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St. Ann
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| Posted: Sept 29 2007 at 8:50am | IP Logged
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All my dc were born in Germany, but are native born americans at the same time. A few years back, the vice consul in Munich told me that my dc must spend at least 5 years total in the USA to be able to pass on the US citezenship to their own dc. We must be able to prove this and establish that they have encountered enough american culture in that time. He suggested photos of my dc with Mickey Mouse and the like(as proof).
I have to say that I was a bit offended as an american to sum american culture up with MM. So... does that mean I need to take lots of photosof the dc in DisneyL or W with Mcdonald Milkshakes in their hands to give my kids amer. culture???
What do I need to give my dc from a cultural perspective that is truly american? Must it be so totally different from the german? We can play Gershwin, Bernstein and Copland instead of Mozart, Bach and Bethoven....Hopper instead of Kandinsky... we are open for all of them.
What is my responsibility to my american children?
What is american culture distinct from European?
BTW I may be spending the next year with the girls in America, unfortunately without dh. This is all in the planning stages.
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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JennGM
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| Posted: Sept 29 2007 at 9:09am | IP Logged
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Stephanie,
I think you are doing fine. American culture doesn't necessarily translate into crass commercialism for everyone. But obviously the vice consul and others think that this does mean the same thing.
This reminds me of a couple who was trying to adopt a baby. They are fun, cultured people (like examples you gave above), but they needed to show a young single mom that they would be good fun parents for her child. The adoption agency suggested they photograph some tangible activities that the young mother could identify with -- times at amusement parks and picnics and other outings.
They weren't lying with the pictures. They did go to these things, but it wasn't the bulk of their lives. But they did capture these brief moments on film to share those times.
And I think you could do that. An occasional McD's trip could be photographed right along with trips to the local library, a trip to Washington DC or other American landmarks.
You know what is the bulk of your cultural education for your girls, and really that's what is important. A photo is just a split second of time, and doesn't necessarily mean immersion and indoctrination into mass materialism.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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LisaR
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| Posted: Sept 29 2007 at 9:17am | IP Logged
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I thought of our National Parks and Monuments. Trips to the state capitol, etc. Why not photos in front of a really cool library you visit? Or a Baseball game- America's national pastime, 
Very interesting...I have never been to Disney World, nor has dh, or any of our children and we have no desire too.
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
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Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
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Barbara C.
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I think I would also consider checking with someone else to see if the person who told you that is even correct. I would think your kids are legal American citizens then their kids should be considered American citizens if they are born in the U.S. or at a U.S. facility out of the country. I mean isn't part of the the big who-ha about immigration that they complain that Mexicans cross the border to deliver their babies is so that the babies will be considered American citizens even if the parents aren't?
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Sept 29 2007 at 8:23pm | IP Logged
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And now that I have a tiny bit more time, I think you pose an interesting question in general. What makes the U.S. unique and distinct culturally?
Now if you ask around the world you could maybe get some interesting answers. Traditionally, blue jeans, McDonald's, Mickey Mouse, and rock 'n' roll have been symbols of America, especially in former communist countries. I don't know if they were representative for of freedom and choices that they offered or the underlying theme of capitalism and consumerism.
When my husband was in grad. school he had two fellow students that we hung out with frequently, one was from Nepal and the other from Costa Rica. They both agreed that there was a bigger concern for personal space in the U.S.; where they were used to hugging or kissing people they just met on the cheek as a form of greeting. They both complained how isolated everyone seemed to be in the U.S.
The girl from Nepal also mentioned the U.S. obsession with religion and what religion everybody is. She said that in Nepal religion is a very personal and private thing. Of course, she was Hindu, so the gods are considered personal to the family or community. The other thing she found interesting was the lack of respect for elders, not only for their wisdom but for their tradition that the eldest person at the table pays for the meal.
The other thing is that America truly is a melting pot in a lot of ways. It's a very apt metaphor. In many parts of the U.S. people have no inkling of their ethnic background. I know back in Kentucky it was mainly non-descript white people. Now in Chicago it's a different story.
Maybe what makes the U.S. culturally unique is that it does not have a unique culture, except sadly consumerism.
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St. Ann
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| Posted: Oct 10 2007 at 3:33pm | IP Logged
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Aaaaahhhhh! It is so nice to be here again!
Jenn, Lisa and Barbara thanks for your replies and encouragement. I have been thinking about this a bit more and what came to mind was the way we celebrate.
Take the 4th of July for instance. As far as I know, this day of reverie is really celebrated in a very unique way.
(there is nothing like it in Germany)
Thanksgiving is also a great example. It is the one day of the year, when I feel homesick.
Maybe the difference in cultures is to be found in the way a people celebrates. Not only, but much becomes visible during such feasts.
Thank heavens the Catholic Church Feasts are celebrated around the world. I am always at home !
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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Katie
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| Posted: Oct 15 2007 at 5:34am | IP Logged
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Stephanie,
I looked into this as it would affect two of my children also. Your Vice Consul was only partly right - but then most consular officers are not career consular - they just have to put in their two year stint, so you frequently hear this type of almost-right info.
Anyway, the so-called five year rule would only come into play IF your children were married to non-U.S. citizens AND IF their children were born outside the USA. Also, two or three of the five years must occur after they are 14 years of age. I had the page saved but when I went to post the boards were "resting".  Interestingly, absolutely nothing I came across said anything about the culture part. I would be more careful about keeping travel stubs and passport stamps - but with these new chips in the passports the government will have all that info anyway.
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Mother of 5 in South America. No 6 due in April.
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St. Ann
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| Posted: Oct 15 2007 at 10:42am | IP Logged
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...and laws do change, so who knows what the regulations will be, when our children are adults.???
Thanks Katie for the better info!
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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Topic: describe american culture
