All of my brothers and sisters have passed 80 years old. To be able to gather all together..... Because I don't know when we will meet again we are old now Even more than traveling - in the past, when I came to visit, we would travel, but now because they are all past 80, I wonder, "will I be able to see them again?" so with that thought, every day we met and talk, talked about the old days that has been the best part (this trip) Everytime I come, Korea has always changed so much I don't know where anything is I couldn’t find the school that I used to go to The roads have changed so much There are many new buildings Many tall buildings have been built There’s no way I could find it So I feel like I’m coming to another person’s country Not my homeland. Mom Will you tell us about the first time how you went to Germany? I attended a Catholic girls high school and our headmistress was a Catholic nun from Italy. We were confirmed and these are our graduation pictures. At that time, just one girl was picked from each class and was offered to go to Germany for an apprenticeship to train to be a nurse. I was picked and said yes. I was chosen out of the class. which year was this? It was 1966. The first time you went to Germany…. how was it? I suffered a lot at that time, the first time... the first time the Koreans went to Germany We couldn’t understand the language Even just eating… The food was so different The most difficult thing was that I couldn’t speak the language That was the biggest hardship When we thought about our hometown My friends all gathered We cried together, laughed together At first you couldn’t eat Then what was it.. that bean…rice that you had. You ate that, every day, I remember that One time, in Germany there was a vegetable soup There was rice in it You can’t imagine how much we ate it. We were so glad to see rice. When you said you were going to Germany, Mom’s side of the family… how did they respond? My parents said, Germany is just like Korea is split north and south, …it’s a divided country. It was known that Germany had lost the war two times but through hard work regained its reputation and had become a role model and because of this, it was not a problem that I went to Germany. My parents gave permission without hesitation. 50 years ago, it was so hard for Koreans to go to foreign countries. But at that time my parents thought if I go to Germany to finish nursing studies, then surely I will have a chance be able to go to university. Tell us more about the daily life of nurses. The life of nurses… The first time we went there.. for 8 months we worked at the hospital and studied German After 8 months we began official studies In three years, we could get the nurse certification in Germany. We Korean nurses, when we came we received good reviews Because we were -- like.. very considerate because you were kind Because we are kind, our reviews were so good. At that time, German nurses were so blunt and direct But at that time, Germany was.... at this time, people accept immigration now At that time it was different. How did Germans treat you? “They are Asians, so they came from a poor country” like… how should I say… Did they convey such a feeling? Yes, but in contrast to that lets say ‘convey a loathing feeling’? No, I have no experiences of that. When your Grandmother was in Germany, she took my eldest, your brother, for a walk, tied to her back. At that time, he refused to be put into the stroller, so Grandmother took him out tied to her back from then on. And when Grandmother came home, often people gave her money and I found that so funny. Why did you decide to keep living in Germany? When I first went, my plan was to study nursing for just three years then return to Korea. But the German nursing certificate was not recognized in Korea. So no matter where I went, I could not get work. So I thought I’d go back to Germany work for three years and make money, then come back to Korea. I thought that and so went back to Germany. During that time, I met your Dad. So… Would you like to tell us more how you met dad? I met your father at the hospital. Your dad was going to go to medical school and so he had to do a 6 weeks internship and so he ended up in the ward where I was the second shift nurse in charge and showed him everything he needed to learn for his internship. And so we got closer. Daniel - "So you slept with an intern!" That's how it happened. I had to do an internship at the hospital for my medical studies and I got an internship at the hospital in Hanau and so we met. And so little by little step by step it proceeded. And what was the reason Dad caught your eye? The reason? The way he treated the patients. He was so kind and I liked that. The leading nurse at our station said to me: "Mr. Taendler is going to be a good doctor. You should show him everything.” Yes, you really did show me everything! (wink wink) When I first met my wife she was an impressive and beautiful woman. I returned for internship two or three more times and this way we got closer. And then one day, your mom had a problem putting up a mirror in her room. She had her room at the hospital. So I went to have a look and she thought it would work if we just put in a nail but I said that's not going to work, we need to put in an anchor. So then I borrowed my father’s drilling machine went to her place and drilled And I don't know, but people always misunderstand this part, right? How was it back then? the Koreans were among the first foreigners who immigrated to Germany. Did it evoke your interest or did it not play a role? Well, she was at the same station as I and I liked her. Well, but first you just liked my looks. Well, but when you first meet that's just natural isn’t it? And then later I realized that you are very lovable as a person and I got this feeling, oh I think I will really be able to get along
with this woman for a long time. But what was it like then, I mean, probably there were certain differences in your ways of thinking, German and Korean, how was it for you in this regard? Did we have differences in our ways of thinking? Well at that time I had already been in Germany for 6 or 7 years and since I came to Germany when I was 18 years old, I had adopted to the German way of thinking. And so from the beginning we didn't have any major problems. Mom did already speak excellent German. That really made things much easier for us. We both are similar in a way that we are rather calm in our nature I wouldn't have wanted to be together with a woman who wants to go out every night and in our calmness we were a good match don't you think? So you preferred to use the drill. Have you ever had the wish to come back to Korea, perhaps with the family? Or did that never occur to you? It was that every time I came back to Korea, I had a hard time to re-adjust. And that's why I have never had that wish. I couldn’t cope with the changes in Korea. Korea developed so incredibly rapidly and… I only have Korea from 50 years ago in my head and that is why those thoughts about coming back to Korea diminished quickly every time I visited. At the end of my studies I briefly considered doing the American medical state exam because that was the requirement to work in Korea as a medical doctor. But my English was not sufficient enough and I also would have had to learn Korean and that would have been too difficult for me And furthermore I didn't like the Korean school system and wouldn't have wanted to do that to you. And so we said ok, lets wrap up that thought. What was it like for you when I decided to move to Korea? Well, when kids grow up and leave home mothers are always a little melancholic. It is suddenly so quiet at home but I was glad that you decided to go to Korea and not any other country because I knew if you weren’t doing well my whole family would take care of you. And this feeling alone calmed me down. I was happy about it. your mom’s brother once said that I took away your mother from Korea. and so now Korea has… well, to say taken you away from us sounds a bit exaggerated but that's how he put it. Given you back to Korea. Do you think it was the right decision for you to go to Germany and how do you think your life has changed through living in Germany, maybe for the better? I have never regretted that I went to Germany. If I look at other countries in Europe I think that Germany really is the best country for me personally. I am very glad that for me it was Germany. Above all, I am happy that I married such a good husband. And my children. I have two wonderful children who never made us any trouble. I am really happy about this. Happy Very happy With my children My two sons Always, without causing worry, That they grew up so well, working hard I am so grateful We’ve been married for about 46 years We married in 1974 And to finish this interview, is there anything you would like to add or tell? As Mothers, we are happy when our children are happy. There is nothing more a mother wishes for. And good health. I can just agree with my wife. There is a… once an American exchange student gave it to us as a gift, a sort of horseshoe and on it it was written: “In this house, I am the boss. And I have my wife’s permission to say so." my boss
