A Normal Sunday - By Nigel A JAMES
A Normal Sunday that was
Different!
Erica Gangl-Breuss
It was just another normal Sunday.
Erica Gangl-Breuss was preparing lunch and her husband was outside
clearing the snow. Nothing unusual. But, then something on the radio
caught Erica's ear. She put down what she was doing and
listened. And, while she listened her life started changing.
It was a Sunday morning chat show,
and the subject being discussed was Chechnya, and, in
particular the plight of the Chechnyan refugees. And
the guest being interviewed was talking
about his taking in
of a family of Chechnyan
refugees
and the help and new start it had given them. And, Erica
Gangl-Breuss started thinking.
Why not do the same? Her house
was big enough, and she had all
that was needed to help. And, so it was that after discussing
the matter with her family she registered her interest. And, from
then on, things started moving at speed. And, Erica
Gangl-Breuss didn't even have time to get excited. There was just
too much to do. There were forms to fill out and bureaucracy
to settle. And, cupboards and beds needed buying as well. And, the
3 weeks she had simply flew.
But, then her family of 3 from
Chechnya arrived, and it was not only special, but moving as
well.
It was more like a home-coming
than anything else! It was as if they had all known each other for
years. It couldn't have been better. But, what Erica Gangl-Breuss
had done was more than she thought. And, this was the real surprise!
Erica had not only given
Dzhambulat and Aisha and their 12 year old son Deni a home,
she had brought them together again! And, this was the power of the
moment. After being separated by war and bureaucracy, this little
Chechnyan family was once again one! And, they were much
more than happy, they were over the moon with indescribable
joy!
And the future? The future has no
role to play. The present is far too important. Young Deni is now
happily at school, and Dzhambulat and Aisha now have a life of peace
and a structure that's perfect.
And, Erica Gangl-Breuss and her
husband?
Their life has changed too. They
have a brand new family to care for, and, in many respects they are
being looked after, too. It's amazing the things that Dzhambulat
and Aisha can do! And, not only that. An exchange of cultures has
taken place, too. The little family from Chechnya now know much
about Austrian life, and it''s the same in reverse for Erica and her
husband. And, the amazing thing is, there are no real differences at
all. People are the same wherever one goes!
And, that's the beauty of life! A
very normal Sunday turned into a day that was special, and all
because Erica Gangl-Breuss was listening to Austria Radio 3 and
making the lunch!
Selected
Vocabulary
at
speed – schnell
caught (Erica's) ear –
(catch/caught/caught) – Aufmerksam
gemacht
indescribable -
unbeschreiblich
plight – Notlage
means
- mittel
refugee – Jemand
der staatenlos ist
taking-in – aufnehmen
Diarikom is sponsored by Mag. Karl
Brieber
Wirtschaftstreuhänder
– Steuerberater – Unternehmensberater
..
