Interview
Niko did a series of interviews of volunteers for this website. He suggested talking to
Nikolas- Hello! We are here with Johanna, and Johanna is … – how old are you?
Johanna- Fifteen.
N- Johanna is fifteen. She lives here with Peronnik, at P5, yes? Do you want to tell us something about yourself?
J- I’m Johanna, I’m 15 years old, I live in Sammatz.
N- Where are you from?
J- I’m from Lüneburg.
N- And how long have you been here?
J- Four and a half years.
N- Long! And what do you like to do for fun?
J- Go to school. Reading, bathing …
N- What do you enjoy most?
J- Read.
N- What?
J- ‹Sophienlust›. Novels … (shows a novel)
N- OK … I’ve already seen that at the supermarket. Why are you interested in it?
J- Because I find it exciting, interesting.
N- Why?
J- You can learn something from it. You can read about the fates of other people, and how they deal with it.
N- What do you want to do when you are older?
J- Something with children, most of all with disabled children.
N- So really something like Peronnik?
J- No, with severely disabled children.
N- Ah, something like care. That’s great, very noble.
J- But I do not know if I can do it.
N- Oh, just learn!
J- Well. Definitely something with children.
N- So you have to learn a lot.
J- I know that.
N- But that will work, because you are already eager to learn, if you read all these books.
J- I’m also looking for first aid courses on the Internet.
N- I am trained in first aid, so if you want to learn something …
When you’re big and you want to work with kids, you can not shout at them – you have to be patient and nice!
J- I know that. (Laughing)
N- Aha, so you’re going to get mad just now.
J – Actually, I’m always nice to smaller children.
N – You are actually pretty nice to all people. I see. Usually, unless you try to bite them. (Laughing)
J- (chuckling) Well, depending on my mood. But actually I am always more patient with smaller ones than with adults who are stressing me out.
N- Ah, probably, because you can bite the kids more easily!
J- Nooo!
N- Well, I think you’re very nice. You always stand for what is good. It’s clear you are diligent, smart and mostly friendly.
I think that’s worth a lot at your age because this is often not so easy to find amongst teenagers.
If you’re kind to people, that’s really a loving gesture, not just something external because you’re supposed to be nice.
J- So, just how it comes.
N- OK, no more compliments, you can not tolerate more. (Laughs) Just a teenager.
J- That was already the case beforehand.
N- Ah. You know, 90% of people have this problem. Nobody can handle compliments.
J- That’s true.
N- Oh, you already know that? – What are you most interested in when you study people like that, adults?
J- Crying. The weaknesses of the people.
N- Oh, dangerous. What would you say is my weakness? Then I’ll tell you what I think is yours.
Deliberate – break)
Or what is Hans-Michel’s weakness? Maybe checking things? Organisation?
J- If he does not feel accepted.
N- Oh! (Applauds, everyone laughs.)
OK, and Niko?
J- I do not know.
N- And do you want to know what I think your weakness is?
(Nod)
This is going to sound very philosophical and boring, but if you’re really mad, you’re missing something … help me out. I do not know … I do not really know what your weakness is.
J- Showing weakness is a sign of strength.
N- Wow. I am really impressed. We are now coming to a fascinating point, I do not even remember what else to ask. — Perhaps that is is a good final sentence for the interview?
You will definitely have a great future. And do not
Can you say another thing that appeals to you about Sammatz or Peronnik?
J- The Community. Everyone is together. Nobody lives alone in separate families. Everyone lives together and not just next to each other.
N- Wow. So I think that’s the best interview I’ve done so far.
(Everybody is laughing)
