Language Immersion for Tom

The other day I had the chance for a full immersion language experience.  The research group to which I am attached had its bi-weekly meeting.  My colleague fortunately pointed out that this would be my opportunity to provide the “Einstand” in the form of a cake or something similar.  Einstand literally means “start of a new job,” and it refers to the tradition (expectation) of the new guy providing treats for all of his new colleagues.  When I told Jens that in the USA it was basically the reverse – the colleagues would provide food to welcome the new guy – he said that in the end it all works out, because after you are the new guy once, you will enjoy other Einstands from other new people later.  This plays an important social function, he said, in ensuring that the community gets to have plenty of occasions to eat cake.

                So I stopped by the backerei to purchase some Streuselkuchen and Zuckerkuchen before the meeting.  I had asked how many people would be at the meeting, and Jens said about 15, but since there was another new team member, she would bring some cake too, so I need not feed all 15.  Well apparently the other new colleague bakes, so she brought in some homemade lemon cake and cheese cake. We had to wait until the end of the business meeting before Jens announced that thanks to the new team members we could proceed to enjoy the cake, to which all assembled responded by rapping their knuckles on the table (I suppose that is like giving us applause).

                The meeting itself was conducted entirely in German.  Unfortunately for me, they did not speak about their names, where they lived, what they were studying in school, or their hobbies – all topics for which my brief stint as a German 101 student last fall had prepared me well.  Instead they were discussing some matters related to research or curriculum or something.  I did catch a few English phrases, including a workshop somebody had been to for “Presenting in English” and also an effort related to “interdisciplinary sustainability”.  But beyond that, I could not fathom the gist of the conversation.  So I just sat there and listened, assuming people thought I understood more than I did.  (I suppose what gave me away was when somebody said a remark that elicited laughter but I didn’t laugh.)  It is a bit surreal to be sitting around a circle and everyone but you is following the conversation.  It’s easy to think perhaps they are talking about you, but I think I would have recognized a reference to “der Amerikaner.”