Journal 10

What ill-luck, I cannot even talk to the others to hear what questions they are asking. pg 105

It must be very uncomfortable not able to communicate or even understand the germans. However, the non-german people had to suck it up and try to do what the German officers say to them. In the earlier chapter the prisoners learned that they shouldn't ask question to the German officers or ask to repeat. Primo had little knowledge on German language however he was still an amateur at it. Chemical examination seems to have been important event for Primo because he was expert at chemistry. But because he couldn't understand what 'Alex' was saying, he had to guess by Alex's look at follow the action. If he makes one wrong move, he will be flunked in Chemical examination.