This is definitely complicated, were you perhaps involved?

https://guix.gnu.org/en/blog/2024/hurd-on-thinkpad/

Gnu/Hurd now usable on a thinkpad T60

my first thought exactly, when did Linus became a lefist?

If money isn’t an issue or you could get financed somehow, a lot of European universities offer a pre-degree/pre-enrollment year to teach you their languages and prepare you for their entrance exam, you could get in this way