Ernst Schmiederer - Saying Hullo!

Ernst Schmiederer - photo by Nigel A.  JAMES

Clutching at Straws

Someone who writes has to have depths, because, only a person with shadows and shades of his own is able to recognize the uniqueness of others!  And, understanding others is Ernst Schmiederer’s strength, and, without it, his works wouldn’t be what they are! And, readers of Die Zeit, the popular  German newspaper fully know and understand what I mean.

In his popular weekly column, Ernst Schmiederer cleverly displays his ability of putting himself in the shoes of others by telling their stories through, as it were, their very own eyes!  And, each week, he either features an export (an Austrian living abroad), or an import (a foreigner living in Austria).  And, everyone he writes about has a very interesting story.

But, of course, his story is interesting, too. And his story is the world!  After  successfully establishing himself on the journalistic scene in Vienna, he packed all that he had and set off for the Big Apple!  And, the Big Apple, he discovered was big in more way than one!  New York, with its confusion and fusion of excitement  and cultures and ideas was the perfect breeding ground for stories and scoops, and so, for this man with his pen, it became the home from home that he had been looking for!

But, people are people wherever one goes, and, here in Austria, Ernst Schmiederer has cleverly turned his attention to a less fortunate  group.  Like everywhere, there are young people, who, for what ever reason, have been unfortunate at school, and there is, like a final straw to clutch at, a state sponsored educational scheme that may or may not help them before they take their first uncertain steps in a harsh and uncertain world. And, these people, too, have a story.

And Ernst Schmiederer has just published  the first volume of these stories.  But, this time it is different!  Instead of interviewing and writing the stories himself, Ernst encouraged the youngsters to write them themselves.  And some of the stories are really amazing.  They contain an honesty of expression that not only tells of real depths, but also hopes as well. And, there is one more thing, too!

This project has given the youngsters dignity!  And dignity, as everyone knows, is the one thing that everyone needs for a good start in life!

And dignity is the big plus for good writing, and, in everything that he writes, one senses  the unique experience and depths that make Ernst Schmiederer the writer and observer that he is!

His works are a great reason to learn German.

Import/Export -  People Portraits from Die Zeit. Wieser Verlag ISBN 978-3-85129-918 -2

We Are from Austria – Youngsters and  their stories – ISBN 978-395034940-5

Also see, www.importundexport.at

Poem for October

Vacant!  By Nigel A JAMES

Stephen Spender

Although this poem by Stephen Spenser has no title, it is, without any doubt at all, one of the finest works of social commentary that has ever been written.

listen to ‘Poem by Stephen Spender’ on Audioboo

Moving through the silent crowd

Who stand behind dull cigarettes

Those men who idle in the road,

I have the sense of falling light.

They lounge at corners of the street

And greet friends with a shrug of shoulder

And turn their empty pockets out,

The cynical gestures of the poor.

Now they’ve no work, like better men

Who sit at desks and take much pay

They sleep long nights and rise at ten

To watch the hours that drain away.

I’m jealous of the weeping hours

They stare through with such hungry eyes.

I’m haunted by these images,

I’m haunted by their emptiness.

Mimin Voll - Saying Hello

Mimin Voll - Photo by Nigel A  JAMES

Chains of Colours Unchained

It is so, that, when people go in search of new and distant shores, they take with them, deep within their hearts, part of the soul of the land of their birth. And, when she left her home to follow her dreams, Mimin Voll took with her the colours of her native Indonesia. And that was more than twenty years ago.

And now, here in Vienna, with her new life no longer new, these colours of her far away and far-past land are still just as strong - and just as deep – and just as true - as they have ever been. And, within the course of time, the dream that she dreamt has now taken-wing - and flown in the splendour of the jewellery she makes. 

And, Mimin’s latest collection is really something quite special.

Her creations suit entirely the people who wear them.  Bearing all of the features of fire, wind, water and air, they amazingly pick out each individuals strengths, and enhance them in a volcanic, and yet very peaceful, magical way!

And, the magic is set to continue. Mimin is now working on her autumn collection, which, thanks to the fullness of her creative depths and her far-away ideas, promises to be just as powerful - and just as colourful as her Indonesian soul – a soul which is melting into ours!