Imagine a very hot and sunny day in a crowded bus on the way to Cairo full with
happy singing people. And then imagine blue water, just the sound of the waves and
white sand at the women beach in Marina. These two pictures come in to my mind
when I sit after 3 weeks back in Germany at my desk in front of my computer and
think about the Goethe-project “Building Bridges”.. These are totally different images,
but for me they represent a lot.
When I first heard about the cultural- exchange programme from some of my friends,
who participated in former times, I spontaneously decided to partake. After a lot of
working- sessions in Germany., the german group “met” the Egyptian people the first
time via a video- conference. Now it is really a weird and strange feeling, to compare
the first impressions from the screen to the “alive” persons. But the 10 people from
abroad didn´t disappoint the Germans. They surprised us. When they arrived on a
cold early morning at Düsseldorf airport, they were like a colourful spot at the grey
interieur immediately breaking the ice. After two weeks with cultural events, funny
parties and games, but also hot and challenging discussion, the farewell was sad.
But this feeling didn´t last for long. Just one week later the whole group met again at
Kairo airport. Maybe the Germans were not so colourful, but they were very excited
to met they´re new friends and get to know there country. And this expectation was
fulfilled. We saw a lot. The Biblioteca Alexandria with her wonderful architecture
impressed us, the big mosques left a deep religious reverence and the pyramides are
amazing. But not only these sights left there marks. Also some tiny moments or
personal contacts shaped this experience.
When we were in Egypt we sometimes spent our time just hanging around with the
whole group at the Goethe-Institut. When you are normally an well organised
german, represented in my new “egyptian” nickname “The officer”, then you
sometimes get annoyed of this attitude. But soon as I arrived in Germany, I started to
miss this chilly atmosphere in which you can share your thoughts, your feelings and a
laugh with your friends. These were the times when the best discussions started. And
by the way, I really love the “Egyptian- style of discussion”. You scream, you use
funny insults and after a short while you are best friends again.
It was also very interesting to see that there isn´t “the Egyptian” or “the German”. Day
to day you live in your normal environment and you don´t have the chance to reflect
your opinions, your values, your beliefs, more general: your life style. But the whole
project gave everyone of us the opportunity to get to know each other and yourself
better. Even the German group members with there indian, bosnian, turkish, polish,
spanish, iranian, tunisian and sometimes just german background are totally different
and really not homogeneous. So this project was the unique opportunity to witness
20 or more different styles of eating, thinking, believing, loving, fighting, laughing,
dancing, talking, walking or just sleeping.
Of course there is a sustainable bridge now between Alexandria and Duisburg,
between Germany and Egypt. But I have to admit, that the building process wasn´t
always easy for me and maybe also not for the other “Builders”. It is a huge
difference to travel across Europe for a European or to travel to an arab- muslim
country like Egypt. Sometimes our culture, our religious beliefs and our lifestyle is so
different, that you can´t even explain just the difference to the others. Everybody
always tried to do so, but sometimes the most intelligents failed. That´s the point
where tolerance and the will to listen to anothers opinions takes place. You don´t
have to agree just for the harmony of a superficial cultural dialogue, but you have to
accept that your truth isn´t the only one.
When I now look at my desk, then I have to admit, that there are “egyptian marks” in
my life now, that I can´t deny. My mobile can play Inta- El- Ghaly and my new
favourite writer is Alaa Al Aswany. But that´s not the best of the whole trip: the best is
that I now have friends far away. And these friends just waiting for a good joke, a nice
story or a hot discussion.