Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Wednesday: German Test

I studied until 10 PM last night for today's test.

On the way to the school, passing through the U4 subway station, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a 1 Euro coin. I've been giving the friendly, smiling homeless man who sells the newspapers a Euro each week, just for the sake of my own karma, and in appreciation for his friendly smile.

But for the first time in a month, he wasn't there. I missed seeing him. Hope he's there tomorrow...
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I ride one stop and transfer to the U6. While waiting for the train, I heard the same message I've been hearing since I got here, an announcment in German and English about the temporarily shortened U6 route (due to construction.) The English announcement said something to the effect of "reaching your final destination," and I thought: What's my final destination? What's anyone's "final destination?"

Star dust, maybe. Disincorporated atoms that attach themselves to molecules later on. Parts of us end up as a dog turd, a diamond, an ancient manuscript, or in the air that flies into Rick Perry's nose when he inhales. But of course, Rick Perry has never inhaled...
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The test was simple. Possible perfect score is 88 points, and you only need 44 to pass (!)

She allowed about an hour for the test but most of us finished in less than 30 minutes. We get our scores tomorrow.

Those of us who finished early gathered in the hall. I found myself with the three Africans---a man from Nigeria, a man from Gambia, and a woman from Congo. All very nice people, and they all speak English as well as at least one other language.

Africans have it a bit tough in Europe. Europe isn't used to outsiders but for the last forty years or so there have been more and more outsiders streaming in. Hell, the Germans are swarming into Austria because their universities are filling up and they can't get admitted there, so they come to Austria. Which annoys the Austrians. But at least the Germans have a common language (allegedly, according to B) and aren't noticeably different. The Africans like me because I make it a point to greet each of them every day in a friendly way, accept their handshakes, smile and laugh with them. I grew up around African Americans and am comfortable with black people, and I think the Africans find it a relief not to have to wonder if somebody dislikes them just because they're outsiders. Hell, I'm an outsider. We all are, in this class...
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After class, I stood outside talking with my Serbian classmate. He's the 2nd oldest geezer in class, me being the oldest geezer.

His wife is Serbian by birth but has Austrian citizenship. They're newly married. She's been here 14 years. But Goran, he can only visit 90 days at a time then he has to go outside the EU (in has case, back to Belgrade) then re-enter for another 90 days. Same with me. Neither of us is a citizen of an EU country, though Serbia is trying to get in.(I'm not holding my breath that they'll admit the US to the EU, however.)

"Goran---next time I come here, if I'm not a legal resident yet, I'll stay 90 days then go back to Belgrade with you. You can show me around. We can get drunk, then come back to Vienna and re-start the clock."

"Ah, Mr. John, I do not drink alcohol!"

"Don't worry. I can drink enough for both of us."
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Goran took off. A few minutes later B pulled up. We were on our way to the swimmin' hole. It's another hot day in Vienna.

We went there, laid around, read, I studied some German and talked to B's mom and dad, we swam.

The most noteworthy thing to me was the behavior of the fish. They swim just under the surface and you can see them clearly. There are large carp about 2 feet long, as well as little fish, like minnows. They're constantly cruising for food and when one of the swimmers decides to throw some fish food in the water, it churns like it's boiling, the fish are so frenzied.

I was eating a sandwich. I tossed a couple of breadcrumbs in and noticed something:

The lucky fish closest to the offering was quick to grab the breadcrumb. But nearby fish noticed his sudden move toward the food, which in turn caused them to race for the crumb, which by then had already been gulped down. But then fish further out noticed this action and reacted to it in turn, moving in a kind of mini-frenzy, hoping they'd stumble upon a crumb or be able to intimidate the smaller fish who were hoping to latch on. This whole chain of events took maybe two seconds, and it was for one fucking crumb.

I repeated the process several times, fascinated by it, because it reminded me of something.

I thought: "Huh. A feeding frenzy. Just like that fucking Wall Street."