ALI SINA

A glance at Ali Sina’s Face is enough to recognize his highest credo. Friendliness. And if you ask him for his favourite German word, “laughter” is his clear answer. If I listen to the recording of the interview again, the proof sounds in my ears.

Ali Sina is 19 years old and has been in Switzerland for over a year. He particularly enjoys getting to know people and thus being able to participate in culture. But the habits in Switzerland are not that different. When Ali Sina was first invited to dinner by a Swiss family, he could not refrain from taking a gift with him as a thank-you and surprised the family with an Afghan dessert. For him, eating means sharing and spending time together. “Eating with new people makes you friends,” he says.

He uses his talent to cook Afghan food at various events and exchange ideas with people. Moments arose that Ali Sina doesn’t forget so quickly. At a party, a woman he had never known shared a camera with him and then posted a picture with a personal commentary. That touched him a lot. At another dinner, Ali Sina played theatre for the first time and is meanwhile engaged in a theatre project. “Only German is spoken there, which helps me a lot”, he explains. Next month Ali Sina will organize another meal for 25 volunteers. “These people come to Rothenburg every Thursday to speak. They help me with the German and the work. I love to cook for them”. However, he has not yet tried the Swiss kitchen. But if he gets an invitation once, it would be very nice, he says laughing.

His dream is to enjoy a good life, to talk to new people and to find many friends. Nice friends. Maybe even to become a nurse and to help others, if possible also his family. And for himself he says: “I always want to stay friendly”.