"'If you run away', he said hoarsely, 'then a part of you stays behind. So much of myself stayed behind in Aleppo that I was afraid I could not go on, because Aleppo .... Aleppo was the past for me. But I, I am. And I must not always just run away. Otherwise there will be nothing left of me. I would like .... I need something back from myself."

("Once there was Aleppo", Jennifer Benkau)

What are high spirits and sorrows of people in foreign countries?

Maria Fellner - 03.01.2020 @ 19:21

Foreign things don’t stay foreign

by Madeleine Sophie Rößler, BG-BRG Kufstein/Austria

Fear. Joy. These emotions are difficult to define. Every human being has their own fears and joys, which are influenced by one’s family or the culture in which one grows up.

Joy. When people come to Austria from countries where human rights do not exist, they will be happy that we abide by them. They will appreciate the many different opportunities for education, a stable social security system and peace. They can be happy about these things. Furthermore, the fact that you can drink good quality water from the tap is a great joy for people who normally don't know it that way. We have so many freedoms. Unfortunately, we are not always so aware of them.

If we came to a country where murder and killing are commonplace, we would be afraid. People in these countries are used to that and for them it is nothing new anymore. However, if they come to our civilized world, they will be full of joy at how calm and peaceful everything is, but it does not have to be like that. They might also be afraid of our culture or shocked by our way of living. For many, religion will be the biggest change. For example, if someone comes to us from a Muslim country, not many women will wear a headscarf anymore. Despite the freedom of religion, there are no large and magnificent mosques/synagogues etc., because the state does not normally encourage building them. So, the migrants can no longer pray as in their home country. It is difficult for them to enter a new world and learn to accept and love it. In the book "Dazwischen: Ich" by Julya Rabinowich, you can easily put yourself in the situation of a young person who has fled and arrives in Austria.

People will notice how different the perspectives can be. Many people own nothing. They have to get by with little food and cannot afford good school education. Nevertheless, they are happy and love their lives. (Of course not all of them.) For them this is their everyday life. Even though it may be hard for them, they can accept their fate and find something good in every little thing that they can be happy about. They have grown up with it and can accept it.  There is a film that gives a lot of insight into the world that you normally don't see. It’s name is "Far. The story of a way around the world".

Foreign things scare you in some situations. But foreign things can also bring joy, and they don't always remain foreign either, but become a part of your own life.

„Foreign things are only foreign until you take a step towards them and the perspective changes."  – „Far. “

This quote shows quite well that you have to open up to new things and get involved with them so that you can be happy again at all. 

Fotos: Benjamin Hundsbichler

Madeleine Sophie Rößler 18.03.2020 @ 13:50

Hi Madeleine!

I liked the way you talked about how what is foreign to us changes with time and that things that we at first see as foreign become a normal part of our life after a while. I also thought it was interesting what you said about people in more wealthy countries taking their wealth and privileges for granted and not appreciating them as much as they should.

I think it's true what you said about it being hard to adapt to a new country that doesn't have the same religion as you. To come from a country where religion is a huge part of society to a new country where most people don't even have a religion must be weird and difficult. On the other hand, it's possible that coming to a new country can give the person a new perspective on religion and life which could be life-changing in a very good way.

Gabriel

Gabriel Lindström - 15.05.2020 @ 12:01

Dear Madeleine 

First of all, I just want to say that your article was really interesting to read. How you describe that something can be foreign, but then just be a part of your own life is an interesting observation and when I think about it, I agree. I also agree with your explaining of how emotions are a big part of foreign things and that it can be very hard for people from other countries to start a new life in a foreign country. 

Another thing I thought of while I read your article was about that part where you described how many people just take things for granted. I think that more people should realize that if you have something you can also lose it in seconds. Those people who have moved to new countries had to leave their whole life and that can also happen to us. What I mean is that we should take more care of what we have because that can change very fast. 

Finally, I just want to say that I think it's important to help those people who have come to a new country because they don't know about that country's culture and system. It can also give yourself a better experience of the world and also help you get to know about foreign things. 

Greta 

Greta Stenberg - 15.05.2020 @ 13:32