Germans! Tell me about yourselves!!!!!?

Question

We are hosting an exchange student from Germany. He is a 16 or 17 year old boy. We have 2 months to prepare for his arrival. He will have his own bedroom at our home.

We want to do everything we can to make him feel comfortable. So, what can you tell me about Germans? About their culture, their customs. typical daily lives, home lives.....anything!

Answer 1

If he feels uncomfortable, just ask him how you may approve his situation.

Answer 2

Germans are really nice people. At least in some parts of Germany the people are very environment-friendly. They usually have many many many recycling options and always have a compost. They use alternative forms of transportation as apposed to cars when ever possible. They are allowed to drink at beer and wine at age 16 so he will most likely be used to having that as an option. They eat a lot of bread with things on top for at least 2 meals of the day, such as cheese and meat as well as spreads and veggies.

One thing to be aware of is that they can be very interested in American politics and I never once met one who was not for Obama.

They are sweet nice people who are used to lots of freedoms when it comes to what they choose to spend there time doing.

Viel spass, es wird gut! Das weiss ich!!!!!

Answer 3

Uncle sam´s son is right. Be yourself. Your gest doesn´t want to find a little Germany in your home. At arrival, he is after a long journey. Treat him like someone from the own family Besides, didn´t the exchange organisation give you some advise????

Answer 4

Be on time.When someone is late or we dont leave at the spoken time then some may be a bit angry.

the meals should be taken together.Table manners must be followed.if you have a son/daughter and her table manners are bad then he will make big eyes and probably think you failed in upbringing.

give him responsibility like washing this or that or cut grass or

whatever

dont be too overfriendly..friendlyness can be ok but all the time overfriendly will be too much.

DONT drive so much with the car.use bycicles or go by feet.in germany he does same

dont make too fat food/dont make too much meat..not so many hamburgers

tomoato noodles,mushroom noodles or any other noodles,or just listen to what he likes

use a bit more formal/noble speech

close all not needed doors in the house as it is a sign of order

he wont have a problem with opened doors but he will think you are lazy or not orderly

donnu if you watch much TV , if so watch less

Answer 5

Well , most germans are pretty homie , so a confy room would be gd.  Umm... if hes 16 or  17  , he probably is aloud to drink or atleast drink beer, and well germans are famous for their beers :P  , usually prefer heineken or becks. Are used to junk food, but usually have a home meal for dinner. Also LOVE chocolates.

Usually have same music interests as americans but some have others.

Well luck !!!

Answer 6

THe fact that you are even asking this question shows how little you have to prepare for him staying with you. You are worrying about him having a good time already! Yet he will come to stay with you to experience your culture. So, explain your culture to him, don't copy his. Do what you always do, act like you always act. Be yourself. And than ask him to participate. If you are going to church on Sunday, ask him to accompany you. Or tell him all the family is going, and he's going with you. If one of your kids has a beseball or basketball game, take him with you, watch the game, explain the rules, get him "typical" snacks. Take him grocery shopping with you. Just interact with him. Also, I don't know how long he will stay with you? Is he only going to stay for two weeks? Try to show him how you live your lifes and how your every day is. Is he going to stay a year? Explain the way things are, help him understand school rules and procedures, help him make friends. And if you have questions, ask him! Because, like in the US, all German families are different.

Have a great time with him!

EDIT:

SInce he's going to be there for a year, yes, I agree with you, he might get homesick during that time. Well, sometimes that's just the way it is, and you can't do anything about it. But from my personal experience, I felt better when I did something new than, and was not reminded of home even more. But something that I liked doing with my host families or roomies (while I was in the UK, and while I was in the US) was to cook German food or bake something for them. So you might want to ask him what his favorite German food is (like, for instance, Sauerbraten) and ask him to prepare it with you/help you prepare it. Believe me, he will get all exited about his favorite food, and than discover what he will have to do to get it, than he will have a very good chioce to vent a good part of his frustration (as ingredients are a little hard to get, and you will need a bit of improvisation), and generally, if his parents aren't chefs, chances are at 17 he isn't a wizard in the kitchen, so he'll have to overcome some obstacles during cooking. When that food is on the table, he'll be over being homesick. And he'll have had fun. With you. And he will have done something for you, as you for him.

Hope that helped!

Answer 7

Your intension is nice but isn't it more that the exchange student shall see how we live

Answer 8

Oh, please, just don't prepare too much! He's coming to learn about YOUR way of life, so just keep on living like you used to. I once was an exchange student in France, and it made me feel a little confused how my hosts tried to be amicable and respectful and all that. Just don't change your way of life, simply let him participate.

Keep in mind (but just a little bit) that he might need explanation of things that seem simple to you. I've learned from a friend that cultural differences can start with something as simple as a doorknob: In Germany, doors usually have levers, not k***s. School rules may be VERY different, and of course there are some different rules of behavior in society. But that's the advantage young people have: They can act on an informal level.

Our cultures have more in common than divides them, so you'll find out there's no need to prepare much. Young people going on a student exchange do that deliberately with the intention to learn, so I'm sure he would appreciate it if you treated him not like a guest, but, say, a brother who had been abroad for a while and has to re-adapt.

I remember when I came to France, I was very shy in the beginning, but my hosts made me feel so much at home that I soon forgot about it. I didn't even feel homesick, which had been my biggest fear. (It were the days before the arrival of the internet, and phone calls weren't actually cheap.) Be sure, the guy's just as nervous as you are.

Have fun together!