After four days, I could understand much of a German conversation, and I could even instigate a conversation. The Director conveyed the history of Bamberg and German culture by personally conducting us on daily visits to cultural sites and lunch and evening dinners in popular restaurants, during which she focused the conversation on German culture and society. After leaving the school, I spent two days with a family in a small village on the Danube. That family spoke as much English as I spoke German. Tracy, I live in Southern California.
Life is fairly good here by American standards.
Because I am complacent, I could never have anticipated what I found in Germany. I found Germany to be one of the most civilized and beautiful country in the world. Every city has a 1,500 year-old history. The country works. The health system protects all.