(no subject)
Last week my sister moved together with her boyfriend in a new district of Berlin, which doesn't have the best reputation especially regarding the crime rate. When we arrived in her new street, there was a couple fighting in the middle of the street and ... well, let me tell you, it wasn't nice. But it was their decision and since Alex - that's her boyfriend - wants to start a big project near by so they don't have such a long way to drive every morning, it was a good one, actually.
Also, I have to add, Alex is black and living in Germany probably hasn't had the best experiences, either.
Anyway, we didn't feel welcome at all and then we started hauling the stuff into the house. Fifth story - and without an elevator :-O. Awesome! Add that to the strained vibes coming from the neighbourhood and it'll become clear we felt totally out of place...
That's until a door opened in the hallway and an old lady stuck her head through the gap, watching my sister hauling the tv upstairs. And then she asked, if she could help. A 70year old lady asked, if she could carry stuff into my sisters new home. The more time went by, more and more doors opened in the hallway and others offered their help, most of them foreigners, by the way :-).
And so they helped carrying boxes and lamps and stuff and at the end of the day, we felt tired and accomplished and also much more welcome than hours ago.
Also, I have to add, Alex is black and living in Germany probably hasn't had the best experiences, either.
Anyway, we didn't feel welcome at all and then we started hauling the stuff into the house. Fifth story - and without an elevator :-O. Awesome! Add that to the strained vibes coming from the neighbourhood and it'll become clear we felt totally out of place...
That's until a door opened in the hallway and an old lady stuck her head through the gap, watching my sister hauling the tv upstairs. And then she asked, if she could help. A 70year old lady asked, if she could carry stuff into my sisters new home. The more time went by, more and more doors opened in the hallway and others offered their help, most of them foreigners, by the way :-).
And so they helped carrying boxes and lamps and stuff and at the end of the day, we felt tired and accomplished and also much more welcome than hours ago.