German Class

My co-workers at the door factory didn't understand why I, the American, asked to stare at toilets everyday. This was two and a half months ago.

As some of you already know, the Austrian government now requires immigrants to know German. Let me say that again...THEY REQUIRE IT. Two years from arriving, one must take a "German" exam. You pass; you stay. You fail; you leave. It's that simple...and I couldn't be happier. German is the official language of Austria. Since joining the EU, tons of immigrants have decended on this place, and like immigrants everywhere in the world, learning the local language is something to be put off, well, until next year.

But not here.

The goverment happily foots the bill for your classes; four of them. As far as the tax payers go, most don't know what they're paying for so it's no big deal. So why would Austria pay for my classes anyway? That's easy. People make more money when they know the local language right? More money equals a higher taxable income. The government doesn't lose money on the deal; they make money. Call it an investment.

My classes are on Mondays and Thursdays from 5-8pm. There are nine of us. Two Hungarians, a Russian, Slavakian, Croatian, Philipene, Kenyan, Serbian, and one American, me. The class is at the local community center (see photo above). I like it there. All of us are in the same boat.

And as for my work, I no longer ask to stare at toilets!