Daniela Puzzovio lived in the USA for several years.
The Schongauerin has now written a book about her experiences - and invited to a reading.
Schongau
- The inner courtyard of the Löwenhof café-restaurant is cozy. There Schongau's second mayor Daniela Puzzovio read from her recently published book “Please wait to be seated”. First of all there was a musical introduction to the USA, where Puzzovio lived for many years: The trio "Rain Dogs", according to their own statement, played "Country-Blues-Sea-Bear-Polka-Gipsy-Style", namely music by Tom Waits . The three gentlemen took it easy on the guitar, double bass and electric piano. The music would have called for a few cool cocktails - but the temperature clearly spoke more in favor of coffee or tea, which were also preferred around the world.
Almost 50 minutes of literal “Warming Up” before the Vice Mayor spoke.
And first of all apologized to those who had come “for the music”.
In her first book, Puzzovio brought together experiences from the ten years in which she lived in the USA.
"Actually, I'm very attached to my home country," she began.
"And when I went to America for work, I thought it would be for a year or two."
Puzzovio's way to the USA: Schongau's second mayor presents her book
The first chapter took place in August 1999 when Puzzovio was on a plane.
“Business Class: That thought it was great!
It felt strange that I only had a one-way ticket. "
It was only then that she realized that she was actually leaving Germany for a long time. “What am I leaving behind? Friends, family, my Munich and my Schongau. ”Tears flowed. The Campari Orange that was then served brought the first consolation, the “excellent food” the next. And soon the sociable Puzzovio was engrossed in exciting conversations with fellow travelers. "So the six hours of flight went by in a flash."
Initially housed in a hotel by her company, Puzzovio went looking for an apartment at the first opportunity and was instructed by a new colleague that she should definitely look for a “good residential area”. When she was baffled, she was told that she should choose an area preferred by whites. The “multi-cultural” that she had in mind was rejected by her colleague: “No American wants that! Or do you want to be shot ...? "
Since in the USA people primarily buy and rent less, the supply of rental apartments was manageable.
But with four visits on the first weekend, the right thing was there.
"I took it straight away - and moved in with an air mattress and a wool blanket," said Puzzovio.
Because the entire household goods were still in the container across the Atlantic.
“Anyone who knows me knows: I like moving,” continued Puzzovio.
And so, after a year and a half from the surrounding area, she wanted to go straight to New York.
But in Manhattan there was only a one-room apartment with a wet room for $ 1,500.
"I backed out again and put my make-up on Manhattan."
Daniela Puzzovio from Schongau describes looking for an apartment in the USA
But she found what she was looking for in Brooklyn and thanks to her Italian ancestors got hold of a dream apartment because she struck the right note with the Italian landlord.
There it is “like with my grandma in Italy”: With this she was able to easily outdo the numerous competitors.
But from New York they soon went to New Jersey, because Puzzovio went into business for himself, and that's where most of her customers were based.
Once again, she scored points when looking for an apartment with her extensive social contacts: the landlord and she had a mutual friend who was practically the key to the new apartment door.
"German ax-in-the-forest mentality" filed in the USA
The audience was happy to listen to her relaxed and easy-going style of presentation in the Löwenhof.
But then the second, extended music block followed, which served the audience as background music for eager conversations.
“Of course I didn't just want to be with Germans abroad,” Puzzovio opened the next reading.
She had to get used to the special way Americans make contacts.
She quickly understood that her colleague's statement, “You are my new best friend”, by no means meant what a best friend in this country meant, and that her colleague's saying “I love you” did not mean what she feared.
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Between the reading blocks, the musicians of the band "Rain Dogs" played to entertain the audience.
© Sabine Näher
But the American mentality of having to pack critical things in abundant praise had to be acquired first.
And so she gradually shed her "German ax-in-the-forest mentality".
Those who bravely defied the tap temperatures could learn even more from Puzzovio's time in the USA that evening.
Everyone else has to look it up in the book now.
FROM SABINE CLOSER
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