#confrontation issues

First, I had to go to my local office of alien affairs to start the process of renewing my travel visa for the new year (I was brave enough to go by myself, as I no longer feel the need to constantly be accompanied by an interpreter). The lady tried to tell me that I was going to have to take an integration course, and maybe even also a language course. I very politely explained, in German, that these courses may not be necessary for me and gave a multitude of reasons why. And so, because I asked, she told me I could put these reasons into writing and send it in for “approval” and then maybe all I have to do is pass a very small test (30 questions or so), and then perhaps I would not have to take classes.

Then after I got home, two people from my WG came at us as a group with a wild new idea to establish “more order” in the households, and wanted to start assigning people housework and then making people write down all the chores they’ve done, when they’ve done them, etc (it’s hard to explain it all here, but yeah, it was basically like Kindergarten). Either way, it made me feel like I was being treated like a small child, and having my freedoms taken away from me.  And so, I stood up for myself.  And because I did, in a very nice and polite way, these two people then explained to me that participation in this new idea was completely voluntary and that if I didn’t feel comfortable doing it, I wouldn’t be required.

As someone who has very, VERY extreme and severe issues with confrontation and assertiveness and standing up for myself in general, I am just really proud of myself today.