nerd's eye view

This weeks' entries from Mandel's blog are going to be about cultural difference and American politics.

Let me start off with the cultural difference between America and Austria. As Mandel rightly observed, it is difficult to break the social barriers in Austria. Whereas she can visit any friend or relative in America when she feels up to or vice versa, this is not done in Austria where you have to either phone or write an e-mail to that person asking if you are welcome before you even start seriously contemplating about going.

When I first came to study to Graz I wasn't in the least surprised by it as I had known about the Austrian social graces beforehand. The only thing that was awkward for me, as it is unheard of in Croatia, was the fact that you even have to call your parents to ask them if they can babysit for you.

Be that as it may, one has to respect the culture of a foreign country and adapt to it no matter how strange you find something from your perspective.

Let me move on to the second topic on hand-politics. Mandel was talking about being once a stalwart supporter of the Democratic Party, but feeling now let down by that party and turning to the Greens.
Anyway, I figured it it would be quite useful to know more about these two parties as a way of gaining new insights into a country I know laughably little about. So, I did my homework and here are its results:

1. the United States of America Democratic Party

BASIC INFORMATION:

-one of the two major parties in America
-it traces its origins back to the Democratic-Republican Party, founded by Thomas Jefferson and other influential men in 1792

THE PARTY'S PRINCIPLES:

-liberal
-it favours civil liberties, social freedom, equal rights and opportunity, free enterprise with government intervention (mixed economy)


to read more, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America_Democratic_Party

2. Green Party of the United States

BASIC FACTS:

-the third party in American politics since the 1980s
-has won elected office most at local level

THE PARTY'S PRINCIPLES:

-emphasizes environmentalism, decentralization, local autonomy, social justice (commitment to put an end to poverty)

to find out more, read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_%28United_States%29

Before I finish this post, there is just one more thing on offer-a useful word I've learnt from Mandel's blog:

1. in the interim
a)in the time between
b)after
c)before