He is one of 100,000 Syrians who have built a new life in Austria since 2015. Aboud Alibrahim (31) talks to Conny Bischofberger about the ‘mass murderer Assad’, values and feelings of home, the Austrian social system and the dearest wish of his almost 70-year-old father.
He stands in front of the open window of his 50 square meter apartment in Linz’s Old Town and waves from afar. We are old acquaintances, Aboud Alibrahim and I. The Syrian refugee lived with us for ten months after arriving in Austria. On the third floor the smell of strong black tea wafts towards me, which we later drink while sitting on the carpet, as is customary in his home country, with lots of sugar.
Three snow-white British Shorthair cats keep us purring company. The mother’s name is “Sajtouna”, which means “olive” in Arabic, and her two kittens are “Qarniya” (eyeball) and “Ruqaa” (spot). We work on a first name basis and his German is really as perfect as it reads.
Later, as we strolled through the Christmas market, he told us that his employer also had to make cuts due to the tense economic situation. “Hopefully I can keep my job,” the German trainer says thoughtfully. But the next moment the worry is gone and he is smiling all over his face again. The joy about the historical events in Syria dominates.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
