these things, but it was ridiculous that I had to make fingerprints of all my fingers – like a criminal.
But the course and the accommodation had been booked already and thus there was no turning back.
After an interview with an official I got the confirmation that „I will get my VISA“
The first step was made – I may enter the USA – so far so good.
After this, I asked a girl-friend of mine to book me a cheap flight to Fort Lauderdale and back via New York - for some shopping and sightseeing and to stay there for round about 3 days. She found a good and cheap connection and a nice hotel directly beside the Empire State building.
Then my journey began and I was very impressed how small the distance is between Europe and „The New Land“. We reached Greenland quite quickly and then we flew along the coast down to the south. (or to the southern states ;-)) It seemed to me that the distance between Europe and the „new continent“ was as long as the West Coast of North America.
I landed in Atlanta and my impressions about this country were starting very soon. First it seemed that several Americans use a lot of perfume. There was always a significant fragrant cloud around the men and women. Certainly normal for women but abnormal for all these guys. Perhaps this depends on the warm weather.
The second impression was that nearly all of the male ones have a „mobile-bag“ for their phone at their belt. It's obsolete to use such bags in Germany. This thought has been approved later in Fort Lauderdale – where nearly every man has such a bag. They take a call while they are driving, eating and walking – it's like the Italians are famous for. They phone everywhere and in every situation.
Last but not least, the big cars were very impressive – they are typical for the USA and here in Fort Lauderdale there are a lot of them. In addition the cars have no number-plate on the front of the car. I was surprised to see that.
This should be enough for now – I'm getting tired - and I think this is a good issue to discuss it in the group next week.
You can write to Wolfgang at: wolfgangebert@gmx.de
Send your suggestions for changes in US policy to: steveenglishteacher@hotmail.com and I will pass them to the White House. That's how change can happen in the USA, one letter at a time.
This is my first trip to the United States of America and I want to write down my first impressions about this country.
First of all it was quite hard to get a so-called „Student Visa“. To get one I had to travel to Berlin in the US Embassy and I had to give very personal data about myself.
Sure, I heard that the Americans are very sensitive about these things, but it was ridiculous that I had to make fingerprints of all my fingers – like a criminal.
But the course and the accommodation had been booked already and thus there was no turning back.
After an interview with an official I got the confirmation that „I will get my VISA“
The first step was made – I may enter the USA – so far so good.
After this, I asked a girl-friend of mine to book me a cheap flight to Fort Lauderdale and back via New York - for some shopping and sightseeing and to stay there for round about 3 days. She found a good and cheap connection and a nice hotel directly beside the Empire State building.
Then my journey began and I was very impressed how small the distance is between Europe and „The New Land“. We reached Greenland quite quickly and then we flew along the coast down to the south. (or to the southern states ;-)) It seemed to me that the distance between Europe and the „new continent“ was as long as the West Coast of North America.
I landed in Atlanta and my impressions about this country were starting very soon. First it seemed that several Americans use a lot of perfume. There was always a significant fragrant cloud around the men and women. Certainly normal for women but abnormal for all these guys. Perhaps this depends on the warm weather.
The second impression was that nearly all of the male ones have a „mobile-bag“ for their phone at their belt. It's obsolete to use such bags in Germany. This thought has been approved later in Fort Lauderdale – where nearly every man has such a bag. They take a call while they are driving, eating and walking – it's like the Italians are famous for. They phone everywhere and in every situation.
Last but not least, the big cars were very impressive – they are typical for the USA and here in Fort Lauderdale there are a lot of them. In addition the cars have no number-plate on the front of the car. I was surprised to see that.
This should be enough for now – I'm getting tired - and I think this is a good issue to discuss it in the group next week.
You can write to Wolfgang at: wolfgangebert@gmx.de
Send your suggestions for changes in US policy to: steveenglishteacher@hotmail.com and I will pass them to the White House. That's how change can happen in the USA, one letter at a time.