My Biography -Part Three-In West Germany!
On the next day evening my relative booked a ticket to Paris on my name at a railway station where the Paris bound train stops! I could not remember the name of the railway- station now since it had happened exactly twenty -two years back in January 1985!! The train ticket to Paris was very high and I was left with hundred odd Deutschmark marks in my hands. I thought that I should spend the money thriftly. My relative helped me to board the train to Paris at the station! I thanked him for his help in an unknown land.The train moved very fast and got it's speed! I was looking out from the window seeing the beauty of West-Berlin & it's high rise buildings under sodium & neon lights without knowing how my fate was going to turn-up after some minutes from there!!
When the train entered the West- German territory after passing two or three stations behind, the"Bundes -Polizei"boarded the train with sniffer dogs and asked all the Paris ticket holders of Asian origin to come to the platform! The express train which carried us from West-Berlin left us on the platform !! I was shocked and never expected that to happen in the early morning hours.The time must be around 4.30a.m and I found people like me were also stranded in an unknown railway station ! I saw some Asian women carried their babies wrapped in towels. Nearly twenty of us were there for about an hour.Then came one policeman asking for our passports & tickets.He asked us whether we wanted asylum at that point! I denied their request foolishly and said that I wish to continue my journey to Stuttgart where my blood relative lived! The policeman grinned at me and gave my passport and the ticket which I purchased to go to Paris.The Asian ladies with their babies and their men sought asylum at that railway station.
When the next train to came,I boarded the train without knowing that I needed another ticket to travel in that train!! I unwittingly boarded in the first class compartment where I found an Asian guy and his sister already seated there! Soon after the German- ticket checkers boarded the train, we felt our mistake! A German - ticket checker fined us around two hundred Deutschmark .I paid all the money because the Asian with his sister said that he got only travelers cheques and he would pay me later! I believed his words but he never paid me back! Now I have got only twenty or thirty Deutschmark in my hand! The bad thing was that the German ticket checker did not give us the receipt!! I never expected this type of treatment from a German ticket checker!!
The situation was very bleak and serious in an unknown country.Further the Asian guy who traveled with his sister cried for my help since he had no friends or relatives in Germany.He wanted to come to my place- Stuttgart!! I agreed because at that time I felt sympathy towards this man and his sister.Later I realized that my decision was a wrong one! Finally the express train reached Stuttgart railway station around two p.m.But I must go to Sindelfingen where my relative worked in a hotel! The people at the station told me to catch a local train to reach there!Around three in the after noon I & my companions reached the hotel -foyer where my relative worked as a room boy! I told the receptionist his name and she sent the message through the phone.My relative did not expect my arrival since I never notified him regarding my traveling to Europe!! He felt sorry for us and took all of us to his private living quarters in the hotel.He gave us rice & curry with potato chips & coca-cola!! We were very hungry and ate sufficiently. While watching the "Fernsehen"I slept on the couch !So did my unknown companion & his sister!!
The following morning we saw the natural beauty of Sindenfingen country side in south Germany.My relative wanted to find a permanent place for me and my companions in West-Germany.He acted fast and hired a car of his friend and took us to the stadt Oberhausen.It costed him 400DM! Actually we De-toured and came to North-Rheine Westfahlen region of the West Germany.It happened due to our ignorance of the geography of West -Germany!! Did not matter!! We were in safe hands and sought asylum there!!! We were taken to Waghals Str nummer 2-6 "Fluchlings Hause"in Osterfield, Oberhausen and were given accommodation! I was given an accommodation with the male companion who sought my help in the train,while his sister was given accommodation in girls' dormitory which was located two miles away from Osterfeld !
The following day we went to "sozialamt"in the city center to get "sozialhilfe"(Social help) von "Sozialmitarbeiter"(socialworker)! The amt(office) gave us 300DM cash per month for our day to day spending.It also gave vouchers to buy kitchen items & basic clothing!!I paid 130DM (my share) to my relative who brought us from Stadt Sindelfingen but my companion and his sister refused to pay-up their share 260DM telling various reasons.He came to hit me at the dormitory shouting in filth! This show-down was prevented by others in the same floor! I realized that I helped a wrong man. after that episode I never talked to him & his sister.I stayed in Stadt Oberhausen von Januar 1985 biz 1986.During that time I met a German Frau RENATE STELZER teacher who taught french language to German pupils at a school in Oberhausen.After someday she took me to einem "kirche"(Church) in Oberhausen Stadtmitte and introduced PASTER SCHOZMANN and family to me! During that time I learnt "Deutsch" at "Folkhochschule"im Osterfield and mastered the language! I studied upto "Mittlestufe"during that time.
After seeing my improvement in Deutsch, Frau Renate Stelzer told me to apply for University in Dortmund to continue my studies in architecture. My home country educational qualifications were translated by " Regierung President's amt"in Oberhausen and was certified as equivalent to "Hochschule Zertifikat". I submitted this proof with the application I made to "Universitat Dortmund".The University of Dortmund gave me a place to study further language courses as it found my "Deutsch bekantnisse und erfarhung"( German-knowledge)was not sufficient to follow a course in architecture direct! Frau: Renate Stelzer wanted to help me but I used that opportunity to ruin my self in Dortmund!It happened because there were no Asian students at the campus who spoke my mother tongue! I was transferred to Stadt Dortmund by Social workers in Oberhausen and I found a new accommodation (a flat ) of my own closer to the vicinity of the university! I studied hard but failed in "Deutsche sprache" held at the University for"Auslandern".I was depressed & was under medication! I was alone with out any friends or relatives in Dortmund and became extremely sick mentally and physically.This happened in early part of 1986!
Often,I had severe migrane headaches and depressions without any reason I roamed in "unterbahns and buses" all the day by buying all day travel pass. I was walking in the departmental stores ,dense woods and cemeteries . I ate less and drank more! I was alone in my flat. There was none to help me or to talk to me! My immediate neighbor was an unmarried German lady around forty with a pet "alsation" dog who saw me once in a way the common corridor!One day she talked to me and said that the flat I occupied was empty for a long time because of a murder happened inside sometimes back and none wished to occupy that thereafter!After hearing the news I was afraid to stay in the flat alone! Further I thought that my behavioral changes could have been due to an evil force! This story was conformed by a social worker at the Social Department of Dortmund city! I asked them to give me another flat. But they did not believe my evil story and told me it was very difficult to find an alternative accommodation. I was highly disappointed and kept my favorite gods in side an open cupboard in the living room and lit incense sticks and sang religious hymns to ward-off that evil sprit! I became frail. I was not attending my lectures at the university !
I was admitted to a clinic by my regular doctor to cure my illness. I went to the said clinic in Dortmund on a particular day! The nurses were very sympathetic towards me and inserted various wires with clips to my head and ears and passed mild electric current to my head!During that time they got some graphs from a machine adjacent, and handed that over to the doctor. The doctor prescribed various tablets and capsules for me and told me to sleep well.My day today activities were curtailed and my abnormal behavior was being watched regularly!There was none to cook for me and I became very weak because of medication and non-proper consumption of food at times!
I told my predicament to the Oberhausen teacher over phone and asked her whether I could come back to Oberhausen again! She spoke my plight to social workers but failed to get consent for my return to Oberhausen! As a temporary measure the Oberhausen authorities found another Srilankan in Dortmund and asked me whether I would liked to stay with him. I gave my consent and I was transferred to another housing in the city centre. The guy with whom I lived was a married guy but he divorced his wife in Srilanka. He was living alone and he found my presence was indeed very welcoming!
When the train entered the West- German territory after passing two or three stations behind, the"Bundes -Polizei"boarded the train with sniffer dogs and asked all the Paris ticket holders of Asian origin to come to the platform! The express train which carried us from West-Berlin left us on the platform !! I was shocked and never expected that to happen in the early morning hours.The time must be around 4.30a.m and I found people like me were also stranded in an unknown railway station ! I saw some Asian women carried their babies wrapped in towels. Nearly twenty of us were there for about an hour.Then came one policeman asking for our passports & tickets.He asked us whether we wanted asylum at that point! I denied their request foolishly and said that I wish to continue my journey to Stuttgart where my blood relative lived! The policeman grinned at me and gave my passport and the ticket which I purchased to go to Paris.The Asian ladies with their babies and their men sought asylum at that railway station.
When the next train to came,I boarded the train without knowing that I needed another ticket to travel in that train!! I unwittingly boarded in the first class compartment where I found an Asian guy and his sister already seated there! Soon after the German- ticket checkers boarded the train, we felt our mistake! A German - ticket checker fined us around two hundred Deutschmark .I paid all the money because the Asian with his sister said that he got only travelers cheques and he would pay me later! I believed his words but he never paid me back! Now I have got only twenty or thirty Deutschmark in my hand! The bad thing was that the German ticket checker did not give us the receipt!! I never expected this type of treatment from a German ticket checker!!
The situation was very bleak and serious in an unknown country.Further the Asian guy who traveled with his sister cried for my help since he had no friends or relatives in Germany.He wanted to come to my place- Stuttgart!! I agreed because at that time I felt sympathy towards this man and his sister.Later I realized that my decision was a wrong one! Finally the express train reached Stuttgart railway station around two p.m.But I must go to Sindelfingen where my relative worked in a hotel! The people at the station told me to catch a local train to reach there!Around three in the after noon I & my companions reached the hotel -foyer where my relative worked as a room boy! I told the receptionist his name and she sent the message through the phone.My relative did not expect my arrival since I never notified him regarding my traveling to Europe!! He felt sorry for us and took all of us to his private living quarters in the hotel.He gave us rice & curry with potato chips & coca-cola!! We were very hungry and ate sufficiently. While watching the "Fernsehen"I slept on the couch !So did my unknown companion & his sister!!
The following morning we saw the natural beauty of Sindenfingen country side in south Germany.My relative wanted to find a permanent place for me and my companions in West-Germany.He acted fast and hired a car of his friend and took us to the stadt Oberhausen.It costed him 400DM! Actually we De-toured and came to North-Rheine Westfahlen region of the West Germany.It happened due to our ignorance of the geography of West -Germany!! Did not matter!! We were in safe hands and sought asylum there!!! We were taken to Waghals Str nummer 2-6 "Fluchlings Hause"in Osterfield, Oberhausen and were given accommodation! I was given an accommodation with the male companion who sought my help in the train,while his sister was given accommodation in girls' dormitory which was located two miles away from Osterfeld !
The following day we went to "sozialamt"in the city center to get "sozialhilfe"(Social help) von "Sozialmitarbeiter"(socialworker)! The amt(office) gave us 300DM cash per month for our day to day spending.It also gave vouchers to buy kitchen items & basic clothing!!I paid 130DM (my share) to my relative who brought us from Stadt Sindelfingen but my companion and his sister refused to pay-up their share 260DM telling various reasons.He came to hit me at the dormitory shouting in filth! This show-down was prevented by others in the same floor! I realized that I helped a wrong man. after that episode I never talked to him & his sister.I stayed in Stadt Oberhausen von Januar 1985 biz 1986.During that time I met a German Frau RENATE STELZER teacher who taught french language to German pupils at a school in Oberhausen.After someday she took me to einem "kirche"(Church) in Oberhausen Stadtmitte and introduced PASTER SCHOZMANN and family to me! During that time I learnt "Deutsch" at "Folkhochschule"im Osterfield and mastered the language! I studied upto "Mittlestufe"during that time.
After seeing my improvement in Deutsch, Frau Renate Stelzer told me to apply for University in Dortmund to continue my studies in architecture. My home country educational qualifications were translated by " Regierung President's amt"in Oberhausen and was certified as equivalent to "Hochschule Zertifikat". I submitted this proof with the application I made to "Universitat Dortmund".The University of Dortmund gave me a place to study further language courses as it found my "Deutsch bekantnisse und erfarhung"( German-knowledge)was not sufficient to follow a course in architecture direct! Frau: Renate Stelzer wanted to help me but I used that opportunity to ruin my self in Dortmund!It happened because there were no Asian students at the campus who spoke my mother tongue! I was transferred to Stadt Dortmund by Social workers in Oberhausen and I found a new accommodation (a flat ) of my own closer to the vicinity of the university! I studied hard but failed in "Deutsche sprache" held at the University for"Auslandern".I was depressed & was under medication! I was alone with out any friends or relatives in Dortmund and became extremely sick mentally and physically.This happened in early part of 1986!
Often,I had severe migrane headaches and depressions without any reason I roamed in "unterbahns and buses" all the day by buying all day travel pass. I was walking in the departmental stores ,dense woods and cemeteries . I ate less and drank more! I was alone in my flat. There was none to help me or to talk to me! My immediate neighbor was an unmarried German lady around forty with a pet "alsation" dog who saw me once in a way the common corridor!One day she talked to me and said that the flat I occupied was empty for a long time because of a murder happened inside sometimes back and none wished to occupy that thereafter!After hearing the news I was afraid to stay in the flat alone! Further I thought that my behavioral changes could have been due to an evil force! This story was conformed by a social worker at the Social Department of Dortmund city! I asked them to give me another flat. But they did not believe my evil story and told me it was very difficult to find an alternative accommodation. I was highly disappointed and kept my favorite gods in side an open cupboard in the living room and lit incense sticks and sang religious hymns to ward-off that evil sprit! I became frail. I was not attending my lectures at the university !
I was admitted to a clinic by my regular doctor to cure my illness. I went to the said clinic in Dortmund on a particular day! The nurses were very sympathetic towards me and inserted various wires with clips to my head and ears and passed mild electric current to my head!During that time they got some graphs from a machine adjacent, and handed that over to the doctor. The doctor prescribed various tablets and capsules for me and told me to sleep well.My day today activities were curtailed and my abnormal behavior was being watched regularly!There was none to cook for me and I became very weak because of medication and non-proper consumption of food at times!
I told my predicament to the Oberhausen teacher over phone and asked her whether I could come back to Oberhausen again! She spoke my plight to social workers but failed to get consent for my return to Oberhausen! As a temporary measure the Oberhausen authorities found another Srilankan in Dortmund and asked me whether I would liked to stay with him. I gave my consent and I was transferred to another housing in the city centre. The guy with whom I lived was a married guy but he divorced his wife in Srilanka. He was living alone and he found my presence was indeed very welcoming!
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