I received a letter a couple of days ago. It said that I'd be expected at an examination for the intensive Finnish course I hope to take.
I didn't really know what to expect. The employment office had said nothing about "testing" when I was there applying for the course. They mentioned an interview, for which I have an appointment on Monday, but nothing about this. I was a little nervous.
Rami and I arrived at his alma mater, which was also where the testing would take place, this morning at 9:00 sharp. There were roughly 100 people crammed into a small hallway near the auditorium. Most spoke Russian. Then, a woman began addressing us in Finnish and calling us by name into the auditorium. I was afraid that she wouldn't speak in anything but Finnish and that I'd fail to understand some crucial thing. This wasn't the case, though. When we were all seated, she began to address us in three languages: Finnish, English, and Russian. She seemed adept, perhaps even fluent, in all three.
I don't think I did very well on the test, which I suppose is a good thing in terms of getting into this course. Of the more than 100 people who applied, only 28 will be chosen. On what criteria I'm not really sure, though I guess it has something to do with need. I felt so inept and stupid, though, since a lot of the Russians around me seemed a little more comfortable with the material. Rami suspects they've been in the country for a while and have thus learned more Finnish.
It's a unique and strange experience for me, not being totally proficient in the language that surrounds me. I cannot speak for myself, I cannot understand through my own efforts. I'm truly an immigrant. It's frustrating, to say the least. In fact, I don't even belong to the immigrant community, since even they tend to share a common culture and can therefore stand in unity while immersed in a foreign one.
But, whether I get into the course or not, there's only one thing to do, and that is to try my best. In all things Finnish.
I bet it's very daunting. At least here in the States enclaves develop for different groups. People come from all over and settle in areas where others like them are so they feel more comfortable. On the flip side, over time people avoid learning English because they don't have to, whereas in the past you really had to.
ReplyDeleteYou do what you have to do. You'll have to learn Finnish, and you will. I don't use Spanish anymore, so when the times comes to use it, I feel like a dweeb. Now I only use it to go grocery shopping.
You'll do it, I know you can. Many have before, many will after, and you will too.
By the way, I didn't realize Finns and Russians had much in common. Looking at a map, now it makes sense. Not my geographic expertise. Good to learn something cool today :)