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Amanda Wachter
Oral History Project Summary
November 2, 2009
I chose to interview my friend and co-worker Heike. She was born and raised in
Germany. I thought that it would be interesting to learn about life experience from
someone outside of my country.
The following questions were asked while interviewing Heike:
1. What is your name?
Heike
2. When and where were you born?
December 18, 1964 in Stuttgart, Germany
3. Can you tell me about your immediate family?
Father- Manfred
Mother - Antonie
Sister- Claudia
Brother- Thomas
4. What was your favorite toy, game, or overall childhood experience?
Heike talked about playing outside. Stuttgart is known for having many parks and
outdoor recreational areas. In the summer, Heike spent full days at the
neighborhood public pool.
5. Did you have responsibilities at home (chores)?
Like children in the US, Heike had responsibilities at home too. She had to put
her clothes away and help her mom dry the dishes. Heike was the middle child of
three. She described that her older sister Claudia didn’t have to help out as much
as she did (sibling hierarchy at its finest).
6. What was school like in Germany?
While in elementary school, Heike had half days of school. She had to attend
school every Saturday.
During middle school and high school (known as Gymnasium in German) Heike
had every other Saturday off. In addition to morning sessions, Heike had to go to
school twice in the afternoon during the week.
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Heike went to school until 9th grade. She then decided to take on an
apprenticeship as a baker for three years. This trade school required Heike to go
to school twice a week. She studied Math, German, and classes relating to her
trade (baking).
7. What was your favorite subject?
Heike liked Art and Religion. She thought that the old stories of the Bible were
very interesting to learn about.
What was your least favorite subject?
Her least favorite subject was English.
8. How did you spend your free time?
When Heike was older, she was involved in a youth group that met twice a week.
She started her trade at fifteen so that kept her busy as well. She moved out of her
parents’ house and had her own little apartment downtown. She went on to
discuss that she did the “teenage thing” with friends. She went out to clubs or
“Discos” as they are called in Germany.
9. When did you get your first job?
Heike had little side jobs to do for the neighbor ladies in addition to learning her
trade.
What kind of job was it?
Heike didn’t specify.
10. What brought you to the U.S.?
Heike married a GI in the Army and got pregnant with her first daughter Jennifer
twenty-two years ago. She followed her husband here to the U.S.
11. What is the biggest difference that you notice between the U.S. and Germany?
Heike discussed a major difference between working in the U.S. and working in
Germany. She explained that employees could get health benefits and such while
working part time in Germany. She compares this to the U.S. by saying that if you
don’t work full time you don’t have any benefits to bring home. She thinks it’s
easier to work in Germany.
12. How often do you go home to visit?
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Heike gets a chance to go home every two, three, or four years depending on
financial ability.
13. What do you always make sure that you do when you go home?
During every visit home, Heike and her family always go to the zoo. They also go
to the Marktelle which is like a giant farmers market held indoors. The items sold
there are very culturally diverse. One attending region mentioned was Yugoslavia.
Heike likes the selection she has when shopping for vegetables and foods from
multi-regions.
Are there any special foods or dishes that you like to enjoy when you go home?
Heike mentioned that she looks forward to Mauentashen and Snitzel. (I forgot to
ask what those dishes consist of).
14. What do you miss most about home?
Heike simply stated that she misses family the most. She said that the holidays are
especially hard to get through without her family.
15. What advice do you have for children seeking a happy life?
Heike suggests having an open mind about things. She encourages people to
accept others for what they are and to not try changing people. She encourages
children to get an education. She deems self-reliance as being important. She goes
on to say to not do anything stupid like drugs or alcohol. Lastly, she urges
children to not always take the easy way out. “It’s okay if you are out of your
comfort zone and you feel frightened. Just face it and get through it.”
16. Can you talk about the family that you have here in the U.S. in German?
Can you translate what you just said?
Heike said that she lives in New York with her daughter Charlotte and her
boyfriend Chris. She has been working for Starbucks for about three years. She is
really close with her in-laws (or out-laws as she likes to call them since she is no
longer married to their son). She has a daughter Jennifer who is currently in the
Navy in Norfolk, Virginia.
While experiencing this oral history interview, I noticed that my interviewee
answered my questions in a short and “to the point” way. Sometimes while answering,
Heike would trip up and have a hard time finding the English words to say what she
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meant. I assisted her when I could to help make the interview run smoothly and to reduce
pressure on her. Heike sometimes answered questions that I was going to ask next. I
learned that during an oral history interview, you have to be flexible and go with the flow
of the conversation. My interviewee was a bit nervous so I tried to make it seem like we
were having a regular conversation. I didn’t sit there with the flip cam in her face. I set it
up off to the side. This tactic seemed to help Heike relax a bit. I am going to keep these
aspects in mind when I do future oral histories. My experiences will help my students
when it comes time for them to do an oral history interview of their own.

**Most of my questions came from Wade, Gardner, Doro, & Arendt’s article Bridging
the Years: An Intergenerational History Project.**

Reference

Wade, R., Gardner, D., Doro, P., & Arendt, S. (2007). Bridging the years: An
intergenerational history project. Social Studies and the Young Learner, 19(3), 24-
28.