the art of the story
„Kitty on St. Pauli“
The story of
Silvia Zahn
Hello Silvia, how are you after your lung operation?
Silvia: Now I have to do three weeks of rehab. My poor cat. The one who feeds her will be happy. She is quite spiteful at the moment.
Have you had many cats?
Silvia: I grew up with cats. Then I had one of my own, but I had to put it down because it was sick, and now I have the cat of my neighbor. He went to a nursing home and you can’t put a cat in a shelter when it’s 20 years old.
You grew up with cats. Tell me how and where you grew up!
Silvia: I grew up in a village in the East. It wasn’t bad. I just couldn’t take it there anymore.
Sometime after the fall of communism you crossed over?
Silvia: First I went to Bavaria in 1999 and then in 2000 I bought a ticket and took the night train to Hamburg. In the very beginning in Hamburg I spent half a year outside. I went everywhere by train during the day, slept, and at night I was on the Kiez (the red light district). Nobody should have to sleep there. It was strange for me to live on the street. I had nothing. But I met two people who always gave me something. A sleeping bag and so on. But one survives everything. Occasionally I worked in a hotel and in a kitchen. In 2007 I finally landed at Hinz&Kunzt and I’m still there today. I also live nearby, which is very convenient.
Did you experience anything nice as well?
Silvia: Before Corona, I was in Norway. From Kiel to Oslo and from Oslo back to Kiel. That was awesome. The boat rocked beautifully and was so great. But I’m saving up now and will go to Norway again by postal ship. I’ll do it in the winter, though, that’s even more fun. Because of the northern lights. Maybe I will see a whale. A nice orca. Those are good, I like them.
The interview in full length and further information about the Hinz&Künztler:in can be found below.
More about Silvia:
Audio-Interview:
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