While everyone started to eagerly fill-in the paper, I stared at it...
The teacher walked right over to me and asked me, "Do you know anyone on this paper?"
Of course not.
"Unfortunately not."
"Yes, you absolutely know at least one person on this paper."
No.
"Ummmmm"
"You have to know someone."
I don't.
"Maybe."
"Who is the first person?"
I know there is a Chancellor in Germany. I know the Chancellor is a woman. But, that is the extent of what I know. I figured number 1 had to be her... so I took a guess.
"Well I think it's the Kanzerlin?"
"And what is her name?"
Not a clue.
"Ummmm." Someone whispered the answer in my ear. "Angela Merkel."
"But you have, of course, heard the name before... right?"
Never. It honestly doesn't ring a bell.
"Yes."
"Okay good."
So today, I basically just confirmed to about all 25 of those in my class that one American stereotype is true. I felt like an idiot.
Let's see how difficult it is for you guys... I'll make it easy... I'll only give you 3 pictures... Name them, state their job, and their party.
Oh, and don't cheat.
1. 
2. 
3. 
1.- Merkel looks like Lady Di in that photo :D too much photoshop! I understand why you didn´t recognize her
ReplyDeletethe others i only can guess that they are SPD and CDU respective leaders
i had a mistake
ReplyDelete"the others i only can guess that they are SPD and FDP respective leaders"
I of course know none of them. So your advice I assume would be if I were to live in a foreign country I should learn the names of govt officials.
ReplyDeleteGood call.
Still I love your recipes and your posts.
Continue on and don't let this throw you.
Blessings, Barb
mmmmm. Start reading newspapers. Makes you smarter. You can find all of these three even in the NYT.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea who are in those photos. I will ask Bojangles.
ReplyDeleteMerkel, Wolf, und Roessler?
ReplyDeleteHaha. Man, it's been a while. My suggestion to you is to start watching the Tagesschau. I did when I was in Germany and have ever since. It's not too hard to understand and really informative.
Don't worry though, all of my German friends love shouting out random questions quiz-style at my face until I get one wrong.
Those Germans. They love their facts.
I knew Merkel, and I recognized the other two but did not remember their names. I'll bet you can bake better than any of them!
ReplyDeleteGuess what - after living abroad for 10 years I don't have a clue who the other two are and I am German. I know the British lot though, but only the main "offenders".
ReplyDeleteWell, look at it this way. The German students probably wouldn't recognize 16 members of your government either.
ReplyDeleteWow hand in there !!
ReplyDeleteI guess the first one, but I never can remember her name! I just say "the German president woman." I had the same experience when someone showed a picture of world leaders and said,"I'm sure you know them all, bla,bla,blah." I recognized Obama! And guessed a few others...tsk on we Americans!
ReplyDeletei only know merkel....basically because i watched World Cup
ReplyDeleteAh!
ReplyDeleteso nice to find your blog again! I found your online-bäckerei when I was looking for information about Mürberteig! And I guess I left a comment at that post too!
How you are doing?
Previously, considering the number of comments at the post, I imagined someone had given the right answer!
So, let me answer :D
Angela Merkel - Kanzlerin- CDU
Guido Westerwelle - Außenminister - FDP
Philipp Rösler - Bundesminister für Gesundheit und Vizekanzler - FDP
I just know all this because, like you, I live in Germany and I learn german too!
And I love your blog!!!