Stadt

1) Ich bin von der Stadt Portland.
2) Ich lebe in der Stadt Grand Rapids, während ich in der Schule.
3) Die Stadt ist in Michigan.
4) Das Grand River ist der Fluss, der durch Grand Rapids fließt.
5) Die öffentlichen Verkehrsmittel ist der Bus.
6) Nein, ich habe nie mit dem Bus fahren, weil ich ein Auto.
7) Ich würde lieber ein Auto, weil es schneller und es gibt nicht viele Leute.
Während der Ferien in meiner Stadt, die wir Schlittschuh und Blick auf Weihnachtsbeleuchtung.
9) Ich mag, dass meine Stadt ist klein und hat einen Fluss durchquert. Es gibt eine Menge von der Natur.
10) Ich mag nicht, dass meine Stadt nicht über ein Kino.

Transportation

I usually use a car to travel different places. However on vacations, we sometimes fly. We commute a few miles and we all go by car. Its different when  I am at school thought, because I walk to classes instead of going by car.
Germans get around by many different modes of transportation. Some walk, while others may use cars. Small cities have buses for people to take. Medium to large cities have streetcars that people can use. Some cities have new rails systems that are faster than the streetcars. Larger cities also have subways that are also called the U-Bahn. There is also the commuter rail which is called the S-Bahn. People in Germany seem to walk around more than in the United States. However, their big cities may be very similar to the big cities in the U.S. In Germany, they are a lot closer so buses and trains are vital to commuters. Cars are very expensive in Germany and so is gas so not many people have cars.

Verkehrsmittel

             I normally walk most places i need to go, unless its to practice then i have to get a ride there from my teammates,  when im at home i drive everywhere.  Every year my family goes to disney world and we fly from grand rapids to orlando then use a disney charter bus once in orlando.

             German people travel in different ways then americans, partly due to the fact that everything is bigger and much more spread out in the U.S.   In Germany everything is a short walk or a bike ride away.  Also owning and maintaining a car in Germany is more difficult and expensive, gas is way more expensive in Europe.  People Mostly travel by bikes or subways or even walking.  The majority of people in the U.S. drive cars.

Verkehrsmittel

Transportation is very different in Germany than what we are used to in America. To travel, I either drive or carpool with someone. I have never been on a place or used a train, I also never use a bicycle to go anywhere, just for recreational purposes. Depending on where i'm going, it usually does not take very long to get any place. Germans travel in much different ways than Americans because not many own cars because they are to expensive and driving and parking can be very difficult.

The different ways they travel include boats, bus', trains, cars or motorcycles, bikes and planes. Locally many Germans travel on the subway or bikes, they also are not opposed to walking. To get to different countries they can take the planes, boats or trains.Some geographical aspects that affect travel includes The Black Forest. The Rhine and Bavaria. I also know that Germany is very small compared to the United States, and there are a lot of people living there. With all the housing needs, travel can be difficult because there is less room for roads or trains. 

Transportation

   Driving a car is my usuall mode of transportation almost one hundred percent of the time, most certainly in the winter.  I own a car so I make use of it as much as I can.  I use it for every purpose from trips to school, to the store, or to a friends house.  Im not entirely stuck behind the wheel however.  Once I get to campus, I do quite a bit of walking from class to class.  Also in the summer, I use by bike to make some of the shorter trips such as to the local neighborhood store or the library.  As far as vacations go not much changes.  My family probably will never travel out of the country so we mainly travel by car.  If one of us travels alone (usually to Colorado because of family) then we will usually fly because it is cheaper.  Usually if three or more of us are going it is cheaper to drive.
   In the city, most germans will get around by walking or cycling.  For longer distances in the city they might hop on a bus or U-Bahn.  Germany's innercity transportation is renowned for its efficiency.  Driving around in a car in the city is not your best option as space is very limited. If thery are travelling more in the suburb region then it might be more common to take a car but there are aslo other options such as the S-Bahn or Stadtbahn.  As far as travelling cross-country or internationally your best choice would usually be by car or train.  The German autobahn is world famous and its train system is very efficient and affordable. I would say that in America's largest cities the are a lot more similarities between the German and American systems.  However there is just a lot more space in between the big cities in America which makes owning a car and house much more affordable and realistic.  Germany's geography contibutes to the high amount of usage of public transportation.  Space is running out so owning a house out in the German countryside is very expensive so people tend to stick to the city and take advantage of the excellent transportation systems.  I think German's in general are just a little more practical with their money when it comes to living space and transportation.  I don't tink most Germans feel entitled to to their own home and car whereas we have this "American Dream " lifestyle that we tend to gravitate towards. Overall, both systems work pretty well for the part of the world that they occupy.

http://www.studying-in-germany.org/a-foreigners-guide-to-public-transport-in-germany/

          My daily transportation depends on the season. When weather permits I enjoy walking, biking, or potentially long boarding depending on the distance. Unfortunately, I do have to travel fairly far distances, so I can not always use alternative transportation methods regardless of the weather. My main transportation is my car. I have to travel to Allendale at least once a week for work and numerous different locations for softball during the week. My Dad and sisters drive less than me, due to the fact everything in our hometown is closer. My mom on the other hand drives farther than me. She works 45 minutes away from our house. As a whole, my family drives more than we use any other methods, although my sister does take the train to Chicago every weekend.
          In Germany there are many options to get around the country and other portions of Europe. Germany does have an extentsive highway system know for the lack of restrictions. If you live in Germany though, specifically in a highly populated area,  public transportation is the way to go. They have a very effective public transportation system in place for everyone that needs it. You have the option of taking an underground train, tram, or buses. If you want to travel to a different country taking the train is the best option. Throughout reading and prior knowledge about German transportation there is few similarities with the USA. We both have public transportation systems but the difference is ours is only well established in the major cities while they have effective systems all over their country. In our defense, our country is much larger and has more open space than in Europe. Making a nation wide public transportaion system much harder. As well as it is engraved in our culture to want your own car which is not the same in Germany.

http://www.internations.org/germany-expats/guide/moving-to-germany-15458/transportation-and-driving-in-germany-3

Transportation is a vital part of everyone's life. I have had to walk most everywhere throughout my life, this included school for 13 years, walking around AQ, and going to visit friends. Of course with my family we would travel by car. My mom and dad work together and drive about 40 minutes to work. Compared to where I just walk over to Wege to do dishes. Americans in general have a love affair with the automobile. A lot of this is due to Henry Ford making early cars affordable for common people. Another factor that I contribute to this is manifest destiny, the ultimate american dream. The freedom of being able to drive hundreds of miles on our seemingly never endless highways makes the automobile the perfect transportation device for Americans.
Germans on the other hand are quite different. In Germany and throughout the rest of Europe, public transportation is the way to go. Buses, street cars, trolleys, subways, taxis, bikes, walking, all of these are different methods to get around Germany. Their love affair with the car is actually not really a love affair. Don't be a fooled though, lots of people do drive cars in Europe. The success of Volkswagen is a sign of this. Germany also has the Autobahn where speed limits are not even a suggestion. One reason many people use other forms of transportation than walking is how crowded German cities can be. The streets are narrower and the buildings are closer together than here in the U.S.A. Germans may not have wide streets and giant loads of traffic, but they manage just fine with public transportation.

Verkehrsmittel

In my daily life we almost always travel by car and if the place is close we walk. Things like going to the store I will drive but when I go to school it is close enough to walk. For vacations my family and I usually drive and I have never been on an airplane. The area that my family usually commutes from is a twenty mile radius from our house. Germany has one of the best public transportation systems in Europe. To get around the country they will either travel by train or car. In the US most people hardly ever travel by train anymore, instead they will opt to take a plane. To get around there town they will either walk, drive, or ride a bus. This is kind of like the US in our bigger cities. In the smaller cities we usually will walk or drive.
Germany isn't as big as the US so it is easier for them to take something like a train, bus, or drive to get across the country. Were we either fly or drive. Germany is also older then the US and the city streets weren't built for cars, so either people don't have one or walk. Also, because the streets are smaller the cars they do have in Germany are smaller then the ones here.


http://www.lonelyplanet.com/germany/transport/getting-around

Verkehrsmittel

In college, I do not use a lot of transportation because I live on campus. At home and during high school, I used my car quite often. I drove to school, work, home, and out with friends. That was my main method for travel. When I lived at home, my commute to high school was about five minutes; my parents traveled about ten minutes to get to work; and anywhere else in town that we wanted to go was only about five to ten minutes by car. We never used public transportation. I still do not think I have ever road any sort of public transportation besides the school bus in middle school.

To start off though, one of the similarities between the USA and Germany is that they do not always like taxis because they can be costly and also inconvenient in high traffic. But, when it comes to the Germany otherwise, the style of transportation is quite different. For example, traveling by private car for them can be inconvenient because of city traffic and parking fees. Another difference is that, unlike the area where I lived growing up where we had like one local bus, they have many different methods of public transportation. For local travel, buses, S-Bahn (commuter train), U-Bahn (underground), and Straßenbahn (tram) are available. For inter-city travel, the German Rail is popular along with ICE, a high-speed inter-city express. One of the reasons why Germany has such great transportation is because there are so many people in such a small area, so efficiency is key. Trans-European Transport Network allows many different ways to travel by road or train in order to move to other countries. Germany has several countries bordering it, so being able to travel to different countries is really great.
http://www.about-germany.org/life/gettingaround.php
http://ic.daad.de/accra/en/20938/

Katie and Hannah's German Video

Megan &Kala's Videos

German Conversation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tGkOoXTgm0&feature=youtu.be

German Video

nominated for academy award staring Lance and Aaron.

Das Interview

Video Interview

Wohnen

Ich wohne in East Tawas, Michigan.  Ich wohne in der Stadt und ja, Ich mag, zu wohnen.  Ich wohne mit meiner Familie.  Ja, ich kann mein Zimmer zu beschreiben.  Ich habe ein bett und einen Stuhl in meinem Zimmer.  Ich mag nicht Deutsch Hausaufgaben.  Ja, ich mag mein Zimmer.  Ich muss funf Minuten, bis die Uni.  Ich habe nei mein Hause zu reinigen.  Ich habe einen kleines Zimmer.

 

Ich wohne in Grand Rapids Michigan. Ich wohne in ein Studentwohnheim in ein Stadt. Ich wohne mit ein Mitbewohner. In zwei Minuten gehe Ich zur Uni zu Fuss. Mein Zimmer costet viel Geld. Ich habe ein Bett, ein Fernseher, ein Regal, einer Kleiderschrank, und einer Kuehlschrank. Ich liebe mein Zimmer. Ich gern putzen. Ich putze mein Zimmer zwei bis drei in Monat. Mein Zimmer ist klein und nett.

Ich wohne in Cadillac Michigan. Ich lebe im der land. Ich mag die dort leben. Ich lebe mit meiner Familie. Ich bin an der Hochschule für vier Jahre. In meinem Haus habe ich ein Bett, Schreibtisch, Fernseher, Sofa, Garage und Keller.  Ich lebe mein Haus und das Zimmer sehr. Ich das meinezimmer zu reinigen. Mein Zimmer ist warm, gemütlich und unordentlich.  

1. Ich wohne in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2. Ich wohne in der stadtrand. Es ist sehr gut.
3. Ich wohne mit meiner Famalie.
4. Ich brauche veir jahr zu Uni.
5. Mein Haus ist kostenlos.
6. In meiner Zimmer, Ich habe ein Bett, ein Schreibtisch, und ein kleidschrank.
7. Ich mochte meiner Zimmer.
8. Ich mag Geschichte der populären Musik.  Ich nicht gern philosophie.
9. Ich habe einmal im Monat reinigen.
10. Meiner Zimmer ist sehr bunt und komfortabel.

Wo ich wohne

1. Ich wohne in Portland.
2. Ich wohne auf dem Land. Es ist gut.
3. Ich lebe mit meine Familie.
4. Ich brauche vier Jahre.
5. Meine Studentenheim ist es teuer.
6. In meinem Haus, habe ich meinem Bett, meinem Schreibtisch und meinem Sessel.
7. Ich mag mein Haus aber mein Zimmer ist sehr klein.
8. Ich mag keine Hausaufgaben.
9. Ich putze jeden Wochenende.
10. Ja, mein Zimmer ist sehr klein und habe blau Wand.

Ich wohne

1. Ich wohne Muskegon, Michigan.
2. Ich lebe auf dem Land und ich gern da.
3. Ich wohne mit jemandem. Sie Namen ist Erin
4. Ich brauche vier Jahr zur Uni.
5. Es kostest sehr Geld.
6. Ich habe ein Bett, ein Lampe, und ein Tisch.
7. Ich gefälle mein Zimmer sehr.
8. Ich gern Hausarbeit auf dem Computer.
9. Ich müsse täglich meine Zimmer putzen.
10. Ja, meine Zimmer ist sehr klein und reinigen die meiste Zeit.

Ich wohne aus Ray Township. Ich wohne auf dem land. Ich wohne gern. Ich wohne mit meiner Eltern und meinem Bruder. Ich brauche drei Minuten zu fuss. Der Uni ist vier Jarhe lang. Die Haus kostet ein hundert achtzig tausend Dollar. In meinem wohnheim, habe ich ein Bett, ein Regal, einen Tisch, und eine poster. Ich gefaellt mir meine zimmer. Ich mache keine Hausarbeit. Ich putze einmal in der monat. Mein Bett ist neben dem Fenster. Das Bild ist auf dem tisch.

Ich wohne in Grand Rapids. Ich lebe in der Stadt. Ich lebe mit meiner Famlie. In meinem Haus ich ein Bett, Fernseher, Tisch, Sofa, und ein Sessel. Ich mag meinem Zimmer sehr gut. Ich mag keine Mathematik Hausaufgaben. Ich jeden Woche meinem Zimmer reinigen. Meinem Zimmer ist hell Blau und klein.

Ich wohne in Chicago. Ich lebe in der Stadt. Ich mag die dort leben. Ich lebe mit meiner Familie. Ich bin an der Hochschule für vier Jahre. In meinem Haus habe ich ein Bett, Fernseher, Sofa, Tisch, Schreibtisch, und Fenster. Ich mag mein Haus und das Zimmer sehr. Ich das Bad zu reinigen. Ich putze, wenn ich will. Mein Zimmer ist dunkel, kalt und schön.

Wo ich wohne

1. Ich wohne in Muskegon.
2. Ich wohne am stadtrand. Es ist gut.
3. Ich wohne mit meine familie.
4. Ich brauche vier jahr zu Uni.
5. Ich weiβ nicht ein Preis von mein Haus aber mein Studentenheim ist es teuer.
6. Im Studentenheim, habe ich ein Bett, ein Schreibtisch, ein Teppich, ein klein Kühlschrank, eine        Mikrowelle, und eine Lampe.
7. Mein Zimmer ist gut, aber klein.
8. An mein Haus, mag ich Staubsaugen putzen. Ich mag nicht toilette putzen.
9. Ich putze wöchentlich.
10. Im Wohnzimmer an Uni, ist es klein und eng.

Wo ich Wohne

1) Ich wohne aus Portland.
2) Ich wohne auf dem land. Ich im Land leben möchte.
3) Ich lebe mit meinen Eltern und meiner Schwester.
4) Ich brauche vierzehn Minuten mit dem Auto, oder fünf Minuten, wenn ich an meinem Wohnheim.
5) Mein Haus ist frei, mein Wohnheim ist rund zwei tausend Dollar.
6) In meinem Wohnheim habe ich ein Bett, Schreibtisch, Stuhl und einen Schrank.
7) Ich liebe mein Wohnheim!
8)  Ich mag meine Psychologie und Geographie Hausaufgaben, die ich nicht mag Mathe Hausaufgaben.
9) Ich jeden Sonntag reinigen zu Hause.
10) ja, das ist mein Zimmer klein, aber sehr sauber.

Wo ich wohne

1. Ich wohne aus Grand Rapids.
2. Ich wohne auf dem Stadt. Ich liebe in der Stadt wohnen.
3. Ich wohne mit meine Mitbewohnerinen.
4. Ich brauche zwei minuten auf dem Fahrad und zehn minuten auf Fuss zur Uni.
5. Mein Zimmer kostet einhundred ein und neunzig dollars.
6. In mein ZImmer hat ein Bett, einen Shrank, eine Bilder, und eined Tisch.
7. Mein Zimmer gefallt mir gut.
8. Ich mache fegen und ich stelle mein Geschirr weg.
9. Ich muss einmal in der Woche putzen.
10. Ya, mein Zimmer ist klein und sehr geil.

Housing in Germany

   Because of a high population density, it is very difficult to obtain land, much less own the house you live in.  As a result, only about 42% of people in Germany own their own house. (1)  It is very common to rent out flats; low apartment style houses.  Even those that do own their own homes usually live in small condominium style dwelling. (1)  Most cities in Germany are very old, so space is mostly already taken up.  People need to get creative in order to use already existing space for their purpose, whether that be living or running a business.  Although most cities are old, most of Europe has a very good transportation system, making owning a car unnecessary.  In urban spaces, you will see large rather dull looking apartment towers located on the edge of towns and constructed just to fill the demand for housing.  Outside the cities, it is more possible to see single houses for one family, the german dream house. (2)
   The most major difference between the German way of housing and the American way is choice and availability.  I think it is natural to want to have a place that you can call your own.  However in Germany, that is just not an option for most people because of the high costs associated with that luxury.  As a result, Germans may just have to accept living in a smaller rented area.  With this comes more convenient transportation and lower costs in other areas.  In America, we have more options when it comes to housing, but also more responsibility as well as higher transportation and utility costs.


 (1)  http://german.about.com/library/anfang/blanfang18.htm
 (2)  http://www.german-way.com/for-expats/living-in-germany/house-and-home/

German Housing

German housing, although having many similarities to that of American housing, also differs greatly. Just like America, in Germany, owning a house is a dream. This is more difficult, however, because prices of land in Germany can be up to triple of that in the US. This is because Germany is more populated per square mile than America. Because of this, condos and apartments are most popular. Living spaces and bedrooms are more spacious in America, another factor of having more people in less of a space. Open floor plans are also rare, where in Germany, a lot of buildings are that from older periods and an open floor plan is a modern style of living.

In a city, public transportation is a huge aspect because everything needed for common living is located within the city itself. Unlike America, Germany does not have suburbs. Rural living in Germany, for most circumstances, requires owning a car. Because of the size of Germany, living rural still keeps one in a fairly close distance to a city. Owning a car provides convenience for driving to and from the city for shopping. Living in a city gives convenience, much like in America. Shops are within walking distance and this allows for most to no have to own a car, and when needing to travel more, there is always public transportation.

http://www.german-way.com/for-expats/living-in-germany/house-and-home/

http://www.goethe.de/ges/mol/typ/en2808483.htm

Germany has many different types of housing which reflect the time they were built in. They have some old architecture style homes and some that are more modern. The modern ones tend to be plain and have the same design. They try to plan the cities for all ages to make sure that the older people as well as the younger people can navigate the city.
There is a dwindling rural area because people are moving to the cities and making them bigger. Only the older people are staying in the towns of Germany. The German living spaces are a lot smaller and have less yard space than the typical US living space. If I had a smaller living space, then my parents probably wouldn't have had as many kids as they did.

Works Cited

http://www.german-way.com/for-expats/living-in-germany/house-and-home/

http://www.goethe.de/kue/arc/dos/dos/sls/sdz/en1417880.htm

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/half-empty-the-slow-painful-demise-of-rural-germany-a-759377.html

Wohnen

In Germany it is far older and also smaller. The buildings are much older then those in the US. Also Germany is a much smaller country and has less room and that is why the streets, cars, and buildings are smaller. With them not having as much room it makes the prices go up for things like apartments and houses. Due to the expensiveness of living places in Germany it has made for more places to be built and also buildings that weren't originally living spaces to be turned in to some, like lofts or apartments in old office buildings.
The German household is much smaller then those in the US and also they have the lowest number of home owners in Europe. Most of them live in the very compacted cities, in places like apartments. Most German family's like other neighboring countries family's that are larger tend to live in the country for the space that it provides.

Wohnen.

    In German speaking countries, they live in closer spaces with one another compared to the United States. This is also true for most of Europe, because the U.S. is overall larger than most European Countries. The architecture in Germany was highly influenced by the Gothic, Rennisannce, and Baroque styles. The layout of cities is also more compact and space efficent, because Europe is very old, and the cities have existed for longer periods of time compared to those of the U.S.
    The buildings are far older, and therefore more expensive than buying a house in America, so most people in German speaking countries rent apartments. This has caused more apartments to be constructed. The East Berlin Soviet Housing is also still used as a trendy living space.  The more recent trends of architecture have been influenced by artists and have been more abstract. This is being seen more and more in most societies. These buildings are both creative and pratical.

Wohnen in Deutschland

    The average household size in Germany is very low, the average size of a family living in a house is 2.  Not all germans have small family arrangments.   Lots of germans rent apartments or house, germany has one of the lowest house ownership levels in europe.  Housing is much more expensive, A majority of Germans and Europeansrent apartments. Unlike the apartments in America, the apartments are completely unfurnished.
    In europe the cost of living is high and most people live in apartments, in germany the cites are very compact and everything is relatively close to together so apartments work out very well for people so they do not have to travel very far which can be expensive.  Bigger families in germany and austria tend to live out in the country so they have more room to grow.   Switzerland has a similar living situation as the U.S.  everything is more spread out and there are tremendous physical barriers between cities.  Germans and Europeans in general live smaller then U.S. Citizens, smaller houses smaller cars, that is the main difference between the U.S. and Euro countrys












http://german.about.com/library/anfang/blanfang18.htm

http://www.airo.ie/news/eurostat-study-eu27-households-living-arrangements

Wohnen

Compared to the USA, Germany lives quite differently. Most Germans live in apartments because houses are to expensive. Typical German spaces are smaller; the kitchens are compact and may be bare without much structure; and bedrooms have wardrobes instead of built in closets. Urban areas of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are usually very expensive when compared to the USA because land is more rare and a 30-50% down payment is needed, but the life would probably be more peaceful than the hustle and bustle of the city.

When it comes to the city layout of Germany, it is pretty efficient. In German cities, everything is closer because of lac of space. Subway and trains systems are readily available, and activities are usually of walking distance as well. If I had to live in a German living space, I may have more difficulty just because the apartments and overall space is smaller. Organizing would be an inconvenient must when living so small, but driving time would be saved when going places too.
http://www.german-way.com/for-expats/living-in-germany/house-and-home/
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112187/germany_way_of_life.htm

Wohnen.

Germany is known for a lot of things.  Beer, free college, and soccer.  What some people don't know is that they are also known for their architecture.  With a wide range of styles that make up their architecture, it is obvious why they are known for it.  Some of the styles are Gothic, Carolingian, Baroque, Renaissance, and Romanesque.  They also have classical and modern buildings.  Wohnsilos are tall, tower-like apartments, which are popular amongst many Germans due to their low cost.  Around 42% of German own their house.  Yards are very, very small by a house where as here in the states we can have enormous yards that engulf our yards.  Cities were made for easy transportation for the citizens that live there.

Austria has lots of very low costing housing due to the baby boom.  There houses were made of concrete which, in house form, is very cheap.  In Switzerland, larger families tend to live on the outside of cities.  Most people in Switzerland tend to live alone or with one other person.  The main difference between German housing and property and American housing and property, is that Americans have bigger everything.  Plan and simple.  Yards are bigger, rooms are bigger, and cars are bigger.  I feel that with everything smaller in Germany it makes them healthier and more active because they walk or bike to most places.  In America we do the exact opposite.  Also in America we tend to say things like "Bigger is Better," which doesn't help our global image.



http://www.german-way.com/for-expats/living-in-germany/house-and-home/
www.swissworld.org/en/people/families/living_space/

Wohnen in Duetschland

       All around the world the living arrangements are changing. Instead of a a traditional family, single parents, non-martial partnerships, and lone parents are much more common. "Efficiency measures in all areas of our lives, do not stop where housing is at issue." This is the major flaw in housing in the United States and the difference between us and our European neighbors. In Germany there is 200 people per every 1sq mile. Due to this housing is much more expensive. A majority of Germans rent apartments. Unlike the apartments in America, the apartments are completely unfurnished. You have to provide cabinets, lighting, light fixtures, tables, and ect. The architecture of the buildings of where people reside or see daily is studied worldwide. Germans architecture highlights their history by a high degree of regional diversity. The main types of architecture are Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassicism.

      Austria is in a similar situation with its living corridors. Many Austrians live in rented housing, and this is considered more desirable. In Switzerland there is a generous amount of living space. People are moving out of the city into the suburbs. Switzerland's living situation is closest in similarity to the United States. In Germany everything in the city is very close and compact, which is why they have a great transportation system. In America our public transportation system is lacking, one of the main reasons being a majority of Americans have their own vehicle, This is a trend in a America, we all strive to own our own things. This is why in America a majority of people own their own houses, in some cases a couple houses. We like to have a lot of things in excess so that changes our way of daily life between us and Germans.

http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/town_and_country_planning/where_people_live/
http://www.internations.org/austria-expats/guide/living-in-austria-15579/housing-and-health-in-austria-2
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/germany/693157

Wohnen!!!!!!!!

German housing is quite different from the U.S.A Most people in Germany do not live in family homes, rather in apartments, condos, and lofts. Only about 42% of Germans live in actual houses compared to nearly 70 % in the United States. The reason there is such a drastic number of German citizens living in apartments is due to the high cost of homes, especially in the city. Apartments and houses are also much closer together than here in the states. While Germany has a much lower population than us, the number of Germans per square kilometer is grossly bigger than ours. This is due to the fact that we have such a large area ( consider Texas which is nearly as large as all of Europe) compared to Germany.
The differences between houses in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are not quite as drastic as the differences of american housing.Austrian housing is also very expensive which makes living in apartments the way to go. In Switzerland, while many people do own homes, it seems to be that buying a house can cause some issue. The competitive market of renting homes in Switzerland is huge! Renting a house would definitely be the way to living there. If one thing can be said about all three of these countries however, is that their architecture is beautiful. German architecture has spread across the world. Multiple examples of Gothic and Baroque architecture is seen throughout the world and it all came from Germany. One beautiful exampe of such architecture is the Freiburg Cathedral in Germany seen below.
Sources: http://www.expatica.com/ch/housing/buying/How-to-rent-and-buy-a-house-in-Switzerland_3570.html http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Housing_statistics
https://www.boundless.com/art-history/gothic-art/german-gothic-art-and-the-holy-roman-empire/architecture--20/

Wohnen in Deutschland

German architecture is very popular around the world, and it is considered to be one of the greatest aspects of German culture. Some of the popular styles are Carolingian, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, classical and modern. Many Germans live in apartments or condos because the cost of building and owning land is double of what we would pay in America. About 42% of Germans own their own homes. Many Germans live in Wohnsilos, which are tall, tower-like apartment buildings. All of the planning for German cities is based on making living and transportation easier for all the citizens, because it is a much small country than the United States.
There are many differences between Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In Austria a baby boom happened and more housing was needed. Cheap houses were constructed of concrete, or they even used prefabricated houses. Many people in Switzerland live alone or with at least one other person. Bigger families like to live outside the city, but the number of house owners is one of the lowest in Europe. The difference between the United States and Germany is that we have bigger houses and more property, many families own their own houses. I think it affects the daily life because they are probably more active, walking or biking because everything is close while we usually have to drive to get where we want.



www.swissworld.org/en/people/families/living_space/
http://www.german-way.com/for-expats/living-in-germany/house-and-home/

Willkommen

Willkommen in Deutsch 102 am Aquinas College, Frühlingssemester 2014! Auf diesem Blog werden wir teilweise auf Englisch und teilweise auf Deutsch unsere Ideen tauschen und mit einander teilen. Ich freue mich auf viel Spass und Energie in dem kommenden Semester.