Amelie in America

Amelie, who moved to Westlake from Germany, bikes to and from school – and down to the West Side Market. Photo by Megan Stewart

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Amelie, 17, was born and raised in Berlin, Germany. She moved to Westlake last year because of her father’s work. A fearless traveler, she was excited to leave Germany and eager to start a new life at Westlake High School.

On Amelie’s first day of high school, she was surprised by American patriotism. Unaware that American students must pledge their devotion to the flag every day, she didn’t stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The second surprise was American kindness. At the beginning of each class, Amelie’s teachers announced she was a new student from Germany. Classmates inundated her with questions about her life in Germany. “Why would other kids be so interested in my life?” Amelie wondered. But her new peers seemed genuinely curious about her world.

In Germany, the stereotypical American is loud and offensive, but here she finds they are very polite – possibly too polite. To this day, Amelie puzzles over what to make of this American friendliness. Is it more about being polite than actually caring? Or maybe American kids just care more than German kids.  

However, not every student kindly embraced Amelie’s German origin. Some students asked if she is a Nazi – or if Germany is full of Nazis. She would reply, “No, I am not a Nazi,” and that not all Germans are Nazis. In fact, Berlin is quite diverse. If asked again, she would say, “There are many more Nazis here in America than there are in Germany.”

While Amelie does enjoy the thoughtful nature of Americans, she misses, at times, the uncut manner of Germans. For example, Amelie said, “If you bump into someone in Germany, you keep walking.” No need to think twice or apologize. But in the U.S., bumping into someone means that both parties apologize profusely, as if a serious tragedy has transpired. Very quickly, Amelie got sick of saying “sorry” when she didn’t mean it.

The cold nature of Germans is evident not only in the streets of Berlin, but also in schools. German students can be judgemental. Especially in Berlin. Amelie said if a student wears off-brand clothes, they are considered uncool. Nevertheless, she likes how her German friends were frank and offensive in a friendly way. How can someone be kindly offensive? Amelie said that they always offered their honest opinions, which she appreciated. Here, friends can be touchy, overly sensitive. The jokes she shared with her German friends might be considered cruel in U.S. She tries not to offend anyone here, but misses the blunt candor of Germans.

In Berlin, public schools are specialized, with fewer students. Amelie attended a school for the arts and languages (in addition to German, Amelie speaks English, Spanish, Japanese and French, two of which she speaks fluently). There are schools for science and literature, too.

The daily schedule in German schools is very different from that in Westlake High School. Germans give their students more slack: longer lunches, 15-minute breaks between classes. At Westlake High School, students have only four minutes to race across campus from one class to another.

Also, American schools have stricter rules. Students must be where they’re supposed to be. Nobody leaves class unless they have a teacher’s written pass. In Germany, you’re free to leave class and roam the school without permission. Amelie suspects American schools are so keen on students’ whereabouts to protect against gun violence, which is not a problem in Germany. In her first year in America, the mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Before that, she had never felt unsafe at school.

Amelie believes that American schools are easier than German schools. In her junior year at Westlake, Amelie enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program, a prestigious study program recognized internationally. Taking her first test in America, Amelie was baffled by the idea of multiple choice. Imagine having the correct answer right in front of you! In Germany, after studying extensively for a test, you answer the test questions by writing down everything you know about the topic. She also thinks American classes move more slowly than German classes. In a way, Amelie misses the rigor and fast pace of German classes.

German teachers are not there to be your friend. They are there to instruct and administer homework and tests. She was surprised at the informality between teachers and students in the U.S. Students talk much more in class here than in Germany. Having been at both extremes, Amelie prefers the German strictness.

Although Amelie finds most American students approachable and talkative, they are very competitive, especially in sports. There are printed T-shirts, jackets and pants for each sports team. Students wear team attire loyally, as if the school name is a brand.

Amelie was shocked by the number of sports teams available at Westlake High School. In Germany, the selection is limited, and sports teams are scarce, privately owned and unaffiliated with the high school. Amelie swam in Germany, but the level of competition at Westlake High School was daunting to her, so she chose not to swim for the school.

At Westlake High School, Amelie was shocked by how many SUVs and minivans clog the entrance and crowd the parking lot every morning. She was alarmed by how much Americans waste. In Germany, grocery stores have reusable containers, everyone recycles, and cars are scarce at high schools. In the U.S., most kids, who are able to drive, drive their own cars to school even though everyone lives nearby. Amelie can be found biking to and from school – a rare sight in Westlake.

A senior now, Amelie plans to go to college overseas. Again, the travel bug has caught up with her; time to see another part of the world.