Conversation with Syrian Refugees in a Camp outside Munich, Germany

I am in Unterschleissheim, a tech hub suburb of Munich in Germany. For a couple of days I had been going to business meetings in the area. Close by in the neighborhood, I spotted a small camp with a gate and sign that says Caritas. I also saw what looked like Middle Eastern men milling about or sitting on a bench basking in the sun whenever the weather permitted.

My wife by my side, I decided to stop by and talk to them to learn their story. As I approached the short open fence, I was not sure I would be allowed to speak to them, even though I could not see any security or police anywhere near.

- Marhaba (Hello), my name is Wissam. I was passing by and thought of stopping by to say hello. I am Lebanese.

The man looked at me silently for a moment, then broke a shy smile.

"Ahlan (Welcome), my name is Omar. Sorry my hands are a bit greasy. I have been fixing our community bikes."

- Are you a Syrian refugee? I asked.

Omar: Yes, most of us here are.

- Which part of Syria are you from?

Omar: Deir el Zor. But there are guys from all over in this little camp.

- I am from Beirut but I live in America. I am visiting Munich on business. How did you end up here in Munich?

Omar: Well, it was quite a long trip. Difficult to believe now ...  Walking, running, swimming, cars, buses, trains. Through Lebanon and Turkey ...

- Are you here with your family?

Omar: No I came alone. My family is still in Syria. We are all men here in this camp.

- Why aren't there any women?

Omar: Most couldn't take the trip. Once in Germany, the authorities put us single men in refuge camps like this and families with kids in other places.

- It must have been difficult for you to leave your family behind.

Yes, I miss them and we are all working on trying to bring them over in a safer way.

- May I ask why you decided to leave Syria?

Omar: I was forced to make a very difficult choice. Either leave or fight.

- What do you mean?

Omar: I received a letter inviting me to join the army, I decided with my wife that I would leave the next day before being forced into the army. I am an accountant not a fighter.

- You are an accountant?

Omar: Yes. I was the controller of a bank, a Lebanese bank in Syria actually, the Franco Libanais.

- Oh wow. Is everyone here this professional?

Omar: No, there are different backgrounds and different levels of education. Some cannot read Latin characters only Arabic. Others are ok and have begun learning the German language very quickly. (He breaks out showing off his German to my wife).

- Are you still in touch with your family back home Omar?

Omar: Yes, all the time.

- Really, how?

Omar: WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype, Email.

- You mean Syria still has Internet?

Omar: Yes, most cities still have it. This guy is from Qamishle. He is in touch with his family every day. The other one is from Damascus suburbs. The same. (They all come close to say hello)

- Are you allowed to leave this camp whenever you want?

Omar: Yes, of course, we are refugees not prisoners.

- How have you been treated by Germany?

Omar: Quite well. They have given us shelter, they give us a stipend, and are processing our refugee paperwork.

- You mean you are now legal?

Omar: Yes, some of us are, for the others its in the works. This is my refugee passport and ID. I am now allowed to travel all over Europe with it.

- Have you interacted with the local community?

Omar: We receive six-hour daily  German lessons, so some of us can now interact better. We are now trying to give back by providing Arabic courses to the community.

- Do the people treat you well here, Omar?

Omar: Yes, but they don't really know us. Some of them are afraid to interact with us not knowing what to expect. Everyone has heard of refugees but few actually get to meet them. Maybe once housing opens up, we can mix better.

- When will you be allowed to live outside the camp?

Omar: Once you are given papers. But here in Bavaria housing is not easy, so some of us have been here for eight months in this small camp, even though we already have papers. Hopefully, housing will become available soon. But its ok here and it has all the basic needs. Would you like to see the camp inside?

- Sure.

Omar: Let's sign you in first ... We don't really need to but its better. [We walk through gates to one of the modules and go in a door that says administration. To Caritas admin in Arabic]: These guys are here to visit us, can you please sign them in?

- He looks German. How come he speaks Arabic?

Omar: Actually, he is half German half Iraqi.

- Interesting to see how this housing was built.

Omar: All this housing was built out of containers.

- Looks nice on the inside. Do they clean it for you?

Omar: No, we keep it clean and organized ourselves. It is spacious. Here is our laundry room ... Our kitchen area. We buy our own food and cook ... This is our classroom. Would you like to see some of our bedrooms?

- Sure

Omar: Most have one or two beds, a closet, and a small fridge.

- I see you have Arabic pita bread.

Omar: We buy it from the Middle Eastern bakery in the town. Would you like to have some tea? Please sit down and I will invite some friends to join.

- Do you miss home, Omar?

Omar: There is no place like home.

- Would you ever go back?

Omar: Yes if the situation was better. But our region is not good for a family; and I am hoping to settle here once my family can join me.

- Have you been affected by the war?

Omar: Every Syrian has been affected by the war. My nephew was forced to join the army 6 years ago. His mother, my sister, has not been able to see him since. He is having to fight against his cousins and neighbors. I cannot imagine how he will be if he ever comes back. He was an innocent kid.

- Has your city been as affected as Hallab or Homs?

Omar: Most cities in Syria have been. He is from the reef of Damascus (suburbs) which are basically cities outside the city of Damascus and there has also been massive destruction there. We now have a housing problem here in Bavaria as much as we have it in Syria!

- What are your hopes for the future?

Omar: To live in peace, be productive, and raise a happy family.