Hi guys,
Now my trip abroad seems to be in the end stage. I'm going to enjoy my last weekend in Cincinnati.
On Sunday we will go on to New York, and hopefully earn some more new knowledge.
What I learned during the classes was mainly cultural understanding. At first I get a small cultural shock if I saw all the black people in the neighborhood. In the end I must admit that I really feel comfortable in the dorm and around it. I really like going to the Stop' n' Go, because it was quite different to German night markets, of course primary of the different nationalities of customers. I wouldn't get such an realistic impression only with listening e.g for reports about different cultures. It's important to make your own impressions so that you can decide whether you agree with adjustments or disagree.
Especially in the language I learned some new rules concerning the usage of commas. I also refreshed my knowledge about the right use of which,that and who.
Of course it is more efficient learning with a native speaker than a usual German teacher. You can prove your understanding with different slangs. It was important that we also could spoke to people which aren't prepared to non native speakers, so that they spoke in their usual speed and common speech. Another difference between the summer course and my ordinary lectures are that we have to analyze and evaluate several topics.
What was new for me, was the knowledge about typical behavior of Germans when they meet Americans. It seems that we have a different way of listening. Americans might think that we are uninterested or bored because we don't show any emotions. In fact it is just our way to show our respect and politeness while not interrupting the speaker.
I think I will include the last blog into this one because both themes are quite similar.
I don't expect learning so much about culture on this trip and thats what I enjoyed the most. I wanted to improve my English and besides I learned many new things about religions, food, music and history. A nice side effect :-)
I also expected to have more problems with understanding the inhabitants. I think my writing's gets a little better, but I don't think that my speaking is now more runnier than before. For me the attitude against a new country has changed a lot. I'm now more open minded and more interested in foreign culture.
Freitag, 4. September 2009
Mittwoch, 2. September 2009
Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
Dear Rock n Roller,
Yesterday we've got a day trip to Cleveland for visiting the Rock' n' Roll Hall of Fame. I must admit that I'm not that interested in Rock n Roll, so that I haven't got much expectation for the museum.
I think the athmosphere of the museum was quite good, because there was a well done mixture between mulimedia stuff and original samples. I really enjoyed the music boxes where you can listen to the 500 most important rock songs. At this point, I first realised that it was more than just rock music. Rock' n' Roll was also influenced by e.g hip hop, rap and soul music. This wide range of music genres made the museum interesting, even for me as an none rock n roller ;-)
I was a little bit overcharged while watching the movies. The different genres and times changed the whole time and I wasn't able to arrange it. The only statement, which they could get across was that it was more than just music. Rock' n' Roll means a whole way of life. It starts with typical clothes and ends with the controversial behaviour of the musicans. I think that the behaviour of them especially the drugs things should be seperated from their music. A musican should be famous because of his music and not for the drug abuse.
I think for the american culture the influence of black music was very important, because maybe the interactions of black and white music and musican could bring them a little more together. However I must say that the museum does not focus on that issue so much.
All the more if musican die in a young age, they get a real legend or hero status. The best examples are Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix or even now Michael Jackson. They all haven't got the best behaviour, but they realised their dreams. That's why people love them. They lived the life everybody wants to. They were rich and famous and because of that they get the hero status.
Yesterday we've got a day trip to Cleveland for visiting the Rock' n' Roll Hall of Fame. I must admit that I'm not that interested in Rock n Roll, so that I haven't got much expectation for the museum.
I think the athmosphere of the museum was quite good, because there was a well done mixture between mulimedia stuff and original samples. I really enjoyed the music boxes where you can listen to the 500 most important rock songs. At this point, I first realised that it was more than just rock music. Rock' n' Roll was also influenced by e.g hip hop, rap and soul music. This wide range of music genres made the museum interesting, even for me as an none rock n roller ;-)
I was a little bit overcharged while watching the movies. The different genres and times changed the whole time and I wasn't able to arrange it. The only statement, which they could get across was that it was more than just music. Rock' n' Roll means a whole way of life. It starts with typical clothes and ends with the controversial behaviour of the musicans. I think that the behaviour of them especially the drugs things should be seperated from their music. A musican should be famous because of his music and not for the drug abuse.
I think for the american culture the influence of black music was very important, because maybe the interactions of black and white music and musican could bring them a little more together. However I must say that the museum does not focus on that issue so much.
All the more if musican die in a young age, they get a real legend or hero status. The best examples are Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix or even now Michael Jackson. They all haven't got the best behaviour, but they realised their dreams. That's why people love them. They lived the life everybody wants to. They were rich and famous and because of that they get the hero status.
Montag, 31. August 2009
Religion in America
Dear Religion and Non-Religion Guy,
We visited a christian church on sunday, which was really different to our churches. It was more like a conference center, where families and friends meet each other, than a traditional church. They tried to achieve the people with giving the feeling of community. They request people to work together, and help poorer people. They give a lot of examples where people done good things, and how the faith change their life positively. With telling such real stories, and showing e.g videos from former common activities, they want to reach the emotion of the people.
In the mosque it was very interesting for me because I never visited such facility before. It is obvious that some prejudice against muslimes raise out of unknowledge. As well from the believers as from the non-muslimes. The believe in the Islam should guide the believer through their life and take them to the right way straight to heaven. The believers think that only the right behavior during the whole life can save from hell. For me it is difficult to understand how peoples life can only involve about religion, and in the Islam the whole daily life turns around the guidelines that are written in the koran.
Both religions wanted the people to do good things for other humans, and with these deeds get something good back from "god". Furthermore both religions wants to make clear that true faith must come from the heart. Believers shouldn't handle because of someones will, they should act because they want to, and trust in god. However I think it is hard to combine both religion communities. From the past till now their were problems with unite different religions and although they have the same or similar background and appeal, it isn't easy to bring them together. Though the acceptance of the mosque and the big resonance from the Crossroad Church shows that religions gets more and more unite, but like other historical topics the development needs time at all.
We visited a christian church on sunday, which was really different to our churches. It was more like a conference center, where families and friends meet each other, than a traditional church. They tried to achieve the people with giving the feeling of community. They request people to work together, and help poorer people. They give a lot of examples where people done good things, and how the faith change their life positively. With telling such real stories, and showing e.g videos from former common activities, they want to reach the emotion of the people.
In the mosque it was very interesting for me because I never visited such facility before. It is obvious that some prejudice against muslimes raise out of unknowledge. As well from the believers as from the non-muslimes. The believe in the Islam should guide the believer through their life and take them to the right way straight to heaven. The believers think that only the right behavior during the whole life can save from hell. For me it is difficult to understand how peoples life can only involve about religion, and in the Islam the whole daily life turns around the guidelines that are written in the koran.
Both religions wanted the people to do good things for other humans, and with these deeds get something good back from "god". Furthermore both religions wants to make clear that true faith must come from the heart. Believers shouldn't handle because of someones will, they should act because they want to, and trust in god. However I think it is hard to combine both religion communities. From the past till now their were problems with unite different religions and although they have the same or similar background and appeal, it isn't easy to bring them together. Though the acceptance of the mosque and the big resonance from the Crossroad Church shows that religions gets more and more unite, but like other historical topics the development needs time at all.
Freitag, 28. August 2009
Medical Care in America
Dear Reader,
Today we visited a general purpose pharmacy and a high-tech genetics laboratory.
At first we were at the Children's Hospital. We were guided through the sections of genetics laboratories.
They can do researches of the patients DNA and out of that, they could indicative of possible diseases. The modern genetic research, is able to check up if an unborn human, will suffer from e.g trisomy 21. To do such an research is quite expensive, and without any medical assurance, for many people not affordable. Even if they could pay such an research, not everyone would do it, because of some ethical issues.
Is it really got to know that you maybe suffer from cancer, with a percentage of 25 %? It's a hard issue talking about. Because it's about humans privacy. In my opinion, it's important to push these gentic science forward, but it should never become a obligation for anyone.
After that visit we went to Wallgreens, for me it is a mixture between drugstore and pharmcy. In this store you can buy things like in Germans drugstores, e.g cosmetics, some foods, cleaners, toys, electrical, food for pets, candies and even even magazines. You can purchase medicine against cold and fu and pain relievers. More specific medicine is handed over a special counter. There are a wide range of medicine, they also offer Walgreen's Brands which are cheaper than the original ones.
I think Walgreen is a good possibiltiy to get medicine for most social groups. To my mind the problem of getting the medicine there, is that people buy there without consult a doctor before. You have to inform yourself with e.g the internet or the instruction leaflet. But health is a topic with which you shouldn't avoid unseriously.
All in all I think in comparison to the American health system, the German ones is better. Because in Germany everybody has a health insurance and everybody get the help he needed. Health should not depends on the social staus a person has.
Today we visited a general purpose pharmacy and a high-tech genetics laboratory.
At first we were at the Children's Hospital. We were guided through the sections of genetics laboratories.
They can do researches of the patients DNA and out of that, they could indicative of possible diseases. The modern genetic research, is able to check up if an unborn human, will suffer from e.g trisomy 21. To do such an research is quite expensive, and without any medical assurance, for many people not affordable. Even if they could pay such an research, not everyone would do it, because of some ethical issues.
Is it really got to know that you maybe suffer from cancer, with a percentage of 25 %? It's a hard issue talking about. Because it's about humans privacy. In my opinion, it's important to push these gentic science forward, but it should never become a obligation for anyone.
After that visit we went to Wallgreens, for me it is a mixture between drugstore and pharmcy. In this store you can buy things like in Germans drugstores, e.g cosmetics, some foods, cleaners, toys, electrical, food for pets, candies and even even magazines. You can purchase medicine against cold and fu and pain relievers. More specific medicine is handed over a special counter. There are a wide range of medicine, they also offer Walgreen's Brands which are cheaper than the original ones.
I think Walgreen is a good possibiltiy to get medicine for most social groups. To my mind the problem of getting the medicine there, is that people buy there without consult a doctor before. You have to inform yourself with e.g the internet or the instruction leaflet. But health is a topic with which you shouldn't avoid unseriously.
All in all I think in comparison to the American health system, the German ones is better. Because in Germany everybody has a health insurance and everybody get the help he needed. Health should not depends on the social staus a person has.
Mittwoch, 26. August 2009
Cultural Perspectives on the Wall
Dear Reader,
Today we went to Columbus and visited the Ohio University.
We saw an exhibition about the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In the first part of the exibitions there were photographs, which showed the delvelopement from a certain place or bulding in the course of time. Usually the buildings get renovated, but sometimes they are completly abrupted.
In the second part students from University of Regensburg presented their way of understanding the topic. They tried to show the visitor that in some cases the incidents are already forgotten, and in others their are many people still remembering today. The asked people about their feelings when thinking of the past. They wanted to know about their mind about the gap between former West and East Germany.
I think I don´t really learn anything new, but it is always an interesting issue, which can never be forgotten.
The difference between exibits in Germany and in foreign countries maybe are that Germany can show more authentic materials, because they saved it. Another facts is that it is possible to visit certain places.
The reconstruction of the Berlin wall, should remember the people what happens in the past. These contemporary witness can be shown to our descendants.
The Berlin wall was a material division, between the former East und West Germans, today their is still a seperation between both sections. It´s getting better and better but it needs time. To this day their are prejudices that e.g the former West Germans are arrogant and the East Germans are lazy. Especially for my generations their is no real difference because we don´t wittness the past happenings.
Today we went to Columbus and visited the Ohio University.
We saw an exhibition about the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In the first part of the exibitions there were photographs, which showed the delvelopement from a certain place or bulding in the course of time. Usually the buildings get renovated, but sometimes they are completly abrupted.
In the second part students from University of Regensburg presented their way of understanding the topic. They tried to show the visitor that in some cases the incidents are already forgotten, and in others their are many people still remembering today. The asked people about their feelings when thinking of the past. They wanted to know about their mind about the gap between former West and East Germany.
I think I don´t really learn anything new, but it is always an interesting issue, which can never be forgotten.
The difference between exibits in Germany and in foreign countries maybe are that Germany can show more authentic materials, because they saved it. Another facts is that it is possible to visit certain places.
The reconstruction of the Berlin wall, should remember the people what happens in the past. These contemporary witness can be shown to our descendants.
The Berlin wall was a material division, between the former East und West Germans, today their is still a seperation between both sections. It´s getting better and better but it needs time. To this day their are prejudices that e.g the former West Germans are arrogant and the East Germans are lazy. Especially for my generations their is no real difference because we don´t wittness the past happenings.
Dienstag, 25. August 2009
How children play and learn
Hey Reader,
Today we visited the Children's Museum in Cincinnati.
I can't remember that I visited such a museum in my childhood. I only remember that I visited a science museum, which was comparable to these, in the age of 16. The issues were the same and the way the exhibitor wants the visitors to learn something. Learning by doing is the sense in it. The children should discover and try things to understand the causes and effects.
In traditional museums you have for example headphones or a guide who explains things to you. Visitors have to read a lot of text to understand what is displayed. In kids museum the texts are not asked for. Some children can't even read, so it's required to make things understandable without an explanation and that's the fact what is difficult. All in all I thinks in this museum it's was well done. I could notice that the kids understand what they have to do.
In my mind I think the museum was attractive for a wide range of age. Even the parents and older visitors were interested in some sections, for example the balls flying in the wind flow. Children with different ages and development were addressed because it's doesn't matters how old somebody is, you were learning all life long. A prerequisite is, however, that all children could reach the toys. I saw a little girl standing on an stool to attain the water stuff.
The kids learn different things in each specific sections. For instance they learned how to lead water in different ways with pipelines.
I think learning by doing and with fun is more effective than teach kids something in a serious way. Of course it isn't always possible to entertain children with learning stuff. It's positive to awake children interests in science, culture and nature issues as soon as possible. That's why I think such museum is a good way to promote this.
Today we visited the Children's Museum in Cincinnati.
I can't remember that I visited such a museum in my childhood. I only remember that I visited a science museum, which was comparable to these, in the age of 16. The issues were the same and the way the exhibitor wants the visitors to learn something. Learning by doing is the sense in it. The children should discover and try things to understand the causes and effects.
In traditional museums you have for example headphones or a guide who explains things to you. Visitors have to read a lot of text to understand what is displayed. In kids museum the texts are not asked for. Some children can't even read, so it's required to make things understandable without an explanation and that's the fact what is difficult. All in all I thinks in this museum it's was well done. I could notice that the kids understand what they have to do.
In my mind I think the museum was attractive for a wide range of age. Even the parents and older visitors were interested in some sections, for example the balls flying in the wind flow. Children with different ages and development were addressed because it's doesn't matters how old somebody is, you were learning all life long. A prerequisite is, however, that all children could reach the toys. I saw a little girl standing on an stool to attain the water stuff.
The kids learn different things in each specific sections. For instance they learned how to lead water in different ways with pipelines.
I think learning by doing and with fun is more effective than teach kids something in a serious way. Of course it isn't always possible to entertain children with learning stuff. It's positive to awake children interests in science, culture and nature issues as soon as possible. That's why I think such museum is a good way to promote this.
Montag, 24. August 2009
Language in Ohio and Illionios
Hey folks,
This weekend we were in Chicago. We arrive on friday 2 am. At first we were going to Millenium Park and we were surprised how many people were out there. We watched a summer dance festival were two professionals show the viewers how it should works. The professional had a very strong accent, he spoke very loud and emphasizing. In fact I noticed that afro american people underline their speach very much. Especiallty the bus guide wants to achieve a exciting athmosphere with speaking in that way. I must say that I can deal with the Chicago way of speaking very well. Except the people in the restaurants and snack shops I had some problems because there werent adapt to speak to a foreigner. But If they noticed that you can't follow them they tried to speak more slowlier. I remember that many people uses "Hey folks" to welcome each other. I never heard this before outside america. Besides it was noticeable that in every store the sellers welcome us very friendly. In Germany it isn't common that a sellerask for the ellbeing of the customer. I'm not sure If I like this typical behaviour of the Americans because it isn't a seriously meant question. What I like in the American language is that there is no difference between official and unofficial salutation. Even If you don't know a person personally you can address with ''you''. So there is no danger to be impolite.
I think my english hasn't really improved so far because it isn't possible in one week. But I think learned some new vocabulary and I feel a little more copfortably while speaking.
Yours Elisa
This weekend we were in Chicago. We arrive on friday 2 am. At first we were going to Millenium Park and we were surprised how many people were out there. We watched a summer dance festival were two professionals show the viewers how it should works. The professional had a very strong accent, he spoke very loud and emphasizing. In fact I noticed that afro american people underline their speach very much. Especiallty the bus guide wants to achieve a exciting athmosphere with speaking in that way. I must say that I can deal with the Chicago way of speaking very well. Except the people in the restaurants and snack shops I had some problems because there werent adapt to speak to a foreigner. But If they noticed that you can't follow them they tried to speak more slowlier. I remember that many people uses "Hey folks" to welcome each other. I never heard this before outside america. Besides it was noticeable that in every store the sellers welcome us very friendly. In Germany it isn't common that a sellerask for the ellbeing of the customer. I'm not sure If I like this typical behaviour of the Americans because it isn't a seriously meant question. What I like in the American language is that there is no difference between official and unofficial salutation. Even If you don't know a person personally you can address with ''you''. So there is no danger to be impolite.
I think my english hasn't really improved so far because it isn't possible in one week. But I think learned some new vocabulary and I feel a little more copfortably while speaking.
Yours Elisa
Donnerstag, 20. August 2009
The Culture of Food
Dear Food- Fan,
Today we visited 2 other markets. We already know the Krogers. Today we get to know Pipkins and Jungle Jim. Two totally different markets.
Krogers in Clifton are very famous in the middle class. You have a wide range of products from fruits and vegetables through polish to a variety of towels. I like Krogers very much because it isn`t to big so that you can easily get an overview.
The Pipkins is market in the traditional way. It is similar to weekly markets, very small and all products are fresh and from nearby farms. It was superising that the prices are moderate. There was a good price attainment relation. I would visit it once a week if a were an habitant.
Jungle Jim was the biggest mall I ever saw. They really got everything you can imagine. I was really shocked about the death pig head laying in the shelve. I really like that nearly all countries have their own specific shelves. The vegetables were very fresh. I think big families would buy their foods there. Because its child-friendly with all those colourful figures. Jungle Jim wants to spread a good feeling of the customers while giving a lot of samples. For me personally as an single household this market would be to big. I prefer both other markets. But If you want some special food maybe from India than Jungle Jim would be the best joice.
I think its obvious that you see a lot of different cultures in Jungle Jim because of their wide range. But maybe its to expensive for some poorer households. In Kroger I think its where everybody would find everything he or she search for. Pipkins is for people who nourish healthily.
In the end I can say than I was surprised than you can nourish healthy if you want to. Besides the prejudice that all American eat Fast Food all the time.
Today we visited 2 other markets. We already know the Krogers. Today we get to know Pipkins and Jungle Jim. Two totally different markets.
Krogers in Clifton are very famous in the middle class. You have a wide range of products from fruits and vegetables through polish to a variety of towels. I like Krogers very much because it isn`t to big so that you can easily get an overview.
The Pipkins is market in the traditional way. It is similar to weekly markets, very small and all products are fresh and from nearby farms. It was superising that the prices are moderate. There was a good price attainment relation. I would visit it once a week if a were an habitant.
Jungle Jim was the biggest mall I ever saw. They really got everything you can imagine. I was really shocked about the death pig head laying in the shelve. I really like that nearly all countries have their own specific shelves. The vegetables were very fresh. I think big families would buy their foods there. Because its child-friendly with all those colourful figures. Jungle Jim wants to spread a good feeling of the customers while giving a lot of samples. For me personally as an single household this market would be to big. I prefer both other markets. But If you want some special food maybe from India than Jungle Jim would be the best joice.
I think its obvious that you see a lot of different cultures in Jungle Jim because of their wide range. But maybe its to expensive for some poorer households. In Kroger I think its where everybody would find everything he or she search for. Pipkins is for people who nourish healthily.
In the end I can say than I was surprised than you can nourish healthy if you want to. Besides the prejudice that all American eat Fast Food all the time.
Mittwoch, 19. August 2009
The Cultural Functions of History and Memory
Hey reader,
Today we visited the Freedom Center, a museum about slavery, the underground railroad and the experience of African Americans in the United States.
There where a painting that impressed me very much. It was depicted in dark impressive colours. In the centre of the picture was a black woman who held her hands on her head, like she has very bad headache. The viewer almost feel her stress and anxiety. Its impresive that more than a million people were sold in the deep south, doens't matter if there were man, woman or even children. People were violently taking away from their families. This picture showed the whole process of being sold from the kidnaping and transfering via waggon or ship to the auction. Even if the transatlantic trade breaks up in 1808 the trade in America itselfs continued, calls internaltrade. The narrator explained how the persons were auctioned for the highest price that a stranger bets. For the slaves holder it was just business. The slaves were products not more.
The holocaust is similar to the slavery in america. When I visited Buchenwald in 7th class I can remember that the size of the buildings where the people were housed are very impressive to me. It was a lot to small for such a huge amount of people. Illnesses could spread very fast and I imagined the terrible smell I may could had.
I think it is very important to keep such historical events in mind, because we only can learn from mistakes done my human beeings. May it helps to prevent that such terrible things nerver happen again.
To my mind museums are a good way to bring historical stuff to students even if their are born long after the event. Some exhibitions are so good that the visitor feel included in the topic so that it stays in their mind for a long time. I think visual aids are absolutley essential for making the issue interessting and understanding.
Today we visited the Freedom Center, a museum about slavery, the underground railroad and the experience of African Americans in the United States.
There where a painting that impressed me very much. It was depicted in dark impressive colours. In the centre of the picture was a black woman who held her hands on her head, like she has very bad headache. The viewer almost feel her stress and anxiety. Its impresive that more than a million people were sold in the deep south, doens't matter if there were man, woman or even children. People were violently taking away from their families. This picture showed the whole process of being sold from the kidnaping and transfering via waggon or ship to the auction. Even if the transatlantic trade breaks up in 1808 the trade in America itselfs continued, calls internaltrade. The narrator explained how the persons were auctioned for the highest price that a stranger bets. For the slaves holder it was just business. The slaves were products not more.
The holocaust is similar to the slavery in america. When I visited Buchenwald in 7th class I can remember that the size of the buildings where the people were housed are very impressive to me. It was a lot to small for such a huge amount of people. Illnesses could spread very fast and I imagined the terrible smell I may could had.
I think it is very important to keep such historical events in mind, because we only can learn from mistakes done my human beeings. May it helps to prevent that such terrible things nerver happen again.
To my mind museums are a good way to bring historical stuff to students even if their are born long after the event. Some exhibitions are so good that the visitor feel included in the topic so that it stays in their mind for a long time. I think visual aids are absolutley essential for making the issue interessting and understanding.
Dienstag, 18. August 2009
Cultural values in children's texts
Hey guys,
Yesterday we were in the library and everybody chose two children's books. I descided not to take a kids novel, I prefered reading some books from the science section. The library was divided into kids sections and teens sections, the others I can't remember because I am not thinking highly of them, but I think there were adults sections, too. American libraries seams to be very similiar to German ones. Especially in the childrens section everything was created very colourfully and they had children friendly desks and chairs. Moreover the shelves are low so that children feel well and reach everything on their own. They had some toys as well to cheer them up if they are tired of reading all the time.
My first book was about pulleys and gears. The book decribed the topics in a very easy understanding way. One practical usage is illustrated on a double page with one picture from reality and directions which is represented in a draft. I can remember one book from my childhood I read, it was about chemical relationsships and the practical use of them. Additionally I can remember that in the end there was also an experiment described. The American books does the same thing. It explains how you can build a small toy windmill. I think to get active and try something on your own is very important for children to remember and understand things. In addition there were also some questions asked in the book and in the end the kids could find the answers that`s very important to check if the kids get the content of the book.
The other book was about the digestive system, a topic which isn`t easy to understand, but in this book kids can approach is difficult issues very well. First a little story is narrated so that the kids can identify with the problem, in this case just eating too much. Afterward the whole process of digestion is stated. The book has many picutres from the human body with arrows and the belonging items so that kids really can learn some important facts. Reading such scientific stuff in an early age can prompt interests and study further. Furthermore the language is very easy to understand so that the kids also don`t get bored or frustrated while reading.
I think that every child in the age of 5 till 10 can identify with these two books whether if they are different relegions or social status. Maybe the technical book is more attractive for boys.
I think that these and the book which were chosen by the other students don`t not distinguish that much from German child books. The issues are quite the same and also the structure.
Yesterday we were in the library and everybody chose two children's books. I descided not to take a kids novel, I prefered reading some books from the science section. The library was divided into kids sections and teens sections, the others I can't remember because I am not thinking highly of them, but I think there were adults sections, too. American libraries seams to be very similiar to German ones. Especially in the childrens section everything was created very colourfully and they had children friendly desks and chairs. Moreover the shelves are low so that children feel well and reach everything on their own. They had some toys as well to cheer them up if they are tired of reading all the time.
My first book was about pulleys and gears. The book decribed the topics in a very easy understanding way. One practical usage is illustrated on a double page with one picture from reality and directions which is represented in a draft. I can remember one book from my childhood I read, it was about chemical relationsships and the practical use of them. Additionally I can remember that in the end there was also an experiment described. The American books does the same thing. It explains how you can build a small toy windmill. I think to get active and try something on your own is very important for children to remember and understand things. In addition there were also some questions asked in the book and in the end the kids could find the answers that`s very important to check if the kids get the content of the book.
The other book was about the digestive system, a topic which isn`t easy to understand, but in this book kids can approach is difficult issues very well. First a little story is narrated so that the kids can identify with the problem, in this case just eating too much. Afterward the whole process of digestion is stated. The book has many picutres from the human body with arrows and the belonging items so that kids really can learn some important facts. Reading such scientific stuff in an early age can prompt interests and study further. Furthermore the language is very easy to understand so that the kids also don`t get bored or frustrated while reading.
I think that every child in the age of 5 till 10 can identify with these two books whether if they are different relegions or social status. Maybe the technical book is more attractive for boys.
I think that these and the book which were chosen by the other students don`t not distinguish that much from German child books. The issues are quite the same and also the structure.
Montag, 17. August 2009
First Impressions
Dear reader,
today is my first school day in blue ash. Blue Ash seems to be more rural than where we are living in cincinnati. its more comparable to ilmenau, the sister university and my lovely home town. my first impression of cincinnati and america in gerneral is that it is...... totally different.
first thing i mentioned was the big differnce in the climate but not only the differnce between germany and america more the gap between moving into a building and feeling to die by frostbite and go out and get a heatstroke.... thats a fact i cant deal with....last night i have very strong headache because of the often temperature change.but now i want to stop critizen a lot. I big surprise for my was that the landscape of america is that green too. I am inured from the green heart of germany...thuringia and it was a fact i reckon without that it is similar in america.
I look forward to visit new york after my residence in cincinnati because i wasnt able to see the skyline while we are landing. yesterday we walk through the campus and its surroundings and what i comment was that there are many, many black people. I never saw such a amount of black people before and i really felt like being the minority now. An unexpected situation happened in the supermarket where i old black woman give us her plus card so that we can earn the discount. so the people seems to be very polite. maybe sometimes they need to be...like the woman at the point of sale because she allways demand how my feeling is...
so thats it is so far with my first impressions....
today is my first school day in blue ash. Blue Ash seems to be more rural than where we are living in cincinnati. its more comparable to ilmenau, the sister university and my lovely home town. my first impression of cincinnati and america in gerneral is that it is...... totally different.
first thing i mentioned was the big differnce in the climate but not only the differnce between germany and america more the gap between moving into a building and feeling to die by frostbite and go out and get a heatstroke.... thats a fact i cant deal with....last night i have very strong headache because of the often temperature change.but now i want to stop critizen a lot. I big surprise for my was that the landscape of america is that green too. I am inured from the green heart of germany...thuringia and it was a fact i reckon without that it is similar in america.
I look forward to visit new york after my residence in cincinnati because i wasnt able to see the skyline while we are landing. yesterday we walk through the campus and its surroundings and what i comment was that there are many, many black people. I never saw such a amount of black people before and i really felt like being the minority now. An unexpected situation happened in the supermarket where i old black woman give us her plus card so that we can earn the discount. so the people seems to be very polite. maybe sometimes they need to be...like the woman at the point of sale because she allways demand how my feeling is...
so thats it is so far with my first impressions....
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