The Kindness of Strangers

My room has been transformed from a big empty space with a bed into a real living space by the kindness of strangers. Today one of the teachers at the school and her husband invited me to their home for coffee and cake (the German equivalent of afternoon tea and biscuits), and then brought me across town to my apartment with a trunk filled with wonderful things for my room. Before Grit (my teaching mentor, yes, her name is Grit, as in short for MarGRIT) told me that Helga Rosenbaum had some things for my room she'd like to give me, I don't think I had even heard her name. Not only did she have some things for me, I was informed, but she had offered to bring them to my apartment and pick them up at the end of the year. My jaw dropped when I heard all this. I recently bought a couple rugs for my room in an effort to make things look warmer and more homey, but they kind of just ended up looking silly: two bright patches floating in the emptyness of my room.

So today we drove across the city with two wicker chairs, a coffee table, and a lamp in the back of their small mid-90's Volvo sedan. When we brought all this up to my room, Mr. Rosenbaum set straight to work putting the furniture back together, and Helga began pulling other little wonders out of a bag. She gave me a square basket of apples from her garden, another basket/bowl of colorful squashes, also from her garden, a cork mat onto which she put a set of three tea light candle holders and an apple scented candle and votive. She also pulled out a mug filled with colorful pens, a calander for my lesson schedule, and some other things for my desk (which Grit will bring for me next week.) They bustled around setting things up and I could hardly do more than stand there in shock. I didn't know how to express my deep gratitude for this unexpected kindness. I awkwardly to let them know, but they already knew. In a very typical direct, but not unkind German way, told me that one thank-you was enough. They then promtly disappeared leaving me happy, still in shock. I actually jumped for joy, I'm slightly embarassed to admit. It's not just the things themselves that make me so happy, it's the fact that someone would go out of their way to help me, even without knowing who I am. Helga knew that I was new here in Berlin, and didn't have anything except what was in my suitcases. She knew she didn't need these things, which are from their summer house, and so simply decided that I should have them. It sounds so simple, I needed something that she could give me and so she did. I think that's the way she sees it. But to me it feels like so much more.

And she is not the only one. Marion and Günter not only offered me their home, their food, and their friendship for my first weeks here in Germany, but also sent me on my way with sheets, towels, candles, and many other little things to help me. Grit has let all the teachers know about my situation, and has asked them for any little thing which might help me. Many have obliged, promptly bringing blankets, pillows and whatever else they had around. Grit is going to take time during our upcoming vacations to bring me a desk from her house, and to help me pick up other things from the school basement that the principle has said I could have. This sort of support has been a bit overwhelming. I can't help but hope that someone coming to my country under similar circumstances would be greeted with this kind of support. I would like to think so, but I'm not sure.

Grit is an East German, and proudly so, something that may of may not be relevent. She was born in Thüringen, as were the Rosenbaums. She talks with fondness of East Germany, of all the support she got from the community and the government when she had her first son. When I brought up the wall and the lack of freedom of movement, she attributed this to the Russians. I didn't go so far as to bring up the Stasi. For her, and probably for most East Germans, the Stasi were never an issue. She was just a normal citizen, with no political interests or aspirations. I'm sure it was quite nice for her in the East. When I think about the outpouring of support I've received, I have to wonder if it might have something to do with the communal mentality of the former East. Berlin is a fascinating mix of East and West. I'm still just skimming the surface of the many cultural currents flowing through this city.