First Week of German Class

Many weeks ago, I went to our local Volkshochschule to be tested for placement in a German course. These Volkshochschule are found all over Germany and offer all sorts of continuing education courses: literature, art, dance, history, and many languages among others. I was placed in Level A, Course 2 (each level is divided into 2 courses), just where I was hoping to be put. I opted for the more intensive course, which would meet four days a week for four hours each day. My biggest concern was that I was out of school-mode and worried that I wouldn't be able to handle such an intense class, but a friend who took the same set of classes promised me that this was not a university-level course.

The first day I felt a bit unprepared: I was not given the book in advance (I had requested the books for Course 1 and 2, to look them over) and I wasn't even sure what other materials were necessary. When I got to the school, I didn't know where I was allowed to park (no parking lot) and then the classroom was locked and there didn't seem to be other people milling about. Was I in the right place? It put a whole new perspective on how brave our children were on their first day of classes at the international school over a year ago.

The teacher finally arrived, unlocked the door and suddenly there was a whole line of people entering the class, each one placing some sort of baked good or dish on a table in the middle of the room. And they all seemed to know each other and just chatted away. OK, now I really doubted that I was in the right place. I sat down next to a young lady and asked her if this was indeed German Course 2, and she said yes.

As I fiddled with my papers and pens, I heard a gruff voice right next to me loudly proclaim, "Enschuldigung! Sie sind in mein Platz!" (Excuse me! You're in my seat!). I turned my head and met the eye of the angriest-looking Eastern European woman I have ever seen. And when, in shock, I hesitated, she gave me a look that conveyed, "And if you don't move ASAP, I'm gonna knock your block off!"

My heart skipped a beat and my eyes quickly scanned the room. Everyone was staring at us, waiting to see what would happen next. I then proceeded to do an imitation of a terrified dog rolling over on its back in submission. I raised my hands, open-palmed up to my shoulders and said in German "No problem," gathered up my belongings and vacated my seat. Another woman patted one of the few remaining chairs next to her and said, "Here. Sit here." Someone else said something in a low voice to the big mean bully and she answered (in German), slapping her books down on the table, "Well, I'm sorry! But I've been coming here for a month and that's my seat!"

OK. I was in the Twilight Zone. Isn't this the first day of class? Why did everyone bring food and who is this dangerous person who looked like she wanted to punch me?

Once that was settled, the teacher announced, "I know this is supposed to be the first day of Course 2, but since we missed a day last week, this is really the last day of Course 1. We will have class, take a test and then have a little party."

Ahhh, that explains it. But during the next 5 minutes, I was having an internal struggle. These people, including that woman, are all probably signed up to continue on to Course 2. Everyone just saw what happened. I am basically persona non grata. I can end this now. I can get up, walk out and transfer into a different class. But this is the class that best fits my schedule. What to do?

To make matters worse, everyone had to tell what they did over the weekend. When it was my turn, I just answered questions the teacher fired at me. When I said that I was from the U.S., a surprised-sounding murmur went through the room. Was that a positive or negative murmur? And, I had to order my textbook from a bookstore somewhere and it would take a few days. Now, why didn't they tell me that when I asked about the books in the first place? I could have had the books all along! Thankfully, there was one other new student in the class who seemed almost as disoriented as I was.

I was still shaken that night while relating what had happened to David. Should I transfer? We decided that I should give it another day and see. I mean really! I am a grown woman, so why am I letting that brute make me feel like a frightened child? But she really was big and really did glare at me like she was going to sock me.

I had my plan for the next day. I sat in my car until the last minute, figuring I would be the last person in the room and could claim a free seat without a battle. That worked out OK. And there were even more new people the second day. But what to do about the break? We have a 20-minute break in the middle of the class and I had noticed the day before that everyone went downstairs to the school café and sat together. I was not comfortable trying to strike up a conversation with these people who already had their own established clique and saw me being humiliated the day before.

As I shuffled things around at my seat near the end of the break, the group sent an emissary. A Korean woman entered the room alone and asked in English, "Christine, why don't you sit with us downstairs?" What a difference that made. I told her that I would be happy to join them the next day. And I did and the class seemed to go much more smoothly.

I now know where to park, where to sit, I have my book, and joined the English conversation during break the next day. Much better. We have a two-week break now, so by the time classes resume, the slate should have been wiped clean. Though I won't be suggesting that that woman and I go see Sex and the City together at the cinema any time soon, I no longer feel intimidated by her. Gulp.