Blog Post #1 - Carys Dubinski - Global Issues

     Ever since I was young I have been incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to travel the world. I’ve been to Europe many times, although I’ve never been to Germany. I would say I have had the ability to get to know European culture a little more than the average person. Yet, I still gain the majority of my global issues knowledge through major news articles, social media, conversations with people from abroad, and headlines. However, these sources don’t provide the full view of European culture, politics, and life. Before coming to Germany I thought I was pretty informed of global issues, but as I have had the chance to observe, learn, and immerse myself in the culture here in Freiburg, I have learned that I am not as informed as I originally thought. By having conversations and observing Europeans, I have come to learn how much they value things such as the environment around them--something that us Americans tend to lack. The environment and climate is so important to them that it seems to be one of the forefronts of political policy. This is something completely different from American issues, portraying how different their political priorities here are.

     Globalization is something I have especially noticed being vital to the success of European countries. By visiting places such as the Parliament, I’ve recognized how European countries like Germany’s economy depend on trade and cooperation between other European countries. Additionally, Europe has a sense of interconnectedness between its countries. For example, shared currencies and transportation systems such as trains that connect the countries to each other ultimately create a sense of culture with easy travel. On the other hand, this interconnectedness can also negatively impact European countries. The Ukraine-Russia War for one has severely hurt European economies.  

Something else that I have come to notice are Europeans, (such as Germans’), perceptions of Americans. To Europeans, Americans are stereotypically loud, obnoxious, overly patriotic, and entitled. I’ve received a couple of bad looks by simply talking, (when someone hears my American accent). Despite this, I see a lot of American influence. Just by walking past restaurants, stores, and other places I’ve only heard American music. Additionally, I have seen American inspired stores and markets. Politically as well I have come to realize how much America’s actions on the global scale, such as through NATO, impact European countries. As much as a lot of Europeans claim to dislike the “American way” there are a lot of things that remind me of the states here. I think this is something that is essential to recognize between the two cultures.

Overall, I think it’s extremely important to be informed of current events in places like Germany. Current events not only affect the people in one country, but they affect the global world. Current events affect real people, meaning it is necessary to become more informed of them to overall become a more responsible global citizen.