Story by Julia Greenwood

This Backdrop writer recalls her experience as a dual-citizen of Germany and the United States.

Julia Greenwood in Neinburg in 2004, “struttin” her stuff. *Photo courtesy of Greenwood.*

My identity as a German American is something I have always struggled to explain to people. On the outside, I sound and look American, but my family history and origin are much more complex. I have been told many times that my “becoming” story is something out of a Hallmark movie, but it seems so normal to me.

My mom is American, and my dad is German. They were never married and have had the privilege of co-parenting me from different continents. Their story is very long and confusing, but essentially, they were family friends and the only reason I exist is that my dad’s flight back to Germany was canceled because of 9/11.

Due to my parent’s different nationalities, I am a dual citizen, giving me legal rights in both countries, as well as an EU passport. Traveling internationally has been a major part of my upbringing, starting at around one year old when my mom (who was six months pregnant with my brother) brought me to Germany to meet my grandparents for the first time.

Since then, I have been to Germany many times and my paternal family would come to the U.S. to visit me. I began traveling alone to Germany when I was 10 years old and having gone so many times, I am used to the routine of international travel.

Going to Germany as I got older began to impact my life because I understood more clearly the reasoning for why it was so important for me to spend time there and expand the experiences in the culture I was given. It has also gotten significantly harder to leave because I never want to say goodbye to my family. I have so many distinct memories from being little in Germany such as eating Yogurette chocolate that my dad always would slip to me and feeding apples to the farm animals who lived around my grandparent’s property. I have cousins, grandparents, and a five-year-old brother named Felix who I only get to see once a year for a month. To me, this is normal because it is the only family dynamic I know.

Neuschwanstein Castle during the summer of 2017. *Photo courtesy of Julia Greenwood*

I have had some amazing experiences in Germany. I have been to a number of stunning castles and historical churches, most notably Neuschwanstein Castle. I have also been to the top of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak. I have been to several other countries in Europe and experienced new cultures and new foods. I am so grateful for those experiences because they have contributed to the person I am today. My family along with my grandparents, my aunt Jessie, my cousin Luis, and many other relatives live in a tiny village called Nöpke in the middle of the country outside of Hanover, in northwestern Germany. Gun shooting is a popular sport in Northern Germany, and in 2004 my dad was crowned “the Shooting King”, with the theme of his parade being “Born in America.”

Julia Greenwood with the Teufulsstein (devil statue) in front of Marienkirche in Lübeck, 2019. *Photo courtesy of Julia.*

Germany has the most amazing food, and no, that does not just mean bratwurst. Popular breakfast meals include hard rolls with an array of cheeses, meats, jams, and Nutella of course. Everything my Oma (grandma) makes is amazing, but in particular, she makes great schnitzel and when white asparagus (a German delicacy) is in season, she prepares plenty for the table. One of my favorite bavarian meals is Käsespätzle, which is basically a more delicious version of mac and cheese. Another thing I always look forward to during my summers in Germany is the produce. My Opa (grandpa) has a very large garden, and he grows many different fruits and vegetables which are always freshly picked. Currywurst is a popular street dish and German-Turkish food, such as Döner, is very popular as well due to the large Turkish population in Germany. And of course, I could never forget the most famous German drink, beer. A popular alcoholic beverage, known as an Alsterwasser or Radler, is a combination of beer and lemon-lime soda, which sounds weird to Americans, but is a favorite amongst the Germans.

I have taken German classes throughout my childhood, used practically every language learning app and while I am a quick study and would consider myself mostly efficient at speaking, there is still a disconnect between me and my German relatives. Conversations with my grandparents specifically can be very difficult sometimes because there are words I do not know and although I can explain the word, sometimes that confuses them even more.

But even with the language barrier, I have never felt unloved because we speak the silent language of actions that have always spoken louder than words.

Julia Greenwood with her Oma and Opa in 2007. *Photo courtesy of Julia.*

Connecting with my German culture in the United States has always been tricky because so much of the American population claim German ancestry. I constantly find myself wishing that I could be with my family in Germany. Places like German Village in Columbus exist, but in my opinion, it is so Americanized that it does not remind me of what Germany is really like.

I have questioned my identity as a German American because I am not German enough to Germans, but the broadness of my cultural identity and experiences is much greater than most Americans, so I feel more European. I am not a third culture kid either and I have never met another person with a similar background. Third culture kids are raised in a culture separate from both of their parents’. So finding a community of people who really get what my experience is like is difficult.

My dad was supposed to come to my high school graduation in 2020, but it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, along with his flights. I have been separated from my German family for over two years now and still, I do not know when I will get to see them again. The omicron variant has caused another delay with seeing my dad and that is disappointing, but international travel is too risky. So, in the meantime, my dad and I FaceTime and talk most Sundays, the same way we have since I was little.

Julia Greenwood with her dad, Peter, in 2004. *Photo courtesy of Julia.*

Some people might look at my situation and think it is sad that I grew up separated from my family, which it is sometimes. But I am so lucky because if things had been different and my dad was American, I would never have experienced this life of international travel and cultural immersion.