Language skills

     I have been alternately delighted with my ability to read and understand spoken German and horrified by my inability to speak. I can't remember noun genders or a lot of vocabulary, and I have a strong accent. If I had a few more weeks, I'm sure I could improve, but for now I'm muddling through. I've been able to watch TV, listen to German audio tours, and generally make my way through day- to-day life.
     When I first arrived, my apartment was very cold. I turned on the radiators, but after six hours, they still weren't warm. I sent an email to the landlady, and early the next morning, I was awoken by the heating repairman. An hour later he was done. He explained what he fixed, and told me to turn the thermostat up higher. Happy with the heat, I thanked the landlady. It turns out, though, that she didn't send him and she didn't think that the heater was broken, just that I didn't know how to use the thermostat.
     I think that if my German were a bit better, I would now know who this guy was, what exactly he fixed, and how he ended up in my apartment. In this case, it's likely to remain a mystery.