I had an adventure last month going to the City Office to apply for a “Bescheinigung fur Integrationskurse” – Certificate to attend an Integration Course that consists of a language course and an orientation course for new comers to Germany.
I did have the address of the City Office - 7 Willi Becker Allee, Dusseldorf which I input into the GPS in the car. It was my first time driving there and I faithfully followed the voice instructions and drove part way on a single lane road which had tram tracks running through it. Gave me a start when I looked in the rear mirror once and saw a tram following me on the road. Almost turned left on to a tram track only path at one point but reached the City office and wonder of wonders parking (or Parkhaus - as it is called here) was in a multistoried building right next to the City office building @ 6 Willi Becker Allee.
Entering the car park was a new experience as I was driving Anand’s new car which is much bigger than the rental car we had for the last 25 days. The approach into the car park is the usual curved ramp seen in such buildings. Only difference was that both the up and down ramps were beside each other, so at every level there was an open area where cars from that level could turn into the up or down ramp.
I was going up the ramp I think at about 10 km per hour speed. I am sure the cars behind me must have been wondering about this nutcase who was going in fear of her life, because I had reached there during office opening hours. Anyway could not park at the ground or next level as these were reserved so I went up to the next level and parked the car. So far so good. Did not remember to note down either the floor or the parking bay number – big mistake. Started walking towards an exit and noticed one which said E and marked Ausgang or walking exit. Went down two flights of stairs and reached the outside. I was in an area which was cordoned off for construction but they had a sidewalk you could walk on.
Exits from the car park opened out into a pedestrian plaza and the buildings were all around it in a circle. While entering the car park the City office was right beside it, but from the ground floor plaza could not see it at all. I almost went around in a full circle and saw other street names but not Willi Becker Allee. I did what I usually do in these situations ask the first person I see – I am lost can you tell me where Willi Becker Allee is. We always have an interesting conversation trying to interpret my English and their German. Anyway this office going girl knew that it was nearby but she could not find it. She asked another person and he pointed us towards an opening of the round plaza and there it was Willi Becker Allee.
Went in the main entrance and showed my slip of paper to the person sitting at the Information desk. He asked me to go up to room 171 and take a number and wait for my turn to be called. Went up to room 171, could not locate the machine to take the number. Thankfully saw a young Indian man sitting inside and immediately asked for help. He said the machine was just outside to the door to my left. Got my number and started talking to him. He had come for his work permit registration and he then took out his papers to get ready as his number was about to be called and that is when I had noticed that I had forgotten to take my passport. I had taken Anand’s work contract, our rental contract etc., but forgot the most important item which was my passport and I knew nothing could be done without it.
Went back downstairs asked the information desk to validate my parking ticket, found the Kassenautomat – machine to pay for parking and went to the same entrance that I had come out of. That is when my adventures began – to go in the door you needed to put your parking ticket in an opening. I put in the ticket, the device spat it out and then I could open the door. I was at the ground level of the car park which was reserved parking but for the life of me could not find a staircase to go up to the upper levels. I saw someone parking their car and I asked her did she know how to get to the upper floors. She said it was her first time at this Parkhaus and she did not know either. We both walked right up to the entrance but no staircases to the upper floor. Went back out through the door and back to the Kassenautomat. There were lifts there, decided to take one to the second floor as I remember walking down two flights of stairs before I reached the ground level
Could not find my car on this floor even though I walked the entire length and breadth. Went back to exit E and walked down one flight of stairs and then found that you could not open the door to the first floor from the stairwell – so walked all the way back to the ground – back to the Kassenautomat. This time took the elevator to the first floor and went in the door and found my car. What I realized is that there are several exits from the car park marked A through F. The main exit is D which houses the Kassenautomat and only through this exit you can get to other floors. All other exits only take you down to the ground level.
Drove out of there back to the apartment, picked up my passport and went back. I think this time it was a little faster as I remembered the GPS instructions from my earlier drive. Parked the car, found the correct entrance for Willi Becker Allee, went to room 171, took a number and waited for my turn which came in 10 mts. Went to room 165 gave the lady there the slip of paper with the request for the form I needed and my passport. She started furiously typing something into her computer. Didn’t know what that was about, but quietly waited. She finished typing and told me that I had to go to waiting room no. 129 and someone would come and call my name or ask for people without appointment. She had just emailed the correct colleague who was responsible for such certificates. I thanked her walked out and started walking towards room 129. Just before I got there a lady came out of room 135 and called Frau Prasad.
I was so surprised that I told her that email was instantaneous. She laughed and said yes, took my passport, punched in something into her computer and my photograph and details appeared on her computer. She said she would print out the list of schools and the Instruction sheet for the Integration course, explained to me that I had two years to register for such a course and then printed out the actual certificate itself. After my previous adventure it was almost an anticlimax getting the actual certificate.
But I am sure each one of you can relate to something similar…. HAVE A WONDERUL DAY….
