when cultures collide!

So, I have decided that if food and music aren't the quitessence of culture, than I don't know what is.  

Cultural Collision 1:  Thus far, the most of the music that I have experienced from the radio here has been either 80's pop/rock (think ABBA), hip-hop hits of today (think Flo Rida) or occasional German pop artists.  It has been both funny hearing Austrian kids singing the words to American rap songs, because they don't always know what they are saying. 

Cultural Collision 2:  When I got here two weeks ago, the Artners asked if I would make them a 'real American meal' sometime.  Yesterday one set of grandparents and an Uncle were in town, and guess who was cooking??  So, I decided that I would make beef chilli and twice baked potatoes.  I was able to get most of what I needed at the market and in a grocery store, but everything is just a little different.  For example, cheddar cheese does not exist.  None the less, I managed to do ok and only spilled one whole pitcher of milk into my sock :/  The meal went splendidly and they all wanted to know what was in the potatoes (butter, milk, cheese, garlic, and onions).  None of them had ever had an American meal, so it was fun to see them enjoy it.  I told them this type of food would probably be eaten when watching football...they said they wanted American... We finished off the meal with my favorite coffee that I brought them from the Pour House. Nifty!