I honestly have to say that I don't see the difference between military kids and 'regular' kids.
Nik if you had any kind of idea about what it was like to stay in one place, then you'd know that in the real world where you are able to get real experiances with real people over tmie, then far more things happen than you could ever imagine, people get real life experiance.
I'm saying that I've more experiances than you have cause I've been able to develop long term (social) relationships with people outside my immediate family, this will help me in my career a lot more than it'll help you because you've lived in germany for a couple of years.
You say that it's uniquly different that people who live in europe to those who live in america, how so exactly?
in your first post you say that most american civillians havn't left their state, whilst military kids are dragged around the world to different countries... (and by countries you actually mean small americanised bases, so that you experiance pretty much zero of the actual culture).
driving across state is pretty much the same as driving into scotland from the south of England, Many americans could drive into another state, would that suddenly make them more rounded or experianced people?
many english people travel to different countries to visit, and I'm pretty sure that in their two week visit they experiance probably a whole load more of that culture than you do...
and IMO it's a lot harder and more expensive to get in a plane, or on a boat to leave for a different country than it would be to take a drive or train ride to another state.
it's not different 'cause it's easier, it's different because people here seem to want to see the world, it's not forced upon them!
for the record, I lived in a fairly normal town in the middle of Britain, I've been outside my own country some twenty times, including two trips to live with a french family, and a trip to live with a German family, Italy Once, Jamaica once, Holland twice and France for the other times,
Fact is, that I'm not a military person, but there is a strong chance that I've travelled to more countries than you have, (and given that I was actual in that country interacting with the locals, I've actually probably spent more time interacting with local people of those countries tat you ever have also.
Education, My education, (in terms of basic spelling and grammer) sucks, (my bad, should have paid more attention in school) I only took english to GCSE (16yr old) level and I only got a D for that, (below average), but even with my poor education I could still (if asked to) pick apart your opsts pointing out a ton of basic spelling and grammer errors.
The teachers may be paid more, but if you're never in the same place for very long, how on earth do you build up a repour with your teacher?
IMO your education suffers specificalyl because you move from place to place so frequently.
a school is as good as the brightest people there for civillian schools, if a lot of people excell at maths etc, then the school can apply for status as a center of excellence for maths, (this means that they will get more (specialised) funding, hence be able to gert better teachers/resources, and become a better school), for military schools, money doesn't need to be earned, it's just thriown in.
The point is that even with my modest education I can see that you are no better than anyone else here, either at your level or older.
and before anyone says anything, I don't think I'm any better either...
1st of, I have an idea of what it is to stay in one place, I was in one house for 7 years, thats a long time.
I have learned to get to know people extremely well. I still talk to all my buddies back in the states.
The large majority of Americans do not live on the base itself. There was one time which I can recall where I lived on base, that was in Guam, and thats due to that their WAS NO HOUSING OFF BASE. However most Americans when in Germany, UK, or Japan (name it) do in fact LIVE OFF BASE, in the economy.
I go to base to go to school then I come home. 90% of my friends are in fact German.
And no, traveling to a different state within your country wouldn't make you that much more of a rounded person, that example was to show how little of their own backyard they have in fact seen.
Do you honestly believe that I would waste my time on the base? Gah no! I'd much rather shop off base, eat off base, go to parties off base. Hell if the gym wasn't free on base I'd work out off base.
Example tonight we had a Christmas party. We had about 15 people there, if you include me as an American (which I can be considered German or American. We had 4 there. My dad, me, my sister, and my dads friend. The other 11 were my mom, my neighbors, and her friends. So I do interact with the local people, and we always have.
And yes, military schools do get money just tossed in, and yes civilian schools may or may not get more money. BUT THIS IS THE SHORT FALL. Why should one school just because it got some really smart kid in it get a better education in Computers, or Math or so forth.
Granted there are those Americans who don't ever go off base, but not very many.
If you come back at the argument but the American base affects the economy, and the culture of the local area then your 100% correct, however it doesn't where my grandma lives.
Once again
American Military Kids GENERALLY have more life experiences then their counter parts (civilian American kids) DUE TO THIS FACT, travel.
Also the majority (or close too) of Military kids have parents of two different nationalities, very, very few of my American friends here have two parents from the same country. This leads to higher bilingual rate among military kids and knowing two languages is very important in todays times.
But, a lot of Americans don't consider living on base very fun. Much more harder to have fun. Plus the standard of living off base is much more due to the extra pay we get for doing that.
I am going say this, as my FINAL words on this thread.
Its a biased opinion in some respects, and I can see how some people can be offended by my remarks,its based on personal experience. HOWEVER this is a fact.
1. military kids have a higher rate of bilingual FLUENT language abilities. I myself can speak German near fluently, (writing another story) and English speak and write.
2. MOST military kids are involved in the culture, granted there are those who go to the local BX after school and hang out, but just as mayn if not more go off base to have fun.
3. The education system of DOD military schools is normally better THEN AMERICAN CIVILIAN SCHOOLS.
Thats all