I have been back from Germany for almost a week now, and I have finally come to a fully appreciation of my time there. I thought it would be impossible to suffer culture shock coming back to the country I have lived in for 20 years, yet I can see all of the cultural difference that exist between the United States and Germany now that I am back.
Little things took time to get adjusted to coming back to the United States. For instance, everyone speaking in English all the time became foreign to me. I became so accustomed to everyone speaking German all the time, I began to enjoy the mystery of not understand everything that was going on around me. However, I now know what everyone is saying at all times, and the fun of trying to decipher a "secret language" is completely lost. Another oddity that created a funny encounter was the fact that in the United States, water at a restaurant is free. I recently went out to lunch with Asfiya and Sara, and before they arrived, the waiter asked if I wanted water for everyone. I hesitated and asked him how much it cost, and he looked at me funny, upon which I had to explain to him that I was used to paying for water in Germany. And do not even get me started with the issue that is jet lag!
While in Germany, we had an opportunity to learn about cultural difference with the mentorship programs conducted in both countries. I met with a Balu named Theresa Breikopt who had had a Mogli for a year already. I was surprised by how much was different between the Balu und Du program of Germany and the mentorship programs I have participated with in the United States. For instance, the Balu und Du program does not put an emphasis on school support, but rather is used as a system of guidance in everyday life for the mentees. In almost all mentorship programs I have worked with, the primary emphasis was on school, either with helping a student get through a challenging subject or simply adjust to a new school. Theresa explained that from the beginning, the role of the Balu is established to be more of a confidant and friend rather than an authority figure or school administrator. Another extremely surprising thing is the freedom that the Balus have with the Moglis. First, they are able to meet at the Balu's homes, an act that would almost be considered illegal in the United States. The Balu und Du program is structured in such a way that the Balu has almost free range to do as they see fit with their mentee, allowing them to tailor the program to the relationship as it develops. In mentorship programs I have worked with, the programs have been so structured that at times it is difficult to connect with students and meet the specifications of the program. I also found it incredible that amount of funding and support that Balus get from the program (they are given 10 Euros a month for activities with their students), something I find lacking at times in American mentorship programs.
With all these difference between the Balu und Du program and mentorship programs in the United States, I found one similarity that meant more than all these differences combined. Each Balu has such an immense level of caring and love for their Mogli, which showed itself in the several times that we worked with the Balu und Du program. While speaking with Theresa, I learned that she lost contact with her Mogli because the parents simply did not want to keep up with the relationship. It pained her greatly to lose her friendship, and she was hoping to find another program that would give her a similar opportunity. In the United States, when you find a mentor that genuinely loves what they do, a similar expression of love for their mentee is shown. I feel that it takes a special type of person to become a mentor, and it is shown in the level of commitment they make not only to the program but the person whose life they are changing. Theresa and I spoke about many other things during our time together at the cafe because we saw in each other values that we shared, exemplified while we spoke about the mentorship program.
Being back in America for this time since the trip has opened my eyes to the possibilities the world has to offer. I know that sounds cliche, but it's true. I cannot wait to travel abroad again and see what other parts of the world will offer me.