I will never forget the feeling.
We landed at Schönefeld Airport
and as we went down the escalator, I thought
wow, you’ve done it. You’ve arrived in a paradise.
On 16 June 1981, at 5:11 a.m.,
we landed at Schönefeld Airport.
Then we were picked up by a bus.
I looked out the window and saw the tall buildings
and the very, very wide street.
Everything so clean, so modern.
Everything was quiet, not like back home, where everything is loud.
And everything so organized.
Someone stood either side of us and gave us each
a bag of food. There was
an apple,
a sandwich
and a chicken drumstick.
They greeted us there
and took us straight to a welcome function in a large room with food.
We had only the uniform that they had given us, and a few items of clothing.
We were not allowed, even if we had things, we were not allowed to bring anything.
All in the same clothes given to us by the state
with the same suitcases, we all looked the same.
I came just as I am now, in suit and tie,
and I was cold, and I put my jacket on.
Then we went to our accommodation.
It was the first time in my life
that I ever used an elevator.
I spent the whole night going up and down.
I was thrilled.
I wasn’t 100 percent sure about everything.
But we were happy we had come to a socialist country.