When one moves overseas, to a country and culture, you start stages of acclimation. You begin at the arrival, everything seems like a tourist attraction. You move in/out of stores, neighbourhoods, and cafes with everything so new that you feel like it's a vacation. You stumble through a German order at the markt or ask for a coffee but transactions are simple and conversation is brief. Soon you discover that you'll actually have to understand all the terms of a car lease, an apartment rental or phone service that you really become confused and frustrated. You finally move to a state of acceptance. My time came when my son was signed up for Kindergarten.
After some weeks of research, we found a local Montessori school nearby. It was clean, modern, and plenty of play space. The teachers were very helpful in explanations of the schedule and parental commitment (in English) but made it clear our son would have to pick up German on his own. What I mean to say is they would not coddle him with English every day. That sounded just fine with us.
Upon signing the contract with the Montessori school, they requested a copy of my pay slip. I thought this to be peculiar but they informed me that monthly school payment is determined upon my monthly income!! I was really bothered by this approach as my success and subsequent income has nothing to do directly the needs/care of my son. Likewise, why should I pay more than some other schlep when our kids are using the same resources at the Kindergarten. It was a travesty; it was inequitable; it was socialism.
Welcome to Germany.
