Not so bad...

My German class began again after a month long pause. There are some new people in there (this time from Montenegro, Maynamar, Poland, France, Russia etc). Our instructor was trying to get a gauge on all of our  language skills, and she began the discussion of what we all perceive to be the German Stereo types (especially since living here). It was very interesting to hear what people from other countries thought. Here were some of the things that came up on the list:

1.Clean - everything is very well cared for (streets, window sills, cars, yards etc)
2.Fiscally responsible - people are careful with their money - purchases are not so spontaneous
3.Order - Everything is in order. There are laws and people follow them (etc. don't cross a red pedestrian light - ESPECIALLY if children are around, or stay to the right on the Autobahn unless you are passing a car.
4. Hard working - Any type of work is a profession to be taken seriously
5. Educated - The German school system is thorough and  competitive, and college is free
6.Active - Germans love the outdoors (it is not uncommon to see an 80 year old riding a bike)
7.Care for the earth - renewable resources are a priority (windmills, solar panels, recycling etc)
8. Like Beer - goes without saying
9. Wear Lederhosen - Some older men wear this daily, but certainly only a small percent. 
10. Health care - very good public health system
11. Serious - not so much of a sense of humor (I find this only sometimes) 

As I was sitting with all of these people from all of these other countries, I looked at the list, and thought - if these are the stereotypes that everyone sees - it is pretty amazing that a place like this still exists in the world!  Now for my homework...I need to write in German what the stereo types from my country are: hmmmm........