What should I do with my german student?

Question

This September, I am getting a German Exchange Student, and I have no clue what she will be like!

Since I love nyc, as long as the director of exchange students at my school is okay with it, I'm taking her to nyc for the day.Though I hate sight seeing and been to nyc like a million times, I don't know where to take someone who has never been there.

- Would she want to see the Statue of Liberty or Empire State Building, or do you think she'd be okay just walking around and get lunch and go shopping like I normally do..

- And what kind of food do germans normally like? My favorite place is Belgium/French cuisine. Do you think she'd like that?

- Anything else i should know about hosting a german student that is important?

thanks in advance!

: )

Answer 1

Take her to the Statue of Liberty, if there's one thing she thinks of when she thinks of New York it's that.

Other than that, let her see NYC as you would see it.  

Answer 2

Since you're in a different area, some of these things may be different, it's also a different girl that we had, obviously, haha. Our school had a whole class of German students come over for three weeks, and one stayed with us.

I live about 45 minutes out of Atlanta, Georgia. It's highly likely if your girl hasn't been to NYC before, she IS going to want to see the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, and tourist-y things around the area, but I can almost guarantee you that it's not all she's going to want to do. It's like, if you went to Paris would you not even want to go up and look at the Eiffel Tower? What we did was, visited the big things, like the GA Aquarium, Stone Mountain, ATL Underground, World of Coke, but did it spread out, that way it was kind of spread out and just kinda went with the flow. If she's into shopping more than she is interested in the history and things of New York, then work with that,if you have money, go see a play or something.  

Really, the best thing to do is just to talk to her, find out what she's interested in doing. Be the best host you can. She's there to try new things, so try to encourage trying to get her to eat some new things she wouldn't usually eat in Germany, and make suggestions on what you really like and she if she wants to give it a try, though she'll probably want to anyway. People don't usually spend a lot of money to travel overseas just to not sightsee at least a little, or try new things.

I hope this was somewhat helpful. Communication is your best key here. Hope you two have a good time!

Answer 3

Well I am a German and if I had the opportunity to see NYC I would definitely want to see the sights. One can go shopping in Germany. A lot more shops in NCY and classy ones but still they are shops. I would want to see the most important things for sightseeing because then I could take photos and say I have been there and maybe you can get a photo taken with the two of you together and if you get on really well she will like to keep that memory and a German eats what everyone else eats. At least I do. I definitely wouldn't want German food if I visited America. I would eat whatever. I would also maybe enjoy a typical BBQ because that's something one doesn't see often in Germany. Any food should be fine.. or just grab a hot dog.. As a tourist of course she will want to see sights rather than shopping. For you I can understand it's different as you know the city so well but Germany is about 3000 miles away from NYC so I believe I definitely would want to see the sights and if there is time. Go on a shopping spee some other time.. she won't have that opportunity again to see all the places worthwhile seeing for which most tourists come to NYC.

She will be able to talk to you and tell you maybe what she prefers. If you are of a similar age group there is no reason why you two shouldn't get along well. It's a different culture but she will read up about NYC I am sure and maybe ask you questions and you can feel free if you are interested to ask her questions about life in her country.. and what she likes doing when she is in her home country.. You will find a lot to talk about and learn about each others culture. I don't know but most likely she will bring a little gift for you along. Most people would do that if she lives with your family.. and she will also like to go shopping but she would be so overwhelmed by all the posh shops in NYC if you take her too soon that she would have to write home to her parents and write ''Mom, dad, I saw wow so many great shops.. I spent all my money please sent me more... she will want to take gifts back to her family so she wants to have money before she goes back home...

Answer 4

do what you like, the point of an exchange is for them to experience a different country after all! plus she might feel awkward telling you what she wants because she doens't want to impose so have a plan.