I’m from Orlando, Florida. You know, with Mickey Mouse!

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Beaches, Culture Shock, Disney World, Exotic, Florida, Hot Springs, Manatees, Mickey Mouse, Orlando, Ponce De Leon, SeaWorld, Tourism, Universal, Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Well, since my last post several of my friends have made the point to tell me that they think I am indeed exotic.  *sigh!*  I guess I’ll never win.  ;p  This puts me at the same level as peach-pomegranate-raisin-acorn-pineapple-wheat yogurt.

Exotic Muesli = Jenn

For the Germans I’ve met, some of this exoticness comes from my hometown: Florida.  Although their reaction is “cool” when I say I’m from America, they are far more excited by the fact that I come from the land of Disney.  Many have heard of Orlando because of the theme parks, and those who don’t know Orlando know exactly what I mean when I say “You know, Disney World?”

It reads: “Florida Toast”: two pork tenderloins scalloped with pineapple, peach, and cheese; salad garnish (hmm pineapple and peach?  That sounds like the yogurt!)

I used to think Florida was like any other state, just with theme parks.  Now I know that Florida is like any other state, BUT THERE’S THEME PARKS!  It’s fun trying to explain to people that Disney World is actually four parks in one, or that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a section of Universal, or that I worked at SeaWorld.  Once in a while, an ad will pop up on the internet offering a cheap vacation to Orlando, and I double-take.

A cut-out Mickey board inexplicably inside a German shop that had nothing to do with Disney.

Once in a while I’ll meet people who know more about Florida than just the rides.  They’ll ask about all the beaches (particularly the girls who like to go tanning ask about this one) and how close they are.  Someone asked once if it was true that alligators will walk into people’s homes (yes, but it’s not that common).  The same person also knew about Ponce De Leon and his search for the Fountain of Youth (major props to him for his trivia knowledge!), and I tried to explain how we also have tons of springs, and each spring claims to be the fountain of youth.  I’m not sure if he got it.

Also, explaining manatees is really hard to do in German.  “It looks like a seal, but it’s really, really fat.  And it swims into the springs when the ocean turns cold in the winter.  It eats a lot of cabbage and doesn’t do anything.  They’re just really silly!”

“I see…”

People are also really surprised about how warm Florida is.  During a refreshing day here, I’ll usually be all bundled up and possible shivering.  People ask me if I’m cold, and I tell them that this feels like winter in Florida.  They can’t believe it!

Sanja loves her Minnie Mouse keychain

Lastly, I’ve seen Mickey Mouse over and over again in Germany.  I can’t escape him, it seems.  The Disney Orlando attractions (and maybe the California ones too?) have “hidden Mickeys” all around the parks, and it’s fun trying to find all the different mouse ears lurking in the rides or buildings.  In fact, there are “hidden” Mickeys all over my post!  I’m sure I’ve seen more than just three here in Germany, but this gives you a taste of how surprisingly common they are here.

Found in the book “Im Land der Schokolade und Bananen”

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I’m sorry, I can’t help it. I’m American!

Tags

Black Forest, Conversation, Culture Shock, Exotic, Friends, Germany, Globalization, Hiking, Life, Stereotypes, Travel

America is still recovering from a horrible slump in international relations, and Americans have a (sometimes well-earned) reputation for being loud and obnoxious tourists.  I can definitely see how this stereotype exists; even though most people back home tell me to speak up, I still notice my voice carries in hushed German grocery stores or cafés.  So, whenever I find myself blundering through German culture, I simply joke “I’m sorry, I can’t help it.  I’m American!”  This statement acknowledges that I probably committed a social faux-pas, indicates that I’m trying to learn, and puts my European friends at ease with a little chuckle.  It definitely diffuses any tension and lets people know that I understand the problems of Americans abroad.  It’s true that laughter is the best medicine!

Despite the American reputation, whenever people learn that I’m American, their reaction is usually “Oh, cool!”  I attended a meet-and-greet function with a Christian college group, and the hostesses hadn’t been warned that I was a foreigner.  When they found out I was an exchange student, they were completely thrilled that I had come to their house.

Dinner and socializing!

What’s more exotic here, the girl in the skirt or the FREAKING CASTLE behind her?!?

I still haven’t gotten used to being a novelty.  Even a professor in one of my classes recently referred to me as “exotic” (and anyone who truly knows me knows I’m far from exotic…).  This wasn’t the first time I was referred to as “exotic”, either.  Another exchange student, Sanja, found out that I was from Florida and that another American, Dominic, was from Mississippi.  She started laughing, and when we asked her what was so funny, she said “You’re both from such exotic locations!”  I told my parents about this exchange, and they also started laughing. “But she’s from Serbia.  That’s way more exotic than Florida!”

All these experiences have helped drive home the maxim: “The grass is greener on the other side”.  Everyone else’s home is more “exotic” than your own, and is full of  people who fit into categories.  I’ll admit I had a much more idealized view of Germany before I came here.  In many ways, my assumptions about Germany have been confirmed, but my understanding of Germany is now much deeper than the crust of first impressions.  It’s not just beautiful houses and beautiful landscapes.  The mundane exists here too, and it’s easy to get caught up in everyday rituals and forget about the mountains and the different culture.  Germany is a normal place full of normal people, who don’t exactly fit the German stereotype.  Some do, but most don’t; instead, they belong in a complicated and diverse spectrum of personalities, just like America.

Being in Germany has definitely made me appreciate my own home.  I hope when I get back, I will be less focused on the banal and more aware of the beauty around me.

The mountains are beautiful, even when it rains.