A Collaborative Writing Exercise

Where is Home?

Sophie Richter, 26 years old, Austrian: It is not a place for me, I think. It is people who are in my life every day. My mum, my brothers and my dad when I visit them in Klosterneuburg. My boyfriend who lives with me. But it is not my apartment. He makes my apartment my home.

Roberta Sindelar, 58 years old, German: Where I have lived for 30 years. Where I have my comfort, my habits, I don’t like to travel a lot. And Germany where my mother and my sister live. That’s home too.

Ayesha Wood, 25 years old, English: Home is people, who love, support and uplift you. Family and friends in London but also York and Lake District, that’s where my people are and subsequently my home.  

What is missing?

Sophie Richter: Regarding 2020, more freedom, new impressions, adventures. In general, more sensitivity from people around me, who are close to me, who could talk to me more often when something is up, and we find a solution together. And of course, going out for cocktails again. (She laughs)

Roberta Sindelar: Money! (She laughs). Because me and your dad have always been self- employed, worrying about money has always been a thing. But honestly, I think I have a good life. So nothing really is missing.

Ayesha Wood: (She laughs) That’s deep! Okay, I could talk about how equality and human rights are still missing from parts of the world and society in general. But right now, in this moment, I am missing the lack of connection this year. So many people are missing from my life physically. Hugs and kisses from people I love and value.  

What does freedom mean to you?

Sophie Richter: Depends on the context. For me, it’s just things I would want to do, listening only to myself, doing things, so that I don’t stand in my own way. So that I personally have the feeling that I am free. Regarding politics and society, it means to have the freedom to do things without laws restricting you, hold you back, which is often the case in other countries.

Roberta Sindelar: To choose what and when I can work, eat and have free time. I could not imagine working at fixed times. I don’t like it when someone tells me when I would have to do what.

Ayesha Wood: I associate freedom with independence and being a woman. Being able to stand on your own two feet and love yourself. I love to take myself on dates, roam around my city, have a voice, share opinions. Speak up, enjoy me, girl power! That’s freedom. (She laughs)

What is your favourite Story?

Sophie Richter: That’s something from my own life, a memory of a perfect day. When I was sailing with my family and my best friend in Croatia. A day with no worries, sailing, swimming, eating sea food and looking at the stars.

Roberta Sindelar: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It has to be. (She laughs) I mean it is Mr Darcy.

Ayesha Wood: As a literature graduate 10001 stories come to mind. But how I ended up being me is a great story. (She laughs) So it’s definitely my mum’s story. As a woman growing up as British/ Asian in the 80/ 90, a daughter of first immigrant parents in Britain, she broke barriers in Asian tradition by marrying ‘out’. She married my Dad who is white and from a Christian upbringing. Both my parents are atheists, despite having been raised in religious households. So my Dad didn’t convert to Islam when he married my Mum, which was a big deal in the Bengali community. I’m mixed race and haven’t ever had those barriers thrown at me. I always remind myself that what my Mum did was an incredibly brave thing to do.

Who are you?

Sophie Richter: (She laughs) Extraordinary among extraordinary people.

Roberta Sindelar: What a difficult question! I am a kind and helping person, I think. Someone who always wants to make sure others are okay. But I do try to shape my life as I like it to be.

Ayesha Wood: Fuck I know! (She laughs). I think we are figuring out who we are every day. We are forever growing and changing as people. I am fucking great, in a good place, a cute, funny, woman of colour, who of course has her flaws, but who doesn’t? (She laughs).