After the arrival with the inter-flight, it was time for Zhang Danhong more to West Berlin and then to Cologne. Helpful people have made the first day in Germany, so that you can home felt fast.
Frauke and Hannes came from Mannheim. He studied business at the University, she was a pharmacist. As far as I knew from our brief conversation in the inter-flight machine, where they sat directly in front of me. They offered me to accompany me to Hanover, where they wanted to require in the direction of Mannheim. In my youthful folly I had made me worry, what is the Odyssey I had brought me with the decision for inter-flight: Only the long-haul flight from Beijing to East Berlin, then a short transit journey through the wall from East to West Berlin, and as the last leg of the train journey from West Berlin to Cologne through the territory of the GDR – so again twice by the martial barrier systems. Yes, a trip through Germany was 30 years ago, not so easy and, of course, as it is today.
After I had tasted the search of my suitcase for an hour, I was more than relieved when I discovered Frauke and Hannes in the waiting room for the transit journey. “A promise is a promise”, smiled at me, Frauke, as if it would be the most natural to wait for a stranger Chinese, which might as well have disappeared in East Berlin.
Berlin: even then, a Chaos city
It was early in the Morning of 1. In October 1988, when we arrived in West Berlin. The States of the world-renowned metropolis, I was more than horrified: shattered the window and shards of glass on the streets. Almost apologetically, Hannes explained to me: “West Berlin is different than other West German cities. Has taken place yesterday a Demonstration.”
First, the two didn’t want to stand out, what worked but, after three weeks in China, you had to forget your secret number. As to me Recently the same thing happened, I had to think of Frauke and Hannes and comforted me, that it is not necessarily a symptom of old age. Fortunately, Frauke had a credit card with which you paid for our Breakfast and your train tickets.
Out of sight, out of mind – after a long-distance trip, you can have the PIN-Code ever forget
From gray to Colorful
Half of the railway line from Berlin to Hannover led by the GDR. The grey buildings reminded me of Beijing. The grey went into Colorful: yellow, green and pink houses with purple, blue and orange fall flowers on the balconies. “We are now in the Federal Republic of Germany,” said Frauke with a certain Pride. She was hoping, perhaps secretly, that this colours my first impression of the Chaos-could displace Berlin.
Probably, I thought, unconsciously, that nothing could go wrong and fell in a deep sleep. As I was Hannes‘ gentle Wake-up call, I didn’t understand at first why a loud “long-noses” were sitting around me and who was this good looking young man. “I’m sorry to bother You,” said Hannes: “The nearest Station is Hannover, where we get off. You will be picked up in Cologne?” “No. Although I have in the vicinity of Cologne, a good friend. In the hustle and bustle, I can not inform him before the trip but,” I answered, somewhat sheepishly. “You’re a little bit crazy. Do You know that?” Hannes talked to me like I’m his little sister: “Give us his phone number. We will call him from Hanover. If You’re lucky, he’s not out of town in this beautiful weather in the short term.”
For the younger readers: in those days there was no mobile phone with which you can call from anywhere or can surf. The Internet was launched only three years later. I fumbled the phone number of Klaus ROE deer out, which had shortly before been ordered by his company to Cologne. Frauke and Hannes, I promised to visit you in Mannheim.
“Lei Feng” everywhere
Now I had the compartment all to myself. I thought about my first day in Germany, and was infinitely grateful that I had come across this East German and the Mannheim pair. Helpful people, we Chinese like to call “Lei Feng”, one of Mao personally acclaimed pattern-soldier from the 1960s, spent his leisure time only in order to seize his fellow-man under the arms. In Germany, it seemed from Lei Feng’s with the downright.
The story of Lei Feng was filmed in 1997
Could Frauke and Hannes from any of Hanover’s cell phone to speak with Klaus Reh? He will expect me at the station? The train approached the Terminus – Cologne. From Afar I recognized the Silhouette of the Cathedral. The two spires protrude in to the redness. A breathtaking sight! A proper dose of adrenaline shot through my body: Now I’m on target, now the adventure can begin! I almost felt a little at home. I was in my past life, perhaps, but gir s real kölsch?
Zhang Danhong was born in Beijing and lives since 30 years in Germany. In the series “English is not a bed of roses” she writes once a week about your first contacts with the German language and their Integration in Germany.