The one thing that did fulfill my stereotypes about Germans was seeing how they really are punctual and blunt! I enjoyed how timing is everything especially when it comes to transportation. I will admit that I struggled with how blunt my principal investigator, PI, could be when something was not correct. However, this was also a great opportunity for character development, as students from the U.S.A. typically expect an honest evaluation but not usually quite this honest! Another unique German system is the sidewalks. One half is dedicated to bikes while the other is for walking (marked with red bricks), which is extremely practical. The first few times before I figured this out, I actually got yelled at many times for not sticking to the system.
Overall, I was extremely humbled by how my experiences in Greifswald challenged false prejudices or stereotypes I had going into Germany; this is another reason why travel is crucial for us so that we can reflect on our own cultures and not misrepresent other countries just because, in some respects, they are different from our own. So do not be quick to build up stereotypes or prejudice from cinema or even other people’s experiences of travel because you truly do not know who those people are until you go to their country yourself and walk in their shoes.
One reminder to circle back to: an Ambassador mindset also allows you to remove the stereotypes other nationalities may have for the United States. For example, my German coworkers and friends were fascinated to learn about the political climate during President Trump’s candidacy, so it was important to share the differences in how news media portrays other countries as well.
