Culture


Literature 
Germany's most important cultural period lasted from 1750 till 1830. Outstanding dramatists, novellists and poets as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and Friedrich Schiller characterised that period. Later there was also Fontane, Heine, and Nietzsche to name just a few. in the 20th century names as Brecht, Grass, Hesse or Lenz became famous throughout the world.

Music 
The great tradition of German music was established during the early 1700s by the composer Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Frierich Haendel. Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart carried on this tradition in Austria. During the early 1800s Ludwig van Beethoven developed new powerful ways of symphonic expressionism. Later composers as Johannes Brahms, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Frank Schubert or Richard Wagner who created a new style for operas queued up with their forefathersThe development of the pop music was always closely linked with the US American and the English one

Starting with the Beat, Soul, Rock'n Roll to Heavy Metal, New Wave and Techno. Especially in the last category Germany is leading the worldwide trend and partying that (e.g. Love Parade). Some German bands are very successful in the international music business. For example the SCORPIONS ("Wind of Change") or Nena ("99 Luftballons") as well as Mr. President or Westbam.

News Paper 
The German press is independent in an open market. there are some 350 daily papers with about 20 million total number of copies. The biggest tabloid paper in numbers is the "Bild" from Hamburg. Serious Papers are for example the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", the "Zeit" und the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung". These papers, except for the "Zeit", are daily published and distributed all over Germany and to major cities all over the globe.

Education 
Due to the fact that the German education system is controlled by the state authorities it differs from state to state and is difficult to understand. One common point is that it is for free. After passing primary school there are basicly, three options- The high level "Gymnasium", the medium level "Realschule" and the lower level "Hauptschule".

In Germany, it is compulsory to go to school for at least 9 years, starting with 6 years of age. After finishing school you may either attend a university if you have graduated from the "Gymnasium" or you may start an apprenticeship. During the apprenticeship you have to pass a theoretical and practical education as well as various tests. This system is unique in the world.

Food 
"Eisbein mit Sauerkraut" or "Sauerbraten mit Knoedeln" are commonly supposed to be typical German dishes. That may be true. But today, there is more or less every cuisine available.

There are lots of local specialities available throughout Germany. In general, a wide choice of bread and meat products is significant.

Sport 
Soccer is still the most popular kind of sport in Germany. But tennis, ice hockey, swimming, handball, cycling and others are very popular, too. There are lots of possibilities offered to you, no matter where you are.

German language 
German is spoken by some 100 million people as the national language in the following countries:
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg

Some basic expressions:

  • yes                               ja 
  • no                                 nein 
  • thank you                      danke 
  • please  bitte  
  • you are welcome            bitte 
  • good morning                 Guten Morgen 
  • good bye                        auf Wiedersehen  
  • bye                                Tschuess  
  • I love you                        Ich liebe Dich  
  • You are beautiful             Du bist schoen  
  • very                                sehr  
  • What are you doing tonight?  Was machst Du heute abend?