SU_B_28

[i] Mr. [name] here, In our premises of Association Middle East today is the. 1.03.2018. My name is [name], I am. Thank you for letting us do this interview today. May, Welcome and. Tell us yes bit about you.

[r] Thank you Mrs. [name]. I am [name]. I am 27 years old from Syria, Damascus the capital. About 28 I arrived in Germany. 28.08.2015 about two and half years. Here. Married but now. I live here alone in Germany, my wife is still in Syria. We are about to lead the families together, we are waiting for it, if God wills so. I am waiting for your visa, thank God. She did your interview in the embassy, we are waiting for your visa, we live here. Thank God, at the moment I live in social housing. With three boys, at the beginning, we were at home. First we were six, then one of us left, his family came. With his family, yet another has found an apartment and is with his family The third has immediately as he stayed. Got has moved to another city at the end we stayed to third. But now for 15 – 20 days you have brought us a New Man. Still. We were about all of them. In the beginning we were all from Syria, the First Three. All Syrians but each from a different state. There is one with us, each from a different state. One Arab, the other is a Kurd, for example. Then the New Man. Is young about 15 years old from Palastina. He also lived in Syria. About one year ago. Exactly, I got my three years stay, after. After about one and a half years of waiting, I got the stay. I went to school, I learned in a school. I attended a language course and an internship. I did an internship as a tailor. A Turkish tailor, for one month. When I was in Syria, my father’s machine. Cutting machine, He taught me how to cut. I learned the whole thing from him as a profession. When I was about 8 or 9 years old, every summer. Every summer I go with my father to the workshop. He teaches me what to do. So I learned everything. I sewed everything and learned the job well. After that in Syria I tried to do other things, after which I learned how to sew. I have tried to work something else, something other than sewing. I have worked with my college in Syria He had from Turkey, got from there office furniture. Chairs, we opened a showroom and sold offices and chairs. Like a furniture store, but only with tables and chairs. Office furniture afterwards. He has a machine for. Pickled, there one can make pickled we Guken, carrots. All kinds, with that we have also worked, We were. Thank God we had good orders to export to Iraq. We had distributed in Syria, we worked a little bit and afterwards. Unfortunately, thank God, the stirring started. In Syria, the war has started, in the place where the workshop. Many problems happened in the war and in the showroom. I was forced to leave my job there and do something else.

[i] Where was that place?

[r] This place was a sham landscape called Adleiy. After that I did other work, was my aunt’s husband. He had had restaurants in Sham. He had called me if I wanted to work, offered it. I want you to work with me, I went in the beginning and worked with him. Like a manager in a restaurant, afterwards. That was a new office where I worked. Has not achieved a good turnover, then was closed. He put me in the head office like a manager, about. A while later I changed to another position for a while. Everything from accounting to management. After that, unfortunately something is in the. Main headquarters an explosion happened. We sold very little, the people were afraid to go there, we had to close. After that I went back to Him but this time everything was closed.

[i] What year did that happen? What period?

[r] About 2013. After that I went to Centrale. But not all managers I wanted to learn the profession. With the men in it, we did. Pizza, I learned to make dough and sauce. How we prepare it and just decorate everything. After that I learned Western food. Like Escalop, Skewer, Fahita and Mexiki. I learned the Western food, then I worked. Directly in service, making sandwiches directly in front. In this shop I learned to make Sandwish. Dealing with customers, after that I changed. In the area of Schawarma (Fleish). He taught me how to marinade chicken. How we prepare the Dönner skewer, marinate chicken. In the skewer how we make the chicken in the skewer, the grill, everything. Then at the time. I had postponement for the Bundeswehr. I didn’t want to go to the military yet. Then the time came where I had to go. I could not move any more, I was forced. To leave work for a while until nobody. Stop me or do something to me. To protect me.

[i] Abed?. Thank you for the important information, you are very. Motieviert, have onslaught. Tell us about the topic “Army”? You have protected yourself so that you do not serve the army?.. Do you have siblings or are you an only child?

[r] No, I have. Two brothers and two sister.

[i] Are you the oldest?.

[r] I am the oldest.

[i] Are your parents still alive?..

[r] Thank God. They are still alive. I am the eldest am 27 years old as I have beautifully said. I have my younger sister, she is about 24 years old, married has two daughters. She lives near us. Besides my parents, I have. She has learned up to the Ninth grade after that she has married. My cousin, he bat for her hand, she married him. I have a brother who is a disciple. Now he is about 21 years old, at the moment he is learning. In the university, he studies. Accounting too. There are vacancies in the university, there he learns media. Eh I have my younger sister, Now. She is doing her Abitur, this year she has Abi Prufüng. She is about 17 and my younger. The last one he is about 14, he is in the tenth grade. The two brothers boys and the sister who is doing Abi. Living with my parents, and my sister is married and lives in your apartment.

[i] Where?. In Damascus, in Sham. Sham center.

[i] Do you have contact with the?.

[r] Absolutely, Approximately. Every second day, every three days I call you.I communicate with them. Manschal we talk with voice and picture (video call). Contact.

[i] Tell me what was the situation like when you decided to leave? Are the reasons that let you go?.. What?.. tell us what.

 

[r] The reasons at the beginning. I was after speaking beautifully. That I stay at home so that I don’t go to the Bundeswehr. Has a law come out so that you can postpone. I did it and postponed it again. 20 days before that ends. Or more about one and a half month. I was registered in the university, in the university. With that I had to postpone my service. At my age I was not allowed to postpone despite being in university. There was an age limit law. If you are older you can’t use that. I studied French literature for the first year. I didn’t pass the second year, after that I shouldn’t, I didn’t have any claim on it. To postpone if I remain in the homeland, I must remain hidden and ist´unmöglich. None is not possible to stay hidden or I have to leave the country. Flying.

[i] The situation in the country?.. Had also played along to fly? Or not?.

[r] In any case, the situation in the country forces me. To fly.

[i] Tell me about the war?..

[r] The war.

[i] Your country, we’ve heard or you’re a contemporary witness…?

[r] The war in Syria was a destruction. A destruction for all. I had lived in the middle of Sham about. In the center Damascus and the places around us. Were very concerned, We were concerned, the workshop at my father. We had a different shop than the workshop in another place. Was at the beginning of Damascus, beginning of Sham landscape. The place would be bombed.

[i] What is this place called?

[r] Name is Jober. Would be bombed with rockets.

[i] Jober was a commercial area.

[r] Jober. Absolutely.

[i] There are factories.

[r] There’s the biggest shopping center. One big mall, two single malls, we had a shop there. Is bombed. Is away the shop, has not remained neither a shop nor true. The workshop was near the shop, was also bombed. Not bombed, we were forced to leave them because. Those in the forbidden seam, there were snipers. Who was always ready, we dared not to go there, the bombs. Combed there about. We were afraid to go there, even my father. Was a while at home, was not to do, could not go to work. To the workshop, now my father, thank God had. A university diploma, who was a French literature teacher. With his testimonies he had worked in different institutes. Has also given tutoring at home up. The situation in front of the workshop would be better so that we can go inside my brothers and I to fetch the machines. Ours and go before the place is destroyed. Stolen or what happens, we got them out. I had them at home for a while, during that time we worked there. At home with the machines, we distributed in Hamediya City. A friend of Dad had there a invite we have worked for him. We gave him the truth, until the end, thank God. My father found a shop in Hamediya City, he rented it. We had brought everything there and thank God we worked again. But the day I got the machines. From there my brothers and I walked in the street. It was like a Gägster town, I was alone. Nobody was there on the street, I went in. As they say, you took your life for granted. We went in and got it. Afterwards, for example. In the street where we lived, once I was sleeping. Suddenly I heard a very loud noise. I was afraid and immediately got up to see what was going on. I found the bomb that had come down on the buildings opposite us. On the Diesel Tounister, it exploded. The diesel canister flew up. The buildings came down and about the whole building burned down. Immediately I got dressed and went to the other building. To help the people, the police, the security troops came. The fire brigade, the ambulances to save the people inside. On the last floor, children were with their mothers. We took them out. That’s what I saw, I experienced the horror. Very much, I also had a friend who I worked with him. In arbid, he lived there. We were very happy together, like brothers and sisters. Every day together, in this place the destruction started. The parka, the bombs, the rateken and the weapons started. Everything. A child has come. He would have to leave his apartment, he with his family and mother. Father, siblings and his wife had to leave the house. When he left his flat, he called me, he told Abed I am now. On the street, I have no place to go with my family. I have no place, I have run away have gone out. I didn’t even bring any clothes, neither for myself nor for the others, I got in the car and immediately walked. I said it’s okay, it’s no problem. I said come immediately to my home, to my parents house, you leave your parents there. I come immediately, I meet you under apartment, and we see further, I have emptied the apartment. About an apartment, my family sent to my sister. They have with us about a week, I looked for him an apartment. I rented it, he lived there. Has moved, one has only what he had on. He with his parents, he wanted to get things. With us in Syria, you find. The name for example I am called [name], there you find two or three. Who have the same name, coincidentally. The same coincidence, was a similarity of names. His name was on the barriers, no matter what checkpoint. The see his name which is immediately stuck. He wanted to pick things up from his apartment had become somewhat quiet at their region. He just wanted his things, he said so is the situation. If I go that would immediately drag me, there was name swapping. He is 23 years old and who is wanted is 50 years old, but no one has paid attention. Only after one month perhaps they would notice that. I said no problem I take your car and drive to your home. I get your things and everything else, he sang Okay. I was driving in his car with his mother and sister. They drove with me in the car. At the beginning in the Sham landscape a place arrived. Jober there was quiet, I drove on. There were checkpoints of the army, I drove on. There was a place after Jober called Zamalka also there was an army checkpoint. Then when I drive in then I come to Arbil, there is. Weapons, not for the government, other situation. There is another army there, I left at the checkpoint he saw my identity card. He says drive on, I went in. I have his car at the time, that was a Honda. Yasera then costs two million and three hundred Syrian liras. That was an expensive car so I drove in. I took his clothes, blankets to his house. A new TV that had bought the new one, I took with me. In the car done everything which costs money I loaded in the car. I pack well so that it does not happen. After that I would have to go to the apartment to get his parents, things when I went out. On the way, I saw. Behind me a jeep, Fumée everything in black. Without a license plate, not at all, the driver. Flashed behind me, I wiped out to the side. So that he can drive past, he took the right side and drove. He stopped in front of me, two got out. With his head cut off. Armed came to me, asked these are your things. I said, please, why are you doing this. They want me to be deported. He replied: “Give me your ID, better for you. I said yes, I’ll get my ID. Please, that’s my ID. They were in faith. Who is from the sham landscape, who lives in shame, or who is from there. It’s with the government when they see someone. The one who comes from the sham has either vanished or has to rob or kill. I can’t come out alive or heal. He saw my identity card and asked you are from Sham? I answered: yes from the sham. Even though I am from the sham what is it?… He said, get out of the car?. I said, please! We want your car. I said: What do you want from my car? What do you want with the car, he said: We have to get injured people. I say there are so many cars on the road, you didn’t find any but them?. In this car you want to get injured?.. First, this is not my car, I said. This car is in my safety, I have come to my friend. To get things. Why me of all people, and you want such a car. He said you are from Sham. You from Sham are with the government. I said the end. I don’t get out, if you want to dare, you have to kill me first. You kill me and get me out, that’s all I can get out of, this car is in my safety. At the time I say something like that. But how shall I tell you, my heart is between my legs, I tremble. Abnormal situation when that happened. My friend’s mother and sister start crying. They say please, God should give you happiness this man is the son of friend. That’s a son’s car, us. They are not from here until they demand it. Their identity card. I asked what the women’s identity card was for. Until he has seen and recognized from the identity card that they are from this place. So that he left us, he said the grace is for love. Because of them I let you go, other times do not come alone. Don’t do that anymore.

[i] Was that one of the reasons?.. That made you leave the country.

[r] Absolutely. Me, when that story happened to me. I wanted to go on to the parents’ apartment to get the stuff, His mother said I don’t want anything anymore. Let’s please go away, I don’t want any more, I said no, we’re going. I said we’re here now, let’s do that, she said no, I shot. And I drove back immediately. On the way back, about far away from me. One kilo meter and it’s long, I heard. Noise, unpleasant, I was lucky in the mirror. Behind me there was about 600 meters distance. Or one kilometre, had a rocket come down, the whole area explodes. I said, thank God. That I drove away, I would have stayed there, I would have been beautifully met. I would be dead and the people with me in the car. Everything, I drove away, on the way. I wanted to drive a road was a checkpoint of the government. They had. To dare a weapon, newer. My friend’s mother and sister were afraid, they saw this checkpoint. This barrier was empty no human was there, you were very afraid, the mother of my friend asked me. Please drive back, let’s take another road. While she was telling me that I was stopped, the soldier had seen me. In this barrier, he had whistled for me said come here. He asked why you stopped, I said I got stuff from the apartment. There was electricity, I would have to lie to him, can’t tell him that I’m scared. I have to go over there, then he does something. I was at home, the power’s off, I forgot if the power’s off. He said you’d come another time, I said okay. Please this is my ID card, he’s controlled. Read this and gave it back, he asked what you have in it? I said how you look beautiful. I said I have clothes, stuff he asked you have other stuff? so I don’t check for nothing. I said I have a flat screen television, the mother and sister of mine Freudes. They were sitting in the back next to me I had Pidon. Gallon with olive oil, gallon 20 liters. He makes fun with me, what are you smuggling diesel, laughing. I said yes yes what should I do, he said enough. He didn’t check, I’ve been driving since I was in this place. I am never back again, never. At that time I saw death, I was finished. I was dead, I wasn’t expecting to get out alive, and thank God. After that I am gone.

[i] Abed tell us how did you help yourself? So you could get out? How did you make the decision to leave the family? and what was the method? Until you came here?

[r] In the beginning, I was. In college, I had studied, as I said, after that I could not postpone. My service in the army, either I go to the army or I have to leave the country. I have certainly chosen flying, better. The one in this war, does not know who!.. Who kills, I neither wanted to die nor kill anyone. I do not want to do anyone in my throat and never want to do that in his throat. We are still young and still living is before us. I have made this decision in about a month and a half before the postponement of my service ends. Enough I have to leave the country. with it. That has one end. I have made the decision and have booked into a travel office. In the beginning, my father helped me. He had helped me, he had a bit of money. To side had until man this needs. I borrowed something, my father had borrowed something. Had the money together about one million lira. I booked in the travel agency, and finished. I wanted to go there was no return, I have booked there was. I have left the country about 10 days before my postponement ends. I] where did you book, what was your first destination?

[r] The first destination before I had the money completely. Before I come to Germany, the goal was to leave the country. Only to Turkey, for example what I can work. The cutting and sewing is excellent in Turkey, I can work with it. Then when I saw that I had the money complete, thank God. Everything was prepared I can go on to Germany. I said to myself, better I do not stay in Turkey, here in Germany as they had told me beautifully. The people, Germany helps the people in Germany life is better. Even there were people you recommended to me Norway or France. So I heard a lot beautiful, Germany. Is the best to survive, with the support and much more. Everything simply everything that the refugees accept. Most of the country that has accepted so many refugees. Migrants. Germany has become no matter where one arrives, maybe. When you see its people, you communicate with them. As we have heard, Germany supplies Austria. I go to Germany everything is available. Life, food, education The situation is secure in Germany. I have decided my direction is Germany.

[i] Since the way or easy, how was ? Your first step? You say you bought a ticket until you flew here?.. Or were there other stations?..

[r] There were many stations. I left Sham at the beginning, booked from Sham to Beirut. Beirut The plane ticket was from Sham to Turk, but. DA was transit to Beirut. I’m from Sham about. The plane up to now remind me of it about 12:30 has gone up. About an hour after Beirut, I arrived in Beirut. I have there about eleven hours and thirty minutes in the airport. On waiting until the second plane came so that we could continue. We took the second plane to Turkey, we arrived in Turkey. To Adana, city Adana, I got off there. How do we know when we get here, we have to. Go by the sea, therefore in the city where people meet. So that the people come over the sea is city Izmir, I have from Adna to. Izmir with the bus, I was about 14 hours with the bus on the way. We arrived there, I am about. At seven or eight o’clock night to Izmir. Afterwards, on the way I met two men, also Syrians. From Sham they were also on their way to Germany. They knew a smuggler so that he brings you from Turkey to Germany. I had met them and we agreed that we would go together. You said we’d go to the smuggler’s home and sleep with him and tomorrow we’ll look further. I said Okay, no problem I didn’t know anybody in Turkey. I was alone, even in Turkey you know. You can only communicate in Turkish if you book a hotel or go to a restaurant. No matter what you want to do, there is only Turkish language and the Turkish language is. Not known to us, we have arrived. After Izmir, we found the smuggler he had waited there for us, we left. To Him home, I spent one night with Him, after that is. My brother-in-law, his friends. Was there a smuggler he had talked to him nicely so that I could go with him. When I approached him, he said you take this number and talk to this man. So that you can quickly communicate and go with Him. I left on the second day I had left the men there with the smuggler. He said they know him, I went and approached the smuggler who knew my brother-in-law. I went to him, I met him and arranged everything. He said now I will take you with me, he had done me in a hotel. Until the appointment comes, when we go across the sea. I stayed in the hotel about 3 nights. After that last night I didn’t finish. About eleven o’clock at night he called me. He said prepare yourself, now the sea is still you can go. I want to send you now, I said Okay. I went to Him he had me. Reserved for me there were three buses parked. We start to climb standing. Approximately 40 people standing in when. They had closed, without windows everything was closed. So that the police and the Turkish Janderma. Not seeing us, that was forbidden, they would take us immediately to the prison. We drove standing about two hours on the way. 40 people standing nobody could move. We arrived, the car is directly at the beach. We stop, we got out. They had prepared something, the smuggler had nice people. They had prepared the balm, supposedly every balm. Can take 30 or 35 maximum. I swear. They had done the balm in the water, and started to put the people in it. So many people until we were 53 people in the Balm. Who should drive?…said the smuggler?… Because I knew him, he knows my brother-in-law, he asked me if you. Does the Balm I don’t take entrance for the ride from you? What was 1100 $ or 1200 USD if you drive I don’t take any rent or money from you. I said no, I can’t be responsible if something happens. When people sink or die in the water, I don’t do that. He said okay. Okay as you like, then they got a man who has no idea. He can’t drive that, he can’t do anything. They said he’d go, we said okay no problem. we went in the boat. 53 people, the kids in the middle and us around. He was on, allegedly they had taught him how to drive, in which direction you should go straight out. They showed us a light that was far away and told us you should go there. We said okay, the boy who took over. He should drive, he can’t do any of that. He can’t drive in the beginning when we are leading. We drove about 50 meters, a piece of the engine broke. He wouldn’t know what that is. We drove about 500 meters in the water, then the engine stopped. We tried to make it jump again, it didn’t start. We called the smuggler and told him. Until we called and he said I’d come to you the waves had pushed us about 200 meters back. He came and looked at it, turned it on. No idea what he did, we drove about 500 meters. If the engine broke down, we called the smuggler again. He came again to second time, also approx. 10 – 15 minutes. He comes swimming. He doesn’t come with a boat, he turned it on again. We drove, he said now nothing more can happen to you. Approximately after one and a half kilometers, the engine went out again. We were in the middle of the sea, we talked to the smuggler. He got another boat and came to us. He had brought a part with him, he had seen that this was necessary, he installed it. We drove, I was in the water about. Five hours in the sea, we were fifty-three people. At the end we were tongued. The things we do not need what was not necessary, thrown in the sea. So that the weight becomes lighter, as we lead, the water has come in the boat. In the boat we lead about five hours, five and half hours, after that we arrived. After an island Names Samos in Greece. Greek islands. We arrived there. We got out after we arrived there, there was. I’m with Two men who were together there were eight men, there was a man. With his son and the children of his friends. They were also gone, I got to know them. They were also from Sham and understood us to go on together. Where the Balm is stopped until the place. Where we reach the police the Greek police are about four hours. We called the police. The Greek police we said we arrived on the street. We don’t know what to do, if you pick us up please. They said yes we are coming but it takes about three hours until we arrive. We were wet, if we were swimming. We said is okay, we come alone. We walked on the way, we asked the people. The people didn’t dare to take us with them because it was forbidden to take anyone with them. They might take the refugees or no matter which stranger he comes like that. If they catch someone, a taxi or no matter which car it was forbidden to help someone. If we ask those who say the way is from there, we walk on. We walk on the way we took a break. We eat something, drink, we walked on until we. We reached the police headquarters and stayed there for about an hour. Until they came. They photographed us. They took the names everything, so that they give us a note and move us. Can in Greece so that we go further our way, Later. After that the us the note, at the beginning photographed that takes approx. one hour. After that we have about three hours until we got these notes, after these notes. I went to the travel agency I booked in the ship for myself and the men I met. I booked in the ship that was. At nine o’clock in the evening we made the last booking. Because if you don’t book now, you have to wait two days we’ll drive you back. The second ship. The ship has come we have climbed. The ship was full of refugees people on top of each other. We went in tired, in the sea 5 hours walking 4 hours. Approximately, we were tired, the nerves were lying Blanck, when we were in the ship. I lay down on the ground, there we slept. We drove until about six o’clock tomorrow. We arrived in Athens after we arrived in Athens. We also searched there until we found someone. An Arab also a smuggler he takes us with him. From Athens to the border of Macadonia, there stops a bus, Karnak. A bus brings us to the border in Macedonia so that we can continue our journey. We made a deal with him and drove, we are about. We arrived at the Macedonian border at 10 or 11 in the evening. Here we had not slept yet, we only slept about two hours. Or three in the ship on the ground, that was the whole sleep. Our break, we arrived in Macedonia, he let us get out. The bus left us about three kilometres before the border. There was a hotel there for us to wait. Supposedly we should wait there until four o’clock in the morning until the sun breaks in. So that we could walk in the woods between the trees, we were afraid that we bandits would come to us. Or smuggler, we were afraid that someone would stop us. In the beginning we should wait, then we agreed, no. I go and continue immediately. I said okay we go on, we wear our clothes and leave. On the way we were on the highway, we were on foot, the cars. Coming towards us so that we know where we are going. On the way at the end, we have a Greek police car. She showed us the way, the car accompanied us. Until we were shortly before the Macedonian border. They said you have to walk about one kilometre over the railroad tracks. The tracks were broken and there were no trains running this way, we said okay and walked. We walked about one kilometre, then we reached the Macedonian border. In the border was the Macedonian Army. There was the press and the media. But the treatment was very very bad. If someone scoops someone or someone tries to push himself forward.

They sleep, they abuse. Torture, we were about. Then they told us you had to sit there, we were sitting on the floor about. Until six o’clock tomorrow. At six o’clock tomorrow. A train came, such an old train. Like before, we should go with it. And immediately from the Macedonian border to the Serbian border. We should not stop in Macedonia. We said Okay, they had divided us into groups so we could go on the train. We got on the train and stayed there. No free space, I was sitting on the train. I had opened the door, my feet outside and I was just sitting. Halfway inside and opposite me is this man riding with his son. We sat on the floor, behind us the toite door, the smell. People on top of each other. While driving I was tired I couldn’t go on. I was at the end, I slept. I sit at the door my eyes closed, the man sitting at the door. Before me has taken me from my hand, so that when I wake up, do not fall down. I fell asleep a little, he held me tight. When I fell asleep, I would have fallen down but thank God. He told me to shut the door, I pressed myself together and closed it. I sit very close together. I fell asleep about half an hour, after that I couldn’t. I opened the door, we stayed until we reached the border. We arrived in Serbia, where the Red Cross was waiting for us. And the Serbian army, we arrived, they had cookies for us. Juice, they gave us things. They checked whether someone was sick because of the treatment. Then they took us to a camp with tents in the forest. There you stay one day, three days I don’t know how much. Until it is my turn they come to me. To the capital or not to the capital, they bring me. To first city so that I get a Zettell to stay. In Serbia, too, we have theckukt. The situation was cruel and very difficult, maybe we stay there for a long time waiting. Two, three days as we have heard from the people. I have to flee from the camp with the men. We walked and the sun was still shining. We have gone we have run would not know. Where we should go, we ran so long until we reached the railway tracks where we were. Where we got off the train. We walked and walked in the forest in the way. Until later in front of us a hole was like a river but dry. We would have to go through and out the other side until we would have seen about 30 other people. Families also fled the camp and they wanted to go on alone. They also had children, small children. We thought we would all go together with it. So many are if something happens on the way, at the end we are. until we have reached the international highway between Serbia and Macadonia. On the highway we walked on the side of the highway, there was about. 22 o’clock night, the sun was completely gone. There was nothing more, on the way surprised us. Cars, normal car in it are four persons. He told you Taxi, how Taxi you are. Fully packed, we can’t go there. They were robbers, the claws were people and took their money. Then they throw on the street. All of us together were about 30 people, each of us. Whenever someone comes near us we attack so that he gets scared. Until we hid at the end until all the cars were gone and we walked on. About 11 o’clock we reached the highway. We were until one or two o’clock. We walked about two o’clock until we reached the first exit. First city in Serbia, we arrived in Serbia. Exactly there was. Like a rest stop and a gas station. We went there to the owner purely. He had his son in the rest stop, we have with him. Spoken the boy called his father and told him. There are many people here, he came immediately. He told us welcome, at night it was cold. He said he brought the children in so that they could sleep inside. There in the room watching until we see what we are doing. Should the one who wanted to help us at that time. We told him Okay, the way we communicated with him. He said I could get you a bus that would take you to the capital right away. But he takes something more than the Normal Buses. But you are alone, or in the camp of the person in charge. Who gives the people the papers. So that you go to the capital, and the director of the camp is my friend I could talk to him. He can help you quickly. We said no problem, he was about an hour away. When he came back he told me I talked to the camp director. He told me now I will bring you to Him. There was one where we stood at the gas station with him. From this Mafia the one of the highway in the car. He had seen us there, he wanted to go in there to the gas station. He wanted us until the owner kicked him out. He said they are with me, the man god should protect him. He drove with us and he brought us to the camp. Also with him on the way, the cars that lead there. They wanted to stop us, he reacted immediately. And send them on. We arrived at the camp. There were also tents, also completely full. We sat purely a while, in the morning they had made us the papers, and we have gone. We took the bus and drove to the capital. We were very tired, we had decided to stay two days in the capital until we recovered. We stayed the two days, after that we wanted to go on. We also booked the bus and drove to the Hungarian border. The bus let us out at the border, also there we would have to walk about two hours. While walking there is a road, at the end of the road comes. Either the Hungarian police and there gives prison. Fingerprints even sometimes they take the money. Or we should go into the woods to reach a highway so that nobody sees us. There we take a car and go, in the middle of the way smugglers found us. He said and take you out of here and we have cars outside. Standing at the stations we can immediately take you to the capital. To Budapest, the Hungarian capital, we take you there. We had a deal, 100 Euro per person, they brought us to the car. We got in the car before the driver came in. We sat four in car three behind and one in front. Before the driver sat in, one of the smugglers came and told me to give me the money. Give me the money so the driver can come in. My money was in my pocket the others had hidden the money. I got 1000 Euro out. My friend has 200 Euro, so 1200 € us four. He has 200 € he just wanted to tell him here please this is the money. He tore the money out of his hand and ran. I lost 1000 Euro, and the car doesn’t belong to them. They left us in the car until we found each other afterwards. We men, after that. If a second car came, there was an old man who looked correct. He took us with him and brought us to the hotel. We arrived at the hotel, I forgot what it means in Hungary. After that we waited in the hotel for cars. We waited for two cars to bring us, we were nine. To Austria, the cars came we drove to Austria. There in Austria we booked a train and drove from Austria to Germany. After that I went to Nürenberg and went. We went to the police.

[i] Your first stop in Germany was Nürenberg.

[r] First stop was Nürenberg. We arrived there after that we are. After a camp, someone who was friends with us had told us about it. We stayed there one night, we arrived at midnight. In the camp, we stayed until the second day at 16:00, after that. They had given us a medical examination and moved us to another camp. In one place belongs to Nürenberg, named Ruth. That was like a former military airport, they had built Hengar and tents there. We were there in the camp about 25 days. In the middle of the forest, a military airport, but that was. Everything was there, they have towels for us. Soap, shampoo, mattresses brand new. New blankets, the beds that were about air-conditioned. All air-conditioned also the toilets, was excellent. Well they also had a restaurant. Owned the camp, was a Turkish restaurant, because the food was different. As in other camp. we had stayed 23 or 20 days. There, after that we are. They had us transfer to town Unna. There in Unna we stayed one night. They had us in rooms distributed also the way. From Nürenberg to Unna there were about 12 hours from one train to the other. Until we knew, we know of nothing this was the first time that we used the train. In the stops, we didn’t know what to do, even there were young people. There was a Moroccan who wanted to help us he said yes I will show you and book you a ticket. But he asked for money, we had. No way, we would have to pay him. So that he can help us.

Until the end, money played a big role, with that. You came to Germany.

[r] Absolutely.

Without money this would not be possible.

[r] In any case, without money here. Man stops, doesn’t know what will happen or what he should do. Until we arrived at the camp in Unna, on the second day they followed us. Arnsberg, they brought us to a school. We were in a school class, big room but there was none. Beds, like the stretcher beds with fabric. For it lie as big as the person himself, the weather there was very cold. And not air-conditioned, we loved it very much. We stayed there for about a month. On a patient transporter. If the broken one goes, you could get a new one. No beds, nothing no matter how much I talk, that was. What they had at their disposal, nothing else. We stayed there, after that. Had they brought us transfer to Bochum. Also here in Bochum. They had welcomed us, we had gone to the social welfare office they had given us papers. And everything, then they had brought us in a camp that was the sports hall of a school. Volleyball from a school, they had such a separation as tents. Divided into rooms, two or three beds in each. Room, I also stayed there about three months. Three or three and a half months in this camp. Also there I loved very much, most of all. The climate was forever ruined. It was so cold in winter, no matter how thick we dress. We don’t get warm, the climate was kapput. We had complained very much, and talked. Afterwards, thank God, we got an answer, we can stay in an apartment. From the social welfare office with six other men, I told you about it. I told you we were all Syrians, from Sham. We lived together, so far I live in the same apartment.

[i] Are you still with the same one?

[r] We were six, two of them. They went out, three went out, one came his family. The other one. Moved into an apartment alone, we stayed three, after that. Last month of about 20 days they brought us a new boy man. Now we four are at home.

Everyone has started his life in Bochum, everyone is trying to find his family. So that he can start his life here.

[r] Absolutely. Everyone. We are here, we stay. In Bochum. we start here, we do everything here. Even some time ago I had spoken. I wanted to move to the city where my brother-in-law and sister-in-law live. After that I visited the two, three times, I felt lost there. I swear I was there, walking through the street. The streets are all empty, in the city of Oberhausen. The road was empty, three, four times I was with them, each time I stay two, three days. The path is empty, I feel no life, no soul. I told myself how I would leave here and go, here if you only walk on the street is. There are people, everything possible, even. Here is Germany, once I stood. Esse ein Dönner, a lady passed in front of me. An elderly lady, she smiled at me and told me Good Apetite. I said thank you, sorgar. Anyone you look at who grins, you feel welcome. Even there is a German. She supported us very much with her husband, she was. A volunteer, in a school. Here in the city. My friend learned from her. She got to know him, she visited us at home, helps us when we need something. What we want, no matter what problem she tries to solve. Communication that we couldn’t do, our language was still weak. She communicates with a company with an office, with foreigners, no matter which office she has always helped. She was very nice. Very sympathetic, she had visited us more often. I had us two, three times to her home. They helped each other when she needed something she called us: Some time ago, she wanted to move. In the same house but to another floor. Here in town she is alone with your husband, your husband’s parents are in another town and your parents too. She knows us, that’s enough. She knows exactly that we will help you, she called us to see if it is possible to help you, we went and helped you. Everything, she learned how to cook. The Syrian food, and the Arabic, she learned with us. We cooked for her so that she could come and eat with us.

[i] I have the feeling that you are very happy. You have integrated yourself and feel comfortable in the German society, the . You enjoy it, you talk relax, you grin. Do you feel close to the German society or far away from it? From your culture? When? you think about your integration, do you have the feeling that it is difficult? You couldn’t leave Bochum even though you haven’t been here long?.. Two, two and a half years, you feel very connected to Bochum.

[r] After I got used to it in Bochum. No matter which city I go to. I don’t accept them like Bochum. Here I have friends many colleagues. I know the city as a whole. I know every street in the city. I can use the VRR as I go and come. The bus dates, subway, tram I have learned everything. I know everything, Here. We would be treated very well by the German people. We would like to integrate, deal with them, with them. This is a life, a long life, we have to deal with it. They should love us. We love you, friends become about family. A community, a culture, when I first came here. I know this is a different culture, but I have to get to know this culture. Because in this country I will start my life, my life again. Here is my life, here my life started. I have spent 25 years in Syria, 25 years are so gone. Whether I had not experienced them, everything in Syria is gone, there is nothing more. Better I go back to Syria, I can definitely not go back to Syria I have to go to the service. When I go back I have to go directly from the airport I get arrested from there I have to go to the Bundeswehr. Ready, my life is here now, I will not leave here. Like they embraced me and gave me all the support and help. Helped me with everything I have to accept their culture. Their help, and get used to everything here.

[i] For the language, do you have the feeling is hard for you?.. When learning?.

[r] Now the language. All languages are hard, this is not a normal language. No international language, not all people can master it. Nobody except the Germans and the foreigners who have lived here for a long time. They can speak German, otherwise nobody deals with it scih. According to my knowledge I can speak a little. English I learned French at university. That has helped me well and can speak other languages. That helped me, and I love languages, but. The problem with me, in the beginning I found the German language difficult. After that I liked it. if you learn it is a nice and good language. The problem when you don’t feel well. And psychologically relieved, I can’t learn anything. If I don’t feel well I can’t learn. I can’t learn the language, I can’t do it, that’s the hard part.

[i] I see an engagement ring in your hand? Is your family here?

[r] No my family is not there, my wife is still in sham. For about two years I’ve been away from her.

[i] You are engaged or married?.

[r] On the papers, Officially I am married, but I am engaged. Before I left Sham, I finished everything and came here. Even my fiancée, before I got engaged, we were. About three, three and a half years we know each other. We love each other before we got engaged, three years before. Everything I know I would leave the country and come here. I will fly, I love these girls, I want to have them. I do not want to leave you, the best was we would have to get married. Before I fly so that I can get to myself and live together with her and do everything together. I didn’t like it and I did. Can not three years relationship I throw on the floor example. Together, love and everything all passes without anything. The best was to get married immediately and finish papers and afterwards. Come, even my engagement party. Before I leave the country, one day before, one day before I leave the country. I had my engagement party, the papers and the day after I left. That is, I flew, everyone . From us is sometimes tongue something to do.

[i] Position Rescue. Situation rescue.

[r] Save situation, now I expect. Situation rescue since about. Two and a half years to wait is about. Since two and a half years at waiting, the bureaucracy. In the embassy until she makes an interview and visa, The procedure is heavy. Here is a large number waiting on their family. And everything, now thank God, she did an interview in the embassy, she’s been four months. On wait, the visas, now we wait. As soon as the visa comes, immediately she comes here, we will come together again. If you think of the old times. Everything we were together, we knew each other before the university. I had met you, then we studied together. Every day we were together in the university, I pick you up from your apartment and bring you back. We go for walks, do everything together. About we were like that for a while when I think about it. The old times like that, and see how I’m waiting now. I have sting in the heart, I have pain, but. There is hope until the visas come, we wait. We meet, and establish our lives from the beginning.

[i] A beautiful word, you said, Hope.

[r] Who has no hope, he loses life when there is no more hope? Rich is finished as long as there is hope, thank God. Man remains thinking how man will develop further.

[i] You have great ambitions and Inshallah you will realize that. For the family reunion of your wife. You have certainly achieved much, the difficult way. have you seen?..

[r] Absolutely.

[i] You wait until your family comes.

[r] Certainly. Inshallah.

[i] You’ve come a long way, tell me a little bit about?. Bochum, what happened to you, you could get all the papers. How was the treatment of the authorities?

[r] Now, thank God, all of us. My court because of the stay. In Düsseldorf, after that. All the papers came here, in the foreigners office, their treatment was very. Nice, you don’t have to speak good language. So that one can communicate well with the officials. He could go with it. One. Two or three words so that he understands me and I understand him. My papers would be processed quickly. Sorgar after my court interview, month and a half. I remember I got the stay, I got the stay for three years. Then immediately when the stay came when I had the notice. No not when I had the notice when I had the court interview. We had in the beginning, a white paper. Do the information about me stand, When I had the notice. immediately went to the Aliens Department to show that. That I had the papers ready, the interview. and everything else so that I could get a new ID, even. I was lucky, there were people who go there, they get appointments after a week or 10 days. I showed him the papers, he left me in there immediately, on the same day. I got it, he gave me my identity card, he finished my papers. He gave me an appointment after a month or a month and a half with it. I the fingerprints. No before beautiful, when he gave me the identity card. Then after one and a half months. I have the decision with the positive answer for my asylum. Immediately I got an appointment for the fingerprints for the passport and identity card. The treatment was very nice and respectful. Nobody does you wrong and nobody does you wrong. You go inside the employee he smiles despised. To help you, for example. When I made an application to the job center, I went in there, the . Had Arabic translators, we did not know the language, nothing yet. I went in, the employee was very. Sympathetic and nice. He tried to get me a translator, but nobody got him. Everyone was busy, he tried to communicate with me, other things. In English, he asked you can speak English I said Yes I can. We communicated in English I gave him information in English. We talked, he was very friendly and very. Respectfully, he had made all the papers, registered me. I did everything, he gave me addresses to register in a school. To start a language course, the treatment was very nice. Thank God, I didn’t experience anything bad from the co-worker. Or authority. Or whatever.

[i] Abed, do you think about going on with your life here?

[r] Now I came here. I count, I was born now, I started living now. Because my life will happen here, after a while my wife comes. My fiancée, we are starting a family, a house. I want to start my work here, here is my life. Beyond that there is no going back. To return home is hard, it is because of the army. That is forbidden for me to go back my life. Is here.

The communication with parents and family is a good thing.

[r] Of course. I wish so much, I swear most of it. What hurts me, after. This distance between me and my fiancée. I miss my family very much, especially my father. I remember my father, I feel that way. A pain, becomes unpleasant for me. I wish to see Him again.

[i] Surely you will see Him again.

[r] Inshallah.

[i] Of course you will see Im again, your life doesn’t end here. That goes on, Open One. He may come to visit you, or you may visit him.

[r] Inshallah.

[i] In your home country. The word hope what you said in the interview. Is very beautiful, and very important, you are a person who is ambitious.

 

What keeps us alive is optimistic hope. If there is hope, there is life and you can think voerne. I may have worked until next year, saved some money. I can meet my family in Lebanon, or. In another country, no matter what method I can keep in touch. I have been for two and a half years now. This is the first time in my life I leave my family. Maybe I leave my parents, a week, three days. Four days I go to my colleagues but I am in the middle of Syria. Imn my country, that was no problem, but now here. One wishes that but nothing can do. Thank God, there is hope in the future I can see you, I can meet you. This story needs some patience.

[i] Inshallah. Is there something nice you do in your life? where you can distract yourself? A hobby, something that occupies you? To distract yourself from worrying, from the problems of the future, how do you spend your time?

[r] I swear, the problem is. I have the problem when something is in my head, it always annoys me, I think about it all the time. Until that comes true, Now my big problem. Is that my fiancée coming to me. I can find an apartment. Now I am about. A year in this men’s apartment. Social housing, since I have the stay I am in search of an apartment. I have been looking for an apartment for about 10 months, so far I have found nothing. I’m even afraid when the visas come I. If my fiancée comes where shall we live, I have not found an apartment yet. That is now my biggest problem. When I have problems, I always think about it. When has no lust something to some or to undertake. Always angry and under pressure. I feel when I don’t do that. I am under a lot of pressure, I don’t know. When I reach both these steps. When I find an apartment and my fiancée here. Then life opens before me. I can then do wqs I want, thank God. I have ambition I want to continue learning, continue learning the language. I want to work, want to do everything. I don’t want to stay at home. The city cares for our bread, no. When I was 8 or 9 years old I was used to work. Here I did not want to stay that way. I’m not used to it, I’ve been here for about two and a half years. Two and a half years at home, this thing is very much. My psysche is strained. Stress… I made a short speech but I couldn’t press. Continue I have reached the A2, B1 I have not managed. From the pressure, after that I did an internship. With a tailor in my area. I have one month internship with a Turkish tailor in the city. In Bochum, after that I did a second one. At the Middle East. e. V. a club, thank God I was very relaxed. At the first internship that was my profession, that was. The owner was very nice and very. Excellent, he was very happy. I was satisfied with him, I finished a month with him. After that I did the second one. At Middle East that was, thank God, good for me. I got to know new people, new communication. I got to know many areas. I learned more. How can I deal with people, how are different things done. How can I maintain contact and get on with life. Apart from helping and supporting.

[i] You are a volunteer in the social field. You can fill your time with human things. You give something back from what Bochum offered you. For the German people, something that has given you. Especially as I know you in this short time. You did good things, you helped schools. You supported the city, you helped. And try to occupy yourself with positive things and play your person. And your soul.

 

[r] That’s what I did. As you beautifully said, we give something back. For the city that supported me and gave me everything. Special, I find that. My first city is Damascus and the second is Bochum, my home. The first is Syria, the second is Germany, my second city. Just like she gave me. Everything, something back from these beautiful things. To do something of what you have taken with you and because of it. To fill your free time and always be with people. I do such things consciously. To distract me from this enormous pressure. When I go to an event. The children and people help me feel better. I bring change in my everyday life, I communicate with people, I have done something good. For the city that helped me. That has relieved me of everything. Thank God for what is in it. I have no boredom. The pressure is also diminishing.

[i] Yes. Bochum is known for its diversity. Has all nationality. This openness of this city is what sets it apart from all other cities in the region. You are lucky that you landed in Bochum. That has helped you more. Where do you live exactly in Bochum. In Bochum I live behind the university. University. Opposite me are the university accommodations. There are also. How do you say that? The Sprachcafé across the street, too. I have visited it several times 3-4 times. With my friend to the Sprachcafé. We try to keep in touch with other nationalities. In the Sprachcafé you will find the Korea, Japanese. The Africans of all kinds. Nationality, we try to talk to you. To strengthen the language and to communicate more. Strengthens our social networking and social engagement. With the people as we are foreigners here. There are others, too. We try to get along well with everyone to become people of one hand.

[i] Abed. Your social commitment here. It’s positive, you’ve got your ambitions. Your family and parents to communicate? or is it possible because of Internet and Watsup?. Now that Internet and Watsup. We usually talk on the phone with pictures and sound. What they need, what I need, when I feel like talking to them. Can call at any time. That also makes it easier, without these media. You don’t know what you’re doing, you’re away from your family. Far away from his parents, his friends and everything else. Without communicating it becomes very difficult. Good that there is such a thing. Keep in touch, we see them. That touches.

[i] Do you feel safe here. In Bochum.

[r] Yes, thank God, we’re safe here. Here is a country with law we are in safety. Nobody does us anything bad. I live in safety, but. Security is also in the family in the parental home. With his brothers and sisters, with his father, his friends. There he feels more security, here is also, thank God everything is normal. The security in Syria was. That you are with your family, but you don’t know. When man dies, you don’t know when a bomb will hit you, maybe you will die with a bomb, a bomb. The security is only at home with the parents. Outside there is no security, here we live at home. We have security, nobody does anything to us. If something happens to us, there is. Where one complains and takes us in the contactor. There are many ways.

[i] The law.

[r] The law is excellent, especially. The law is our protection and security.

[i] Plays a role that you live in. In a democratic country, or dictatorship country?..

[r] Certainly a difference is in a country to life. A democratic country where you can do whatever you want. Man can do anything, man can talk. He doesn’t have to hide anything, he doesn’t have to be afraid. In Syria, we were very afraid, we trust. Not to do anything there, not to say anything, but here. Here you can do whatever you want with border, of course. Everything has a law with respect, simply everything. No one is above the law. Nobody is about order. Or do what he wants, no here is forbidden.

[i] Do you wish it for yours. Parents and your family to live here in a democratic country or that in your country democracy prevails? Goes to Syria?. If democracy goes to Syria. This is still my country, you live in your home country. In its atmosphere, in a democratic country. Open, modern where democracy prevails, determined. I want democracy for my country, but when. It does not exist in the country, we certainly want to live here. They should come here, experience democracy, see like the people. How everything is. How the people work here, live here, do what does you good. Has opinion, may talk and is not afraid of anything. Every man lives here in protection, nobody can do anything to him. Or do something to him.

[i] What Germany also abolishes from other countries is health insurance. Medical aid.

[r] For sure, we are. The medicine here, no matter when I get sick, I go to the doctor. I have a health insurance, to the hospital, to the doctor, I go. I am insured, I am safe. I do everything, for example I Syria, I go to the doctor, for example dentist. The dentist, I have to reckon with it. I have to pay money. Even if my tooth has to be removed. This tooth costs 5000 Lira. I do other things, costs other things, I go to another doctor, I have to pay. No matter where I go, which doctor, we do not have what health insurance is. Where I go, I have to pay, everything is. At my expense in cash, if one is very sick. Or he goes to the hospital. Example of some time ago, two months ago. My uncle came out of the hospital, he was there for two and a half months. He paid about 2.5 million in hospital. He has diabetes, he has an inflammation. They would have to import his leg. He paid a lot, 2 million lira only. A hospital visits about one and a half months.

[i] It’s hard. But we want to finish with something nice. I thank Abed very much for the beautiful interview. Your peace and serenity as you talked. For the good logic you went through. In this project. You gave us a lot for our program, thank you. Thanks for your time, I hope we talk to you about other things. The important thing is, you don’t get bored.

[r] Thank you, I’m glad I took part in this project. Thank you very much, all the best.

[i] Welcome.