I MADE IT OVER!

(Photo image Ginny Powell)

So, today I mastered another hurdle since I moved to Germany a year and a half ago. I went to the doctor by myself! Now, I know that visiting the doctors office alone is really no big deal but, if you are new to a country and are not fluent in the language, this can be quite intimidating. Normally my husband would accompany me to really important appointments where the language barrier can be challenging but, today he had to work. I don't think he really wanted to go with me to this anyway. The appointment was with the gynecologist. Everyone at the office was very nice. I understood all of their questions and even asked a couple myself. I think that I worked up a bit of anxiety prior to the visit, hence the high blood pressure but, I am happy to say that things went smoothly.

I have been enrolled in language courses, with the exception of summer break, pretty much since I arrived here in the Summer of 08. German is not an easy language to learn. Nonetheless, I have reached the point where I can go shopping alone, I can get around with public transportation, and I can hold a simple conversation with others and answer the telephone without freaking out. I am also able to watch the news and read the newspapers with understanding. In my language courses I have met people from other countries who have been living in Germany 10-20 yrs., and they still do not speak the language well. I'm not saying this to toot my own horn but, I feel that if one is going to live in another country and make a life in that country then, they should have a good grasp of the language. It's important to know and be able to understand what's going on around you. I can't always have my husband there to hold my hand so I have to learn the language. I also keep a handy pocket translator in the case of a "I don't know that word emergency".

In December I finished the one year German language course for beginners and, I passed all of my exams. I'm not finished yet. I have enrolled in another course which begins next month. The last course required me to go to classes everyday for 3 hrs. This time, the class is twice a week for 1 1/2 hours. The only way to master a new language is of course take a class. You must also amerce yourself into the culture by getting out and listening to the conversations that you hear around you. Reading is very important but, simply speaking the language is the best way to learn. I used to get so embarrassed when I made a mistake when talking to someone. But my husband always say's "language is like a flower, you have to cultivate it". Now, I don't care so much when I make a mistake. I just count it as part of the learning experience. My husband are still speaking mostly in English however, we are conversing more often in German. I'm looking forward to mastering German and then moving onto another language. I think French will be next.

Bis Spater! ( See you later)

Sharon