Being Foreign –

Being Familiar

Franz Feiner

Everyone is foreign to me at first.

Each person has an upbringing and a life story which is completely unfamiliar to me.

Re-Creation offers a great opportunity and potential for learning because we are all able to meet other participants from different nations and cultures.

Until what is foreign (for instance, the foreigner) becomes familiar to me, the adjustment process can sometimes be strenuous:

There are prejudices to tear down, and the ability to empathize must be awoken.

What is problematic in the area of “Foreign- Familiar” predominantly affects the ever-larger number of migrants; but we are all affected by these problems.

Therefore, this topic shall be presented in such a way so that it can be experienced through emotion, action and cognitive reflection …

Re-Creation” offers the chance,- to perceive what is foreign within your own inner self (compare Shadow from C.G. Jung)

-to listen to the life stories of others-to learn empathy and perhaps more

This process will be experienced by holistically combining feeling and doing through writing workshops, dance and movement and by connecting biblical stories with personal life stories.

We will connect these topics by reflecting on psychology, sociology and religious pedagogy.

The ultimate goal is to live a life filled with learning and variety, in which as many barriers as possible are torn down (compare Salamanca-Statement and Index for Inclusion).-

To meet people from other cultures and to look at one’s own culture with curiosity is very common during a holistic education process.

Whenever it is achieved that what is foreign becomes familiar, the problem of “migrants” becomes experienced not as a threat, but rather as an enrichment.