Barriers

Adrian and I were sitting in the train on our way home when two guys roughly our age came in and sat across the aisle from us. They chatted with each other, shaking their heads, waving their hands around -- obviously very deep in an interesting conversation. Several times during their conversation, Adrian chuckled. When they reached their stop and exited the car, I asked him what they were talking about. He told me that they were debating about whether or not today’s rate of technological advancement was comparable to the past.

And that’s when I came upon a realization.

Stretch of the Berlin Wall that has been turned into an art gallery

Obviously not speaking German in a country called Germany is a challenge. Adrian has to read signs to me. If I have a question for a waiter, Adrian is the one to ask my question. I rely on him to get us from point A to point B. Someone asks me a question? I have to awkwardly look to Adrian to translate. Adrian even has to call and book my doctor’s appointment for me and tag along, just in case the doctor has an important question that I can’t answer.

These language barriers are ones that I knew would arise. But I was not ready for such isolation, even when out and about. Eavesdropping is not something that I set out to do, but it’s impossible not to catch snippets of people’s conversations when on public transportation. In the States, if I like someone’s earrings, I can tell them and they will understand me. Even the children here seem to be aware that I do not belong. I smile and wave at them and they view me with suspicion.

The Brandenburg Gate

These little, day-to-day interactions between people are things that I am missing out on. This is where the real feeling of infantilization comes from -- even more so than having to rely on Adrian to translate the world for me.

I guess I should crack open my German textbooks and get to studying...