Hays Hopkins: My Arrival in Mainz, Germany

My first week and a half in Mainz has been both fantastic and fast.  It started with getting a lift from Frankfurt airport by Frau Karst of the Mainz Freundschaftkreis; after being in Heathrow for 8 hours overnight the appreciation of this gesture cannot be overstated.  After arriving at my place and taking a short nap, my first night ended with me being treated to dinner by Frau Karst and, another Sister Cities member, Frau Bell Koehler.  These gestures on my first day are entirely indicative of my stay thus far.

Classes started, and continue, in a flurry.  My teacher is so patient and conscious of the students that I feel that I’ve had no trouble integrating into an all German-language classroom.  I wish I could say the same for the times that I have hung out with German students!  It is difficult to keep up to the normal pace, but I have been hanging in there.  The students in my dormitory have asked me out to play soccer and just walk along the Rhine.  Along with the leisure program of the summer course, my schedule is rather full.

As to the theme of what I have learned so far, I do have an interesting story.  Another member of the Mainz Freundschaftkreis invited me to his house for a BBQ.  Herr Licht graciously invited me into his home and we entered into a discussion on cultural differences.  He reminded me that, although Americans can often find Germans too rude or direct, that I must not interpret actions from my own cultural vantage point.  Having to keep this in mind on a daily basis brings my academic learning to reality; however, I have, admittedly, had  little chance to exercise such understanding, as everyone has been so welcoming.
Bis bald!