Qasem Rahimi - a blue and white refugee

For the past four years, the lives of the 28-year-old Afghan in the upper Bavarian Deining. Initially, it was not easy for him to integrate into village life. Today, he is himself to go along with the Maypole.

this Wednesday, two dates collide. His former teacher from the vocational school in Bad Tölz, Germany has asked Qasem Rahimi, whether he can help in the move. Ironically, at the 1. May. "The Maypole is set up," says the 28-Year-old and makes a right face. The Maypole! How can you make them as just something else?

Rahimi is originally from Afghanistan. He grew up in Herat, a mountainous province city in the North-West of the country. As a small Boy, he fled from there with his family over to Iran. Six or seven years old, he was there. Nine Eleven was not yet happening. In Afghanistan, the tribulations, the Taliban numbered still completely free to the population. Rahimi went with his parents and his siblings, therefore, to Tehran.

In Iran, however, life was not much better. As a refugee Qasem Rahimi wasn't allowed to go to school, there was no work, "overall, no future," says Rahimi. Five years ago, he has made himself, therefore, alone on the long March to Europe. For nine months he was traveling - by foot, by car, train and boat. Then he arrived in Germany, nothing other than the clothes he was wearing. Since the spring of 2015, he lives together with nearly 20 other Afghans now in the old Music room in Deining.

"The beginning was difficult," says Rahimi. Tehran has nearly nine million inhabitants, Deining not even 900. The alone, the culture was already in shock. The foreign language, the foreign country, the foreign customs. "And I was the people are completely foreign," said Rahimi.

The young refugee did not let it get to you. He has made, what do you do in the Bavarian village, if you want to get in touch with the people. About his English teacher, he has made connection to the local fire brigade commander. There he has participated in a few practice missions. In Kindergarten, the escape routes and to look, where to place the head of best can check out - so things. And he plays soccer, second team at SC Deining, albeit with little success. Two weeks ago, for example, it established a sensitive 0:7 defeat against Genclikspor bad Tölz. Rahimi as a striker in the starting line-up, but got barely a Ball. "Mei," he says, "if you don't have a pig, don't you have a pig". And as he says, could come these words from the mouth of a long-established Bavarian-Kickers.

a Short Maypole-guard: Qasem Rahimi at the sports ground in Deining, where the horn Steiner Stick in a shed, is stored.

the fire brigade, football, and on Wednesday as the Supreme discipline in the Integration so Maypole-set-Up - a lot of Bavarian's actually. Qasem Rahimi from Afghanistan - the white-and-blue is refugee.

three years Ago, has helped Rahimi before the Maypole. In Hornstein, the road was two miles from Deining. Also in 2017, in Deining itself, he was there. Since the lads from Ascholding had stolen the Stick a few days before the due date. On Wednesday Hornstein is now back on.

"And hooopp, push, hooopp, slide", after power Rahimi, the common command. Pretty hard the tree had been for the first Time in Hornstein. "And I had a little also not seen," he says. As the Maypole then finally, he sent with the phone but blissful images to friends in Saarland. The were flabbergasted. Huh, Maypole? That there is no such thing in Germany, but a specialty of the South - Rahimi did not know until then.

If Rahimi runs today through Deining, past the chicken houses, old farms and sprawling lilac bushes, then it often means "Hello", "Griaß di" and "Have the honor". The Participate in the Maypole-Up have helped him very much, to put in place the foot, says Rahimi. Whether he has the pictures? "I'd have to look," he says. "But Aloisia has what." Aloisia who? Well, the Aloisia, the neighbor. The last name he doesn't know. In the village there are only first names.

play this football is, of course, have been helpful. But Rahimi in addition at the moment only occasionally. The team trained on Tuesday and Thursday evening, between 18 and 20 o'clock. Just at this time, Rahimi always in Geretsried in a tutoring course for German. And also the fire Department must have a bit of a grind. Rahimi makes if Feist Baur in Deining training to become a Heating engineer. He is currently in the second year of the apprenticeship. "Good company, good people," says Rahimi. But because of the training the fire Department must now disregard.

Whether or not Rahimi can stay in Germany, is not yet secure. He has no Status, is not yet recognized. As a half years ago in Tehran, his father died, he could not leave Germany. Everything is not so simple. But at least the Problem with the move of his former teacher on Wednesday has solved Rahimi in the meantime: First Maypole in Hornstein, here it is, finally, very early. And then for the furniture pack. It is sure to be a very busy day - but a nice one.