After 20 years: Return to Neubrandenburg – loneliness instead of home?

After 20 years: Return to Neubrandenburg – loneliness instead of home?

Returning home is often a step full of mixed emotions. This is also what people returning to Neubrandenburg experience, like the author, who returned to his old home after 20 years in various cities in Germany. Despite the anticipation of old friends and familiar places, the first few months are not easy. After seven months in Neubrandenburg, the family still doesn't feel like they've really arrived. A lack of social contacts and the lack of interest among locals contribute to the fact that they often feel alone. That's what she reports SVZ.

The return took place against the original resistance. Old friends also have busy everyday lives and little time for spontaneous meetings. A barbecue date now requires a long lead time because life in the city is highly structured. It becomes clear that social life in Neubrandenburg often does not correspond to the flexibility of city life in larger metropolises.

Coming home with obstacles

Another case is the 40-year-old theater maker Rika Weniger, who moved back to her hometown of Neubrandenburg after two decades in western Germany. Rika, who went to Oldenburg and Braunschweig to study at the age of 19, has never really lost sight of her city. Her return also stems from the desire to develop artistic projects in the city. An example of this is her play “How do you make good art for East Germans?”, which deals with topics such as East German identity and the political situation. Rika describes that her reluctance to make critical statements about Neubrandenburg is based on a desire to build a positive connection with the locals while pursuing her own artistic perspective, as she wrote in an article by Deutschlandfunk culture explained.

Rika's relationships with her family are also strained, especially her father, which doesn't make her return any easier. The connection to the roots is therefore influenced by various factors, not only geographical location, but also personal stories and conflicts.

Social networking and challenges

These experiences are part of a larger trend in East German cities, where many returnees face similar challenges. In a society that is increasingly characterized by emigration and aging, the creation of social anchor points for young people is becoming increasingly important. A study by MDR recommends creating meeting places for friendships in villages and small towns. Village apps and local chat groups could contribute to this in order to promote networking and increase the quality of life in rural areas.

It is therefore important that returnees and locals find opportunities to meet in order to establish long-term relationships and thus create a sense of belonging. Perhaps Rika's next initiative or the author's column will help find a little more commonality beneath the rigors of everyday life. And so it remains to be hoped that the return to an old home will be accompanied by new friendships if people give each other time and work on their social networks.