Letter 2 – 2007. Germany.

11th April 2007

Dear friends,

Before I find a computer which I can use regularly, I will use the German keyboard and alphabet. It might not make a big difference when I write English, but if there comes a z where you expect a y, it is just because the two letters have “changed their places” on the German “kezboard”, and if my English is worse than normal, it might have something to do with my struggle to get into the German language and problems when then switching to English.

I came to Germany two days ago, and was met by a whole small welcoming committee with a friend from CVJM (YWCA-YMCA), Sebastian, in front. He and his wife have lived in Norway and both of them speak Norwegian. I had a nice evening and night with them before the seriousity of the studies started yesterday. The other two in the “committee” learn Norwegian by him, as they will live a year in Norway from July. Markus studies theology and was my personal guide the whole day yesterday, and a bit today. It is good to have someone who can help me find my way. I would need more time if I was alone. It is good to have someone who understands and can repeat also, I do not understand everything.

I must admit that I am a bit tired. German lectures, and especially seminars, are not a joke. I had a double lecture (2x45 minutes without break) about the theology of NT and a three hours seminar (to be 3x45 minutes without break, if there will not be a break because we need more than the 2 hours and 15 minutes and must make a bit more time) about Jesus in NT yesterday. I understood more of the lecture than I had expected, and was quite happy after that. But the seminar was a test. It started last week, and most of the students were therefore prepared in addition to understanding what the teacher said. I was neither prepared nor understanding. I have some understanding, though, about the fact that I must read and write a lot in German, and that makes me a bit nervous. The Hebrew and Greek requirements here do not make me calmer either.

After this I needed a German break, and then it was quite OK that Sebastian and Markus were to help me to move in to Evangelisches Studienhaus where I have got a room. My head accepts limited amounts of German, I feel. But the capacity will hopefully increase.

Today I have had an introductory lesson to a seminar about the creation in OT. I was not impressed by the size of the information I understood. But I have found a good idea; to put my Norwegian Bible on the table. Then the one sitting besides me will ask which language it is, I answer Norwegian, and he or she understands that I have problems following the fast German of the teacher, and gives me a summary of the most important afterwards. At least it worked well today!

The girl besides me explained which encyclopedias I had to find to prepare myself for next week, and when I went to the library and discovered the hundred pages of the first article and the gothic font of the next in an almost hundred year old encyclopedia I felt a bit helpless. But now I have found some files on the lecturer’s area on the hompages of the University. It seems that the hundred pages can be redused to fifty and the gothic signs exist in more modern types. So I almost have the head above the water before next challenge:

Now I will attend a seminar on “the evangelical sacraments and their understanding in the theological discussion after World War II”. I had not planned it, but found that it seemed interesting, so I might choose this rather than some of the others which I have heard might be a bit boring or difficult to follow. So now I must soon make my brain ready for German again. Thanks for a break with Norwegian and English ;-)

Viele Grüße

Hanne