Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 86  The Invitation to Germany & Learning German Phrases

"You want me to come to Germany?" Michael repeated Bridget's offer, slightly taken aback by the suddenness of it. "Why?" n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"To promote your solar panels. You'd speak with the Minister of The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. You know how huge this opportunity is. If the Minister were to promote the solar panels, the rest of the European Union could follow suit. It's not just an opportunity to expand; it's a chance to set a new standard in renewable energy across Europe," Bridget explained, her tone serious but encouraging.

Michael considered the proposition. The prospect of entering the European market, especially with governmental support, was an opportunity too good to pass up. "That's a significant step for the company. And having the German government's backing could indeed be a game-changer for us," he acknowledged, the wheels in his mind already turning at the possibilities.

Bridget nodded, pleased with his reaction. "Exactly. So I suggest that you get a passport, if you don't have one, and inform me." "Yeah…I don't have a passport on me. I never even left the National Capital Region, so I don't expect to travel internationally," Michael admitted, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "But I'll get that sorted out immediately. How soon do we need to plan for the trip?"

"Sooner rather than later," Bridget replied promptly. "Given the bureaucratic processes and the preparation needed for your presentation, I'd say we aim for a trip within the next two months. That should give us ample time to get everything in order, including your passport, visas, and the necessary documentation for the presentation."

"Two months," Michael repeated. "That's tight, but doable. I'll start the passport application process first thing tomorrow. I believe I can apply for a passport at a rush service to expedite the process. I'll need to look into the specifics, but I'm sure we can get it sorted quickly. And once that's underway, I'll focus on the presentation materials."

"Good," Bridget said with a nod. "And while you're working on that, I'll be in touch with my contacts in Germany to secure a meeting with the Minister. I'll also start arranging the logistics for our trip—flights, accommodation, and meeting schedules. We need to make sure everything is seamless."

Michael nodded, feeling a surge of motivation. "I'm getting excited, I should also learn how to speak German. Well, I think German is quite similar to English." Bridget chuckled softly at Michael's comment about learning German. "Well, German and English do share the same Germanic root, so you'll find some similarities in vocabulary and structure. However, German syntax and grammar can be quite complex. But for our purposes, basic conversational German should suffice, and I'll be there to help with more complicated discussions."

"Maybe I should download a language learning app or take a few online courses," Michael mused, thinking about the practical steps he could take to prepare himself linguistically.

"That's a good idea," Bridget encouraged. "It would certainly make a positive impression if you could greet and exchange pleasantries in German. It shows respect and effort on your part. But don't worry too much; English is widely spoken in Germany, especially in business settings. And as I said, I'll be there to assist."

"Hmm…what are the basic phrases in German?" Michael asked, genuinely curious and eager to make a start, even if it was just a few words.

"Let's start with the basics," Bridget said, her tone shifting to that of a teacher. "For example, 'Hello' in German is 'Hallo'."

Michael repeated after her, "Hallo."

"Very good," Bridget encouraged. "And 'Thank you' is 'Danke'."

"Danke," Michael repeated, trying to mimic Bridget's pronunciation.

"Now, if you want to introduce yourself, you can say, 'Mein Name ist Michael,'" she continued, "which means 'My name is Michael.'"

"For formal meetings, especially with the Minister, it's good to know how to say 'It's a pleasure to meet you.' That would be 'Es ist mir eine Ehre, Sie kennenzulernen.'"

Michael attempted the longer phrase, stumbling a bit over the pronunciation. "Es ist mir eine Ehre, Sie kennenzulernen."

"Don't worry about getting it perfect right now," Bridget reassured him. "The effort and intention matter more. And remember, 'I'm sorry' or 'Excuse me' is 'Entschuldigung.' It can be quite handy."

"Entschuldigung?" "You mispronounced it a bit, but that's okay. It's 'Ent-schul-di-gung,'" Bridget corrected gently, emphasizing each syllable. "Try again."

Michael repeated after her, focusing on the pronunciation, "Ent-schul-di-gung."

"Much better," Bridget praised. "With a little practice, you'll get the hang of it. And it's important not to worry too much about making mistakes. Most people will appreciate that you're trying to speak their language."

"Thanks for the encouragement," Michael said, feeling slightly more confident. "I'll definitely dedicate some time each day to practice. Any more phrases you think I should know?"

"A simple 'Yes' is 'Ja,' and 'No' is 'Nein,'" Bridget added. "And if you want to ask someone if they speak English, you can say, 'Sprechen Sie Englisch?'"

"Sprechen Sie Englisch?" Michael practiced the new phrase, finding the rhythm of the language interesting.

"Exactly," Bridget said with a nod. "And one more thing, 'Goodbye' can be said as 'Auf Wiedersehen' for a formal farewell, or 'Tschüss' in a more casual setting."

"Auf Wiedersehen and Tschüss," Michael repeated. "I'll remember that."

"if you need to say that you don't speak German well, you can say, 'Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch.'"

"Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch," he said, hoping he wouldn't need to use the phrase too often but grateful for the practicality of it. "With enough practice, I think you can speak German well with the right intonation and accent," Bridget said, surprised that Michael could pick up the pronunciation so quickly. "Just keep practicing."

Michael nodded, absorbing the advice. "Thank you. Well, is there anything else, aside from me learning German?"

"Hmm…I was hoping you'd tell me more about that pharmaceutical enterprise…Wait a minute, you are a mechanical engineering student? It's hard for me to believe that you've ventured into pharmaceuticals as well."

Michael chuckled, sensing Bridget's curiosity and perhaps a hint of skepticism. "Yes, my background is in mechanical engineering, but the principles of engineering can be applied across various fields, including pharmaceuticals. I'll show it to you once it's ready. For now, it's still on the drawing table. But of course, I'll let you see it when, for example, our solar panel enterprise hits through the roof." "I'll be waiting for that. Thank you for your time, Michael," Bridget said, rising to her feet and extending her hand forward.

"Thank you," Michael said, shaking Bridget's hand.

"You know, one day, we should have dinner together. Like us alone, no business talks just us knowing one another," Bridget suggested, a friendly smile on her face.

Michael was taken aback for a moment, not having expected the invitation. "That sounds like a great idea."