Steffi

  1. For how long do you live in this area?
    I live here since the date of my birth.
  2. Where are you from?
    My parents come from this country. My father comes from the north-east, whereas my mother comes from the south.
  3. What do you esteem the most concerning your culture and origin?
    I have a lot of respect for the people of this country because we mostly can work very hard and we are very accurat. Also, I feel very save in my daily life and we are secured in many ways, may it a health insurance or the retirement provision.
  4. If you could choose freely – where would you live?
    I spent one year travelling and working in Canada. The people there sometimes don’t take themselves too serious, what I liked very much. I have learned also that yourself should come first – yourself as a person with your unique story and character. But I came back because I prefer living here. 10 Years ago, I would have said I want to live in the capital, but now I want to stay in this place because I am happy right here.
  5. …your most important fellow(s)?
    My parents are most important to me, and myself. I do not understand this as a ego-self-referred view, but in the sense of being self-aware in terms of discovering your own personality, history, mood and identity.
  6. What does your cultural background mean to you personally?
    There were situations I was ashamed being of my citizenship. In Canada or France, there were people raising their hands and calling “Heil Hitler”. I like my country but I don’t want to be ashamed for it.
  7. Do you want to share some thoughts about living in a world of different backgrounds and cultures, i.e. anything you have learned about it?
    I believe we would do better to accept each other no matter what cultural identity we are representing. This is all I can say.
    I work in a retail store and I met a lot of people who are irritated because of my appearence. After 3 minutes, most of them have forgotten their concern, while few of them do not. As I was looking for a job in the past, I was rejected a lot because of my apperance, but if I walked in personally, I got the job instantly. I know that we can not avoid having preconceptions, but we would live better without.