Cultural Shock

At the beginning it was very difficult for me to live in Germany. I could not speak German. I had to learn German intensively. Although most of the Germans can speak English, they wanted to communicate with me in German. Their argument was that I live in Germany and I have to learn and try to speak German. It was not easy for me at the beginning. My idea was so; I need to communicate with the language that I can understand.. In this way I can learn their culture and I can build up understanding among people. At the beginning English is more easy for me to communicate. With my very little German skill, there can be misunderstanding. But they like such a kind of integration. So I have to follow. At that time when I met somebody who could speak English, I was very happy and talkative.

Germans are not easy to make a friendship. I have not many German friends. In Myanmar we are happy to help the stranger, easy to go out together, easy to come and visit each other. Here I miss such a kind of warm welcome. To visit to somebody you need an appointment or invitation. Here most of my friends are foreigners.

Thomas helps and supports me a lot. He brought me to many Asian meetings. Now I have contact with Indonesian Group in Freiburg. They are nice and I can join their meetings and festivals. I have also a closed friend. She came from Philippine. Her name is Lynn.

Here in Germany there are about 30 Television Channels (what I can get in my house). Among them I can listen in English only from CNN. Other channels are all in German. I have to watch whether I understand or not. Two weeks after I arrived in Germany, We went to Holland, where Thomas's mother came from. In Holland I felt more happy than in Germany. The reason was that in Holland people are ready to communicate with the Foreigner in English, for example; in Cafe or Supermarket. Their T.V. Program could change my loneliness. They broadcast with original language with Dutch text. So I could understand more. At that time I told Thomas that I wanted to stay in Holland. Here in Germany I feel that I live on the German Island.

Myanmar and German are different eating habit. We like to eat at least four times a day. We are always busy with cooking. They cook only for one meal. They can live on bread. At the beginning I felt hungry and thought that they are stingy. I had to remain Thomas that I am hungry and need to eat something. I like to eat Monhingar or Htaminkyaw for breakfast. They like to eat bread or Müsli. I like Ngapi and garlic. They like cheese and sausage. I like fish. They like meat........

German people are curious. They are eager to find out details. At the beginning I felt that I was sitting in the interview-room. They asked me many things about me, about my country, about everything. For some topic I did not even know in details. They like discussion.

They are easy to talk about themselves. They want to show how good they are, how skilful they are, like this. Myanmar people are not like this. We do not want to talk about ourselves. We want to show it by doing. They want to be perfect. When somebody points out their fault, they are angry and they will give a lot of reason.

They are proud for themselves as a German. They do not respect to the foreigner. They asked me even that "Did you come here because of hungry?"They asked me often "Do you have work?". When I say "Yes", they asked me again "Are you working as a cleaner?".

In the television, they show about other countries, where people are poor and problems.

Now I stay in Germany for 9 years. In between I have learned many things and I know how to deal with the German. But I still have problems.

Above mentioned facts are only from my experience. If you are not agreeable with me, just leave it.

If you have something more to add, please add it. Thanks....

Germany where I live now

I live in Germany. When I was in Yangon, I had some knowledge about Germany. German football team was popular among us. Two parts of Germany with two different systems is very interesting for me. Falling down of Berlin Wall was surprising. To read the German history was exciting. These were only small things that I know about Germany.

Now I can tell some more things then before.(I think!!)

When I arrived Germany I noticed that the streets were empty. There were only a few people on the street. What happen!!!!! In Myanmar there are many people on the street. But in the downtown you can see many. people. On Sunday shops are closed. You cannot buy anything except at the gasoline station. People are always in a hurry. They have no time for other. They have to run to catch the trains and trams, which are driving very exact time. "Stress" is the popular word in Germany. Only on Sunday and public holiday,they have time to be rest. On Sunday you should not make any noise.

They are very systematic and they want to be perfect in everything. That is why there are many rules and regulations for everything and for everywhere and they are busy with them. You have to sort out the rubbish in different types before you throw them away.

Old people are lonely. Not like our country, old parents are not together with their children. Whether they live alone or they live in old-age-home.

German seems to like to have a dog. There are many different kinds of dogs, small or big. Some dogs are too small and some are too big.

They like coffee, cigarette, sausages, cheese, beer and Chocolate.They like to eat meat and potato.

German are the world champion for traveling. They travel during their private holidays. They like also trekking.

These are something that I know about German and Germany. If you have something to add, I am happy for that.

my friends......

I think I have many friends. I have still contact with some of my Kindergarten friends, High School friends, Uni friends and soon. My first friends in KG are Mie Aung and Mie Cho (twin sisters). I call Mie Aung as Pusi. Now she is in Yangon. Mie Cho is now in Singapore. Wa Maung is one of my friends. We danced together with Moe San, Myintzu, Wah Han, La Thein. We danced water festival days. So my mother had no time to take 8 Precepts. She carried my dress and took care me from stage to stage. Whenever I think about dancing group, Aunty Tu Tu is always in my thought. Daw Khin Win Myint taught us how to dance. (and other teachers of course). I have also contact with Kaythi and That Hnin Aye.I was also one of the members of Wit Athin ( Chanting Group). The name of our group was Aleinmar Wit Athin. Our teacher was U Thit San Lwin. I have still good memory of our activities in TTC with Ko Pauk ( Mg Htut, now in USA), Moe Thuzar ( now in Singapore), Ohma Khin, Yin Myint, Ma Thida Sein, Ma Mya Mya Soe ( Ma Mya Mya Phyo is now my neighbour in Yangon) and others. We went to many places like Shwedagon, meditation censers, private homes, and at our school and we were chanting there. I got some prices from chanting competitions. Thanks for these activities, I can still chant Metta Sutta, Mingala Sutta, and soon. Because of the teaching of U Thit San Lwin, I have some knowledge of Dhamma to discuss with Thomas and to understand his Dhamma books( he has many Dhamma books at his library).
In Uni I had three closed friends, Soe Sanda, Sandi and Sanda(Bae Oo). Later Nwe and PoPo were also in our group. I did not have any contact with Polay. My other friends are Thi Aye, Nyo Nyo Han, Aye Khine, Moe Moe Lwin ,Soe San Thein, Maung Ohn, Hla Win Aung and Hla Min Oo. The days in Uni were the most beautiful days in my life. We had no big worries and we did nearly all the nonsense. We went sometimes to 36th Street Kyee Oe. Soe San's house was our meeting point. We were happy to joke Bae Oo. She didn't know that we were joking her.

After my study, I worked at our Department in Yangon Uni. There I met other friends; Ma Chaw, Ma Kay, Ma Yu, Ko Soe Moe Oo, Ko Moe Aung, Ma Mar Thu, Ma Win Mar, Myo Pa, Thida, Khin Moe Aye, and Ye Min Tun.Ko Soe Moe Oo is now in Germany. We can phone and meet sometimes.

In Germany I got new friends like Hteik, Pon, Theingi, Thanegi ( Berlin), Ma Myint Myint Sein and Aunty Hninsi ( Yuyu and Ko Ko).

Here I phone frequently with Theingi . I can talk her everything.

I love my friends and I am ready to help them whenever they need my help.

my husband...Thomas....

Ich habe einen Mann. He is 19 years older than me. We met in Yangon, Myanmar in last 9 years ago. We married in Staufen, a small old town in south Germany. He is Thomas. He has other names: U Ko Ko Maung and sometimes I call him "Pappa".We are happy together.
He likes traveling with Train. He doesn't like any noise e.g, from dogie ( Funny: our neighbour's dog), children.....
He is happy to stay away from dog und children....But he likes to listen Techno Musik. He collects Dream Dance.He cannot cook. Sometimes he tries to help me by washing dishes (Danke).
He can do chanting very well. He is happy to be a good Buddhist. Because of him I started my first meditation course in IMC (England). Later my mother started to meditate in IMC (Yangon).
He likes Müsili with dried nuts..he can live on it.(actually I don't need to cook for him!!!). He also likes Lakritz.
Sometimes he can be angry when he could not get enough sleep.
Anyway I love him.

Ah May, my mother, meine Mutter

I love my mother. I think every Myanmar loves Ah May( mother). When I was in Myanmar I didn't realize how my mother is lovely and important. Now I am far away from her and then I realize her Metta (Love). Luckily I still have a chance to give back my Metta to her.
Her name is Daw Than Than Sein. She is 75 years old and lives in Kamayut. She is waiting my Phone call every Saturday and happy to talk with me. She will explain me everything and ask me How are you and Thomas? Take care your health....
We can meet only 4 weeks in a year.

She goes nearly every 2nd week of Friday to IMC for 10 days meditation course. We are happy for that. When I was young, she had never been at the Meditation Center. I told her to go and meditate. But her response was "I have no time and I have to take care you". Now because of my husband, Thomas, she has started to meditate since 5 years already. Danke Thomas!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish you (Ah may) a happy, healthy and peaceful life.....

About Me!!!!!!

My name is Shinlay. I live in Germany for 8 years. My original country is Myanmar. Although I stay in Germany for long time, I feel myself as a Myanmar and I am very proud to be a Myanmar lady. I dream nearly everyday about my mother, friends and people in Myanmar.

In Myanmar I lived in Kamayut,Yangon. although I am one and only daughter, I have 10 cousins. We live in a big compound together. Later I will write about my brothers and sisters.

My High School is TTC. I have still contact with some friends from TTC. All these Childhood-Friends are really nice to meet them or hear something about them.
I studied International Relations at the Yangon University. All these Uni Friends are also nice. I am really happy to meet them again.

I met my husband in Yangon and decided to come and stay in Germany.