European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Afghan Raschid Schahnasa listens intently. Russian born Jakob Kutschuk ponders a question. American Andrea Nelson Battles confusion. Clockwise from above italian born Sisters Giuseppina Cirrincione Rotolo left and Rosarie take notes Angela mataure Toma left of Bosnia and Herzegovina gets help from american Andrea Nelson and from left afghan Raschid Schahnasa nigerian Noha Chukwudi and somalian Habibo Mohamed Puzzle out a German phrase. Is photos by Dave Casey adult education students learn More than a foreign language by Dave Casey staff photographer s the 30-Odd faces looked out at one another it was Clear the same idea was going through everyone s head what the Heck Ami doing Here like me they were there for one purpose to learn German. But unlike me most could not claim English As their Mother Tongue. I was surrounded. Foreigners of All colors descriptions made up the class. Of All my classmates i was Only Able to correctly guess the nationality of two women Sisters As it turned out. They were originally from Italy and since the Start the class had affectionately named them our mafia  yes unfortunately stereotyping is Universal. And the others what a mishmash of cultures. Russian romanian moroccan somalian thai afghan portuguese yugoslav lots of slavs due to the War and poles made up the rest of the class. So there we were on the first Day of class nervous apprehensive with smiles on our faces facing a common enemy an ignorance of the language of our Host country. Just where were we we were in a Large fluorescent lit Grade school classroom in seats that somehow seemed a bit Small All under the auspices of the Volks Hochschulz. The votes Hochschulz is Germany s answer to adult education and classes in subjects like dance yoga computer training and Deutsch als Fremd Spracher German for foreigners Are taught in towns around Germany from september to May. A few of my classmates consider themselves temporary refugees from wars and Hope someday to return Home. Like Angela. She left Home to work in Germany As a instructor Sabine he Etsberger explains the difference Between Jungfrau Virgin and Jung fran Young woman As a confused Nelson hides her head in. Embarrassment after finally understanding. Maid for a few months  she thought. Soon after arriving Here War broke out in her Homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina and she has Only heard from her parents and two daughters once in 18 months. She was ecstatic the Day she got the letter from them but was grieved to find out they d had to flee into the Forest what can i do she asks. I can t go Home. The serbs would kill  and so she has decided to make the most of her time Here. She Hopes she can find a better Job As her German skills Progress. Some students Are Asylum seekers hoping for a better Way of life than what they had left behind. Like moroccan born Hakim. He works a weekly rotating shift in a bakery but he s saving his Money. He wants to open his own business in the next few years. For him Germany is his now Home. He can speak three languages arabic French and some English. But this does t help him much now. And so like the rest of us he found himself in a roomful of former strangers. It has been an interesting experience we finally reached the Point that when a classmate did t understand the instructor we could help explain the word or phrase. Hands were used a lot but we always got the Point across. We May not have been pretty but we were understandable. But we have Learned far More than German. With All those different nationalities in the same room it has been impossible not to pick up some knowledge and understanding of people from around the world. If i had to Start to learn German again i say Start because it s a lifelong experience would i do it through the Volks Hochschulz you bet. This american s been exposed to More cultures than a medical lab technician and enjoyed every bit of it information on Tho Voi Khoc is Csc program is available in local bookstores and in local government offices. 16 the stars and stripes tuesday january in 1994 the stars and stripes 17