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