an aussie in austria

It started as a simple idea to keep me busy during maternity leave (not that I wasn‘t busy enough!), as well as earn a bit of money and improve my German. So… now that my German course is over, how are my German skills?

Honestly? It’s difficult to know. They must be better. I did a lot of hours. I studied a lot of grammar rules and a lot of vocabulary. I asked my trainer plenty of questions and I got my head around some of the things that have long overwhelmed me. But sometimes learning German feels a bit like screaming into the void (angrily, of course, cause it’s German). Because in the beginning you see such good progress, and as you improve, that process is more difficult to attain, and harder to notice. Which is why it quite often just feels pointless.

Still, there’s no denying it’s all around me, and it will continue to be. The other day I went to the parents’ introduction meeting for Sammy’s daycare on my own cause hubby was sick. And apart from a small freak out when I had to introduce myself, I felt pretty comfortable. I understood almost everything, and I even managed to ask a few questions that had been gnawing away at me.

When I first began this course I thought that at the end it would be the perfect time take my B2 German exam. But after finishing… yeah I’m done with German for a while. Going back to work, Sam going to daycare, and all the upheaval that comes with that, it’s enough for now.

So… I packed my stuff back into its box in the cellar for when I next feel the urge. I’m going to take what I’ve learnt out into the world, and see how I go.