Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
Sunday night, like the Monday before it, was remarkable in the world of American sports. The World Cup tie with Portugal, like last week’s victory over Ghana, showed that American soccer might finally have come of age. It was really not so long ago that US soccer was a joke. A US team participating in an international soccer tournament had … >>
This column was originally written for Spotlight Online. Today, November 20, is a German holiday that doesn’t really exist, but that still affects us at Spotlight. Buß- und Bettag (Day of Repentance and Prayer) is a Protestant holiday observed in only two parts of the country: in the state of Saxony and in Bavarian schools. Because our offices are located … >>
You can probably imagine which story has been dominating the news in the United States for the past week. That’s right: the one about the problems with the new health-insurance program popularly known as Obamacare. The story that’s been dominating the news in Germany is also being reported in America, though not always as front-page news. That story, however, is … >>
“That’s such an American attitude!” my friend said, giving me a hostile look. For a moment I wondered if our cozy rendezvous in an Erfurt café was coming to a sudden end. All I’d done was offer a friendly suggestion, but it was one that clearly went against everything she believed in. Nadine (not her real name) had been talking … >>
Can you throw away books? Many of us can’t. Good books are like old friends. We appreciate the amount of time someone took to write these stories and set them on paper. We want to make sure our books are taken care of. If there’s no more room on our shelves (because we’ve made new friends), we go looking for … >>
I’ve met the invisible man. He’s tried to kill me — several times, always at night. He rides a bicycle with no lights, on a dark street, usually going the wrong way, while dressed from head to toe in black. He doesn’t stop for anyone. My quick reflexes are the only reason I’m still alive, and I doubt that he’ll … >>
Last week was the week I didn’t exist. Well, I knew I existed, but I couldn’t prove it to anyone. The document that confirms my identity was out of my hands. Renewing a US passport used to be a speedy affair: I’d walk into the consulate here in Munich and walk out two hours later with a new document. Now … >>
It’s the last week of the Oktoberfest, and Munich is full of partygoers. Same procedure as every year, but with two differences: 1. Nearly all the German tourists are dressed up, which gives the whole thing more dignity; and 2. They are younger than ever. Most of the visitors I’ve seen are between the ages of 16 and 18. Young … >>
Where were you the day the aliens arrived? If you watch the TV series V, which starts this Monday night on Pro7, you’ll have the answer. The aliens in the series cordially call themselves the Visitors. They cure disease and give teenagers rides in their space shuttle. They ask only for some water and minerals to take home with them. … >>
My eight-year-old cousin Trevor wrote to me recently from Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania, to ask for my help with a school project. Dear Michael, We are working on a Flat Stanley project. Stanley is a character in our book, Flat Stanley. He was flattened when a big bulletin board fell on him while he was in bed sleeping. In the book, … >>