Because 6 weeks holiday is not enough

(Alternate title: German word for the day)

About a month ago, I found out about a program that allows employees of companies to take paid time off in addition to their holiday entitlement and knew that I had to do that. Research took place and low and behold, I’m just about to book my Bildungsurlaub.

Bildungsurlaub varies from state to state, and in my state one is entitled to this after two years service with their company. The first step is finding what programs are offered and at what time of the year (most states have a website that provides that info) and the final step is getting the time off from your job.

I did it the easy way.

While I would like to have found a course in September, I realised that getting time off then wouldn’t be easy due to my workload at that time of the year, so I chose to request my Bildungsurlaub during summer break - a time when my employer prefers that we take time off. After gathering my info, I presented it to him and he was quite surprised that I had heard of such a program and also that I had found a course that was actually on ‘the list’ on the website and agreed to it. However, it wasn’t easy to find the course.

After deciding what I want to do, I did quite a few internet searches for the type of program I wanted and also included the word Bildungsurlaub. That produced many schools that said they offered what I wanted and were certified to offer that type of program, but when asked for the document needed they weren’t able to produce it. One even had the nerve to tell me that they’d send me the needed document after I registered for and paid for the course. There was no way I was going to do that.

Then I found ‘the list’ on the website. After reading ALL of it, I found what I wanted, contacted the company and got the needed info. The extra time was approved my employer today and I’ll be confirming my tentative booking soon.

I’ll be going to Spain to take a Spanish course for two weeks and then taking four days of regular holiday entitlement to visit Expo 2008.

Even though I’ll be getting paid for the entire time, the first ten days won’t be taken out of my yearly holiday entitlement. I have to pay for my course, accommodation and other expenses, but that doesn’t bother me because I’d have to do so on a normal holiday (vacation) other than the course fees, so that means I won’t be doing much travelling before then. It’ll be worth it, though.

40 paid days off this year.

I like it.