Amy Rugg
In part 1 Amy describes first impressions of Dresden, the Frauenkirche, meeting artists and working in school. In part 2 she tells us about working with students in a high school, leading a workshop at Veranderbar, a community radio invite, and an unexpected evening meal.
Volkshochschule
After a brief respite, Annika returned from work and accompanied me to Wenzel, a Czech restaurant in Postplatz, to meet up with the rest of our group. This charming eatery was near to the Volkshochschule, where I was to present for the German/British Society who part-funded my residency, an evening’s programme of poetry and discourse on my experiences as a poet and US citizen living and working in the UK.
This would be followed by a question and answer session from the audience. Thanks to an excellent small piece in the local paper written by Patrick, there was a good turnout and I was immediately made me to feel welcome. Despite feeling initially tired earlier in the evening, adrenalin kicked in and I felt highly energised and inspired to connect with my audience who responded with what felt like a supportive silence of rapt attention.
I planned a short break between my poetry presentation and our Q&A session. This was delivered with grace and not a little whimsy by a friendly lady who served English tea in ‘proper’ tea pots with little glass cups and snacks of cheese and crackers. I was touched and delighted – in preparation for my residency, I had mentioned, jokingly that I seemed to be powered by ‘tea and cheese’. My German/British Society coordinators took me at my word! During the break I spoke with many of the group about poetry, and writing about Coventry and Dresden.
The evening finished with our group joining a sort of ‘town meeting’ in another part of the school with an MEP for Saxony, Matthais Ecke, and local residents discussing Brexit, the shifting sands of European political sensibilities and other more global concerns. This MEP was a young man in his thirties with a quiet confidence who was casually dressed but highly focused on his audience and their worries.
But this was the end of an exceptionally long day giving my generous heart and soul to one completely new encounter after another. Sitting back in my seat, I breathed out, and stopped trying to concentrate. As I allowed the soft Saxon words to brush past me gently, like a cat against my skin, it crossed my mind that even if I didn’t understand everything, I knew I really liked the sound of German language. Eventually, the meeting came to an end and, warmly thanking my hosts, I realised I needed a moment to relax and unpack the day’s adventures. A few of us went out for a drink and a chat before making our way home by tram or bus. Once back in Annika’s place I slipped down the wall of sleep and knew nothing more until morning.
Workshop at Veranderbar
Thursday turned out bright and clear as Patrick and I made our way to the Veranderbar in Neustadt, ironically the older part of town – despite its name, with a totally different energy, and working a funky bohemian groove. Whilst there, I ran a two-hour writers workshop which had been advertised in the local paper by Patrick. The turnout was good, including the lovely Dorothee, a student with excellent English who acted as my interpreter for both the workshop and radio interview later on. My writing prompt for the group was to write a ‘Postcard from the Edge’ to a friend or family member as if away on holiday on another planet. Amongst the participants were two Dresden women writers who contributed enthusiastically to the conversation and workshop along with Silvio, a gifted artist who expresses poems (including our own Emilie Lauren Jones’ work) as intricate patterns of strikingly beautiful calligraphy. Dorothee wrote a stunningly simple, achingly lovely piece and one participant wrote their first poem ever. Leading workshops and participating in creative conversations I felt at times like a cross between a midwife of words and a grateful bystander as my participants shared, dared and grew. By being fully present with them, I grew, too.
Community Radio Interview
After an excellent session, suddenly it was time to skip lightly across Neustadt’s funky streets to pitch up at Coloradio, a local community radio station to meet ‘Olaf’ our radio presenter for a two hour interview about all things poetry, music and how these two arts overlap and enhance one another. Olaf asked piercing questions with serious blue eyes that twinkled just a little. I gave as generously as I could but afterwards felt drained and many ‘better’ answers came to my mind. The radio station had a fantastic community feel and I loved sitting in the studio talking over such wide-ranging topics. Dorothee, once again, accomplished a mammoth task of interpreting our interview with Patrick providing excellent support including, reading out one of my rap poems he’d translated – not an easy task, and I was happy with the result.
Crime and Punishment
At the end, we hopped a trusty bus and met up with Ann and Tracy at Katie’s Garage in Alaunstrasse for a drink then headed out to find somewhere to eat with Annika and Catherine at the fascinating ‘Raskolnikoff’ restaurant (named after Dostoyevsky’s tall, dark and handsome protagonist in ‘Crime and Punishment) where we feasted on tasty Russian dishes – I had the Pelmeni Linsen or Russian dumplings in a delicious sauce. For a moment I felt deep exhaustion and had a compelling impulse to curl up on my bench in the restaurant for a cat nap.
On the way home, we I discussed the origins of ‘HP Sauce’ (the ‘HP’ stands for Houses of Parliament) and chuckled at the idea of a ‘Bundestag’ sauce and how that might taste. We made our way along tree lined streets talking softly in the dark. I felt completely happy and at home with my new friends. How incredibly privileged we were to quietly slip our lives alongside one another for a short time, allowing ourselves to be known in peace and friendship. To be easy people.
As we said good-bye in the dark, I felt bone weary, but full of happiness, peaceful acceptance and gratitude. I don’t need anything more – what was offered to me was generous beyond measure.
Home Again
On my way back home to car repairs, bills, chores, work and other annoyances, I felt deeply exhausted and emotional, already missing everyone. The events and people of the past week swam in front of my eyes; I hoped I would remember them forever. I don’t get attached to people or places easily, but if I didn’t know better I would have said I’d fallen in love – but with a city? Really?! What a ridiculous idea. Then, it hit me, twinning cities isn’t only a shrewdly mutual civic strategy for prosperity and that intangible concept ‘peace’, it is just as much about friendships, shared experiences, trust and, okay, just maybe, love. As the wheels of our plane touched down on British tarmac, the strains of Elvis Costello’s iconic hit played over in my head: ‘What’s so funny ‘bout peace, love and understanding?’ Indeed.
Coventry Association for International Friendship 