Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
If you’re a German student going to the United States for a year, what are the two things you need to know about most? Sex and money. A German student at an orientation I helped run said, “It seems like we talked a lot about sex and money.” A girl who had just returned from the US shot back: “Well, … >>
Of all the e-mail I’ve received, this was the strangest. It read: “Hello, Mr. Pilewski. Would you like to order a pizza?” I was half expecting the sender to be a Nigerian pizza chef who needed help smuggling lots of dough out of his country. But instead, it was an old college acquaintance. Years and entire continents had separated us … >>
This year represents a personal milestone: I have lived as long in Germany as in the United States (not counting my years as a baby). Inside, I’m now half American, half German, and I feel a strong attachment to, and appreciation of, both countries. I thought about this last weekend when two friends — one American, one German — sent … >>
“Do you want to try it?” I couldn’t believe my ears. My mother, who is at an age when people start to fear change, was inviting me to do something new. We were at a large supermarket in Pittsburgh, standing in front of 20 checkout counters, four or five of which were staffed. The lines were fairly long, so she … >>