2 Months 8 days - Coffee with Abdelaziz - January 22nd 2016

I had spoke to Mo, my translator friend in Jordan, on the phone about Abdelaziz, the father. I had explained to him that I had the impression that he wanted to start working, which is great but not possible yet, and that in the meantime he should learn German. As Mo was part of our team from the very beginning on, Syrian himself and a man, I asked him for a skype meeting. I would bring Abdelaziz along, invite him for coffee, and we could talk. 

I picked up Abdelaziz after work and we went to a coffee shop nearby. Mo was running a little late due to his work schedule and there we were, sitting across from each other, quietly. We spoke through our eyes. I really wished it would be possible to talk to the entire family without Google translate, heavy hand gestures or the help of a translator but for now, that remained a wish yet to be fulfilled. 

Mo called and I picked up the phone. I asked him to please tell Abdelaziz that it was important for him to learn the language and that it was important to me. His family needed him and so did I. I could see in Abdelaziz´s eyes sadness. He used to be the head of the family and now Shamse who had arrived in Vienna a year prior and who had her asylum granted was forced to replace him. It was a lot for her too. She used to run the household, cook and take care of the children and now she was learning a new language in order to find a job as soon as possible. It was a difficult situation for all of them. However I needed him to gain back his confidence. He was indeed very much needed. 

Mo and Abdelaziz spoke over the phone for a while. I didn´t understand a word. Every now and then Abdelaziz would look at me and smile. After almost half hour, we were done. Mo spoke to me again and said that Abdelaziz was not able to read or write. I looked at Abdelaziz and said to Mo that I would help him learn the alphabet myself. And once he felt confident, he could attend the course Helz and Shamse attended. Abdelaziz agreed. He seemed content. 

I dropped him off at his apartment and on my way home I started to understand just HOW difficult this entire situation must be for him. In their hometown, the Rasoul´s lived a decent, comfortable life. Abdelaziz was an independent man who was able to provide for his family. He lost his status and with it also his confidence. Their family structure was upside down and I couldn´t stop thinking of what I could do to help. 

That very same night I spoke to Tony´s father who is a German teacher and who forwarded me a link that contains sheets that one can print out. The website is called DAF-DAZ
and you will find the link under Pages too. I printed out 50 sheets of the Alphabet and decided to help him as good as I can.