Following the successful reading at Stanford University's Berlin campus in February, where international law students attended, we now welcomed them back for a return visit. This time, Stanford students studying in Berlin for a semester were invited to experience a reading at our premises on Max-Beer Street. We are delighted to have become a staple of the cultural program that visiting guests from the USA participate in while in Berlin. Featured at this reading were Shahzamir Hataki, Mariia Kaziun, and Ali Alzaeem. The English translation was read by our volunteer Pia Walter.
The poems by these three poets highlighted important questions: What does it feel like to leave one's homeland due to war? What experiences do young people with refugee backgrounds have in Germany – do they feel welcomed here, and do they look more towards the future or the past? What significance does their mother tongue hold for them, and how are different languages perceived in Germany? These questions were initially explored through the poets' works and then further discussed in an engaging dialogue with our guests.
After the stimulating discussion, all poets and guests were invited to a cozy gathering with pizza and drinks, generously provided by the Stanford Campus Berlin. A heartfelt thanks to the Stanford Campus Berlin and Ulrich Brückner for organizing this event. We look forward to many more such events.
Image: © Suzanne Reichenbach
