Right, ‘schüler Michael’. That name definitely takes me back a bit. Had this one student, Michael, a few years ago.
This kid, he was really something. Smart, no doubt about it, but the kind of smart that just makes your head spin sometimes. You’d be trying to teach something straightforward, and he’d come at you with questions from way out in left field. Really kept me on my toes, I’ll tell you that much.
So, one afternoon, we were having this chat in class about what they all wanted to do after school. You know, careers, future plans, that sort of thing. Trying to get them to think a little bigger. And then Michael, he just chimes in, completely serious, asking about working in other countries. Not just any country, mind you. He starts getting real specific about the money side of things.
I clearly remember him bringing up South Korea. Why South Korea? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe he’d been watching too many dramas or was a big fan of some music group from there. Who can figure these things out? Anyway, because he was so insistent, I told him I’d look into it. Probably just to get a moment’s peace, if I’m being honest!
So, I went and did a little research. And you know what? The money stuff over there, especially taxes, it’s pretty interesting. Their personal income tax, it can climb really high.
- We’re talking, like, up to 45 percent for the folks earning a lot.
- And it wasn’t always like that. I saw that years ago, the top rate was lower, something more like 35 percent.
- But yeah, hitting that 45 percent mark, that’s a hefty slice to give back.
Michael, he just listened, nodded like it was the most normal thing in the world to discuss. Then he probably moved on to asking about the Martian economy or something equally random. That was just him. You’d give him an answer, and boom, five new questions would pop up. It was a workout, mentally, but you couldn’t help but admire his curiosity.
So, yeah, that’s my ‘schüler Michael’ story. He was a genuine character, that one. Made me learn all sorts of odd facts. I bet he’s out there somewhere now, still asking a million questions and probably driving someone else nuts in the best possible way. Hope he’s doing well, the little brainiac.