For many people, the mention of Germany evokes thoughts of beer and bratwurst, but for foreign language students on the campus of ETSU, Assistant Professor Christa Hungate is the first thought that pops into their minds.
Hungate, who was born and raised in the West German town of Kaiserslautern, began studying English while in the seventh grade.
English, however, was not the only foreign language Hungate knew.
“French was my first foreign language, because I lived in the French-speaking part of Germany,” she said.
In 1961, Hungate decided to move to the United States, where she worked for a congressman in Washington, D.C. In 1962, she returned to Germany, but four years later she found herself back in the United States, living in West Virginia.
The transition from the European lifestyle to that of America was not a difficult change for Hungate.
“I came (to America) when I was young,” she said. “Everything was new and wide-open. Things were less confining than in Europe.”
It was not until 10 years later that Hungate received her first full-time teaching position, instructing German classes at ETSU.
“I always wanted to be a teacher, either history or German,” she said. “I feel like I combine both of them (in class).”
Even though teaching is her passion, it was not the first job she held.
Before working for the congressman, Hungate also worked for NATO at Germany’s Ramstein Air Force Base. Her job was being a simultaneous translator for French and English for the NATO chief of staff at the base.
Hungate has been teaching full-time at ETSU since 1977, instructing both first- and second-year German classes. In these classes, students not only learn the German language, but also facts about the country’s history and culture.
Hungate is usually able to return to her homeland at least once a year, but sometimes, “I get lucky and go twice.”
Even though Hungate is still very fond of her native country, certain qualities endear her to the American culture.
Many things that are taken for granted here are much harder to attain on the other side of the Atlantic.
“It’s easier to own a home here,” Hungate said. “It’s a lot easier to get a driver’s license here. It (America) is not stymied by tradition, which is both good and bad.”
However, certain things are done in Germany that Hungate favors over the American way of living.
“I like the family traditions in Germany,” she said. “Also, Europeans as a whole believe they are responsible for their actions, whereas here, people will smoke and blame the cigarette company or speed and blame the car manufacturer.”
“I miss some of the German food,” she added. “I miss the breads, meats and cheeses, and the atmosphere of the open-air markets.

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