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'As Welcome as Satan in Heaven'

German Xenophobia as Our Readers See It

Part 4: 'Life for a Foreigner Is Like Satan in Heaven'

Dear Spiegel Online,

I am an Indian, living in Germany for more than three years now. I've completed my Master studies and seeking a job. I am not afraid of the skinheads, actually -- I never had a bad experience with them. What I am afraid of is the racial intolerance of people who are in responsible positions, people in suits.

I was shocked by the way Chancellor Merkel reacted towards Mr. Koch's arrogance. This raises serious questions like: What's going on the minds of those who are so amicable in their appearance and behavior?

I have come across some of the finest individuals in Germany, and the opposite too. It's extremely hard for a foreigner to find out whether a German likes him/her or not. As we know, the student community is considered relatively more open-minded, but as far as I have seen, integration even at this level leaves a lot to be desired.

As a matter of fact, after coming to Germany I have gained many friends from various countries, but it's a terrible pity that I don't even have a single German friend. I hope most of the foreigners would agree if I say life for a foreigner is like that of Satan in heaven -- you have been admitted into the country but not actually into the society.

-- Madhu Balan

Dear Spiegel Online,

I am American and I have been living in the Heidelberg area for 15 years as a software engineer. I have southern European features so to most people here I am obviously not German.

One particular experience I had (which I find humorous now) was at a newsstand. As I waited patiently in line, the woman in front of me was complaining to the owner of the newsstand about the terrible Turkish people living next door to her. Apparently, they were either slaughtering animals in the kitchen or making too much noise -- I can't remember which.

Finally, the owner recognized my presence and the woman turned around, looked at me and said: "Oh, entschuldigen Sie!" ("Excuse me!") as if I were a poor Turkish person and was insulted by her diatribe. At first, I felt my face flush and visions of nasty words filled my head. But fortunately, the cooler senses won out and I simply replied: "Ich bin kein Ausländer, meine Dame, ich bin Amerikaner." ("I am not a foreigner, I am an American.") This promptly shut her up and she went on her way. The owner of the newsstand couldn't help laughing as soon as she was out of earshot and was kind enough to let me know that the woman was a stupid cow anyway.

However, not all encounters turn out as well. Recently, I was walking my dog (a very friendly one-year-old Labrador) in the fields near my house. I am a regular in these fields and I often see many other dog owners and everyone is quite friendly and cordial to one another, except one old curmudgeon who apparently reprimands friendly dogs off the leash with a whack on the nose. Again, I tried my best to be polite and ask that old fellow not to hit my dog as he is still young and learning and only wants to sniff and play. His response was that stupid foreigners should know better than to let a dog off the leash. This time I had no choice but to let him (verbally) have it.

I asked him if he would like to send me in a train car to the east. I then told him that I am American, like my father and my grandfather, and that my grandfather gave his life in World War II to free Germany and that he should be glad that he isn't speaking Russian right now.

I don't like saying things like that and it makes me feel terrible, but why is it these old conservative people forget so quickly? Perhaps Roland Koch needs to be reminded as well.

Having said all this, I do have German friends and a German wife and a lot of Germans are kind and nice people. But I never feel like I belong to this place because of my skin color. And even the nicest Germans will often ask, when I say I am American: "But what are you really?" I can only answer them that I am American like my father and my grandfather.

-- Name withheld

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