This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
On September 20, 2019, a Syrian family was resettled in Golzow, a small village in eastern Germany, amidst concerns from locals about the impact of the newcomers.
Marco Seidelt, a local resident, initially worried that the Syrian children would struggle to adapt to the German language and culture.
However, as the Syrian family, including Halima Taha and her husband Fadi, settled into their new home, they were warmly welcomed by the villagers.
The mayor of Golzow, Mr. Schütz, recalled that the villagers donated items to help the family furnish their apartment, including dishes and a set of antlers.
On the first day of school, the German parents greeted the Syrian families with a cake, unaware that they were fasting due to Ramadan. The moment was awkward, but it was quickly resolved when Ms. Taha cut the cake.
Ms. Taha's children were encouraged to greet every villager on the street in German, and the family soon adapted to their new life. They even bought a German shepherd and grew vegetables on an allotment, embracing a traditional German postwar activity.
