Saturday (27.09.) was a day of clouds and sun. O.K. left for his home right after breakfast, to give him enough time to unpack, do the washing and all the other things one typically does between returning from a holiday and starting work again.
The family living in the attic flat above me have two children, and they were celebrating their birthday. Because they don't speak German very well and I don't speak Farsi, I still don't know whether the children really share the same birthday or they simply celebrate together. Anyway, I was invited to join them; the little girl turned 4 and the boy 9. I brought gifts for the kids and chocolate for everyone plus a little something for the mother. Two ladies and another little girl were the only other guests, which made their small living room full enough.
We had very nice spiced tea and a home-made cake, which was delicious.
Conversation was a bit stop-and-go because of our language difficulties, but we did get some information about each other across, and I have once again noticed the progress my neighbour has been making in learning German.
She is 29 years old and came to Germany never having learned to read and write, and has since been on what she calls her "alphabet" course (learning to read and write) as well as learning German - certainly no mean feat, and I think she can be quite proud of herself about what she has achieved already.
Her husband fully supports her; he is not the type of man who prefers to keep his wife away from the world, locked up at home with no access to people and books and so on.
She explained to me that once she has completed her course and is better at German, she wants to work; by then, she says, her little girl will be old enough to start school, allowing her to take up a part-time job.
This family is clearly trying to make Germany their home, a place where their children can grow up well, and they are willing to work hard for that.
Of the two other ladies present at the small birthday party, the older one spoke some German. She said to me: "In my country are the Taliban. I was not allowed school or work. It was very hard." She, too, is looking for work, but her limited German means she can only hope for a cleaning job or something similar. Still, that's better than nothing, and again here was someone who was prepared to make a living for themselves and not depend on others.
Mid-afternoon I thanked my hostess for the tea and cake and left. Just as I had arrived in my flat downstairs, my sister texted, suggesting a walk. I had intended to go walking anway, and now I set off to my sister's.
We went to Kornwestheim in a wide loop across the fields and back, and I was home a bit more than two hours later after a much enjoyable walk.
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| On the fields between Ludwigsburg and Kornwestheim |
Sunday (28.09.) was mostly spent getting ready for Monday. I did my ironing, blogged, played my favourite computer game for a while, and read.
Late afternoon/early evening I walked to Benningen, part of my "coming home" process. It was a grey and rather chilly day, but good walking weather nonetheless.
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| Waiting for the train back to Ludwigsburg some time before sunset. |
My evening was quiet with watching "Wednesday" and reading, and of course O.K. and I spoke on the phone.
No doubt a lot of immigrants work hard at trying to adjust and learn the new language and find jobs etc. Here in Sweden, I'm doubtful about various new laws introduced by our current government, making it difficult for some people already here to stay on. (I'm no expert on the details, though.)
ReplyDeleteThe tendency to make things much harder for (illegal) immigrants is increasing all over the world. Of course nobody wants to play host to ruthless criminals, but several cases have been on the media here of individuals and entire families who were well integrated, going to school or work and with no criminal record, being put on a plane back to their country of origin. Like you, I am no expert on the details and can only say what I perceive and personally know of.
DeletePeople like your neighbours are to be commended for the considerable efforts they make to adjust and integrate. Life for the women must seem unbelievably liberated.
ReplyDeleteThey are just like any modern young family with small children, wanting the best for them which is the legitimate and natural aspiration for any parent.
DeleteLife under such rules as are still in place in many countries in the world is unimaginable for me, and I am grateful for having been born here and not there.
How nice that your neighbors are reaching out and trying to assimilate into your country. I can't imagine trying to learn to read and write AND learn a new language, all at the same time. The courage of that humbles me. I wish them every success in their new life.
ReplyDeleteThe young woman is eager to learn, she's really making progress, and I have told her so when we last spoke. Like you, I can't imagine having to do that all at once - I suppose it would be a bit like learning Japanese, Chinese, Arabic or Russian or Tigrinya - any language that does not use the same alphabet as we do, so that I would have to learn to read and write it at the same time. The languages I know all use the same letters.
DeleteI, too, wish them every success. So far, their rent is paid for by the town, but they are doing what they can to become independent.
How nice that you and your neighbors get along so well. I'd admire their ambition - to learn a new language is so difficult. I hope they will have a wonderful life.
ReplyDeleteSee my reply to Jennifer, Ellen. I hope they will achieve their goal and become self-sufficient with a home they can afford and jobs that pay enough. The little girl has started kindergarden only a short while ago, and is already picking up a lot of German. Her brother seems to be doing well language-wise too, going to school every day now. (At first, he was on a rota and went to school only every other day. I guess it has to do with the number of teachers available for classes with children who don't yet know the language.)
DeleteWhat a lovely story about the children's party and your neighbors' diligence in their new lives.
ReplyDeleteCeci
I am not entirely happy with everything they do (noise-wise and general cleanliness of the staircase etc.), but the house has four flats and it is normal to hear your neighbours every now and then. All things considered, they are alright, and I admire them for their efforts.
DeleteI think genuine immigrants who fled for their lives are proud and keen to start a new life and contribute to their new homeland. It is lovely that they are integrating with you.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why it is calling me anonymous. It is me Addy from Alcoholic Daze!
DeleteHello Addy, nice to "hear" from you!
DeleteIn this house of four flats, we have four different nationalities, one on each floor. Out of the eight people living here, two are German (myself included). The Italian-German couple on the ground floor consider themselves above the others and are hardly on greeting terms with them, let alone speak to them.
It is a real blessing to have good neighbours. Your photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I sometimes have mixed feelings about them, especially when they are noisy and leave muddy footprints all over the stairs, never cleaning up after themselves, but all things considered they are alright, and I believe if the woman and I were able to hold proper conversations, we'd get along quite well.
DeleteThe day they moved in I brought them a bunch of flowers and chocolate when I introduced myself as their downstairs neighbour. I believe in a good first impression, and in a neighbourly welcome to someone new in the house.