My background is half German, half Canadian. I chose to focus on my Opa and Oma due to the fact that they immigrated from Germany. Before this, I had not known a lot about why my Opa and Oma came to Canada because all their family is in Germany, but after talking with my dad and doing research I now know more. Germany is a very fair country and has a lot of similarities with Canada either one would be good to live in. All in all, I think living in Canada suites my family values of honesty, being yourself, and working/ playing with family because Canada is a more compromising country for all people.
According to my dad, my Opa chose Canada because it was a more “newer” country at the time. He came to Canada by boat in 1950 because in Germany after the war things were not good; he came to have more opportunity in finding a job and to have better living conditions. The boat ride over was very tough and packed with people who were immigrating into Canada. Once he got here there was a lot of documentations and work before he could be recognized as Canadian. My Opa settled in Grand Valley to begin and opened a mechanic shop. He soon moved to Orangeville because of Grand Valley being too small a place and not getting enough business. In Orangeville he opened the Volkswagen dealership, on Highway 10, to make a living that way which was more helpful than the mechanic shop. As for my Oma, she came to Canada in 1958 by plane with my Opa; he went back to Germany for a wife and they got married there. She learned english in Canada and then helped him with the book work at the dealership.
My Oma and Opa
When talking to my dad I asked him what life is like in Germany now. His response was that, “back then it was more difficult, but over the years it has gotten way better,” I then asked what makes it better today he said, “they have better systems for getting a job, they have the same health care as we do, it is more expensive there, and everyone lives more prosperous” (Licht). Then, he started talking about their education system which interested me, so I ended up doing more research on that. German education is very different from Canadian. To start, ages 3-6 have a choice on whether or not to go to kindergarten, for ages 9-10 are compulsory. After grade 4, all students will take a test to determine their academic abilities and see which of 3 schools they will attend: Hauptschule, Realschule, or Gymnasium. The school year starts around mid-end August and classes are only 45 minutes long. Despite that being good, their summer break is only 6 weeks long. Tuition in Germany usually costs around 20 000 Euros, 30 400 dollars, for private Universities, yet “there are no tuition fees charged for undergraduate schools in all the public Universities within the country” (Studying in Germany).
This is a picture of the School system in Germany.
Canadian and German values are different in a few ways. Some Canadian values are freedom, politeness, peacekeeping, and respects other cultures. German values are industriousness, manners, punctuality, and managing time. In particular, in Canada everyone is polite, but they are free to make their own choices on whether or not to be polite to everyone. As in Germany, it has more rigid expectations of everyone to have manners. In relevance, with the Syrian refugees coming into a country, it is all about if they will follow the values each country has set. In Canada, we have a format that lets in the refugees who will fit in best with our values and will respect our country, but for Germany they will let anyone who needs to come in even though the refugees are not following the rigid manners and values Germany is all about.
In conclusion, if i were living in Germany at this moment everything you buy would be more expensive, I would be looking forward to not paying for University depending what level of schooling I am in, and having a wide variety of jobs I could get. I think Germany would be a great place to live, but i am glad that I live in Canada and have the life that I do right now.
Works Cited
Durham Region. “What Are Canadian Values?” Durham Immigration Portal, Durham Region, 2010, www.durhamimmigration.ca/creating%20community/Pages/WhatareCanadianValues.aspx. Accessed 30 May 2017.
“The German School System.” The German Way and More, World Press, 2017, www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/education/the-german-school-system/. Accessed 1 June 2017.
“German School System.” How to German, Chuck Emerson Media Services, 2017, www.howtogermany.com/pages/germanschools.html. Accessed 30 May 2017.
Licht, Manfred, and Natasha Licht. Interview. 26 May 2017.
“Reflecting Canadian Values.” Canadian Index of Wellbeing, University of Waterloo, uwaterloo.ca/canadian-index-wellbeing/about-canadian-index-wellbeing/reflecting-canadian-values. Accessed 30 May 2017.
“Values and Proverbs.” Academic Depauw, 6 May 2003, academic.depauw.edu/mkfinney_web/teaching/Com227/culturalPortfolios/germany/Values.htm. Accessed 1 June 2017.
“What Does It Cost to Study in Germany.” Studying in Germany, 2017, www.studying-in-germany.org/what-does-it-cost-to-study-in-germany/. Accessed 3 June 2017.
Zimmermann, Kim Ann. “German Culture: Facts, Customs and Traditions.” Live Science, 23 Jan. 2015, www.livescience.com/44007-german-culture.html. Accessed 1 June 2017.
Becca, your research has uncovered some interesting differences between Canadians and Germans. They demand politeness as a German way of life, but as Canadians there is a choice that we make to be kind to one another. One thing I would love to know is why your Opa chose to return to Germany to find a wife. Is it because he was already in love with your Oma, or a relative had found the "perfect" woman for him while he was abroad? Was it important for him to marry a German instead of a Canadian (ie. Speak German comfortably at home? Have home-cooked German meals?). Finally, in your conclusion you state that you are happy to be in Canada, despite the similarities between countries. Can you give a conclusive reason why, other than it is what you know and what you are comfortable with?
ReplyDeleteI am not entirely sure why my Opa chose to find a German wife. I talked to my dad and he didn't know either, but he did say that my Opa went back to Germany to visit his family and met her down there. I don't think it had anything to do with not wanting a Canadian wife or the fact that she was German, but that it was a quick act since he was returning to Canada soon and they really liked each other. I think that I would rather be in Canada mostly because after researching the schooling it's a little intimidating that as young as in grade 4 it determines your whole life. For example, what if I wasn't as strong in grade 4, but got better as I got older, I would not have the same opportunity's that our school system offers us. Also, taking a complicated test would be very stressful at such a young age for most people.
ReplyDeleteThose are excellent points. I also love that it is a "love" story between your grandparents. What an adventure to start a new life in a new land with someone you are newly in love with.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting blog! I am unclear whether your Opa came over on a boat or plane as you mentioned him coming over in both? Also, do you think Canda is the best place for your family and why? I found it very interesting that you compared the schooling systems and highlighted the differences.
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