Welcome to the Culture Corner, a recurring series focused on the homesickness, culture collision and assimilation that California State University, Long Beach’s international students experience. It’s a chance to learn about another culture and see your own through a different pair of eyes.
International student, Johannes Schoster from Germany is back in America for another semester visit during his graduate studies. Schoster had visited CSULB as an international student while pursuing his bachelor’s degree a few semesters prior.
While Schoster loves San Diego beaches and the Vegas nightlife, he still enjoys campus life at CSULB. The Daily 49er spoke to Schoster about his transition to the Beach and his views on the current refugee situation involving his home country.
Q: What kind of life did you live in Germany versus the life you live here?
In Germany, I went to school and went home, but here my life’s one big vacation. People here are very nice and warm but also very emotional and senseless. Germans don’t get a lot of nice weather, so they’re cold, straightforward and rational.
Q: Where have you travelled?
I was in Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Hungary, Singapore and Malaysia.
Q: Do Germans travel more than Americans?
Europeans in general travel more than Americans, but America is so big and they have so many states to visit within the country.
Q: What are your favorite places to travel to?
Budapest, it has a very old kind of feeling to it, and a really nice river.
Q: How does news media here differ from news media in Germany?
Our news is influenced by America’s point of view, but all news is controlled by the government, so it’s really hard to tell. I just know to be very skeptical when I see or hear anything on the news.
Q: How politically active are students in Germany versus students in America?
We are taught about politics in grade school, so we have a good understanding of how politics work at a young age.
Q: How does the American university learning system differ from Germany?
In Germany, you are not required to go to class, you could skip whenever you want, and just show up for the final. In America, you have to do group work and show up to class everyday, or fail. I generally like the German education system better.
Q: What is the Pop culture like?
Movies: American films are really popular in Germany, almost more so than German productions.
Music: We mostly listen to American Music, we also love Michael Jackson.
Nightlife: While the clubs here close at 2 a.m., German clubs close at 6 a.m.
Q: What is your stance on the refugee situation?
I think we have the refugee situation because of American and European Politics. We all went to war in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and those kinds of countries. So we are kind of responsible for the situation. But I think all European countries should take in refugees, not just Germany. But not everyone wants to take them, like England and Italy.
Q: Some people argue that the refugee situation is being exploited by people who only want easy access to European citizenship. What do you think?
Well maybe refugees from Albania are unnecessary because there is no war in Albania, but the other 80 percent to 90 percent are real refugees who need help because they’re running away from war.
Q: How do you feel about high taxes?
For me, paying low taxes would be easier for me to build a business, but if I look at the bigger picture, higher taxes makes things easier for everyone and it helps provide free education. High taxes work out in the end because it provides better infrastructure.