When I was chatting with a friend in California, United States, he was asking how is life in Germany…I replied with optimistic tone “Great”…the next question he asked to me do you really feel safe to live and work in Germany and passed on the below link... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8347040.stm Will be worth enough to read that article from BBC before continuing reading mine..The title from BBC states “Is Germany a racist country?” After reading that article I felt I should make my comments simply because this country offered me something which I never imagined for in the past. It’s quite easy to stereotype the small minor incidents when it is related to foreigners. If one foreigner breaks the rule lets say not following the traffic rules could lead to a conclusion that all the foreigners are like this. Same holds good when the majorities perform some attacks on the minorities. These issues are always very sensitive in any sections of the society.
I can quote numerous examples of minorities having problems in different corners of the world. For eg. Muslims in India, Tamils in SriLanka, Indian Origin in Malaysia, off late Indians in Australia, Blacks in the past South Africa, America and the example goes on and on. There are always anti-social elements in any sections of the society. When you return from a football match in East Germany is equivalent to returning from a match where Manchester United lost and talk to Hooligans after the match. So England a racist country?
Since I made lot of fortunes in German society, met highly smart intellectuals in University, work and daily life, I can now blow my trumpet “Wow, I love Germans”. Just one small incident with some drunkard in the subway train in the future will make me to write “All Germans are Racist Idiots”. Ah my goodness how opportunistic I can be. Can I forget all the wonderful experiences I made in the past just for one small incident with one stranger?
I accept the fact that it takes really time to integrate in to German society. With my experiences here for four years, I can clearly say its mainly because of the language constraints. Just imagine a situation in England or US, when you go to a shop and you buy some articles and you can’t speak English. Would you expect them to be friendly and can you integrate in to the society with out English. Just because one can not speak German fluently and finds it hard to integrate in to the society can we stereotype that Germans are racists?
For sure, there exists in some places, some situations where you feel you are discriminated. Honestly speaking I faced even in Indian society being an Indian with respect to caste, color, creed and the language I spoke. I asked the same friend who is living in California, you live in United States for so many years. How many Americans would have invited you for a dinner? The answer was straightforward “Not even one”. Does that mean so many Germans invited me for a dinner that I am writing an article in support of this society? ;) Its not just one or two days of my life in Germany to defend her but its been mammoth four years of experience to break the shackles.
Let’s accept the fact that minorities are always at the level of scrutiny and there is always thin line between mistakes and acceptance. The rule of thumb is if you as a minority want to make some fortunes in foreign land always outshine the majorities. I should say I was blessed to meet highly smart rational intellectuals during my stay here and of course I also met some RACISTS. Is still Germany a racist country?
CONCLUSION: Stereotype never helps in life.. :)
Cheers,
Sathish Kumar S
She promised me to take to her boy friend's farm house in Uelzen before she leaves our apartment...It was a great day with Friederike, Henerik and his parents in Uelzen. Henerik helped me to ride the tractor in his farmland...never imagined I would ride a tractor in Germany being a software engineer :D followed by wonderful grilling with the wurst and potaoes..Certainly a day to remember...all the best Friederike in all your future endeavours...alles alles gute... :)
Long long ago on the Christmas eve, I just asked Mr. Merkel whether I can visit him in Tegernsee in Bayern to experience Bavarian Alps and their culture. After long time, it all happened at the peak summer when sun was shining to the core in Bavarian Alps. Took a day off on Friday and started earlier on Thursday to reach Gmund (Tegernsee). It was a long journey in German standards for almost 7 to 8 hours in ICE.
Tegernsee derives its name from the Tegernsee lake on which it stands. It has got some lovely landscape and rich history. It was a lovely experience to experience this beautiful place with Mr. Merkel and Mrs. Merkel who accompanied me and showed some lovely landscapes in and around Tegernsee. We did some bike tour for almost 40 kms wandering around the lakes, mountains etc. The weather stayed decent on the first day and really sunny on the second day. Had a chance to go to the top of the mountain Wallberg (around 1722 m high) which gives a panoramic view of the city of Tegernsee and other mountain peaks nearby. Sun was shining really hard, prayers were going on in the church, could hear the music nearby, Saturday afternoon, stretch of alpine mountains blushing at me…lovely moments. It’s always a great experience to travel in all these cable cars in Germany, Austria and Switzerland which clearly shows their strength in mechanical systems.
After experiencing the landscape, its time to experience the Bavarian food and alcohol ;) To say I always cherished Bavarian food – Weisswurst, Schweinshaxe, Grill Chicken, Weiss Beer etc and etc. Had a chance to go to Wallfest which is the cultural festival for Bavarians in summer. Resembles similar to Octoberfest which I saw last year in Munich where people were dressed up with their lederhosen in typical Bavarian style. 
All in all, it was great a time with Herald and Regina. I really admire both of them and made me realize that life doesn’t end even after 60s. Both of them are immensely active even in their age and very sportive and active than a 26 year old lazy guy ;) I was quite lucky to have Herald as my German mentor during my studies, who did more than mentoring to integrate in to the German society. Not many of my classmates have contact with their mentors. It’s a good feeling that we both enjoyed our company on a friendship level even though he is totally of different generation. Well intellectual conversations don’t depend on the age ;) Thanks Herald for helping me to explore Bavarian Alps and culture to the maximum. 
After experiencing German Cars, AutoBahn(Highways), Trains...I was always expecting something exceptional from their Theme Park...Heide Park didn't spoil my expectation as well...situated at about 100 kms from Hamburg, perfect place to spend a weekend in summer...Colossos, Screaming, Wildwasserbahn, Poppenbahn are some of the must go rides in Heide park...the most frustrating part in this theme park is...one has to wait for almost 30 minutes for each of these rides...by that time you lose all your enthu...would advice to go on a weekday...Not much of a difference when compared to the Theme parks which I experienced in India...The weather stayed bright and sunny...Definitely a day to remember ;)
Its been more than a year, I am completely out of Student's life...the best way to get back to spirits is to meet the old classmates...Recently, we had a class trip to Ratzeburg, a small town near Hamburg...initially I thought what Ratzeburg can offer...but definitely a worth enough place to spend a weekend...we did Canoeing on the Ratzeburger lake and on the beautiful canals nearby...it was a great experience to do Canoeing for the first time...Thanks to Oli, Klass and Laura who helped me to learn a bit of Canoeing...Infact I was hardly doing anything...was busy with my Camera...they were about to push me in to the water...well they are Germans...they expect some discipline during work ;) it was interesting to take the boat on the roads and transferring it to the canals...then we did Cycling for about 20 kms in the midst of beautiful landscapes of Ratzeburg...Thank god the weather stayed absolutely fine...followed by wonderful camp fire and BBQ...a trip to remember...
