Small word, big difference

One of the many difficult things about learning German is figuring out which preposition to use. I used to think it wasn't such a big deal if I used the wrong preposition, but after a recent experience I realized that perhaps it's more important than I thought.

About two weeks ago I made my second trip to the Austrian equivalent of the DMV office in order to transfer my U.S. driver's license into an Austrian driver's license. It really isn't a difficult process, but it's not so easy either. Generally, to transfer your license you have to fill out some forms, make some copies of various documents, and get a physical then take all of the papers to the Verkehrsamt (let's just call it the DMV) and get the license transferred. But when you're diabetic like me, you also have get a note from a specialist, get blood work and see a special doctor at the DMV.

On my first trip, I waited for an hour or two just to find out what information I needed from the specialist.The second trip was much faster. I was shuffled back and forth a bit and finally ended up with the DMV doctor. He reviewed the note from my doctor and the results from the blood work and asked me a few questions. Fortunately, he spoke English, so it was pretty easy. When he was finished he said everything looked good and that I would receive a license in five year.

I couldn't believe it! I was going to have to wait five years to get a license. Actually, sometimes the rules are so odd around here that I could actually believe that I would have to wait to get an Austrian license. The doctor explained that I would have to return to the DMV office in five years and if the results from my blood work were consistent I would be able to get an unrestricted license at that time. He sent me down the hall to talk to someone else.

I was just about ready to cry. After all that work and I wouldn't be able to get a license for five years. But I held it together. When I talked to the next guy, he told me that I could go home and that I would get a letter in about two weeks and I could get a license in five years. We spoke for a few minutes (still in English) because I wanted to know if there was anything I could do to get a license now. Something just didn't seem right. That's when it hit me. Both guys had told me that I could get a license in five years, but they actually meant that I would be able to get a license that was valid for five years. After five years, they would check my blood work again and if I was still stable I would be able to get an unrestricted license, or a license that doesn't expire.

So now I'm just waiting for this letter, which should be here any day now. I'm still not sure whether it will contain my driver's license or if it will be another paper I have to take back to the DMV. But I'm pretty sure it won't be a letter that tells me I can pick up my license in five years.