Help from people who are German or know things about Germany.?

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frackledJJ

Do nothing that would remind her of Germany! That is the worst when you're homesick (I was a homesick German in the US once). Instead, take her somewhere and do something with her she hasn't done before, or just something that is a little more effort than the usual. Take her into the snow for a day (if there's any snow handy close to where you live), go horseback riding, or even go - and I know this sounds double-standard to most of you - to the Christmas market of the German club or German society of your town (if there is one). Trust me, that is sufficiently Americanized to NOT remind her of home, and you might learn a thing or two, too.
Other than that: Just do something with her. Keep her occupied. Sitting somewhere, having time, thinking about your birthday AND Christmas coming up and you are not home and your family will not be there.... Boy, that sucks. When you are out somewhere, doing stuff with new friends, coming home and falling into bed too exhausted to think of home before you fall asleep - a whole lot better! Trust me!

Alwin E

Completely agree with frackled. You don't cure homesickness by reminding somebody of home; you'll just make it worse. I understand your concerns about her, however, I can't provide a solution. There are people who are actually not fit to travel and will feel homesick as soon as they have left their home town, and there are people who can feel at home almost everywhere. What kind of person do you think she is? If she's one of the latter ones, showing her around and arranging for a good time certainly is a good idea. If she's one of the former ones, there's nothing you can do.

miss zara.

hallo!

I know lots about germany, was there a short while ago!
my best friend is from there, so when she was over she felt the same.

try and learn a few phrases to put onto a card, like "alles gut!", which should make her smile and be sentimental (and she'll probably laugh at your pronunciation!)

for presents, most typically german things come from, thats right, germany.
but the christmas markets of germany are on atm, so maybe go online and get some photos for her and order her a gift.
it should arrive in around a week and a bit.
depending where you are in the world.

does this help?

KeeKee

food might help...the right ones...healthy

Johnny Rockets

wear this

http://www.bestglide.com/product_images/g1_flight_jacket_Z2108_lg.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Dr_martens_boots.jpg

with jeans with suspenders and give her some german sausage that German girls loooove

cakes4africa

I hear everyone saying DO NOT remind her of Germany, but I think that is what she wants. Germany at Christmastime is very special to Germans, along with their Christmas markets, candles in a Christmas wreath, gluhwein, lebkuchen (german gingerbread). Haribo licorice, Milka or Alpia chocolate, the special german black bread (pumpernickel) and rye bread. And Germans love their sausages, see if you can find a butcher specialising in that. Dumplings with their food, with lots of gravy, in fact, gravy or ketchup with all their food.

Zoe Dot

Depends on where she is from. Why not get her some Lebkuchen for Christmas? I've seen it here in Canada for sale imported from Germany. That's a favourite for Christmas.

Or just give her a traditional birthday Canadian or US style. I'm sure she would appreciate it.

NickyM

I agree in part that things from home might make homesickness worse, but if you still want to give her a taste of home you can try some classic german christmas treats!

In some european specialty stores in canada and the US you can find soft, thick gingerbread-like cookies called "Lebkuchen". these are HUGE in germany at christmas.

Also, a kind of german warm spiced wine called "gluwein" is very popular and might just make her feel warm and fuzzy.

But maybe the best idea is to take her out to a local place for a taste of some truly local flavour. and remind her that it takes a few months to get used to a new place, but after that she will be sad to leave! (trust me, four months in germany and I'm just getting settled).

Alles gute zum Geburtstag!

Gene S

1. Rothenburg ob der Tauber: This incredible intact walled city is the best example of a preserved medieval city in Europe. This city is kept very nicely, and very accessible. The nature around the city and views are fantastic. You have the whole spectrum: great German Churches and a fantastic Gothic Cathedral, a town square and Gothic Designed Rathaus, a torture museum, ruins of an ancient Castle. You can crawl around the old wall, and see every square inch of it. The wall goes around the entire city. It's intact!!!

2. Oberammergau: High in the German Alps this little town offers a great place to stay while you visit other German Alpine sites. The town itself is beautiful. There are the traditional German woodcarver stores that have been there for centuries. You have a 360 degree Alpine view, with the dramatic Koffel Mountain as the center piece. Very accessable to hiking, there is a cable car that links you to a restaurant with unbelievable views. The town also has a famous day spa with mineral and heated pools. The town also is very famous for its passion play, a tradition since the plague. There is an old WWII German military post there that is neat to see the old wall. The neighboring town of Ettal is an uniquely decorated baroque Abbey.

3. Heidelberg and the Neckar Valley. Start with Heidelberg, see the old town starting with Bismarckplatz. Enjoy the shopping as you make your way to the old bridge and the ruins of the empowering castle towering above. After Heidelberg drive east through the Necker Valley and see more intimate sites than the Rhine River. Less touristy, more real, more access than the Rhine. See the medievel cities and castles along the way.

4. Rhine Valley. The Rhine Valley is something to see with the great castles looming over the picturesque river. You can take a river cruise, to see the beautfiul sites. NOT a place to go in the winter time however, almost everything is shut down! Check out the neighboring Burg Eltz along the Mosel River.

5. Munich. Munich is a neat old city, a great place to visit, shop and tour. I highly recommend going to the walking street in the middle of the city. There are great sites like the Frauhenkirche, the Rathaus, and the Nymbenburg Palace grounds. Visit the Residenz, and drink beer at a beer garden.

6. Bamberg. This place is a hidden secret. What a wonderful town! The layout is fantastic with medieval architecture, the only place outside of Italy that has a tomb of a Pope.

7. Ludwig II Castles: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Hohenschwangau. Fantasy land castles high in the German Alps. Oberammergau is a great place to start off from and stay. The beauty is unreal, the ornate details of the structures and the layout of the grounds of each castle are immaculate. Linderhof has the best grounds, and is more off the beaten path than the MECCA of Germany: Neuschwanstein.

8. Cologne Cathedral. This incredible cathedral took centuries to build. Its one of the largest gothic cathedrals in the world. Built to honor the Magi in the Christmas Story. Very accessible from the Cologne train station if you are passing through.

9. Romantic Road: This scenic journey takes you through the heart of Germany starting with Wurzburg, and ending at Neuschwanstein. Romantic meaning roman. This road takes you through an Abbey, walled cities, and beautiful castles.

10. Nurnberg City Center (walled city). This is a great touristy, but beautiful place to visit. Nice sites, cathedrals, and a Castle in the center of it all. There are also WWII sites in this town that give you goosebumps.

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