By Bettina Juszak

Staff Writer

A series of musings on American culture by a German exchange student:

So here I am, just over a month into my exchange year here in Westford, and looking back, what was the first thing I noticed?

Different eating and drinking habits.

It was my first full day in the states, and my host family had just picked  me up from the meeting point to drive me home – first stop: Dunkin’ Donuts; a whole culture in itself.

What was bought? Big cups of iced tea – with straws. And not just iced tea – tea loaded with ice. You honestly couldn’t see the liquid between all that ice. It was enough to freeze my tongue for at least five minutes, and that was only after one sip.And then the next bummer: iced coffee. Seriously, coffee with ice? Who came up with that?

Oh, and there is not only Dunkin’ Donuts, but Starbucks, too – one really popular stopping place doesn’t seem to be enough, no, New Englanders need two. So my question: what genius started that? Why put so much ice in everything? Especially in stuff like tea or coffee, which are supposed to be hot.

Still talking about liquid stuff, the next thing I (unfortunately) was introduced to: root beer – I didn’t even manage to hold one sip. Who the heck labels stuff tasting like medicine soda? Then they broke the news to me that root beer actually is a popular drink here. It took me two weeks and a lot of demonstrations to believe that. To me getting near me with root beer is still the biggest threat you can make…

Moving on to food, the differences are as obvious. Papa Ginos everywhere, not a town or small village without one. Same goes for ice cream. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kimballs had its own fan club – it certainly profits enough from the huge ice cream consummation going on around here, even when it’s cold outside anyway. Apparently there is no time for no ice cream.

By the way, did you ever notice the wide variety of different types of food you have here, but not in its original state but Americanized? Chinese-American food, Japanese-American food, Italian-American food, Mexican-American food…the list goes on infinitely. On one hand Americans seem to be open to different food ideas, on the other hand, however, it has to be adapted to American food standards. Melting pot in the food department.

And last (but definitely not least) the size of a usual portion. Put in one word: HUGE – exactly the right word for it. Only half-starved teenage boys can hope to eat all the food you get in one helping alone. Normally I’m not even able to eat half of it (kind of wasteful, I know, but what can I do?).

Just to clear up this question before it arises; yes, Germans have weird habits, too. Instead of having ice in every drink, we have lots and lots of beer, our sausages are eaten without anything else, we have hundreds of different types of Schnitzels, and during Christmas time we consume a ridiculous amount of cookies.

Aren’t we all strange?

It feels as if cultural differences are nowhere as pronounced and obvious as in the food you eat and the drinks you drink.