you asked for it

1. Describe what you think german culture is.
I think it is culture that is from Germany. Cue laugh-track. really, from my interactions with germans, it doesn't sem to be all that different from ours. You ask for my steriotypes- lets go with sausage, leiderhosen, liking movies, schnapps, anger, beer, round faced tall individuals. as to reading, virtually every time germany is mentioned in any books i read it has the word Nazi used as a prefix. Music that i listen to that was made by germans (that I know of) is the internationally maligned NHD, including such bands as Oomph!, and Rammestein. Other things I think of are pastery. my family still has two main german pasteries we know how to make, dorbistorten, and kiffles; I have no idea how to spell either of those things.
2. Compare what you know/think about German culture to American culture.
like I said, it doesn't seem all that different. taht being said, if I had to pick a few adjectives, I know exactly what they'd be. To start, more reserved; German students I've met have often been more stoic than my american compatriots, they also seem to pick up american tendencies the longer they stay here. second, more practical. they always seem to want the thing that makes the most sense, even if it goes against high fasion, or the personal whims of teir friends. I once had a conversation on how absurd the american system of measurement was, he didn't understand why we didn't use metric, and asked what the unit conversions were within our system- 5280 feet in a mile, 1760 yards, 12 inches in a foot. i think it's just because we learn them early. and third, less straightlaced- these german kids started out never binge drinking, and not understanding the american taboo of bf/gf sleeping in the same house, but infact troubled at the distress.
3. Hypothesize about the validity of your thoughts.
well, I haven't had interactions with a large number of Germans, maybe a dozen, possibly two. and the majority of the sample that I've had the opportunity to come into contact with is special, they were good enough students that they were allowed to be exchange students. the music from Germany I listen to, I know most of the exchange students and their friends didn't like. overll, I believe I have an American view on the subject, too limited because i'm on the wrong continent.