I talked to a German backpacker at the Laundromat this evening. I couldn’t help but strike up a conversation – not because she was young and attractive, but because I was sick to death of the year-old ads posted about the place. If I read the trifling sentence: ‘couch 4 sale 2day!’ one more time, I’m going to go insane.
“I’m from Germany,” she said, in answer to my question.
We began discussing her country’s school system. I was probably responsible for the topic of conversation; it’s one of the few things I knew about Germany. After primary school students are divided into three specialised schools. One stream educates with a focus on university, another directs students to trade employment, and the third leads to base-level factory work and construction.
“It sounds very efficient,” I commented.
“It is,” she agreed.
“But don’t you think it’s very early to be deciding one’s future?” I asked.
“It’s never too early to be thinking about your career.”
I considered this idea for a moment. If I’d selected my future employment as a child I’d probably be working as a private investigator – I guess it wouldn’t be that bad. Although, it’s probably not a feasible way of staffing a country; there’d be far too many superheros and astronauts. Who’d do the administration?
“I’m from Germany,” she said, in answer to my question.
We began discussing her country’s school system. I was probably responsible for the topic of conversation; it’s one of the few things I knew about Germany. After primary school students are divided into three specialised schools. One stream educates with a focus on university, another directs students to trade employment, and the third leads to base-level factory work and construction.
“It sounds very efficient,” I commented.
“It is,” she agreed.
“But don’t you think it’s very early to be deciding one’s future?” I asked.
“It’s never too early to be thinking about your career.”
I considered this idea for a moment. If I’d selected my future employment as a child I’d probably be working as a private investigator – I guess it wouldn’t be that bad. Although, it’s probably not a feasible way of staffing a country; there’d be far too many superheros and astronauts. Who’d do the administration?