Düütsch-Poolsche Fründschupp   

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(Oornmoond 1996)  
 

Rafal un Elisabeth hebbt heiroodt! Wat een Freid! Wokeen sünd de beiden? Rafal keum 16 johrig ut Polen no Düütschland. Sien Mudder harr een Düütschen ut Norderstedt heiroodt. Wietleftig hebbt wi sien Steefvadder kinnt, un üm den Jungen öber de Schereree mit de düütsche Sprook so'n lütt beten wegtohelpen, hebb ik dat doon, so good as ik dat kunn. Rafal hett nich een Klass warrerhooln müßt. Sien Abitur is so good lopen, datt he de Ansprook to de Abiturafschlußfier hooln hett. As de Jung sien Abitur bestohn harr, keum he mit een groten Rükelbusch bi mi an, wies mi sien Tüügnis un sä: ,,Danke, das ist auch Ihr Zeugnis''. 

De Johrn loopt, un ut den Jung' wörr een Mann. Batts stünn he mit een smucke, junge Diern för uns, un stell uns sien Elisabeth vör. 

Warrer sünd een poor Johr an uns vörbiroost, un de beiden hebbt uns to jümehr Hochtiet beden. Freedag, den 2. in'n Oornmoond, Klock halbig ölben wüür in uns Roothuus de Troung vör't Standesamt anseggt. Tiedig hebbt mien Mann un ik uns op'n Padd mookt. Seuken hebbt wi nich bruukt, denn woneem poolsch snackt wörr wüürn wi an de rechte Steed. Fuurts sünd wi op Rafal sien Mudder un de Grootöllern ut Danzig losstüürt. No all' de Johrn kunn ik endlich sien Oma in mien Arms sluten. De Standesbeamtin Wegner hett een wunnerbore Trooreed hooln. Rafal sien Trotüüg wüür een Pool, un Elisabeth ehr Broder Thomas, he wüür ok Trotüüg, hett öbersett. De Ringen wörrn opsteken un dat Groleern güng loos. Still un liesen wulln wi uns dorvunslieken, ober dat harrs di dacht! De Sektproppen hebbt knallt un wi hebbt mit dat Bruutpoor anstött. Wat nu kummt warr ik nie nich vergeten. Sungen wörr ut vulle Kehl'n op poolsch een Hoochleev-Leed. Dat würr temlich lang ober bannig scheun, un ik bün mi wiß, so gau warrt uns Roothuus dat nich warrer beleben. Mi hett Rafal bi sien poolschen Verwandten un Frünn' vörstellt mit disse Wüür: ,,Dies ist meine deutsche Großmutter''. Öber den Satt hebb ik mi gans besünners freit. 

De Troung in de Langenhorner Kark wüür een Dag dorop. Ünner Orgelklang keum Rafal mit sien Muder an den Trooaltar un de smucke Bruut Elisabeth an den Arm vun ehrn Vadder. Monsignore Sliwanski hett op poolsch un Postuur Alfons Dall op düütsch de Troung för Gott vulltrocken. Elisabeth ehr lütte Broder Christoph wüür Meßdener un hett mit sien strohlen blauen Ogen allns wunnerbor mookt an den Ehrndag vun sien Süster. Nu wüür warrer dat Groleern anseggt. Veel Photos wörrn mookt to'n Besinn an dissen scheunen Dag. So as ik dat vun Huus ut wohnt bün, harr ik een Brett mit Brot, Sult un een Penn för dat Bruutpoor proot un jüm verkloort, wat dat to bedüden hett. In den Festsool vun de Kark wüürn de Dischen smuck deckt un loden de Gäst to'n Eten un Drinken in. No den Ehrenwalzer för dat Bruutpoor hebbt de poolschen Gäst noch dat Hoochleev-Leed sungen. Rechter- un linkerhand un gegenöber harrn wi Dischnobers, mit de wi uns good ünnerhooln hebbt. Twee Frünn ut de Abiturklass wüürn ok dor. Sien Fründ Olaf Zwetkow hett sogor al 1/2 Johr Jura in Warschau studeert, un bi een Anwalt in Stettin een Praktikum mookt. De anner Fründ, Kai Michael Detz, harr sogor sien Fründin Victoria ut England inflegen loten. Is doch to scheun, wenn so een Fründschupp öber de Johrn besteiht. De Grenzen smült, dat hett uns disse Hochtiet wiest. 35 Gäst wüürn anreist ut Polen, un lieksoveel wüürn Düütsche, un dat wüür scheun. Geev Gott, datt dat in Tokunft op de ganse Welt so ween müüch. 
 
 
 
 

German-Polish Friendship   

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal  
(August 1996)  
 

Rafal and Elisabeth got married! How delightful! Who are those two? Rafal came from Poland to Germany as a 16-year-old. His mother had married a German from Norderstedt [the author's hometown]. We had been distantly acquainted with his stepfather, and I tried my best to do my small part in helping the boy get through the trials and tribulations of acquiring the German language. Rafal did not need to repeat a single class. His high school graduation went so well that he gave the public address during the graduation ceremony. When the boy had passed his high school leaving examination he came to me with a large bouquet of flowers, showed me his certificate and said, "Thank you. This is your certificate too." 

Years went by, and the boy turned into a man. Before you knew it he was standing before us in the company of a pretty, young woman and introduced his Elisabeth to us. 

Another few years rushed by, and the two of them invited us to their wedding. The wedding was scheduled for Friday, August 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the registrar's office in our townhall. We hit the road in good time. We did not need to search, because we were in the right place where people were talking in Polish. Right away we made a beeline for Rafal's mother and grandparents from Gdansk. After all those years I finally was able to give his grandma a hug. Marriage Celebrant Wegner made a fabulous wedding speech. Rafal's marriage witness was a Pole, and Elisabeth's brother Thomas--he was a witness too--interpreted. They put on the rings, and the well-wishing began. We had intended to sneak away quietly, but that did not work out. The champaign corks popped, and we had a toast with the newlyweds. I will never forget what followed then. Loudly they sang a well-wishing song in Polish. It was fairly long but actually rather pretty, and I am sure our townhall will not experience a thing like that again again so soon. Rafal instroduced me to his Polish relatives and friends with these [German] words: "This is my German grandmother." This sentence made me especially happy. 

The wedding in the Holy Family Church of Hamburg in Langenhorn [a district in Hamburg] took place on the following day. Accompanied by the organ music Rafal approached the wedding altar with his mother and the beautiful bride Elisabeth arm in arm with her father. Monsignore Sliwanski conducted the marriage ceremony before God in Polish, and Pastor Alfons Dall did it in German. Elisabeth's little brother Christoph was an altar boy and did everything beautifully, with his bright blue eyes, on his sister's big day. Then there was another round of well-wishing. They took lots of photographs to capture the memories of this beautiful day. Following my home custom, I had a board with bread, salt and a penny at the ready and explained to them what it meant. In the banqueting hall of the church the tables had been laid beautifully and invited the guests to partake in food and drink. After the newlyweds had danced the waltz of honor, the Polish guests sang the well-wishing song again. We enjoyed our conversation with the people that sat next to us and opposite us. Also present were two friends from [Rafal's] senior class. His friend Olaf Zwetkow had in fact been studying law in Warsaw for half a year already and had done his internship in an attorney's office in Szczecin. The other friend, Kai Michael Detz, had even had his girlfriend Victoria fly in from England. Is it not marvellous when such a friendship survives over the years? National borders are disappearing; this is what this wedding showed us. 35 guests had travelled in from Poland, and there were about as many Germans, and that was nice. May God grant that this is how it is going to be all over the world in the future.

Duytsch-Poolsche fruendschup 

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal  
(Aarnmaand 1996) 
     
Rafal un Elisabeth hebt hairaadt! Wat 'n fraid'! Woukein suend de baiden? Rafal koym 16-jarig [soestain-jarig] uut Polen naa Duytschland. Siin mudder har 'n Duytschen uut Norderstedt hairaadt. Wiidleftig hebt wii siin steiffadder kint, un uem d'n jung euver de schererei mit de Duytsche spraak soo 'n luet beten weg tou helpen hev ik dat doun soo goud as ik dat kun. Rafal het nich ein klass warrerholen muest. Siin abbituur is soo goud loupen dat hei de anspraak tou de abbituur-afslutfier holden het. As de jung siin abbituur bestaan har koym hei mit 'n groten ruykelbusch bii mii an, wiis' mii siin tuygnis un seed': "Danke. Das ist auch Ihr Zeugnis". 

De Jaren loupt, un uut d'n jung woyrd' 'n man. Bats stuend hei mit 'n smukke, junge deirn foer uns un stel uns siin Elisabeth foer. 

Warrer suend 'n paar jaar an uns foerbii-raast, un de baiden hebt uns tou juem eir hogtiid beden. Freidag, d'n 02. [tweiden] in d'n Aarnmaand klok halvig oelven woyrd' in uns raadhuus de trouung foer 't standesamt an-segd. Tidig hebt miin man un ik uns op d'n pad maakd. Soyken hebt wii nich bruukd, den wouneem Poolsch snakd woyrd' woyren wii an de rechte steed'. Fourts suend wii op Rafal siin mudder un de groot-oellern uut Danzig loos-stuyrd. Naa al de jaren kun ik endlich siin ouma in miin arms sluten. De standesbeamtin Wegner het 'n wunnerbare troureed' holden. Rafal siin troutuyg' woyr 'n Pool, un Elisabeth eir brouder Thomas -- hei woyr ouk troutuyg' -- het euversett. De ringen woyrden op-steken, un dat graleirn gueng' loos. Stil un lisen wullen wii uns daarfun-sliken, aver dat harst dii dacht! De sektproppen hebt knald, un wii hebt mit dat bruudpaar an-stoett. Wat nuu kumt ward ik nii nich fergeten. Sungen woyrd' uut fulle kelen op Poolsch 'n hoogleev-leid. Dat woyr teimlich lang aver bannig scheun, un ik buen mii wiss soo gau wardt uns raadhuus dat nich warrer beleven. Mii het Rafal bii siin Poolschen ferwanten un fruenden foer-steld mit disse woyrd': "Dies ist meine deutsche Grossmutter". Euver den sat hev ik mi gans besuenners fraid. 

De Trouung in de Langenhorner Kark ,,Heilige Familie in Hamburg'' woyr ein dag daar op. Uenner orgelklang koym' Rafal mit siin mudder an d'n troualtaar un de smukke bruud Elisabeth an d'n arm fun eiren fadder. Monsignore Sliwanski het op Poolsch un Postour Alfons Dall op Duytsch de troung foer Got fultrokken. Elisabeth eir luette brouder Christoph woyr messdeiner un het mit siin stralen blauen ougen allens wunnerbaar maakd an d'n erendag fun siin suester. Nuu woyrd' warrer dat graleirn an-segd. Veel fotos woyrden maakd tou d'n besin an dissen schoynen dag. Soo as ik dat fun huus uut waand buen har ik 'n bret mit brood, sult un 'n pen foer dat bruudpaar praat un juem ferklaard wat dat to beduyden het. In d'n festsaal fun de kark woyren de dischen smuk dekd un laden de gest tou d'n eten un drinken in. Naa d'n erenwaltser foer dat bruudpaar hebt de Poolschen gest noch dat hoogleev-leid sungen. Rechter- un linkerhand un gegeneuver harn wii dischnavers mit dei wii uns goud uennerholden hebt. Twei fruenden uut de abbituurklass woyrn ouk daar. Siin fruend Olaf Zwetkow het sogaar al 1/2 ['n halv] jaar jura in Warschau studeird un bii 'n anwalt in Stettin 'n praktikum maakd. De anner fruend, Kai Michael Detz, har sogaar siin fruendin Victoria uut England in-fleigen laten. Is doch tou schoyn wen soo 'n fruendschup euver de jaren bestait. De grenzen smueltt; dat het uns disse hogtiid wiisd. 35 [fiiv un dertig] gest woyrn an-raisd uut Polen, un liik soo veel woyren Duytsche, un dat woyr schoyn. Geev' Got dat dat in toukunft op de ganse welt soo ween muyg. 
 
 
 

German-Polish Friendship   

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal  
(August 1996)  
 

Rafal and Elisabeth got married! How delightful! Who are those two? Rafal came from Poland to Germany as a 16-year-old. His mother had married a German from Norderstedt [the author's hometown]. We had been distantly acquainted with his stepfather, and I tried my best to do my small part in helping the boy get through the trials and tribulations of acquiring the German language. Rafal did not need to repeat a single class. His high school graduation went so well that he gave the public address during the graduation ceremony. When the boy had passed his high school leaving examination he came to me with a large bouquet of flowers, showed me his certificate and said, "Thank you. This is your certificate too." 

Years went by, and the boy turned into a man. Before you knew it he was standing before us in the company of a pretty, young woman and introduced his Elisabeth to us. 

Another few years rushed by, and the two of them invited us to their wedding. The wedding was scheduled for Friday, August 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the registrar's office in our townhall. We hit the road in good time. We did not need to search, because we were in the right place where people were talking in Polish. Right away we made a beeline for Rafal's mother and grandparents from Gdansk. After all those years I finally was able to give his grandma a hug. Marriage Celebrant Wegner made a fabulous wedding speech. Rafal's marriage witness was a Pole, and Elisabeth's brother Thomas--he was a witness too--interpreted. They put on the rings, and the well-wishing began. We had intended to sneak away quietly, but that did not work out. The champaign corks popped, and we had a toast with the newlyweds. I will never forget what followed then. Loudly they sang a well-wishing song in Polish. It was fairly long but actually rather pretty, and I am sure our townhall will not experience a thing like that again again so soon. Rafal instroduced me to his Polish relatives and friends with these [German] words: "This is my German grandmother." This sentence made me especially happy. 

The wedding in the Holy Family Church of Hamburg in Langenhorn [a district in Hamburg] took place on the following day. Accompanied by the organ music Rafal approached the wedding altar with his mother and the beautiful bride Elisabeth arm in arm with her father. Monsignore Sliwanski conducted the marriage ceremony before God in Polish, and Pastor Alfons Dall did it in German. Elisabeth's little brother Christoph was an altar boy and did everything beautifully, with his bright blue eyes, on his sister's big day. Then there was another round of well-wishing. They took lots of photographs to capture the memories of this beautiful day. Following my home custom, I had a board with bread, salt and a penny at the ready and explained to them what it meant. In the banqueting hall of the church the tables had been laid beautifully and invited the guests to partake in food and drink. After the newlyweds had danced the waltz of honor, the Polish guests sang the well-wishing song again. We enjoyed our conversation with the people that sat next to us and opposite us. Also present were two friends from [Rafal's] senior class. His friend Olaf Zwetkow had in fact been studying law in Warsaw for half a year already and had done his internship in an attorney's office in Szczecin. The other friend, Kai Michael Detz, had even had his girlfriend Victoria fly in from England. Is it not marvellous when such a friendship survives over the years? National borders are disappearing; this is what this wedding showed us. 35 guests had travelled in from Poland, and there were about as many Germans, and that was nice. May God grant that this is how it is going to be all over the world in the future.

Düütsch-Poolsche Fründschupp   

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(Oornmoond 1996)  
 

Rafal un Elisabeth hebbt heiroodt! Wat een Freid! Wokeen sünd de beiden? Rafal keum 16 johrig ut Polen no Düütschland. Sien Mudder harr een Düütschen ut Norderstedt heiroodt. Wietleftig hebbt wi sien Steefvadder kinnt, un üm den Jungen öber de Schereree mit de düütsche Sprook so'n lütt beten wegtohelpen, hebb ik dat doon, so good as ik dat kunn. Rafal hett nich een Klass warrerhooln müßt. Sien Abitur is so good lopen, datt he de Ansprook to de Abiturafschlußfier hooln hett. As de Jung sien Abitur bestohn harr, keum he mit een groten Rükelbusch bi mi an, wies mi sien Tüügnis un sä: ,,Danke, das ist auch Ihr Zeugnis''. 

De Johrn loopt, un ut den Jung' wörr een Mann. Batts stünn he mit een smucke, junge Diern för uns, un stell uns sien Elisabeth vör. 

Warrer sünd een poor Johr an uns vörbiroost, un de beiden hebbt uns to jümehr Hochtiet beden. Freedag, den 2. in'n Oornmoond, Klock halbig ölben wüür in uns Roothuus de Troung vör't Standesamt anseggt. Tiedig hebbt mien Mann un ik uns op'n Padd mookt. Seuken hebbt wi nich bruukt, denn woneem poolsch snackt wörr wüürn wi an de rechte Steed. Fuurts sünd wi op Rafal sien Mudder un de Grootöllern ut Danzig losstüürt. No all' de Johrn kunn ik endlich sien Oma in mien Arms sluten. De Standesbeamtin Wegner hett een wunnerbore Trooreed hooln. Rafal sien Trotüüg wüür een Pool, un Elisabeth ehr Broder Thomas, he wüür ok Trotüüg, hett öbersett. De Ringen wörrn opsteken un dat Groleern güng loos. Still un liesen wulln wi uns dorvunslieken, ober dat harrs di dacht! De Sektproppen hebbt knallt un wi hebbt mit dat Bruutpoor anstött. Wat nu kummt warr ik nie nich vergeten. Sungen wörr ut vulle Kehl'n op poolsch een Hoochleev-Leed. Dat würr temlich lang ober bannig scheun, un ik bün mi wiß, so gau warrt uns Roothuus dat nich warrer beleben. Mi hett Rafal bi sien poolschen Verwandten un Frünn' vörstellt mit disse Wüür: ,,Dies ist meine deutsche Großmutter''. Öber den Satt hebb ik mi gans besünners freit. 

De Troung in de Langenhorner Kark wüür een Dag dorop. Ünner Orgelklang keum Rafal mit sien Muder an den Trooaltar un de smucke Bruut Elisabeth an den Arm vun ehrn Vadder. Monsignore Sliwanski hett op poolsch un Postuur Alfons Dall op düütsch de Troung för Gott vulltrocken. Elisabeth ehr lütte Broder Christoph wüür Meßdener un hett mit sien strohlen blauen Ogen allns wunnerbor mookt an den Ehrndag vun sien Süster. Nu wüür warrer dat Groleern anseggt. Veel Photos wörrn mookt to'n Besinn an dissen scheunen Dag. So as ik dat vun Huus ut wohnt bün, harr ik een Brett mit Brot, Sult un een Penn för dat Bruutpoor proot un jüm verkloort, wat dat to bedüden hett. In den Festsool vun de Kark wüürn de Dischen smuck deckt un loden de Gäst to'n Eten un Drinken in. No den Ehrenwalzer för dat Bruutpoor hebbt de poolschen Gäst noch dat Hoochleev-Leed sungen. Rechter- un linkerhand un gegenöber harrn wi Dischnobers, mit de wi uns good ünnerhooln hebbt. Twee Frünn ut de Abiturklass wüürn ok dor. Sien Fründ Olaf Zwetkow hett sogor al 1/2 Johr Jura in Warschau studeert, un bi een Anwalt in Stettin een Praktikum mookt. De anner Fründ, Kai Michael Detz, harr sogor sien Fründin Victoria ut England inflegen loten. Is doch to scheun, wenn so een Fründschupp öber de Johrn besteiht. De Grenzen smült, dat hett uns disse Hochtiet wiest. 35 Gäst wüürn anreist ut Polen, un lieksoveel wüürn Düütsche, un dat wüür scheun. Geev Gott, datt dat in Tokunft op de ganse Welt so ween müüch. 
 
 
 
 

German-Polish Friendship   

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal  
(August 1996)  
 

Rafal and Elisabeth got married! How delightful! Who are those two? Rafal came from Poland to Germany as a 16-year-old. His mother had married a German from Norderstedt [the author's hometown]. We had been distantly acquainted with his stepfather, and I tried my best to do my small part in helping the boy get through the trials and tribulations of acquiring the German language. Rafal did not need to repeat a single class. His high school graduation went so well that he gave the public address during the graduation ceremony. When the boy had passed his high school leaving examination he came to me with a large bouquet of flowers, showed me his certificate and said, "Thank you. This is your certificate too." 

Years went by, and the boy turned into a man. Before you knew it he was standing before us in the company of a pretty, young woman and introduced his Elisabeth to us. 

Another few years rushed by, and the two of them invited us to their wedding. The wedding was scheduled for Friday, August 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the registrar's office in our townhall. We hit the road in good time. We did not need to search, because we were in the right place where people were talking in Polish. Right away we made a beeline for Rafal's mother and grandparents from Gdansk. After all those years I finally was able to give his grandma a hug. Marriage Celebrant Wegner made a fabulous wedding speech. Rafal's marriage witness was a Pole, and Elisabeth's brother Thomas--he was a witness too--interpreted. They put on the rings, and the well-wishing began. We had intended to sneak away quietly, but that did not work out. The champaign corks popped, and we had a toast with the newlyweds. I will never forget what followed then. Loudly they sang a well-wishing song in Polish. It was fairly long but actually rather pretty, and I am sure our townhall will not experience a thing like that again again so soon. Rafal instroduced me to his Polish relatives and friends with these [German] words: "This is my German grandmother." This sentence made me especially happy. 

The wedding in the Holy Family Church of Hamburg in Langenhorn [a district in Hamburg] took place on the following day. Accompanied by the organ music Rafal approached the wedding altar with his mother and the beautiful bride Elisabeth arm in arm with her father. Monsignore Sliwanski conducted the marriage ceremony before God in Polish, and Pastor Alfons Dall did it in German. Elisabeth's little brother Christoph was an altar boy and did everything beautifully, with his bright blue eyes, on his sister's big day. Then there was another round of well-wishing. They took lots of photographs to capture the memories of this beautiful day. Following my home custom, I had a board with bread, salt and a penny at the ready and explained to them what it meant. In the banqueting hall of the church the tables had been laid beautifully and invited the guests to partake in food and drink. After the newlyweds had danced the waltz of honor, the Polish guests sang the well-wishing song again. We enjoyed our conversation with the people that sat next to us and opposite us. Also present were two friends from [Rafal's] senior class. His friend Olaf Zwetkow had in fact been studying law in Warsaw for half a year already and had done his internship in an attorney's office in Szczecin. The other friend, Kai Michael Detz, had even had his girlfriend Victoria fly in from England. Is it not marvellous when such a friendship survives over the years? National borders are disappearing; this is what this wedding showed us. 35 guests had travelled in from Poland, and there were about as many Germans, and that was nice. May God grant that this is how it is going to be all over the world in the future.

Duytsch-Poolsche fruendschup 

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal  
(Aarnmaand 1996) 
     
Rafal un Elisabeth hebt hairaadt! Wat 'n fraid'! Woukein suend de baiden? Rafal koym 16-jarig [soestain-jarig] uut Polen naa Duytschland. Siin mudder har 'n Duytschen uut Norderstedt hairaadt. Wiidleftig hebt wii siin steiffadder kint, un uem d'n jung euver de schererei mit de Duytsche spraak soo 'n luet beten weg tou helpen hev ik dat doun soo goud as ik dat kun. Rafal het nich ein klass warrerholen muest. Siin abbituur is soo goud loupen dat hei de anspraak tou de abbituur-afslutfier holden het. As de jung siin abbituur bestaan har koym hei mit 'n groten ruykelbusch bii mii an, wiis' mii siin tuygnis un seed': "Danke. Das ist auch Ihr Zeugnis". 

De Jaren loupt, un uut d'n jung woyrd' 'n man. Bats stuend hei mit 'n smukke, junge deirn foer uns un stel uns siin Elisabeth foer. 

Warrer suend 'n paar jaar an uns foerbii-raast, un de baiden hebt uns tou juem eir hogtiid beden. Freidag, d'n 02. [tweiden] in d'n Aarnmaand klok halvig oelven woyrd' in uns raadhuus de trouung foer 't standesamt an-segd. Tidig hebt miin man un ik uns op d'n pad maakd. Soyken hebt wii nich bruukd, den wouneem Poolsch snakd woyrd' woyren wii an de rechte steed'. Fourts suend wii op Rafal siin mudder un de groot-oellern uut Danzig loos-stuyrd. Naa al de jaren kun ik endlich siin ouma in miin arms sluten. De standesbeamtin Wegner het 'n wunnerbare troureed' holden. Rafal siin troutuyg' woyr 'n Pool, un Elisabeth eir brouder Thomas -- hei woyr ouk troutuyg' -- het euversett. De ringen woyrden op-steken, un dat graleirn gueng' loos. Stil un lisen wullen wii uns daarfun-sliken, aver dat harst dii dacht! De sektproppen hebt knald, un wii hebt mit dat bruudpaar an-stoett. Wat nuu kumt ward ik nii nich fergeten. Sungen woyrd' uut fulle kelen op Poolsch 'n hoogleev-leid. Dat woyr teimlich lang aver bannig scheun, un ik buen mii wiss soo gau wardt uns raadhuus dat nich warrer beleven. Mii het Rafal bii siin Poolschen ferwanten un fruenden foer-steld mit disse woyrd': "Dies ist meine deutsche Grossmutter". Euver den sat hev ik mi gans besuenners fraid. 

De Trouung in de Langenhorner Kark ,,Heilige Familie in Hamburg'' woyr ein dag daar op. Uenner orgelklang koym' Rafal mit siin mudder an d'n troualtaar un de smukke bruud Elisabeth an d'n arm fun eiren fadder. Monsignore Sliwanski het op Poolsch un Postour Alfons Dall op Duytsch de troung foer Got fultrokken. Elisabeth eir luette brouder Christoph woyr messdeiner un het mit siin stralen blauen ougen allens wunnerbaar maakd an d'n erendag fun siin suester. Nuu woyrd' warrer dat graleirn an-segd. Veel fotos woyrden maakd tou d'n besin an dissen schoynen dag. Soo as ik dat fun huus uut waand buen har ik 'n bret mit brood, sult un 'n pen foer dat bruudpaar praat un juem ferklaard wat dat to beduyden het. In d'n festsaal fun de kark woyren de dischen smuk dekd un laden de gest tou d'n eten un drinken in. Naa d'n erenwaltser foer dat bruudpaar hebt de Poolschen gest noch dat hoogleev-leid sungen. Rechter- un linkerhand un gegeneuver harn wii dischnavers mit dei wii uns goud uennerholden hebt. Twei fruenden uut de abbituurklass woyrn ouk daar. Siin fruend Olaf Zwetkow het sogaar al 1/2 ['n halv] jaar jura in Warschau studeird un bii 'n anwalt in Stettin 'n praktikum maakd. De anner fruend, Kai Michael Detz, har sogaar siin fruendin Victoria uut England in-fleigen laten. Is doch tou schoyn wen soo 'n fruendschup euver de jaren bestait. De grenzen smueltt; dat het uns disse hogtiid wiisd. 35 [fiiv un dertig] gest woyrn an-raisd uut Polen, un liik soo veel woyren Duytsche, un dat woyr schoyn. Geev' Got dat dat in toukunft op de ganse welt soo ween muyg. 
 
 
 

German-Polish Friendship   

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal  
(August 1996)  
 

Rafal and Elisabeth got married! How delightful! Who are those two? Rafal came from Poland to Germany as a 16-year-old. His mother had married a German from Norderstedt [the author's hometown]. We had been distantly acquainted with his stepfather, and I tried my best to do my small part in helping the boy get through the trials and tribulations of acquiring the German language. Rafal did not need to repeat a single class. His high school graduation went so well that he gave the public address during the graduation ceremony. When the boy had passed his high school leaving examination he came to me with a large bouquet of flowers, showed me his certificate and said, "Thank you. This is your certificate too." 

Years went by, and the boy turned into a man. Before you knew it he was standing before us in the company of a pretty, young woman and introduced his Elisabeth to us. 

Another few years rushed by, and the two of them invited us to their wedding. The wedding was scheduled for Friday, August 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the registrar's office in our townhall. We hit the road in good time. We did not need to search, because we were in the right place where people were talking in Polish. Right away we made a beeline for Rafal's mother and grandparents from Gdansk. After all those years I finally was able to give his grandma a hug. Marriage Celebrant Wegner made a fabulous wedding speech. Rafal's marriage witness was a Pole, and Elisabeth's brother Thomas--he was a witness too--interpreted. They put on the rings, and the well-wishing began. We had intended to sneak away quietly, but that did not work out. The champaign corks popped, and we had a toast with the newlyweds. I will never forget what followed then. Loudly they sang a well-wishing song in Polish. It was fairly long but actually rather pretty, and I am sure our townhall will not experience a thing like that again again so soon. Rafal instroduced me to his Polish relatives and friends with these [German] words: "This is my German grandmother." This sentence made me especially happy. 

The wedding in the Holy Family Church of Hamburg in Langenhorn [a district in Hamburg] took place on the following day. Accompanied by the organ music Rafal approached the wedding altar with his mother and the beautiful bride Elisabeth arm in arm with her father. Monsignore Sliwanski conducted the marriage ceremony before God in Polish, and Pastor Alfons Dall did it in German. Elisabeth's little brother Christoph was an altar boy and did everything beautifully, with his bright blue eyes, on his sister's big day. Then there was another round of well-wishing. They took lots of photographs to capture the memories of this beautiful day. Following my home custom, I had a board with bread, salt and a penny at the ready and explained to them what it meant. In the banqueting hall of the church the tables had been laid beautifully and invited the guests to partake in food and drink. After the newlyweds had danced the waltz of honor, the Polish guests sang the well-wishing song again. We enjoyed our conversation with the people that sat next to us and opposite us. Also present were two friends from [Rafal's] senior class. His friend Olaf Zwetkow had in fact been studying law in Warsaw for half a year already and had done his internship in an attorney's office in Szczecin. The other friend, Kai Michael Detz, had even had his girlfriend Victoria fly in from England. Is it not marvellous when such a friendship survives over the years? National borders are disappearing; this is what this wedding showed us. 35 guests had travelled in from Poland, and there were about as many Germans, and that was nice. May God grant that this is how it is going to be all over the world in the future.