Newbie intro, Indian wife in Dortmund

Hi,
I’m new to this forum. Just need to let out some steam and ask for some advice/opinion
I’m married to a German and have two beautiful kids. We have been living in Germany since the last three years but have not had the chance to do a German language course (for a whole number of reasons). Without the knowledge of the German language it is impossible to get a job. Especially when you don’t live in one of the metropolitan cites. My German is to the point where I can survive here but can’t apply for a job with that amount. I was a flight attendant, but don’t want to do that anymore. Do you think the ‘Arbeitsamt’ would even bother to help me out without the proper knowledge of German? Does anyone know of any organisations around the Dortmund area or websites that would be of any help?
I’m just tired of being a ‘housemaid’ and ‘babysitter’! I need to do something. Not to mention that in the three years we have been here (we live about 15 km away from Dortmund) I have not met any English speaking mom around here (though all the German ones I’ve met are real nice)
I miss an English conversation...
I miss my Family (mom, sis, bro, nephews)
My Friends
My job
My identity

Hi, sorry to hear you're a little down at the moment. Don't have too much in the way of real helpful advice to offer you, other than a good starting point to learn German may be your local adult education centre (volkhochscule). Hopefully you'll also meet other english speakers there. Good luck and keep smiling.

You are so right to feel like that, identity is linked to language we speak and we are grown up/confident at...but you will find good friends here on this website, keep chatting, try to get involved in some actions like hiking this sunday, or pub quizes, and without german yes, difficult to find a job, the number of jobs in english is very limited...try the www.bfbs.com radio station, sometimes they advertise jobs, this is the british force radio station (and TV) and they are quite cool, you can tune in easily...I miss a lot to speak in english, I do prefer it to german, I learned english in school/england, not my native language, but I really miss speaking it...the idiomas, the jokes, the complaint about weather...and the pubs with good ales...
keep being active here, you will feel better:-)

Thanks for the replies,
With the volkhochscule here they have the classes only in the afternoon and the babysitters charges are five times more than the course. Guess I have to wait till they are both in kindergarten. But will keep my chin up.

Hello!
I'm not from Dortmund, but i live "near" it. Why dont you have a look at the Volkshochschule Dortmund? http://vhs.domap.de
I'm doing a German course in Osnabrück, it's very helpful and you are able to meet people from around the world. Who knows, maybe you will meet someone from India! And im sure you will meet some English speaking people.

I understand exactly how you feel. I'm from Australia and It's very difficult to leave all your family and friends behind. Especially when you have children :-(

Very best of luck!!

Dear pueschelbaby,
Thanks for the info ...

hi zaphia.

I feel we both r sailing in the same boat.I am also an indian n in the same situation as ru with the exception that i dont even know the basic german required for the survival here n nobody around me speak english. Why dont u try learning german online. I am also trying it.best of luck

Hi Savy.
With reference to ...learning German online...tried doing it a while ago but it was too boring . Doing a language course at at institute is more intresting as you get a chance to meet new people. But like I mentioned will wait till my younger son goes into kindergarden and then it would be easier with the language course.
Till then will continue to learn German the way I have been doing...watching TV!!!

Take care

ur right zaphia.learning online is boring but i think it is the only option if u have kids to take care. And TV can help if u know the basics or can it be useful without that also? Dont know coz i am also a naive in this area. Or there is one more option of learning thru books!
good luck