My Story: How I learned German and Got Into College For Free

Once Upon A Time…

The year was 2017, and I had moved to Houston. After many years, I found myself with more free time. Wanting to use that extra time with something productive, I decided to learn a new language. So, on a piece of paper, I made a list. In this list German was the third. I dabbled with all the languages, and it didn’t take long before the strangeness, yet familiarity of the German language captivated me.

Saturday School

I started by myself, just me and a book. After finishing it, I was adamant that I will learn the language. I looked for classes in my area and went to my local school.

I found it interesting that there were a lot of Germans in Houston, a community in fact. But the influence of German sphere wasn’t limited there. Close to Austin still existed a dialect called Texas German. They use funny variant words with a bit of a twang. It gave me reassurance to see how the language wasn’t limited to Europe.

A Dream Resprouted

As I continued learning German a dream resprouted. I once read The Psychopathology of Everyday Life by Freud in high school. In this book, he mentioned that he travelled through the Alps. I don’t why this prompted me to want to live there. But I dreamed to live near the Alps. But back then, I was a highschooler with self-esteem problems and humble beginnings, I doubted that I could ever live there. I discarded the idea.

Back to Mexico

After a year was over in Houston, I was back in Mexico with an A2 (advanced beginner) certificate, and I was ready for B1 (intermediate) classes. I searched everywhere but tough luck, only B2 (advanced intermediate) was available in my city. Not wanting to do online classes and feeling up to the challenge; I signed up for it. Mistake. It was beyond my level.

Luckily, a few months later I found a teacher that offered B1 and signed up to her class.

My Master Plan

It was early 2019, and I had recently graduated from Mexico. The way things worked were like this: I had to send my diploma to the Mexican government, they would push papers around, and then they would send back an official approved degree.

While this happened, I would travel to Germany learn the language intensively, reach the level required to work, then I would fly back for my official degree, then fly back to Germany and work. In theory, it was perfect.

Make Plans to Make Covid Laugh

Everything started as planned, I started with B2 (advanced intermediate) in Hamburg and Berlin, and I began with C1 (advanced or fluent) in Frankfurt. After the three months were over, I flew back to Mexico.

I expected a bit of inefficiency from the Mexican government, but what followed was far more than that. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. As I arrived, my degree was delayed because there was a new president who decided to restructure the government. Once that ordeal was over, activities resumed, and I got my degree.

I was now ready to leave. But soon after COVID put the world on a lockdown. My travels to Germany were postponed.

So close, yet so far.

Persistency

Disheartened but not out, I worked in Mexico and still learned German with the same teacher. With Covid around, the slowest year of our lives dragged by, followed by more months.

I was now in 2021 and things were easing a bit. But now, I thought about going back to school and getting another degree. By then I had reached C1 (fluency level) and started C2 (highest level, mastery) in German. I didn’t need that much, but I figured that all classes would be in German; so, the more proficient the better.

Acceptance Letter

I passed the C1 Goethe test, a standarized test that proves German proficiency. With this test along with my diploma, I applied to a German college. I was accepted!

Was my luck turning around? Now I had to get my visa. So, I booked an appointment, and drove to Los Angeles. I turned in all documents, got my fingerprints taken, and left my passport. The passport would be later sent back with my visa.

I waited anxiously. A month went by, and no visa arrived, nothing unusual. Another month went by. Nothing. A few more weeks passed, and school was about to start. My passport wouldn’t arrive.

Of course I couldn’t have that much good luck. I called the postal service and asked. My letter, for some reason, instead of arriving in the mailbox, was held up in some office or store and about to be returned literally that same day!

One Way Ticket To the Old World

I drove frantically and arrived to the store before it closed. As soon as I entered the UPS store, I spoke with a woman. I gave her my personal information, and she typed something in the computer. She told me that there was nothing for me.

I took a deep breath while scratching my forehead, and then I gently explained her my story. She reluctantly searched somewhere in another room.

“Nothing” she said

“I called and someone told me it was here,” I said, trying to smile while pressing my index finger against the desk.

She then went to another room. As she walked back, she had and envelope in her hand. She gave it to me.

“I know this might seem like a normal envelope,” I told her “and I am just another customer, but this is life changing right here!” I held the envelope in the air.

She probably said yes, whatever, or something in between those lines. It was almost closing time, she just wanted to go home. I opened the envelope, and my visa was there.

A few hours later I was on a plane to Germany. While on the plane, a part of me couldn’t believe it, I refused to believe this was happening. I didn’t want to celebrate before arriving to German soil.

Something had to happen, just like something almost happened to my visa.

A Step Through A Gate

I approached the immigration officer, slid my shaking hands through the protective glass, and dropped everything in from of him. I then quickly wiped the sweat off my hands. He eyed me and then inspected all documents.

“Are you a student?” he asked me.

“I am about to be one,” I said.

He stamped my passport and handed me everything back. I stood there, passport and papers near my chest. I stared at him from below, and then I gazed at the gate. I stood there, and I just stood there — not daring to think.

“You may go” said the immigration officer.

I took a step, and then the second came like a stutter. Not wanting to look suspicious, but still my body hesitated, I walked through the gate. Nothing happened.

Nothing, then Nothing, and Finally Something

Hyperventilating, I paced waiting to reclaim my baggage around the carousel. As I reached for my suitcase, I noticed that I still trembled. But still I felt nothing. Empty. I neared the exit feeling underwhelmed.

Just as I was about to walk out of the airport, I saw the signs in German. The adrenaline, no longer creeping up but shooting up, froze my legs, blushed my face, and sped my heart. I felt the elation fill my body. My eyes teared.

Telling my legs to walk, and giving myself permission, I stepped out. The exhilaration of going to school here washed over my heart. The bliss of this being the fruit of my efforts made my heart quiver. I smiled so broadly that my cheeks squeezed the rest of my tears out.

I felt the chilly Bavarian air fill my lungs and caress my face. At that moment I knew, I knew with conviction, that all that suffering, that all that despair was worth it. This is what we fight for, this is what we live for, this is what we die for:

I floated on that lucid dream. It was a dream that caressed me, that allowed me to see, to smell, to savor; it was a dream allowed me to feel alive. I savored it full knowingly that at some point I will have to wake up; I lived it full knowingly that it might be a once in a lifetime feeling.