My nephew just found out that he won a scholarship to spend his junior year of high school in Germany. It's basically a foreign exchange deal, except someone else is paying for it. His dad was born in Germany, so that makes it a much bigger deal since he will be able to really see where his father grew up and better understand why he is the way he is.
I confess I am envious of my nephew. When I got out of school, my sister was stationed in Germany. My plan was to save all the money I could to be able to visit her there and see as much of Europe as I could before the cash ran out. However, my mom died 4 months after graduation, and leaving Dad alone in the states by himself was not an option.
I am working on some bits of advice for my nephew, which appear below. Any and all input would be greatly appreciated. My comments will be approved by his mom, so I'm gonna have to keep 'em clean. OK, some of the naughty ones I can tell him in person! Thanks in advance!
1. Learn everything you can. In school, and out.
2. Some people will say bad things about America. Don’t argue with them. Just tell them “You’re entitled to your opinion.”
3. Do everything you can. You should be so tired that when you get home next year, you’ll want to sleep for a week.
4. Be wise.
5. Take lots of pictures, but stop at the point where you’re not living in the moment.
6. Get your driver’s license before you leave. Drive on the autobahn. Visit the Nurburgring and run a few laps on the Nordschleife. I’ll pay for it.
7. Travel to as many other countries as you can.
8. Think before you act. Represent the USA as best you can.
9. Just because you can legally drink doesn’t mean you should.
10. Don’t fall in love, unless she has a hawt mom who likes skinny redheaded Americans!
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ThePurpleProphet
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Apr 9 @ 10:32AM
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- Try to learn some of the language.
- Sample all the foods, even just a taste.
- Keep a journal.
Just a couple of ideas.
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blondie_779
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Apr 9 @ 10:41AM
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My advice is. Go easy on the Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte - Black Forest Cherry Cake 
I enjoyed my time in Germany. Hope he does.
b.
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lunanegra
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Apr 9 @ 11:23AM
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-Don't say Heil Hitler in public. 
-And don't ask does Weiner Schnitzel actually have any wieners in it. Its really a breaded and fried cutlet.
I know all this,but I can't speak for other members here.
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flavorbuster
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Apr 9 @ 12:04PM
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Watch out for the frauline who just wants a way to enter the states .... Be careful of the german pubs you go to .... Some still dislike Americans so they will try to scam you out of money as an example over charge you for beer ... Try to hang out where they love Americans & they are easy to find.... Although he may feel secure around American military instillations ,the bar scene can get rowdy @ german pubs in the area.. The beer is stronger there !!!!! I was a bouncer 4 years for a nice German family owned pub so I know what it's like
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evild614
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Apr 10 @ 3:04AM
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Think about how much you really understand the intricacies of current German national politics. Keep that in mind before you pay too much attention to people who talk bad about America's politics. And if the criticism turns to American culture, like music, TV, etc, all you have to say is, "we're not all like that".
On your visit to the 'Ring, say hi to Sabine Schimtz. Try and get her phone number for me.
Just because you can legally drink, doesn't mean you can drink like kids do here in the US. In Germany, teenagers are taught by their parents and teachers to sit down and have a beer, not ten. Plus it's German beer- and I don't mean Budweiser. This stuff is thick, dark, and heavy. You couldn't binge-drink the stuff if you wanted to, unless you've got the stomach of a county fair speed-eater. It's also incredibly delicious- much better than typical mass-produced American beers, which Germans will likely give you lots of grief about. So go to a gourmet bier-garten. Have a beer you've never heard of and can't get in the States. And drink it like they do- slowly and with great pleasure.
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peachskin
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Apr 10 @ 3:27AM
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... what evild614 said about politics and culture  and with regard to Luna's comment: Please never say Heil Hitler neither in public nor elsewhere, we're kinda sensitive when it comes to "meant-to-be" jokes about those times ...
As to the beer and the drinking, evild614 is absolutely right about it being richer and stronger as most of the US beers ... and be especially careful when it comes to regional and/or seasonal special brews, some will get down like nothing and kick you off your feet after two bottles already  ... and I'm speaking of own experience here ... ... but being taught to sit down and enjoy, well, one should, but we have strong tendencies among youngsters to go out for drinking just for getting drunk quick ... binge-drinking is becoming more and more a problem here too and some deaths arising from that have been heavily discussed in the media, so one has to be careful whom to drink with 
Depending on where in Germany your nephew is going, people do have different kinds of traditions and attitudes (yeah, even in a small country like ours ... lol), but basically it's not wrong to think of Bavarians to be the "Texans of Germany"  ... and to soak up local colour it's great to visit the very local country fairs and happenings, tho please take it with a grain of salt so to say 
Make sure the driving licence he gets is valid since here you have to be 18 to drive on your own ... under 18 only accompanied by a parent/adult and differing in the different states ..
That's just what popped into my mind right now ... 
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flavorbuster
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Apr 10 @ 9:56AM
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At 16 girls are allowed in bars w/no adult supervision they just have to wear a colored wrist band to signify no alcohol & they take risks by taking the bands off to try get w/older men & if it's still the same like it was in the 90's the legal age for marriage there is 16 .... The polozei or police don't play around It's against the law to tamper w/trees .....etc
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